Activist Tou Saiko Lee Endorses Jay Xiong

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Samantha Vang, Campaign Manager

Tou SaiKo Lee endorses Jay Xiong for House in 67B

Jay Xiong is proud to announce the endorsement of community organizer, neighborhood outreach and spoken word artist, Tou SaiKo Lee. Tou SaiKo and his late grandmother Youa Chang were known internationally as the duo “Fresh Traditions,” where they would perform as an intergenerational collaboration. Youa did the traditional Hmong art of kwv txhiaj (Hmong Poetry Chanting). Tou SaiKo received the Jerome Foundation Travel Study Grant in 2008 and is a 2009 Intermedia Arts VERVE Spoken Word grant recipient. In 2016, Tou SaiKo was awarded The Bush Fellowship, a prestigious leadership grant. Tou SaiKo is a graduate of Johnson High School on the East Side and grew up in the Payne Phalen Neighborhood.
The endorsement of Tou SaiKo Lee means a lot to the east side campaign of Jay Xiong, who has prided himself in civic engagement of youth and has always admired the grassroots leadership and approach of Tou SaiKo’s community work.

Of the endorsement, Jay Xiong had this to say: “When I think about innovation, resilience, and community, there is no greater champion in our community of Saint Paul than my friend, artist Tou SaiKo Lee. I am honored by the support of my good friend and longtime organizer. Tou has always been down for our neighborhoods and youth. I thank him for his support.”
​
“I fully support and endorse Jay Xiong for Minnesota State Representative for House 67B. I have always known Jay to be a tireless worker to create a better community for our neighborhoods, his spirited dedication for political engagement and how he has been committed to the East Side for many years. I admire his passion to help his family as it will expand to helping the Eastside. He has also been an advocate for immigrant and refugee rights as well as building towards more quality and diversity in education for our children. Many know of Jay as having significant years of experience in working on various campaigns. Now it’s his time to rise up and represent us. Keep striving,” Tou SaiKo Lee.


                                                                                      ###

---