ARUSHI NAIR
PRONOUNS: she/they
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Capitol Pathways Intern
Arushi is a part-time intern joining AAOP through the Capitol Pathways program alongside completing her senior year at Macalester College. At Macalester, Arushi is pursuing a double major in German Studies and International Studies with a minor in Political Science. Additionally they are a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, conducting research in the humanities focussing around agency through uplifting the voices of Roma and Sinti. Arushi grew up in an Indian/Polish mixed-race household and is a proud second generation immigrant. They are passionate about exploring how marginalized identities that sit at intersections of our social networks can be boosted through policy and education reform. Outside of work and school Arushi enjoys cooking, going on walks, playing soccer, exploring the many bars and restaurants in the Twin Cities and playing video or card games.
NIBRAAS KHAN
PRONOUNS: she/her
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
As a second generation Bengali American, I engage with the local Twin Cities community to help address concerns including, but not limited to: Youth liberation, queer support, immigration work, and voter engagement. I’m currently wrapping up my Global Studies degree at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. In the future, I would love to work in health policy or law work that focuses on refugee health care access.
I also have a pet bunny she really loves whose name is Bao. I’m a soccer fan (unfortunately a Manchester United fan), anime, movies, shows, readings, and pop culture in general. I also daydream about moving out and/or away and traveling the world. Also, please talk to me about literally anything.
KHAI HOANG
PRONOUNS: he/any
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
Khai is a 1.5 generation Southeast Asian American. Immigrated from Vietnam to Minnesota as a young adolescent, they have been on a journey to learn what it means to navigate their identities as a diaspora with cultural roots in the Vietnamese Tày and Cantonese ethnicities. They find empowerment, strength, and resilience through their work in community building in the Twin Cities.
Khai majors in Family Social Science and is aspiring to become a Family and Marriage Therapist. Outside of work, he likes to sing, swim, binge watch movies/shows, go watch local theater productions, write, or dance at clubs.
SUNNY XIONG
PRONOUNS: she/her
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
This is Sunny Xiong and she is thrilled to join AAOP as a phone canvasser for this year's election! Three things about her are that she loves cats, going cafe hopping, and in her downtime, she likes to watch a lot of movies.
KARI BHAVSAR
PRONOUNS: they/she
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
Kari is a queer Korean Gujarati American studying Gender, Women, Sexuality Studies and Computer Science. They are passionate about sharing stories and building community through exploring the interconnections between our environment, gender, race, and class. In their free time, Kari enjoys experimenting with different creative mediums like collage, crochet, and jewelry-making. When she can, she spends her evenings looking up at the moon with her black cat, Gemini, and tuxedo cat, Spooky.
SIUHO GONG
PRONOUNS: she/her
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
Siuho is a transracial, intercountry Chinese adoptee. She is passionate about adoptee, racial, and queer issues. She also loves being involved in the Deaf community and can’t wait to graduate and become a sign language interpreter. Siuho grew up in California, and despite the fact she’s been here for years, she still has yet to adapt to the Minnesota winters. You can find her at events out in the community or watching YouTube videos and eating snacks in her apartment.
ABBY NGUYEN
PRONOUNS: she/hers
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Youth Summit Program Intern
Abby, a second-generation Vietnamese American with a passion for healthcare equity and inclusivity. Currently preparing for her pre-med journey with a focus on biology, Abby aims to advocate for equitable healthcare access for underrepresented BIPOC communities. Alongside her advocacy, she is committed to instilling ethical responsibility within the medical field. Outside of academics, Abby enjoys diving into literature, savoring coffee ambiance, and spending time with friends and family.
MELODY LI
PRONOUNS: she/her
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Youth Summit Outreach Intern
Melody is a second-generation Chinese American with a passion for improving her surrounding communities through innovative solutions. She currently focuses on business management and software engineering in the healthcare industry. Melody aims to develop solutions for unaddressed administration and technological concerns across the medical field. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, Tapioca and Pearl, baking sweets for her friends and family, and going to concerts.
KANLAYA THAO
PRONOUNS: she/her
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
Kanlaya is a first-generation Hmong daughter. She is a badminton player, a college student, and a sister to 3 siblings. She is the second oldest but takes the role of a big sister. She is patient and helpful. Kanlaya is an open-minded person, ready to learn new things about the world and about herself. She dreams to become someone that will inspire others to do great things and reach their dreams and goals.
SHAMU NA
PRONOUNS: she/her
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
This is Shamu, and she's all about embracing life to the fullest.
Shamu has a passion for the great outdoors, particularly hiking. There's something truly exhilarating about being surrounded by nature, conquering new trails, and taking in breathtaking views. Whether it's a challenging mountain trek or a leisurly stroll through the woods, you can count Shamu in!
Aside from hiking, she is also a huge food enthusiast. From savory to sweet, spicy is a must, Shamu loves exploring all kinds of cuisines and trying out new dishes. Whether it's cooking up a storm in the kitchen or checking out the latest restaurants in town, she is always up for a culinary adventure.
But beyond her hobbies, what really excites Shamu is connecting with awesome people like you all. She believes that life is all about the experiences we share and the memories we create together. So here's to new friendships, exciting adventures, and plenty of good times ahead!
XANYEJ (Sanh-yay) YANG
PRONOUNS: he/him
POSITION WITHIN AAOP: Canvasser
Xanyej, a Queer Hmong man, lives his life listening to Laufey, Faye Webster, and Tyler the Creator. He loves the warm weather and you’ll usually find him getting lost in the city or the forest. When he’s not outside you can find him playing Overwatch, Pokemon, and League (EW). When he’s not gaming and exploring, he is making keychains for himself.
Xanyej also has a core Pokemon team consisting of: Turtwig, Lopunny, Altaria, Meowstic, Audino, and Goodra.
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