She has improved the community by working with local and national businesses and non-profit businesses by serving on the Boards of Nonprofits, Drake Bank, and the Minneapolis Foundation. She has won numerous awards; the National Philanthropy Day Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Minnesota's Chapter, the Newsmaker Award from Minnesota's Women Press, the Impact Award from Hmong National Development, the Courageous Woman Award from Augsburg College, and the Facing Race Award from the Saint Paul Foundation. She also received a Buck fellowship award in 2019 in honor of her work to improve the community.