Meet Our Co-Founders

Khou Vang is a person in long-term recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorder. Khou is currently employed as an ARMHS Mental Health Practitioner at MN Community Care and as an Alcohol- Drug Counselor (ADC) Intern with MN Adult & Teen Challenge. He is currently enrolled pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Addiction Counseling. Khou is currently serving as the Board Secretary for the Minnesota Alliance of Recovery Community Organizations (MARCO) and a member of the State of Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction. Since 2021, he has been credentialed as both a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Reciprocal (C.P.R.S.R.) and a Certified Mental Health Peer Specialist (C.P.S.). Khou has contributed as a board member with Wellness in the Woods and as a member of its Cultural Advisory Council. He is deeply passionate about serving the recovery community and is a strong advocate for culturally responsive programs.

My professional background is rooted in community engagement, mental health services, and nonprofit programming, where I’ve had the privilege of leading initiatives that foster connection and empowerment for individuals on their recovery journeys.

I’m passionate about equity and wellness, and I believe in creating inclusive spaces that support healing and growth for underserved communities. My work has focused on substance use prevention, youth education, and building stronger, more connected communities.

I am committed to ensuring survivors of trauma and systemic inequities have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy helping others, diving into topics like psychology and spirituality, and engaging in conversations that inspire and challenge me. I believe that community and connection are the keys to creating lasting change, and I strive to embody that in all that I do.

Fue Yang is a Mental Health professional with over 7 years of experience in mental health recovery. His career began in homeless outreach and case management, where he developed a deep understanding of the barriers individuals face in finding stability and healing.  He now continues his work at UNM Hospital, where he remains committed to improving systems of care and supporting those on their recovery journeys.

Fue blends compassion with innovation. With a strong background in nonprofit administration, he’s known for finding creative solutions that make programs more effective and sustainable.

Fue is passionate about culturally informed, community-based recovery and believes in building systems that serve people with dignity and understanding. Outside of work, he enjoys taking his dogs on walks, rock climbing, hiking, and camping—finding balance and inspiration in the outdoors."

Xai /Sai/Yang, LMSW  (He/Him/His)  is a Hmong Mental Health Social Worker born in Minnesota, living in New York City. Xai leverages a diverse background in union and political organizing, child welfare, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, public policy, clinical expertise, and social justice advocacy. Xai aspires to be part of a movement to help those struggling with addiction through healing, inner child work, treatment, and peer support. 

Xai struggles with addiction and wants a world where we can heal and talk about our vulnerabilities and stop numbing ourselves. That is WHY Xai Joined Koob Recovery. 

Xai's roots lie in the vibrant Hmong community. Xai is a son, uncle, and brother to 9 siblings. Mother is Tooj and father is Paj Txoo. They hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from St. Cloud State University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University. Xai has 25+ houseplants and enjoys biking and checking off his (never-ending) Wanderlust.

Caddy Frink is the Director of Programs and lead trainer of the Recovery Coach Academy at Minnesota Recovery Connection, overseeing all participants. She is accredited by the State of Minnesota in Cultural Competency, Harm Reduction, Compassion Fatigue, and Intercultural Development Inventory, and is a Minnesota Certification Board trainer. As Director, she supervises the Volunteer Program, Justice-Impacted programming, and leads the organization of the annual Walk for Recovery and Recovery Month, which draws over 4,000 participants each year. With a long history of management roles, Caddy brings a broad range of leadership skills to her work. She is a woman in long-term recovery for 24 years and draws on her personal experience to inspire and support the recovery community.

Kia Lee, MSW, LICSW, MBA, is a proud Hmong woman, mental health professional, educator, and fierce advocate. Shaped by her intersecting identities and the refugee experience, Kia approaches life with passion and grit. Her practice, teaching, and research focus on holistic and integrated connections. 

As a Hmong woman navigating the complexities of culture, generational trauma, and disconnection to finding community and healing, I understand the importance of collective wellness rooted in knowledge and community care. Being part of KOOM allows me to contribute meaningfully to this vision. Healing happens in relationships, and I am committed to co-creating belonging, joy, and healing for individuals, groups, and communities.