Saymoukda is a Lao American writer. CNN’s “United Shades of America” host W. Kamau Bell called her work “revolutionary.” She’s a recipient of a Sally Award for Initiative from the Ordway Center for Performing Arts which “recognizes bold new steps and strategic leadership undertaken by an individual...in creating projects or artistic programs never before seen in Minnesota that will have a significant impact on strengthening Minnesota’s artistic/cultural community.” She’s best known for her Kung Fu Zombies plays and children’s book When Everything Was Everything. She’s an advisory board member of the nonprofits More Than A Single Story and Asian Pacific Islander American Film Collective. Other community contributions include having served on the City of Saint Paul Cultural STAR Board and the Governor’s State Poet Laureate program design and interview/selection committees. Saymoukda is currently a Bush Fdn Leadership Fellow in playwriting, a Mellon Fdn Playwright in Residence at Theater Mu, a Jerome Hill Artist Fellow in playwriting, a Jerome@Camargo Artist in Residence in Cassis, France, and a Center for Cultural Power Narrative Design Lab Fellow. Upcoming plays include commissioned work from Mixed Blood Theatre (MN), Theater Mu (MN), and InterAct Theatre Co. (PA)