Meet Voua Her

When Voua Her joined Rise’s Minnesota Employment Center (MEC) in February 2024 as an Occupational Communication Specialist, he brought with him a genuine desire to help others succeed.

Before Rise, Voua worked at a staffing agency recruiting people for various jobs. He enjoyed helping others find work, but when the pandemic hit, the agency’s group-based model came to a sudden halt. That experience, along with his growing involvement in the Deaf community, led him to consider a new career path.

“I chose to apply to work with Rise because I wanted a way to provide accessibility and support to the Deaf Hmong community,” Voua explained. “On my own, I didn’t really know where to start looking, as the Deaf Hmong community tends to keep to itself. I’ve only really met seven Deaf Hmong people myself through being involved in the Deaf community over four years.”

Voua’s introduction to Rise came through someone who saw his potential – an MEC supervisor who persistently encouraged him to apply. “A certain MEC supervisor of mine would slyly slide over the application to me at each event I attended while pretending to look away and whistle. Their persistence and humor with their approach made me apply,” Voua shared.

Since that moment, Voua has found his place. He immediately connected with the mission and values of Rise and thrives on the collaboration within his team. “What I enjoy most about working at Rise is the team and people I get to work with,” he said. “I’ve had many experiences that have helped me learn and discover more about myself and ways I can support the community we serve.”

Voua’s Impact

Person-centered work is at the heart of what Voua does, and he takes that seriously. Every person he supports has their own story, background, and goals, and Voua makes sure to meet them where they are.

“I love that the work changes and adapts to each person in the way that we say our work is person-centered,” he said. “The ability to make our own decisions in how we support allows our role to continually change to match the needs of the people we serve.”

That mindset shows up in the way Voua approaches challenges. He doesn’t just complete tasks, he invests himself in outcomes that matter. One of his proudest moments came when a person he supported landed their dream job after several failed attempts on their own. “We both did a little happy dance once we were outside the building after receiving the offer,” Voua said.

His supervisor, Austin Beatty, shared that this kind of dedication is what sets Voua apart. “Voua has tirelessly worked to support the people on his caseload, often going above and beyond to see something through,” Austin said. “He has great empathy for others around him and does not tolerate imbalance or injustice.”

Austin recalled several examples of Voua’s advocacy in action, from pushing for fair pay for someone who was offered less than they deserved to spending hours with another person at the Social Security office until a billing error was fully corrected. “He responds to the best of his ability and reaches out for support when he knows he’s over his head,” Austin said. “He finds creative and innovative ways to keep things moving forward and is tireless in his pursuit. He’s respectful in every interaction, holds himself accountable, and models that for others.”

MEC Program Manager Sheila Ritter said his growth has been remarkable. “Voua has really grown throughout his time at Rise and has truly hit his stride,” she said. “He’s had a stellar month with a lot of placements, so I think it’s a very fitting time to recognize him as a Champion of the Month.”

Voua Outside of Rise

When he’s not at work, Voua enjoys activities that allow him to recharge and express himself creatively. “My special interests are singing and learning about different kinds of therapy for healing physically and mentally,” he shared. He also enjoys playing games and planning fun activities with friends.

Thank you, Voua, for everything you bring to Rise MEC and the people you serve.