California Karen Youth Connection
Workshop Facilitator/Speaker Bio
- Tharamu Lu May
Tharamu Lu May received her Bachelor of Education in Burma, and her Master’s Degree in English in Singapore. Upon graduation, Tharamu Lu May began her career as an Associate Professor at Theodore Than Byah Christian Institute teaching General Linguistics to undergraduates. Tharamu Lu Lay is actively engaged in educating Karen people especially the displayed Karen people in Brigade 5, Oo Dah Tah. Teaching and education have been the cornerstone of her passion because she knows that education is the key to opening doors of opportunity.
Tharamu Sandar
Graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 2004. Since graduating, Naw Sandar has held various positions in technology companies. She is currently working as a Program Manager in a company which provides building servers and racks for networking and computing solutions. Aside from her professional career, Naw Sandar makes an effort in putting time to work with different organizations to support internally displaced people (IDP) at the border of Thailand and Burma.
- Tharamu Dr. Ellen
Tharamu Dr. Ellen received her Doctor of Ministry at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon graduation, Dr. Ellen teaches Leadership Development and Church Growth at KBC USA Karen Theological Study Center in Minnesota. Dr. Ellen is also a full time Karen language teacher at Hope Community Academy in Saint Paul. Dr. Ellen has given numerous presentations and training about youth leadership development, young women leadership development and management, community engagement, Christian faith, project management, and Karen culture and history.
- Tharamu Bleh Htoo
Tharamu Bleh Htoo currently serves as the Executive Director of Literacy and Cultural Department of the Karen Baptist Churches in the USA. She’s been conducting numerous trainings to Karen teachers and community leaders across the US and motivating them to create Karen language class in church and in community. She values the importance of preserving Karen language in the U.S. because she knows that many Karen people living in the U.S. do not speak or even understand their native language.
- Ta Nay Tha
Ta Nay Tha (born Umpiem-Mai Refugee Camp, Thailand) is a college undergraduate student who started school pursuing the sciences but refocused his studies on the liberal arts. Now he is pursuing history and legal studies at Pacific Union College because of his love for storytelling and history since childhood. He has been a youth of CKYC since year one, and loves to share his obsession of Karen History, Karen politics, Ancient Civilization, Codes of Law, and Historical Analysis with fellow Karens (Karen-interested individuals). Ta is also a member of the CKYC Executive Committee.
- Thara Lahkbaw
Graduating from Indiana University with a degree in International Studies and Computer Science. He has more than a decade of industrial experience in a global consulting firm and higher ed institution. Currently he is at University of California, Davis. He is organizing the community in Sacramento where he lives and also working with the Karen Organization of America. He loves to read and write and is organizing a writing platform.
- Christabelle Naw
Graduating from the University of California, Merced with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in Public Health, Christabelle Naw embarked on a journey of service and empowerment. Beginning as a Karen interpreter at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Christabelle lent her skills to support refugees resettling in Oakland, California. Her commitment to healthcare accessibility led her to work as a Community Health Worker for Every Woman Counts (EWC) program, where she engaged in community outreach, ensuring free breast and cervical cancer screening as well as diagnostic services to underserved populations. Eager to make a profound impact in education, she joined the AmeriCorp program at United Elementary School, dedicating herself to tutoring and teaching. As an after-school program teacher and a summer S.T.E.M program instructor, she guided and inspired students of various grade levels. Currently, Christabelle serves as a Karen Health Navigator at the Frank Kiang Medical Center, Asian Health Services, where she plays a vital role in providing inclusive health, social, and advocacy services to individuals from the underserved, underrepresented, and low-income communities. Her dedication extends beyond her professional endeavors as she actively contributes to the CKYC Executive Committee, working alongside fellow visionaries to shape a better future.
- Ko Ser Lu Htoo
Ko graduated from University of California, Davis with bachelor’s degree in political science, Sociology and Human Rights. Upon graduation, he started a job as a Youth Employment Counselor with Lao Family Community Development. Ko mentors’ diverse youth in the Bay Area with employment search, job preparation, leadership development, and professional development. Ko is also a member of the CKYC Executive Committee.
- Thara Kler Eh Soe
Thara Kler Eh Soe graduated from Doo Pla Ya District High School and began his public service as a Chairman of the Karen Student Network Group. Thara Kler Eh Soe was involved in many departments and organizations of the Karen National Union. Upon arrival in the U.S., Thara Kler Eh Soe was the main force of forming and creating the Karen Organization of America. In 2018, Thara Kler Eh Soe was elected as joint secretary, and in 2023, he was elected as vice president of the Karen Organization of America.
Mayor Karen Goh
Mayor Karen Goh, elected in November 2016 to serve as the 26th Mayor of the City of Bakersfield, believes in the people of Bakersfield – hard working, productive people of faith and family living at the center of food, fiber, and energy production. Mayor Goh is employing her love for Bakersfield and depth of experience in business, government, and community service to set new goals and build upon our city’s strengths. Mayor Goh was re-elected to a second four-year term in March 2020. Her focus as mayor: Jobs – create more and better paying jobs with positive business climate; Public Safety – build stronger relationships between police officers and citizens; Education – the doorway to a better life; have city government and businesses working more closely with schools.
Karen People in California 