Jewelry Pouna Keodara

My Story

Jewelry Pouna Keodara is a Lao American from Urbana, IL, and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Through her work with the UIUC Asian American Cultural Center and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, she is committed to advocating for AAPI communities. As an Advocacy Ambassador with Legacies of War, she hopes to uplift those affected by the war in Laos—whose stories mirror those of her loved ones and community—amplifying voices too often left in the shadows and honoring the war’s enduring legacy.