CONTACT:

Kathy Graves, Kathy@parenteaugraves.com, 612-242-3184

(Saint Paul, MN – May 11, 2021) – The Bush Foundation today announced the 2021 Bush Fellows, 24 visionary individuals who are leading transformative change in their communities. The Fellows hail from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.

Funny Asian Women Kollective (FAWK) co-founder and co-lead artist Naomi Ko is one of the 24 visionary leaders chosen for this prestigious fellowship. She is the second member of FAWK’s core creative team to have won. May Lee-Yang was previously awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship in 2011.

“We’re very proud of Naomi,” said May Lee-Yang. “In addition to her amazing track record as an individual artist, Naomi has always advanced the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American community in the arts.”

FAWK co-founder Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay stated she’s not surprised Naomi is one of the fellows this year. “Naomi instills confidence in others, she’s a transformational leader, and she is helping create a field of connectors instead of gatekeepers,” said Vongsay. “Also, we’re excited she’s going to buy us lobster and steak dinner.”

Learn more about Naomi’s plans for her fellowship:

Naomi Ko believes artists can be bold architects of social change. She recognizes the tremendous impact that film and television have on perceptions of people and communities. Through her experiences as an actor in Hollywood, as creator and star of the award-winning “Nice” that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and as founder of the Asian Pacific Islander American MN Film Collective, she has seen that people of color lack access to the film and television industries. She wants to develop new pathways and systems for Asian Americans, especially those from the heartland, to share their stories and to build wealth in the entertainment industry. To lead this transformation, she will study policy making in the U.S. and in South Korea to better understand how to create equitable opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers.

If you would like to get to know more about Naomi and the Bush Fellowship, please contact:

Kathy Graves, Kathy@parenteaugraves.com, 612-242-3184