Meet Our Hosts

Abdirahman Ali

Somali Co-Host, Captioner

Originally from Jamame, Somalia, Abdi Ali has been with ECHO for several years.  Abdi works as a medical interpreter as well as a high school teacher.  Abdi says that “ECHO helps people with limited-English proficiency know what is happening in their community, country, and their world.”

Ali Warsame

Somali Co-host, Voice-Overs

bio to come

Zuhur Ahmed

Somali Host

Originally from Burco, Somaliland, and now living in Minnesota, Zuhur is a pre-med student at Concordia University. She hosts a radio program on KFAI called Somali Community Link. She is planning to go to medical school to become a doctor. "ECHO is the only place where important information about health, safety, and emergency preparedness are all at the community's disposal in their own language. I'm very happy and proud to be a part of ECHO!"

Bee Vang

Hmong Host

Originally from Laos, Bee Vang has been with ECHO since 2008. He is self employed and learned about ECHO from another ECHO host. Bee says, "It's a wonderful experience to be a part of a team whose objective is to help get vital information to the community."

Mang Chung (Troung)

Hmong Voiceovers

Originally from Xiangkhoang, Laos, Mang Moua Truong has lived in the Twin Cities since 1981, and has been with ECHO since 2007.  She has been a Telecommunicator/911 Operator for The St. Paul Police Dept and Ramsey County Emergency Communication Center (RCECC) since 2000. Mang says that “One of the greatest joys in life is being able to help those who are less fortunate.”

Ms. Mao Thao

Originally from Thailand, Mao works as a Hmong health coordinator for a local public health agency and has been with ECHO since the beginning of the organization.

Bounleuth Prayounkham Gowing

ECHO Spokesperson

Bounleuth has been working with ECHO since 2004. She works as a elders specialist worker at the Lao Advancement Organization of America and heard of ECHO through her network. She says she is so happy to be a part of ECHO and believes that ECHO is important because most Lao elders don't speak or read English and watching ECHO programming in their own language is very helpful for them.

Ms. Khambay Sivongsay

Originally form Vientiane, Laos. Works as a high school bi-lingual consultant.

Ms. Lasamy Mila

“I like to host the Lao ECHO TV because I believe that I am helping the Lao community have the right information to deal with health and safety issues they and their families face. I am proud that I can serve my community!” Originally from Laos, Ms. Mila migrated to the United State when she was 13 years old.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor in Psychology.  Ms. Mila completed training required by the State of Minnesota for Emergency Managers and became a certified Emergency Manager in March, 2009.

Chamreun Tan

Cambodian Captioner/Translator

Originally from Battambang, Cambodia, Chamreun has been with ECHO since 2004. He is a supervisor in the Adult Case Management Unity at Ramsey County Human Services. Chamreun believes that ECHO is a good resource to help the Cambodian community understand a lot of health resources available to them.

Mr. Henry Ung

Cambodian Host

Henry Ung joined ECHO’s hosting team in 2008. Originally from Kompot, Cambodia, Henry lives in the Twin Cities and works as an Ordinance Enforcement Supervisor at the Saint Paul Public Works Department. He was most recently involved with ECHO’s show on vaccinations. “I’m glad to be a part of it,” Henry said. “ECHO is an important resource for people with limited English language proficiency.”

Rev. Sokurt Suos

“I enjoy working to better people’s lives. ECHO TV's information is helping equip Cambodians to deal with some important issues.” Originally from Cambodia, Reverend Suos serves as pastor of a church.

Sinuon Leiendecker

Cambodian Host

Ericka Bergthold

Spanish Host

A native of Mexico City, Ericka Bergthold started her journey with ECHO in 2005. She is an elementary school teacher and learning and teaching are among her primary interests. Her involvement with ECHO has been a life-changing experience and it has given her great pride in keeping the community safe and informed.

Morgan Michilot

Spanish Host

Originally from Perú, South América, Morgan has been with ECHO since 2004. He is a medical spanish interpreter and translator, web master, and former high school and community education teacher. Morgan says that, "Here at ECHO, we are part of a diverse growing community looking out for one another. As a TV co-host, I get to present up-to-date information, in a timely manner and in my own language, this is a lasting, heartfelt, and life-changing experience. At the end of the day… it matters."

Mr. Leo Espinoza

“I believe that each member of our community has the moral responsibility to help those less fortunate, in this particular case folks that do not speak the English language. There is no greater reward in life then to utilize your skills and talents on behalf of human kind.” Community builder, TV and radio personality, business owner, cultural liaison, and public speaker. Originally from Ecuador.

Silvia Galarza

Originally from Mexico City, Silvia arrived to MN in the year 2000 with her husband and son.  Although they came here with the support and guide of the company where her husband works, she wishes she had known about ECHO so she could get information about health and safety in the USA in her native language. Silvia does voiceovers for the Spanish program. "I feel welcomed at ECHO and I feel that the work I do with ECHO is meaningful." 

Verónica Jaralambides

Spanish Co-host, Translator and Captioner

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Verónica lives and works in the Twin Cities as a Marketing Consultant and Web Designer. She heard of ECHO through community members, and started as an ECHO Ambassador at community Latino events in 2007. Now Verónica works as an ECHO Spanish co-host and captioner. “I believe everyone deserves healthy lives,” Verónica said. “It is important that everyone in our community receives information on health and safety topics, for we need healthy individuals to have a healthy community.”

Khiem Q. Le

Vietnamese Captioner

Originally from Saigon, Vietnam, Khiem has been an ECHO captioner since 2005. Khiem is employed at Wells Fargo in Investments and is also a radio host for KFAI in Minneapolis/Saint Paul. Khiem believes that ECHO has been an important part of the Vietnamese community in Minnesota.

Ms. Elisa Le

Vietnamese Host

Originally from Saigon, Vietnam, Elisa Le has been an ECHO host for over three years.  Elisa moved to the Twin Cities in 2000, and works as an Accounts Payable Supervisor for a private company.  Elisa is also a Board member for the Vietnamese Community of Minnesota, a news announcer/Board Operator for Viet Minnesota Radio, and a 5^th grade Vietnamese teacher. “I like serving as a host for ECHO TV because health issues have an impact on everyone’s lives,” Elisa said.

Negassa Ayana

ECHO Host

Negassa has been an ECHO host since 2011. He works in social service and became involved with ECHO through the Oromo Community of Minnesota. He thinks working with ECHO is important because he wants to help educate and inform community members about issues that affect the highly-populated Oromo community in the metro area.

Surraa Tolasa

ECHO Host

Originally from Oromiyaa, Surraa has been an ECHO host since 2011. He is a student and became involved with ECHO through the Oromo Community of Minnesota. He thinks working with ECHO is important because he wants the experice of educating and informing the Oromo community of the Twin Cities.