Photojournalist
Hao Taing is a photographer, a marketer, and the visionary founder of the international non-profit, Local4Local. With a mission to catalyze kindness, Local4Local is a grassroots 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to uplifting the lives of cyclo drivers and informal workers in Cambodia; emphasizing on alleivating food hunger and promoting community tourism. As a creative at heart, Hao also co-founded, Feel The Warmth, an artist-led initiative behind the heartfelt projects including Apsara Granny, and the Cyclo King. A proud graduate of the University of Minnesota in Marketing, Hao currently works with the Brand and Marketing team the Minnesota Star Tribune.
GABRIELLA SOUR
Director Of Operations &
Principal Dancer of Wattanak Dance Troupe
Gabriella Sour is a Cambodian dancer whose artistry is rooted in the centuries-old traditions of Khmer dance while embracing the evolving landscape of Cambodian performance arts. As a specialist in the female role (Neang), she brings a refined grace and deep cultural reverence to her performances. Gabriella began her training at the age of twelve and has since dedicated herself to preserving and advancing Cambodian classical dance. Her artistic journey has been shaped by intensive training under master teachers, Phousita Huy and Yousedy Peov, as well as Peter Veth of Urban Khmer Ballet and Garrett Sour, whose mentorships have refined her technique and deepened her understanding of the form's expressive and narrative power. Currently serving as a principal dancer and operations manager of Wattanak Dance Troupe, Gabriella is involved in shaping the troupe's artistic and organizational direction. She is also a dedicated educator, mentoring beginner and intermediate students and cultivating the next generation of Cambodian dancers. Her performances have been featured widely across Minnesota and in Lowell, Massachusetts, with The Reachany Project and Urban Khmer Ballet, collaborations that reflect her commitment to expanding the reach of Cambodian dance within diverse artistic communities. Through her work, Gabriella explores the intersection of heritage and contemporary expression, ensuring that Cambodian classical dance remains a living, evolving art form.
SARA GREGOR
Lead Curator / Writer & Visual Artist
Sara Gregor is a Cambodian-American artist, writer, and educator whose interdisciplinary practice explores memory, ritual, and cultural identity. Grounded in Buddhist philosophy and Southeast Asian visual traditions, her work engages themes of healing and the sacred through painting, writing, and community storytelling.
Sara holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Asian Studies from Macalester College, where she also managed the campus radio station and directed student arts magazines—platforms she used to uplift emerging voices and build creative communities. A longtime student of meditation, she has trained with the Namchak Foundation and Shambhala International, deepening a contemplative path that informs both her art and teaching.
In recent years, Sara has begun volunteering more actively at Watt Munisotaram, the Cambodian Buddhist temple in Minnesota, as part of her effort to reconnect with her heritage. Through participating in New Year’s ceremonies and building relationships with fellow Cambodian-Americans, she is deepening her commitment to cultural expression, community care, and intergenerational connection.
Her creative work seeks to hold space for reflection, resilience, and reverence—where ancestral wisdom meets contemporary voice.