Wilder staff Austine Vaughn-Bergling and Samreen Saadi receive MayKao Hang Courageous Leader Award

Congratulations to Austine Vaughn-Bergling and Samreen Saadi, recipients of the first MayKao Hang Courageous Leader Award!

This award recognizes and celebrates Wilder staff who demonstrate leadership related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The award is in honor of former president and CEO MayKao Y. Hang.

Samreen and Austine were selected in appreciation of the work they have done to sustain and grow Wilder's Inclusion Diversity and Equity (WIDE) work. As co-chairs of WIDE, they have created the WIDE Council, a space where all staff are welcome to share, learn, and increase their cultural competence. Their leadership has been critical during the past year due to unprecedented racial injustice and a COVID19 pandemic that created isolation for staff, furthering the need for discussion and healing space.

Samreen is a marketing specialist at Wilder. Until recently, Austine was the volunteer services manager at Wilder. She now works with the Saint Paul Public Library. Congratulations again!

Pictured: Austine Vaughn-Bergling (left) and Samreen Saadi at the 2019 Ordinary Magic gala in support of Wilder.