Meet Elsie Saengkhamyong | Artist & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elsie Saengkhamyong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elsie, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
As I got older I saw how the generations before and after me were taking proactive steps to create a welcoming and educational atmosphere for the Lao diaspora. When I took a leap into learning more about where my parents came from, their hardships, and my family’s stories of coming to the US- I was left in awe. I wanted to empower our generation to keep their legacies alive, embody their struggles, and modernize new generational cycles. Just Saeng is a representation of the collected creative skills I have built over 5 years. The social media page turned blog, is a visual display of my artwork, photography, videography, journalism, and historical education. Just Saeng allows any type of audience an entryway into understanding not just Laotian culture, but a multitude of different Asian communities. Through writing, reenacting, and video Saeng and other South/South East Asian creators have formed a presence to teach our diaspora and surrounding peers- not just who we are as an ethnic group, but what can be of us as we become allies to one another.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Just Saeng is a coming-of-age blog targeted to the incoming generations in the Asian community. Each article serves as a resource to any who are curious like an older sister guiding you to avoid a mistake or to learn in a more efficient way that she did not have the chance to have. While Just Saeng started out solely focusing on world events like “Hate is a Virus” and shifted to bringing attention to Lao history and recognition to the US- it is now growing into a resource of cultural awareness, social trends that are combining communities and overcoming previous hurdles due to the model minority, and providing a safe space to those with questions about appreciating culture.

This journey was not easy as I faced several banned accounts and not being able to recover content due to these reports. I was aware not everyone would agree to my content and simply do what they needed to see my work get taken down. When my social media turned into a blog forum- citation sources, interviews, and even podcast appearances helped me renavigate back to my audience who had no idea of my banishment from apps like Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook. The drive to share about Lao History, the effects of war on our grandparents/parents, and how it cycled to their children: creating a space to share about our mental health was not going to diminish.

I learned that every “setback” and step forward would come tenfold, I stopped dwelling on past events as they no longer served me as I made movements towards re-establishing and maintaining my intended purpose of Just Saeng. The love and support from various communities helped keep the fire to create alive, new account or blog- no matter where I ended up I was reminded that my work was doing good for others in the exact way I intended.

I want the world to know Just Saeng is just one of many forces working to bring a form of ethnic equity to the world. May many other soon-to-be advocates and community members feel the power of their voices and their words are making an impact in higher multitudes that we’ve never seen before. Just Saeng continues in hopes of inspiring others to step into their ethnic identities and voices.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out my family, as they not only guided this journey but walked through it with me.

My late grandmother who encouraged and glistened with happiness witnessing her grandkids learn to love where she came from.

All my friends who have become a second family to me, as they have no exact way of understanding what it was like for me growing up or even being an adult and creating a voice for the Lao Diaspora. They have never waivered in support, engagement of current topics in the world, and spreading awareness alongside me.

Website: https://www.justsaeng.com/

Instagram: @Just_Saeng

Facebook: Just Saeng

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justsaeng

Other: We are starting a Docu-Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX4gJEEyrcU&t=3s

Image Credits
©ArtworkByElsie LLC