The Power of
Knocking.

"At a time when I felt unseen, she saw me — fully, intentionally — and chose to step into my life in a way that changed everything. She gave me language for my worth before I had any of my own. There's a quiet, beautiful irony about Kim: she once came into the world as a refugee searching for safety and belonging — and somehow, she became exactly that for so many others. What she once needed, she chose to become. For me, and for so many, Kim isn't just someone who understands refuge — she is refuge."

"When Kim spoke about identity and finding her relatives in Vietnam, my heart pounded — because here was someone reaching toward family across an ocean while I felt neither American nor Vietnamese enough to even face my own home. Her courage planted the seed of healing that, ten years later, allowed me to build a heartfelt relationship with my dad before he passed."

"For decades, I carried the stress of those grueling 16-hour days and a lingering worry about whether we had done enough. Seeing everyone's incredible success and feeling their genuine acceptance at the reunion finally settled those old anxieties, replacing fifty years of uncertainty with a profound sense of peace. I immensely thank Kim for the incredible care she put in to make this healing experience happen."

"Kim, you're family. I'm so pleased you led the 50th reunion of former Eglin camp refugees, military personnel and volunteers and helped document my service there for posterity. You've given me a once-in-a-lifetime appreciation of joy from an unexpected relationship that epitomizes the best of America. I love you, congratulations, Mrs. Vietnam!"

"I invited Kim to speak at our youth conference at UNLV, where she shared her story with young Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students. It was one of the most powerful and memorable presentations I had ever experienced. Many of the students had never heard such a personal story about sacrifice, resilience, and the immigrant journey behind success in America. Her words helped them better understand what their own parents and families may have endured."

"After learning Kim's refugee story, I invited her to co-facilitate an identity workshop at the annual OCA National Convention for two consecutive years. Collaborating on Perspectives on APA Identity & Self-Awareness nearly 16 years ago was more than just a conversation — it was a formative experience for me both personally and professionally. The inclusive space we created for honest dialogue around identity, belonging, and self-awareness continues to influence how I approach leadership, advocacy, and community-centered work today."

"I was the Indian-American girl who talked about what a struggle it has been for me to accept my identity and find community. You are one of those people who really impacted me and made me think a lot about my life. This summer really, really changed me — I grew so much more than I did in any of the past 3 years in college. You have no idea how much your life has touched me and helped me heal."

"Ms. Delevett was so incredibly helpful to me both as a role model and just as a person to talk to. Her presentation allowed me to understand and process my identity as an Asian American woman in ways I hadn't thought of before. It was amazing to see a fellow AAPI woman truly shine so bright. I really believe that Ms. Delevett should give more presentations — especially to high school students like myself who are looking for a voice in the world."

"You made me want to go talk to my grandpa about the Vietnam War."