Aaliyah McQueen is a versatile artist whose passion for creativity has shaped a dynamic and meaningful career. An active member of In Progress for over five years, she now serves as the organization’s Artist Services Coordinator. In this role, she brings her enthusiasm for artistic exploration to every project and community she engages with.
Aaliyah’s artistic journey has included a wide range of experiences, from photographing the Rice Street Parade to curating exhibits and designing postcards. She has hosted family portrait sessions that celebrate community and connection and has taught camera skills to youth at the McDonough Recreation Center. Her work reflects a commitment to using art as a way to build relationships and inspire others.
As an artist, Aaliyah believes in the importance of continuously expanding her perspective and learning new skills. She is a firm believer that age is no barrier to growth and that it is never too late to develop new passions. Her dedication to lifelong learning has allowed her to thrive creatively and to encourage others to embrace their own artistic journeys.
18 Aug 2025
Kazua Melissa Vang circa 2014
Kazua Melissa Vang is a Hmong-American multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, photographer, and cultural producer based in Minnesota. Her work is deeply rooted in personal narrative, cultural memory, and the desire to amplify underrepresented voices within her community and beyond. A gifted visual storyteller, Vang’s photography has been exhibited at numerous respected venues, including In Progress, Second Shift Studio Space, Indigenous Roots, Quarter Gallery at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, The Gordon Parks Gallery at Metro State University, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
18 Aug 2025
Kristine Sorensen circa 1987
Kristine Sorensen is one of the founding artists of In Progress. She serves both as the executive director for the organization and is a teaching artist that mentors youth and adults throughout the state of Minnesota. She tells her story of what it means to be an In Progress artist.
4 Aug 2025
Dhoua Vue circa 2011
Dhoua Vue is a young talented storyteller who is dedicated to creating short films about her life and real life situations that affect young people. Dhoua was born into In Progress and is 3rd generation Hmong and 2nd generation filmmaker. She tells her story of what it means to be an In Progress artist.
16 Jul 2025
Mickies Kiros / circa 2023
Mickies Kiros is a passionate creative writer and storyteller who is dedicated to capturing his unique perspective on the world through words. Always seeking inspiration in his surroundings, he is actively honing his skills in story and narrative writing. His commitment to developing his craft has led him to attend multiple writing workshops and to study and draw from all forms of art, while building connections with fellow creatives and writers throughout the Twin Cities.
27 Aug 2024
Morgen Arguelles / circa 2016
Morgen Arguelles shares her story as a developing artist, the making of her film 4600 Children, and her work as a curator for In Progress's Studio 110 in Crookston Minnesota.
27 Aug 2024
Masyn Arguelles / circa 2017
Masyn Arguelles has been an active In Progress artists since they were the age of 11. Masyn is a photographer and writer and presents in this interview how she first recognized her talent as a writer. In their own words: "On my own time, I write a lot. It is usually poetry/spoken word. It may not be considered deep poetry, but it’s something I enjoy. Once Masyn graduates high school, they are considering a career in the military.
27 Aug 2024
McKinna Amiot / circa 2022
McKinna Amiot participated in our summer Storytellers Project at Studio 110 in Crookston. She has a deep love of nature and photography.
14 Jun 2024
Kao Choua Vue / circa 2007
Kao Choua got her start with In Progress around 2007. She became a documentary filmmaker and founder of the Qhia Dab Neeg Flim Festival while working for In Progress. She now lives in northern California but continues to check in with us with dreams of bring back the Qhia Dab Film Festival in 2025.
4 Aug 2022
Azomali Obisakin / circa 2020
In this episode, artist Azomali Obisakin talks about her history as a filmmaker, the acknowledgements she has received with the completion of her first film, and an upcoming movie she is producing about the impact of racism on children.
4 Aug 2022
Calixtra Bouchard / circa 2018
In this episode, artist Calixtra Boucahrd talks about why she likes to movies and shares her history as an artist with In Progress working from Crookston Minnesota.
2 Aug 2022
Prue Cha / circa 2022
In this episode, artist Cha Prue talks about why she likes to create animated videos and shares some special memories she carries of playing with her cousin Ghia Vue.
9 Jul 2022
Sai Thao / circa 1992
In this episode, artist and co-founder of In Progress Sai Thao, explores her early days as an artist, her work as a teaching artist and what is on the horizon as she continues to develop programs for storytelling.
4 Feb 2022
Yeeleng Vue / circa 2007
In this episode artist Yeeleng Vue discusses how he first got involved with In Progress and how he now uses many of the skills he learned in his professional life.
7 Jan 2022
Jem Ebony / circa 2019
In this episode artist Jem Ebony explores her early days as an artist with In Progress. She shares her insights on how she explores her own creativity and provides thoughtful guidance on how to live your life as an artist.
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