Pa Pra

Pa Pra was born in Shan State, Myanmar. He is a member of the Lisu community, one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in the country. The Lisu trace their ancestry to China and have since spread across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and other parts of Asia. Although Lisu communities share a common language, there are different regional dialects and tones. Growing up, Pa Pra experienced displacement due to the civil war between the Burmese military and the Lisu people. He spent part of his youth living in refugee camps before moving to Thailand at the age of 23. Those years taught him that stability should never be taken for granted. Living through uncertainty requires adaptability, patience, and hope, qualities that became the foundation for many of the decisions Pa Pra made later in life. Even in difficult circumstances, he learned to focus on what he could control, like working hard, learning new skills, and building a life of new opportunities.

In Thailand, he worked for an export company while studying to become an electrician. Like many people seeking greater stability, he viewed the United States as a place where hard work could create opportunities for a better future. In 2007, he left behind his parents in Thailand and immigrated to the United States. He first spent a few months in Kentucky before settling in Minnesota. He had little family nearby and faced challenges adapting to a new language, unfamiliar customs, harsh winters, and learning to navigate public transportation on his own. Although he had already studied electrical work in Thailand, he had to start all over again because his previous education in Thailand was not recognized by the United States. For many immigrants, their previous education and work experience do not carry the same weight in the United States. 

Pa Pra attended St. Paul College for two years while working part-time at a Thai restaurant. Starting over as an adult felt discouraging at times, especially after investing so many years into learning trade. However, these setbacks were not failures, they were temporary obstacles for Pa Pra. He accepted that building a new life meant beginning again, even when that path was longer than expected. Every class he attended and every extra shift he worked became another step toward creating the future he had imagined. 

Although restaurant work was not something Pa Pra initially enjoyed, it became an unexpected turning point. While learning to cook, he also developed the communication and relationship-building skills that would later shape his life and career. He discovered that restaurants are more than just about food. They are places where people gather, celebrate milestones, and build community. As his confidence grew, so did his ability to lead others, problem solve, and mentor employees from different backgrounds. 

In 2015, his uncle asked for help opening a Thai restaurant. He was excited to lend a hand and together they developed the menu. That opportunity led Pa Pra into restaurant ownership. Today, he owns Thai restaurants in Minnesota, including one in Lino Lakes, and partners with relatives and other members of the Lisu community. What began as one restaurant has grown into a network of 33 Lisu-owned Thai restaurants across the region. Watching others succeed became one of the most rewarding parts of his journey because it reflects the same support that helped him grow all those years before. 

For Pa Pra, success has never been about individual achievement alone. He believes a business depends on many people working together, from cooks and cashiers to managers and cleaners. When one restaurant succeeds, he sees an opportunity to help someone else open another. “To me, giving is better than receiving,” he says. His goal is not only to provide for his own family, but to create opportunities for others in his community. He often compares this philosophy to a tree whose branches provide shelter for birds, believing that the more good a person can do, the more people they can support. His leadership reflects this belief. Rather than measuring success only through profit, he measures it by the number of people whose lives improve through employment, mentorship, and the chance to pursue their dreams. He understands that communities become stronger when knowledge, opportunity, and encouragement are shared. 

Family has remained at the center of his life despite them being spread across the world. He and one brother live in Minnesota, while the rest of his siblings live in England, Thailand, and Australia. Although distance has separated them for years, they continue to support each other from afar. Pa Pra last saw his mother in 2023 during his father’s funeral in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Those reunions remind him of the sacrifices his family has made and the resilience that has carried them across the world. Despite the miles between them, their shared values continue to shape the decisions they make and the future they continue to build. 

As a father of two, Pa Pra hopes his children will remain connected to their faith, care for others, and understand their Lisu heritage. He recognizes the challenges younger generations face in maintaining their language and culture and hopes he can help bridge that gap. Looking ahead, he also dreams of importing Thai goods to the United States, continuing to build connections between the places that shaped his life. His journey from displacement in Burma to refugee camps, from rebuilding his life in Thailand to starting over once again in the United States, all reflect a lifelong commitment to perseverance. Through every obstacle he faced, he has continued moving forward with humility, determination, and generosity.