Lanetta (PoePoe) Edison-Soe is a leader, educator, mother, wife, dedicated community servant, and a woman whose life story is a testament to the indestructible nature of the human spirit. To understand the grit behind her work today, you have to go back to the shade of a mango tree on the Thai-Burma border.

A Childhood in Limbo

PoePoe was born in 1984 in the Karen State of Burma. At just five years old, the chaos of war forced her family to flee. They became "internally displaced people," caught in a dangerous limbo where no place was truly safe.

When the family first arrived at the border, formal refugee camps had not yet been established. For several months, PoePoe's family lived under a mango tree. As PoePoe recalls, "We used our plastic backpacks for pillows and made a floor out of leaves. People don't always understand that when you have to leave your culture behind because it's not safe. Your entire experience is different. You learn how to just make do with a tree when it means your family can be safe and together."

Despite the hardship, she watched her father lead with a selfless heart. Her father was a master's graduate in agriculture who lost his livelihood and fled persecution to save his family. Driven to serve his community, her father later trained as a medic and managed medical care for displaced Karen people. "My father was a very selfless person; he never thought about himself, only about other people," PoePoe says. "He used to tell us that education was the only gift he could truly give us."

The Shadow of Illness

By the time PoePoe was a teenager, she had spent 17 years in refugee camps. She dreamed of becoming a nurse and moved in with a family friend to be near a school where she could continue her education. However, her path was cut short by an unexplained, debilitating exhaustion.

In 2002, PoePoe began feeling so tired she could barely walk. Access to advanced medical care was extremely difficult in the refugee camps. So, it took years of seeking out doctors to finally receive a diagnosis of aplastic anemia, a serious health condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells. The treatment she needed, a bone marrow transplant, was unavailable in the camps. Finally, in 2006, she was granted refugee status in the United States for life-saving medical treatment.

A New Life in the States

PoePoe arrived in Utica, New York, accompanied by her older brother, who served as her marrow donor, and an older sister who came to care for them. Life in the states was challenging. At first, PoePoe spoke little English. The medical system was complex and overwhelming, but she found comfort in having family nearby and the local Karen community. Along the way, PoePoe made a few American friends, helpers who treated her with kindness and respect. Her treatment and recovery were long and grueling.

Eventually, in 2010, PoePoe was healthy enough to resume her education. Though she initially considered nursing, her experiences as a patient led her to a different calling. "I chose social work because I want to truly understand the person behind the background, without judgment, because I know what it's like to feel invisible," she explains. "When I help someone with medical support or advocate for a family, I see my own family's journey in theirs.”

Building Community in Lincoln

In 2017, after graduating with her degree in social work, PoePoe moved to Lincoln to join her husband, George. Lincoln offered a thriving Karen community and a place to start their family, which now includes three happy young boys.

PoePoe joined the Asian Center in July 2017. Starting as a Karen advocate, she has grown into a vital leadership role as the Health Programs Manager, overseeing the Asian Center's Health Programs and managing a dedicated team of advocates.

Leading with Expertise

PoePoe's work is evidence of her commitment to the community:

Health Program Leadership: In 2025, the Asian Center's Health Program served 994 individuals across dozens of ethnicities through education and advocacy, totaling over 17,000 hours of service.
Karen Team Management: PoePoe manages the Karen advocate team, which supported 343 individuals in 2025 with over 5,600 hours of service.
Future in Counseling: While growing as a leader at the Asian Center, PoePoe earned a master's degree in counseling. In 2027, when the Asian Center's new building is complete, she will have a dedicated office to provide professional mental health support to immigrant neighbors in Lincoln.

"We say we are blessed here because you don't have to run anymore," PoePoe says. "I am looking forward to our new building and my counseling office. It is a way to use my own experience and skills to help my community build a life here and contribute to the 'good life' in Nebraska.”

PoePoe's journey from the shade of a mango tree to a Master's degree and community builder is a powerful reminder of the resilience, drive, and talent that immigrants bring to Lincoln.

Resilience and Calling: PoePoe’s Journey from a Mango Tree to Master’s Degree