Icons of Change International Awards 2025<br /><br />Pauleen Le<br />Emmy Award–Winning Journalist <br />Director of Communications & Marketing, Project for Pride in Living (PPL)<br />Former Anchor and Reporter, WCCO-TV (CBS Minnesota)<br />Former Morning News Anchor, WDJT CBS 58<br />Former Morning Anchor/Reporter, WPTA 21.2 Fort Wayne's NBC<br />Former Live Morning Reporter and Fill-in Anchor, WLUK Fox 11<br />Former Reporter, WKBT News 8<br /><br />SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities<br />Changemaker in Community Storytelling, Housing Equity, and Public-Interest Communications (United States)<br /><br />Pauleen Le is a dynamic communicator, award-winning journalist, and purpose-driven leader whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, equity, and community transformation. Her career, marked by an Emmy win and fourteen nominations, demonstrates a consistent commitment to elevating underrepresented voices and shaping narratives that drive public understanding and social impact.<br /><br />Today, as Director of Communications and Marketing at Project for Pride in Living (PPL)—a highly respected nonprofit creating pathways through affordable housing, asset building, and employment readiness—Pauleen advances a mission aligned squarely with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. She spearheads strategic communication initiatives that amplify community resilience, strengthen stakeholder trust, and demonstrate the concrete ways PPL helps individuals and families build stability and self-reliance.<br /><br />Before transitioning into the nonprofit leadership space, Pauleen built a distinguished journalism career across major U.S. news markets, including WCCO-TV in Minnesota, CBS58 Milwaukee, Fort Wayne’s NBC, WLUK FOX 11, and WKBT News 8. Her portfolio includes:<br /><br />- Leading a Vietnam War 50th Anniversary special, serving as executive producer, reporter, anchor, and editor, coordinating a 12-member cross-functional team.<br /><br />- Producing an Emmy-winning breaking news coverage package and developing crisis communication plans within critical one-hour windows.<br /><br />- Driving digital engagement through compelling content that reached tens of thousands across diverse platforms.<br /><br />- Creating Emmy-nominated features on education, the environment, and long-form investigative storytelling.<br /><br />Throughout her newsroom journey, Pauleen consistently championed stories of ordinary people achieving extraordinary impact, leveraging thoughtful writing, powerful visuals, and a deep respect for community perspectives. Her leadership extended beyond reporting—she acted as interim manager, script reviewer, digital strategist, and mentor within multiple broadcast teams.<br /><br />From documenting tornado recovery efforts in Oklahoma, to reporting on national civil unrest in Wisconsin, to spearheading anti-Asian hate coverage during the pandemic, Pauleen’s work reflects a steady commitment to context, accuracy, and humanity.<br />
