▁New ▁York ' s ▁Ro chester ▁Institute ▁of ▁Technology ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁ ▁Fou ng ▁was ▁a ▁series ▁producer ▁for ▁T win ▁C ities ▁Public ▁Television ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁before ▁starting ▁his ▁own ▁multimedia ▁business ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁Digital ▁Mot ion ▁L LC . ▁He ▁co - f ounded ▁the ▁H m ong - American ▁D FL ▁C au cus ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁and ▁other ▁community ▁organizations ▁including ▁Center ▁for ▁the ▁H m ong ▁Arts ▁and ▁Tal ent , ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁H m ong ▁Chamber ▁of ▁Com merce ▁and ▁Gate way ▁Food ▁In iti ative ▁Co - op ▁which ▁launched ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁Market ▁on ▁East ▁ 7 th ▁Street . ▁ ▁Minnesota ▁Senate ▁Fou ng ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁nine ▁D FL ▁candidates ▁running ▁for ▁the ▁Senate ▁seat ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁losing ▁in ▁the ▁primary ▁to ▁St . ▁Paul ▁police ▁chief ▁John ▁Harr ington . ▁He ▁ran ▁again ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁supported ▁by ▁the ▁Sierra ▁Club ▁and ▁a ▁broad ▁coal ition ▁that ▁included ▁the ▁H m ong - American ▁community , ▁but ▁also ▁Lat ino , ▁Som ali , ▁and ▁African ▁American ▁vot ers . ▁He ▁won ▁the ▁primary , ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁general ▁election ▁on ▁November ▁ 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁His ▁legisl ative ▁concerns ▁include ▁economic ▁development , ▁education , ▁housing , ▁environment , ▁and ▁health care .