Icons of Change International Awards 2025
Pauleen Le
Emmy Award–Winning Journalist
Director of Communications & Marketing, Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
Former Anchor and Reporter, WCCO-TV (CBS Minnesota)
Former Morning News Anchor, WDJT CBS 58
Former Morning Anchor/Reporter, WPTA 21.2 Fort Wayne's NBC
Former Live Morning Reporter and Fill-in Anchor, WLUK Fox 11
Former Reporter, WKBT News 8
SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Changemaker in Community Storytelling, Housing Equity, and Public-Interest Communications (United States)
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.
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.
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:
- Leading a Vietnam War 50th Anniversary special, serving as executive producer, reporter, anchor, and editor, coordinating a 12-member cross-functional team.
- Producing an Emmy-winning breaking news coverage package and developing crisis communication plans within critical one-hour windows.
- Driving digital engagement through compelling content that reached tens of thousands across diverse platforms.
- Creating Emmy-nominated features on education, the environment, and long-form investigative storytelling.
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.
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.
