This December Meng Lim will be sworn in as the first Asian American ever to be elected as a judge in Georgia, reports the AJC.
Lim was elected in a rural area where Asian Americans make up just 3 percent of the voting population. What’s even more remarkable, the 42-year old Cambodian American is a survivor of the Cambodian genocide and moved into the community at the age of 9 not speaking a word of English and with no formal education.
He would later be taken in by a foster family after circumstances led to the break up of his family.
“I had really good, strong supporters who are passionate about me, and that was great,” said Lim.
Lim ran a savvy social media campaign on Facebook that is credited with helping win more than 60 percent of the vote.
You can read more about Lim’s story growing up including how he got into a fight in his first week at school in the AJC.