by Dennis Dalman
(Editor’s note: The Newsleaders would like to thank Leah Rado for providing information for this story. Rado is the marketing and communications specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota.)
One day about three years ago, Dr. Rachel Schuneman of Sartell had an “ah-hah!” moment when she heard a radio ad for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota.
Schuneman and Dr. Yang Koua Lo, a married couple, had long pondered the idea of wanting to give back to their community by supporting a local child, but they weren’t sure just how to do that. Then, one day out of the blue, Schuneman heard that radio ad, and a light bulb suddenly went on in her mind: “Yes, ah-hah! That’s it!
Schuneman is a doctor of dermatology at CentraCare, and Lo is a doctor who specializes in family medicine. The two of them agreed becoming a “Big Brother and Big Sister” to a “Little Sister” would be a fine thing to do. In April 2022, they were matched up by the organization with a young girl named Journi, and since then all three of them have been on a remarkable, exhilarating journey filled with lots of fun and life-changing successes.
At first it was mainly just Rachel and Journi who enjoyed baking together, talking together and just hanging out with each other. Later, Yang also joined in on the fun, making himself and Rachel a Big Brothers Big Sister “Duo.” Just recently, they were honored as “2025 Duo of the Year” by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota.
“Being a duo means being able to get involved with Journi,” Yang said. “Seeing Journi and Rachel get along and having met her, I was just enthralled with her personality. I get the joy of watching her grow into a young woman.”
Journi was only 9 years old when she met Rachel and Yang. The duo immediately started working with Journi’s mother, Esther, to ensure Journi was doing well in school and coordinating support with Esther in times when Journi was struggling with something or other.
Esther was impressed to learn Yang and Rachel would help her daughter so much with new books, research and other forms of solid support when she was having difficulties with this or that school subject or any discomforts in the classroom.
Exposing Journi to new experiences broadened her horizons and filled her with newfound confidence in herself and in her potential.
The trio loves to go fishing, although at first Journi wasn’t too sure if she’d like that activity. But it didn’t take long that she took to fishing like – well – a fish takes to water. Once a year, the trio attends the “Fishing with Muskies Inc.” event. Journi even won an award for most fish caught at the event.
Yang taught Journi how to play pickleball, which she now enjoys, and the trio loves to cook together and to try new foods. One day, Journi even had the chance to meet in St. Paul the renowned French-Hmong pastry chef, Marc Heu, whom Yang knows well.
Mother Esther said that having Rachel and Yang there to support Journi has given her daughter a big boost of confidence to help her understand she can be anything she chooses to be. She now dreams of going to school to become a cosmetologist.
“We’ve been through different things (with Rachel and Yang) and I think it makes you a better person than you already were,” Journi said. “They deserve the Big Duo of the Year award because they’re very nice people, and they treat me like they would treat their own kids.”
A very happy trio is comprised of (left to right) Dr. Yang Koua Lo, Journi and Dr. Rachel Schuneman. Lo and Schuneman were recently honored as the “Duo of the Year for 2025” by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. They have been happily mentoring Journi, and the trio has loads of fun together – cooking, fishing, talking, meeting people, to name just four activities.
