Stories that carry light across cultures and generations

Xue Hwang, also known as Snow Zheng, is a Chinese-born, Austin-based writer, director, performer, producer, and multidisciplinary artist. She is the founder of Kung Fu Cowgirl and a founding board director of Light Way Arts Foundation, creating original work that bridges cultures through theater, movement, music, shadow puppetry, and storytelling.

Her works include the solo play Light (光), the children’s book Impossible Light, and the musical Kung Fu Cowgirl. Her productions have been performed in China and the United States, including Beijing, Harbin, New York, and Austin. Xue is passionate about creating visually poetic, emotionally honest, and accessible performance that brings families and communities together across languages and backgrounds.

Gene Hwang is a producer, creative director, educator, and cultural entrepreneur. He is the producer and creative director of Kung Fu Cowgirl: The Musical, co-producer of the solo stage play Light (光), and co-creator of the illustrated children’s book Impossible Light with his wife and creative partner, Xue Hwang / Snow Zheng.

A UC Berkeley graduate in Molecular & Cell Biology, Gene was also a Student Teacher Poet with June Jordan’s Poetry for the People program. His background spans music, education, storytelling, and international admissions consulting. At Light Way Arts Foundation, Gene helps shape strategy, partnerships, production, and outreach, with a focus on building meaningful cultural experiences that inspire young people and connect communities.

Jonathan Ginsberg brings a global background in education, media, law, and cultural exchange to Light Way Arts Foundation. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University in International Studies, Jonathan lived in China, where he worked with an international corporate law firm and China Radio International, hosting BizChina and serving as a news editor for Today.

He is now Co-Founder and President of Beyond Education Consulting and Executive Director of the Global Friendship City Association. Jonathan is passionate about mentoring young people, building bridges across cultures, and supporting community-based work that deepens understanding through education, friendship, and the arts.