NCVA eREPORTER
- October 18, 2005
The National
Congress of Vietnamese Americans' NCVA eReporter is a regular email
newsletter containing information on
grant/funding
opportunities, events/forums/conferences, available
internships
and news items pertinent to the Vietnamese American and Asian
Pacific American communities.
In this NCVA eReporter:
EVENTS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
TIPS/RESOURCES
NEWS
******************
EVENTS
Join us for our...
COMMUNITY HEALTH & LEGAL FAIR
on SATURDAY
October 22, 2005
from 10am - 1:30pm
@ BPSOS' office: 6066 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA
Free or low-fee services available: Blood pressure test * Cholesterol & Glucose tests * Pap Smears test * Workshops on HIV/AIDS, Medicare/Medicaid and other health related services
Attorneys will be available to answer questions on Immigration, Consumer, Housing, Employment and Family Law.
Employment opportunities from prospective employers: Fairfax County Skills Source Center and Buhl Electric Company.
Please join us for the festivities! For more information, please contact:
Hang Duong at (703) 538-2190 or hang.duong@bpsos.org
Sponsored by: Boat People SOS, Northern Virginia Community College-Medical Education Center, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Doors of Hope and Fairfax County Consolidated Funding Pool.
******************
VIETNAMESE SILICON VALLEY NETWORK ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY
November 5, 2005 (Saturday)
8:00 am - 7:00 p.m.
Entrepreneurs Academy
VSVN, the Vietnamese Silicon Valley Network, welcomes you to the Entrepreneurs Academy. Held on a quarterly basis, the Entrepreneurs Academy aims to provide engineers, scientists and professionals like you the understanding, and knowledge to turn your ideas and dreams into reality. This month we welcome Chris Larsen, former CEO/Chairman of eLoan, flanked by our usual cast of highly-respected domain experts including Michael Griego of XML Partners, Yu Hao Lin of Lin Management Group, Susan Cheng of IDG Ventures, Paul Rogers of Rogers & Meador/Haas Business School, and Michael Farn of Fenwick & West.
08:00 - 09:00 Registration and Breakfast
09:00 - 09:45 Initial Study: Concept Validation - Lin Management, Yu Hao Lin
10:00 - 10:45 Legal Structure - Fenwick & West, Michael Farn
11:00 - 11:45 Positioning & Presentation - Rogers & Meador, Paul Rogers/IDG Ventures, Susan Cheng
12:00 - 01:30 Lunch & Keynote Speaker - founder and former CEO of e-loan, Chris Larsen
01:45 - 02:30 Beta Customers & Sales - MXL Partners, Michael Griego
03:15 - 04:00 Financing - Lin Management, Yu Hao Lin
04:15 - 05:30 VC & CEO Discussion Panel
05:30 - 07:00 Wine and networking
More information: http://www.vsvn.org/ea/ehtml/factsheet.html
Register: http://www.vsvn.org/event_registration.htm
******************
2005 GALA FUND-RAISING DINNER – TRAFFICKING OF VIETNAMESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Friday November 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
Lucky Three Restaurant (Baileys Crossroads)
5900 Leesburg Pike – Falls Church, VA 22041 – (703) 998-8888
$30/ticket or Sponsorship
Keynote speaker
Dr. Nguyen Van Hanh, Exec. Dir. ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement)
Dateline Video
Trafficking of Vietnamese Children in Cambodia
Presentation of Awards
* International Justice Mission
* Kelly Ryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
* Amb. John Miller, Exec. Dir., Trafficking in Persons, Department of State
Entertainment
* Prof. Kim Oanh & Rommie Behrens
* Snapper Tappers: tap dance by former Ms. Virginia Senior America queens & contestants
* South-East Asian Troupe: folkloric and traditional Vietnamese music & dance
* Fashion Show: Vietnamese costumes of three regions of North, Central & South Vietnam
* Ballroom Dancing with Singers: Phuong Vi, Dinh Hung, Bao Vi, Kieu Nga, Hoang Anh
Sponsorship
Gold: $2,000+; Silver: $1,000+; Bronze: $500+; Supporter: $300 for a table of 10; Associate Supporter $100 for 3 tickets; Friend: $60 for 2 tickets; Single Tickets: $30
Funds Awarded to two NGOs in Taiwan & Cambodia providing shelter, treatment, crisis-counseling, health and legal services to victims
Checks to: VAVA, Inc., (Vietnamese-American Voters Association) a tax-exempt organization, that has provided educational, civic, health and social services to Vietnamese Americans since 1999). Treasurer and auditor: Xuan Lan & Ngoc Coulter
Mail to: Jackie Bong-Wright
President & CEO, VAVA, Inc.
1308 S. Washington ST
Falls Church, VA 22046
Contact: Phone: (703) 536-3186 Cell: (703) 989-1149
******************
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR INITIATIVE
Advocates for Youth is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for community-based, minority, youth-serving organizations and institutions. Advocates for Youth is a national organization dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provide information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policy makers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and the developing world.
Half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in young people under age 25. Moreover, rates of HIV infection are disproportionately high among young women of color. To prevent HIV infection among young women most at risk, Advocates for Youth established a Young Women of Color Initiative. Since 1998, Advocates has partnered with the NAACP, National Council of La Raza, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, and Black Entertainment Television (BET) to mobilize communities to get actively involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS for young African Americans/blacks, Latinos, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.
Through the Young Women of Color Initiative, your staff may receive culturally relevant publications and materials on HIV prevention programming, strategic technical assistance and training, and seed grants to implement HIV prevention projects for young women, 13 to 24 years old. Services offered through this initiative are tailored to fit the needs of your organization, so that you may receive what you need and not a duplication of resources.
Please see the attached materials for more information about this opportunity, including criteria for selection. The application form and/or proposal are due by October 31, 5:00 p.m. EDT. Please mail or fax applications to Smita Varia, Program Manager, Young Women of Color Initiative, Advocates for Youth, 2000 M Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 419-1448.
(http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/ywoclc.htm)
******************
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE CHALLENGE GRANTS
WHO: Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits having a [section]501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, nonprofits that do not have a [section]501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
WHAT: The intent of the 2005 Challenge Grant competition is to engage volunteers in disaster relief and recovery for the population affected by the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region.
WHEN: Applications are due November 9, 2005.
ANTICIPATED AWARD AMOUNT: Eight awards totaling $4,000,000.
CONTACT: Marci Hunn at ChallengeGrants@cns.gov or (202) 606-7507.
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT:
(http://fedgrants.gov/Applicants/CNCS/OGM/OGM/CNCS-GRANTS-100305-001/Grant.html)
******************
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
ANNOUNCING THE CONFERENCE CALL SERIES ON APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
Sponsored by The U.S. Department of Labor Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and The Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services
Join us on Wednesday, October 26th at 2:00 PM EST as we kick off our five-call conference call series on apprenticeship training. Many faith-based and community organizations are unaware of employment and training opportunities in their own communities. There are many emerging industries in your local communities and businesses in these industries are eager to work with reliable partners to meet their workforce needs. Additionally, many businesses provide important training for these jobs. This series of toll-free conference calls is designed to help educate FBCOs about emerging apprenticeship occupations and training opportunities in their communities.
The first conference call will feature the construction industry. Mr. Bob Baird, Vice President of Apprenticeship and Training, Standards and Safety, at the Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc., and Mr. John Gaal, Director of Training and Workforce Development, at the Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity, will discuss several apprenticeship occupations in this growing industry and how you can connect those you serve with employment opportunities. Both individuals serve on the federal Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, which provides input to the Registered Apprenticeship system, and are strong proponents of apprenticeship training programs for worker recruitment, retention, and advancement.
The call will last for an hour with each presenter speaking for about 15 minutes, and then we'll have about a half hour for Q and A. Please note, that we only have 125 lines for this call. Only the first 125 people to call in will have the opportunity to participate. Callers can dial in for the call 10 minutes prior to the 2:00 PM start.
We hope you can join us for this call!
When: Wednesday, October 26 at 2:00 PM, EST
Conference Call Line: 888-272-7337
Conference ID: 3120361, then the # sign.
Moderators:
Scott Shortenhaus
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
U.S. Department of Labor
Ken Lemberg
Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services, U.S. Department of Labor
Speakers:
Bob Baird
Vice President Apprenticeship and Training, Standards and Safety, Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.
John Gaal
Director of Training and Workforce Development, Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity
We anticipate that handouts that will be discussed on this call will be available on http://www.dol-tlc.org/.
As was mentioned, following the presentation by Bob and John, participants will have the opportunity for questions and answers. Follow up discussion will be held at http://www.dol-tlc.org/ in the "Business Partnerships" Learning Circle.
Thank you for your participation and cooperation!
Scott Shortenhaus
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
202-693-6450, www.dol.gov/cfbci
Ken Lemberg
Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services, U.S. Department of Labor
202-693-3836, www.doleta.gov/atels_bat
******************
TIPS/RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT…LEADERSHIP THEORIES ABOUND
Leadership can be a critical part of any organization, in either
the philanthropic or for-profit world. Although leadership is
often spoken about, there is not usually much effort to look at
what lies behind leadership.
In their book Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations, Barry Dym
and Harry Hutson take a theoretical look at leadership, offering
what they consider to be the eight major ways of considering the
ways in which leaders lead.
The eight methods are:
* Trait theory. This identifies the characteristics that
distinguish leaders from others.
* Style. This approach shifts the emphasis from character, which
is internal, to behavior, which is external.
* Situational leadership. Its premise is that different
situations require different kinds of leadership.
* Contingency theory. This is based on the belief that
leadership effectiveness depends on the quality of the match
between leadership style and context.
* Path-goal theory. This challenges leaders to adopt styles that
best motivate employees.
* Leader-member exchange theory. This focuses on the interaction
between individual leaders and followers.
* Transformational leadership. This represents a contemporary
version of the great man theory buttressed by a sense of the
intense connection between such leaders and their followers.
* Psychological approach. This application of psychodynamic
psychology suggests that leaders are more effective when they
understand themselves.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)
******************
FINANCE:
WHO NEEDS AN IN-HOUSE ACCOUNTANT?
A small nonprofit organization that cannot afford or does not
need a full-time accountant still requires some kind of
accounting operation.
In their book Financial and Accounting Guide for Not-For-Profit
Organizations, Malvern J. Gross Jr., John H. McCarthy and Nancy
E. Shelmon note that there are several outside alternatives to
an in-house accountant. They caution, however, that although the
process can be delegated, toe organization still has
responsibility for accounting and the treasurer or another
employee must exercise oversight.
The outside alternatives are:
* Outside preparation of payroll. This can be done by a bank or
service bureau. This is particularly effective in an
organization where employees are paid the same amount each
payroll period. Some banks will handle the complete payroll
function and use their own bank checks. This eliminates the need
for the organization to prepare a payroll bank reconciliation.
* Service bureau accounting records. If there is any volume of
activity, a service bureau can often keep the records at less
cost than for an organization to hire an accountant. For
example, some service bureaus will enter information from
original documents such as check stubs and invoices.
* Accounting service. Many CPAs and public accountants provide
accounting services. Under this arrangement, the accountant has
one of the staff do all of the accounting but takes the
responsibility for reviewing the work and seeing that it is
properly done. The accountant usually prepares financial
statements monthly or quarterly.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/finance.html)
******************
CAPACITY
BUILDING: SYSTEMATICALLY
There is generally accepted agreement in the nonprofit sector
that capacity building leads to better performance, but there is
much less understanding of the types and duration of
capacity-building initiatives that really work.
In his book Managing at the Leading Edge, Mike Hudson identifies
four key ingredients that determine the ultimate success of a
capacity-building project.
The ingredients are:
The desired goal or outcome of the capacity-building activity.
This falls into four categories: improvements in internal
management systems, improvements in external relationships,
improvements in leadership and improvements in internal
structures.
The change strategy selected to realize that goal. There is no
straightforward methodology, but leadership has to make tough
choices about the amount of capacity building the organization
can sustain and how to allocate precious resources. Networking,
mentoring and information sharing can play a role here.
The champions guiding the effort. One or more people have to
have the initiative at the top of their agendas planning the
overall approach, driving the implementation timetable and
promoting the program to everyone affected. Capacity-building
initiatives must become embedded in the organization's culture.
The resources. The time, energy and money available. Capacity
building is largely supported by foundation grants combined with
internal resources such as unrestricted income and surpluses
from previous years.
()
******************
NEWS
October 3, 2005
"Civic & Community Leader Tapped for Louisiana Disaster
Recovery Foundation." Louisiana Disaster Recovery
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES BOARD OF LOUISIANA DISASTER RECOVERY
FOUNDATION
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has announced the
first round of board and leadership appointments for the newly
formed Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (http://louisianahelp.org/).
In the weeks since Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast,
Blanco has convened officers from the foundation community
nationwide to help design a high-performing organization to
accept donations that will be used to meet the needs of the
thousands of Louisiana citizens whose lives have been devastated
by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Xavier University of Louisiana (http://www.xula.edu/)
president Norman Francis was tapped to chair the new board,
while Emmett Carson, president and chief executive of the
Minneapolis Foundation (http://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/),
will serve as the organization's interim CEO.
Additional board members include Brenda Birkett, dean, School of
Business, McNeese State University; Renae Conley, CEO Louisiana,
Entergy Corporation; Fr. Hampton Davis, Notre Dame Seminary;
Berwick Duval, attorney, Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell &
Watkins; Linetta Gilbert, program officer, Ford Foundation; Bill
Henning, CEO, Cameron Communications; Sibal Holt, AFL-CIO
(retired); Rev. Fred Luter, senior pastor, Franklin Avenue
Baptist Church; R. King Milling, president, Whitney Bank; and
John Redd, III, CPA, Arsement, Redd & Morella, LLC.
"We have asked national foundation leaders and some of
Louisiana's most respected private citizens to serve as leaders
of Louisiana's fund for Louisiana's people," said Blanco. "The
task of assisting with family restoration is a monumental one
and will require the combined knowledge and reach of this
special group of leaders who have a proven knowledge of
Louisiana and a history of community service."
(http://louisianahelp.org/)
(http://www.xula.edu/)
(http://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/)
******************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2005
CONTACT:
Erik Wang
202-482-3949
ewang@aapi.gov
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS
AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS TO VISIT SAN FRANCISCO’S BAY AREA
A Public Meeting and Site Visit is scheduled for October 18-20th
Washington, DC – (October 3, 2005) – The President’s Advisory
Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will visit
San Francisco’s Bay Area on October 18-20th. A Public Meeting is
scheduled on October 19th at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center
located at 388 Ninth Street from 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The
public meeting will provide the opportunity to listen in on the
Commission’s deliberations of the Draft Report to the President
and provide comments and feedback.
The Commission will also conduct site visits throughout the
major Asian American communities in the Bay Area. The Commission
previously conducted site visits and technical assistance forums
in Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Raleigh,
Chicago and New York with the goal of gathering information for
their Report and Recommendations to the President on improving
economic and community development opportunities for Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).
“The AAPI community in San Francisco is dynamic and vibrant,”
said Commissioner Kenneth Wong, Chair of the Reports and
Recommendation's subcommittee. “We are looking forward to
meeting members of the AAPI community organizations there and
share our preliminary report to the President. We hope to start
a dialogue with San Francisco’s AAPI community building
successful and beneficial partnerships to encourage economic
development and services to AAPIs. The Commission is excited to
help facilitate and support partnerships and connect with this
community.”
The commission is made up of 13 members appointed by the
President. In October, the Commission will hold site visits and
a public meeting in the San Jose and San Francisco area. The
public meeting will provide the opportunity to listen in on the
Commission’s deliberations of the Draft Report to the President
and provide comments and feedback.
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON AAPIs
The President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders was established by Executive Order 13339
signed by President George W. Bush on May 13, 2004 furthering
his commitment by providing equal economic opportunities for
full participation of Asian American and Pacific Islander
businesses in our free market economy where they may be
underserved, thus improving the quality of life for 14.5 million
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
###
******************
October 10, 2005
COUPLE
BEATS ODDS WITH HELP FROM FAMILY
Roxanne Furlong
Borrowing money from family members, a bank and the city of St.
Paul, MyDung Nguyen and Ngoan Dang created in 1991 what would
become a family legacy -- the Mai Village restaurant in St.
Paul's Frogtown.
Unable to afford a paid staff, the couple initially relied on
their nine children (two are deceased) and Nguyen's parents to
help run the restaurant. With the help of their family, the
couple slowly created a successful business on University
Avenue. In 2004, they were able to translate that success into
the construction of a $4 million, 300-seat restaurant, gallery
and banquet facility employing 30 people. Last year, the company
grossed $1.9 million.
Back in Vietnam, Nguyen grew up in a wealthy household with
servants, including a nanny and cook. After meeting Dang in
Minnesota, she taught herself to cook and soon Dang encouraged
her to open the restaurant.
"When Ngoan said University Avenue was a good location for our
restaurant I told him, 'No, honey, this is the worst!' " Nguyen
said. "But I respect my husband's vision and our children said,
'Go and do it. We'll be right behind you.' "
When the couple decided to open their first restaurant at 422
University Ave., vandalism, prostitution and other crime was
rampant in Frogtown. Closed storefronts and blighted
neighborhoods were prevalent.
While Dang worked a full-time job and spent nights at the
restaurant, Nguyen oversaw construction of the restaurant's
interior, doing much of the work herself with help from their
sons. After opening for business, every night during the first
three months, their and their customers' car windows would be
smashed or doors bashed in.
"We hung on," Dang said. "The first three months we were very
low."
When St. Paul Police Chief Bill Finney became a customer at the
restaurant, Nguyen asked him for help. Finney assigned two beat
officers to patrol the area and Nguyen suggested police come
into Mai Village to write up their reports.
She said the St. Paul police and Mai Village soon became like a
family. She credits officers for cleaning up the avenue and
boosting her business through word-of-mouth referrals.
"Chief Finney really put the beat down on University; the
changes are amazing," said the couple's daughter, Kathy Gould,
who, after working for five years as an accountant, returned to
her parents' restaurant as general manager. "Look around: A lot
of the buildings are being renovated and repainted. Since we put
up our new building, I've noticed at least three buildings that
have redone the outside. It's a step in the right direction and
others are following suit."
All of Dang and Nguyen's children worked at that first
restaurant location. Now, six of their children either work in
the new location or, with their parents' help, have opened their
own restaurants.
The family's struggles didn't actually start with the
restaurant. Thirty years ago, Nguyen fled Vietnam with her four
children and parents a week before the fall of Saigon. She was
pregnant at the time and gave birth in flight to Kathy, named
after the flight attendant who helped with the delivery.
Dang's uncle was the last king of Vietnam before communist rule.
Dang was attending his first year of medical school when he
joined the military and became an officer. He was on the last
flight out of the country before Saigon's fall. He first arrived
in Ohio and got a job picking weeds in strawberry fields. He
then moved to Wisconsin and finally Minnesota. He said he
knocked on 82 doors for a job but nobody would hire him, so he
went to school for plastic molding, hoping to start a company
making children's toys. He eventually paid for his three
children to join him in Minnesota.
"Most Americans know Vietnam through the war," Dang said. "I
want to show people Vietnam's beauty."
For their new facility, Dang hired an interior decorator in
Vietnam. He shipped oak to Vietnam and had screens, tables and
chairs, and a full-size pagoda hand-carved for the interior of
the restaurant. The couple also collects Vietnamese artifacts,
antiques, furniture and pottery, which they display in the
second-floor gallery.
Roxanne Furlong is based in Inver Grove Heights.
(http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/twincities/content/story.html?story_id=1175371)
******************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005
Contact: Dan Nelson/Ginny Justice
202-482-4883
**Revised - Correction in 1-888 number**
GUTIERREZ ANNOUNCES HURRICANE CONTRACTING INFORMATION CENTER
One-Stop Shop to Help U.S. Businesses Participate in Hurricane
Rebuilding Efforts
Washington, D.C. - Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today
announced the Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting
Information Center (HCIC) that will help U.S. businesses,
especially minority, women and small businesses participate in
the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts.
"The administration is reaching out to companies of all sizes,
especially minority-owned enterprises, to guarantee that those
seeking to join the rebuilding efforts can navigate federal
agencies and bid for contracts with ease," Gutierrez said.
"This center provides the necessary information to U.S.
businesses to participate in Gulf Coast contracting,
subcontracting and reconstruction."
The HCIC is an interagency effort to provide a centralized
location for information and services available throughout the
government geared to help in the contracting process. The HCIC
is designed to assist U.S. businesses, especially minority and
women-owned businesses and small and medium size enterprises
interested in helping with the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf
Region. The HCIC is being staffed by representatives from
various federal agencies including:
Department of Commerce Department of
Defense
Department of Energy Department of
Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security Department of Labor
Department of Transportation Department of
Education
General Service Administration Small Business
Administration
United States Department of Agriculture
The HCIC includes a website (www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov)
that allows companies to register with government agencies that
are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The website
also provides basic information on doing business with the
government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting
opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and
information about minority business services.
The HCIC also includes a call center (1-888-4USADOC) with
representatives from different government agencies onsite to
provide information on rebuilding opportunities. The call
center will help businesses navigate the state and federal
contracting process.
The HCIC will provide information and add transparency to the
contracting process, but will not award contracts. Those
responsibilities will remain with the specific government
agencies.
(www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov)
******************
October 12, 2005
NEW RADIO & PRINT PSAs LAUNCHED TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS
One in Five Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Face Housing
Discrimination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2005
Mistique Cano
202-263-2882
New fair housing public service advertisements (PSAs) in more
than ten Asian languages will begin appearing on radio stations
and in newspapers across the country this week. Developed by the
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF),
the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), and the National
Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
(National CAPACD) through a grant from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the ads are designed to
increase recognition and reporting of housing discrimination
among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).
"Unfortunately, housing discrimination is still a pervasive
problem in America," said Karen McGill Lawson, LCCREF executive
director. "HUD estimates that one in five Asian Americans face
housing discrimination. We hope this campaign sends a clear
signal to those who discriminate, but more importantly, we want
victims of discrimination to know that there is something they
can do about it."
These new Asian language ads are the latest in an award-winning
series of fair housing PSAs. Two radio spots, "Phone
Conversation" and "Do You Know Me," were produced in Vietnamese,
Cantonese, Hmong and Korean. The print ad, "Will the Apartment
Still Be Available When They Hear My Accent?" was designed in
Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Punjabi,
Thai, Urdu and Vietnamese. Both print and radio PSAs feature the
tagline, "Fair Housing. It's not an option. It's the law." and
direct audiences to call HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or visit
www.fairhousinglaw.org if they think that the have been
victims of or witness to housing discrimination.
"Access to fair housing continues to be a major struggle for
many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders," said Lisa Hasegawa,
executive director of the National CAPACD. "Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders often encounter housing discrimination as well
as cultural and language barriers to accessing to housing
counseling services. National CAPACD is proud to partner with
LCCREF and NFHA on this groundbreaking initiative."
The Federal Fair Housing Act grants everyone the legal right to
live where they choose and prohibits discrimination based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and
family status. HUD estimates that at least 2 million Americans
are discriminated against each year while looking to rent or
purchase a property, apply for a loan, appraisal or insurance.
"Data show that while Asian Americans are as likely as African
Americans to be victims of housing discrimination and even more
likely than Hispanic Americans to face discrimination, they are
among the least likely to report it. These ads will be an
invaluable resource to promote fair housing and equal
opportunity," said Shanna Smith, President and CEO of NFHA. "NFHA
is thrilled to be part of a campaign that is sure to reach the
AAPI community nationwide and provide important information to
combat illegal discrimination."
To view or listen to the new PSAs, visit
www.fairhousinglaw.org/the_campain. To obtain a copy of the
PSAs for print or radio reproduction, please contact Lisa
Haywood at (202) 466-3434.
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (http://www.civilrights.org/)
National Fair Housing Alliance website (http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/)
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community
Development (http://www.nationalcapacd.org/)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (http://www.hud.gov/)
(http://www.civilrights.org/issues/housing/details.cfm?id=36723)
******************
October 17, 2005
GROUP WILL MAKE SURE LOWELL VOTE RUNS SMOOTHLY
By MICHAEL LAFLEUR, Lowell Sun Staff
LOWELL -- A voter watchdog group says during last year's
presidential election, problems at many city polling places
prevented some first-time Cambodian-American voters from casting
a ballot.
Heading into the Nov. 8 city election -- expected to see more
Cambodian-American candidates and voters than ever before --
representatives of the New York City-based Asian American Legal
Defense and Education Fund, or AALDEF, said they will again be
in Lowell to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
“We just want to correct some of the small errors,” said Glen
Magpantay, AALDEF's voting-rights attorney.
A byproduct of the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which, among
other things requires voters who register by mail to present
identification when they arrive at the polls for the first time,
the provisional ballots must be provided to anyone who forgets
his ID or cannot find his name on a polling station's list of
registered voters.
Rather than distribute the provisional ballots at polling
places, Lowell poll workers directed many such voters to City
Hall. Magpantay said others were turned away.
“We have not seen that level of noncompliance with the federal
Help America Vote Act in any other place,” he said. “It was a
clear violation of federal law.”
Elections Commission Chairman Thomas Wirtanen in the past has
said there were no deliberate attempts to disenfranchise any
voter. He blamed the problems on unclear state directions.
Jessica Cruz, manager of the city's Elections Office, said the
problem boiled down to a misunderstanding between city and state
officials. City election workers thought they could distribute
all provisional ballots from City Hall.
This year, she said, provisional ballots will be available at
all polling places.
“If it's not addressed for this election, it will be a concern,”
said Michelle Tassinari, legal counsel for the Massachusetts
secretary of state's elections division. “But we're confident
the city recognized the error of its ways and ... there was no
intention to cause difficulty for voters or not follow the right
process.”
AALDEF documented seven registered voters whose names allegedly
were not included on the list of voters and were not given
provisional ballots. Among them were Sambath Yim and his wife,
Sina Min.
“They say they don't have our name, and then we just leave,” he
said. “We didn't have a chance to vote at all.”
Magpantay said his group is also recommending that the city seek
to provide more volunteer translators at polling sites, where
there are large numbers of limited-English-speaking,
Cambodian-American voters.
In Boston, AALDEF's findings that Asian voters were turned away
improperly and subject to allegedly inappropriate demands for
identification led to the U.S. Department of Justice filing a
civil lawsuit against he city in July. Boston city attorneys
have since signed a proposed settlement agreement with the
Department of Justice that would require it to provide a ballot
that is translated into Chinese, Vietnamese and Spanish,
Magpantay said.
AALDEF's exit polling in Massachusetts last November found that
42 percent of the nearly 800 Asian-American voters questioned in
Boston, Lowell and Quincy -- and 61 percent of the
Cambodian-Americans -- were voting for the first time.
Magpantay said his group will likely conduct similar exit
polling Nov. 8 in Lowell.
Local activists again expect a large number of first-time
Cambodian-American voters again this year.
Officials with the Lowell Cambodian-American Voting Project
documented a 2,600-voter increase in first-time registrants
between February 2004 and February 2005, a 40 percent jump.
Michael Lafleur's e-mail address is
mlafleur@lowellsun.com.
(http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_3125002)
******************
October 18, 2005
GROUPS
SEEK RIGHT TO REVIEW VOTE MATERIALS
Several community groups representing Hispanics and
Asian-Americans said yesterday they want a hand in ensuring that
the city complies with terms of a settlement with the US
Department of Justice, which had sued over alleged violations of
the Voting Rights Act. At a hearing before Judge Sandra Lynch of
the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, US District Chief
Judge William G. Young, and US District Judge Patti B. Saris,
the groups asked for authority to review city voting materials
before elections and to help select workers who would act as
community liaisons. In its lawsuit, filed in July, the Justice
Department alleged that the city had violated the rights of
voters with limited English skills. On Sept. 15, a settlement
was reached that required the city to provide Spanish-,
Chinese-, and Vietnamese-language assistance to voters.
(http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/10/18/man_charged_in_bogus_terrorist_threat/)
******************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2005
For more information contact:
Richard Konda
Asian Law Alliance
San Jose, CA 95112
408-287-9710
sccala@pacbell.net
COMMUNITY OUTRAGED BY DELAY TACTICS IN THE CASE OF TRAN V.
THE
CITY OF SAN JOSE
WHAT: The City of San Jose has today filed a Notice of Appeal in
the Tran V. City of San Jose. A Trial date had originally been
scheduled for November 1, 2005 and then later for December
2005. This delaying tactic by the City of San Jose could deny
the Tran family their day in court for as much as an additional
18 months to 2 years.
WHO: The San Jose City Attorney filed a motion for a summary
judgment in the case of Tran v. the City of San Jose et. al. and
argued that the case against the City of San Jose et. al. should
be dismissed. The attorneys for the Tran family argued against
the motion urging the Court to allow the case to continue to
trial. The Honorable James Ware, denied in part the City of San
Jose's motion for Summary Judgment and had scheduled the Tran
case for a Jury Trial in December 2005. However, the City of San
Jose has filed a Notice of Appeal today, the result of which
will delay the trial in the case until some unknown date in the
future. The Tran family is represented by attorneys Andrew C.
Schwartz and Karen Snell of the law offices of Casper, Meadows
& Schwartz, Felicita Vu Ngo of the Law Offices of Felicita Vu
Ngo.
WHY: On July 13, 2003, Bich Cau Thi Tran, was shot and killed by
San Jose Police Officer Chad Marshall as she stood in her
kitchen with a Vietnamese vegetable peeler in her hand. The
family of Bich-Cau Thi Tran continues to pursue justice in this
case through their civil lawsuit filed in the United States
District Court against the City of San Jose for violation of
civil rights and wrongful death. Member of the Coalition for
Justice and Accountability (CJA) demand that the City of San
Jose negotiate in good faith with the attorneys for the Tran
family and allow justice to be heard by stipulating to a trial
date in December of this year. CJA formed in 2003 following
the death of Ms. Tran and has advocated for justice in the Tran
case and for changes in police practices.
In the order granting in part and denying in part defendants'
motion for summary judgment, The Honorable James Ware, United
States District Judge states, "This is a tragic case. . . . . In
this case, taking the fact in the light most favorable to the
Plaintiffs, a reasonable jury could conclude that Officer's
Marshall's belief that he needed to shoot Ms. Tran was
unreasonable."
******************
About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese
Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy
organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese
Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum –
by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens
engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil
liberties.
Copyright material is distributed without profit or payment for
research and educational purposes only, in accordance with Title
17 U.S.C. section 107
|
Back To Top 