NCVA eREPORTER - September 13, 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

• Hope for Tomorrow Benefit – Sept 23, 2005

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• PetSmart Charities Support for Animals Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
• Community Foundation Serving Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania Counties
• Baton Rouge Area Foundation Establishes Hurricane Katrina Funds
• Habitat for Humanity Responds to Hurricane Katrina
• Twenty-First Century Foundation Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund
• Disaster Relief Grant Support for Artists Affected by Disasters
• Rapides Foundation Provides Assistance for Hurricane Evacuees
• Entergy Corporation Power of Hope Fund
• Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Extends Application Deadline
• Home Depot Provides Disaster Support
• The Columbus Foundation Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
• Allstate Foundation Supports Local and National Programs
• ConAgra Foods Foundation Support for Community Needs

JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

• OCA Executive Director
• OCA Deputy Director

TIPS/RESOURCES

• Management - Is your disaster recovery plan ready?
• Boards - Getting things back on track
• Fundraising - A crisis and your major donors

NEWS

• Experience earns endorsement (Mercury News)
• Refugee aid groups poised to help evacuees start over (Mercury News)
• Election Shows Growing Vietnamese Clout (Washington Post)
• S.J. businessman returns to help Vietnamese-Americans in Biloxi (Mercury News)
• Female immigrants make up one of fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs in Central Texas, country (Austin Business Journal)
• President Bush Announces New Initiatives To Provide Relief (Press Release)
• State Farm® Response to Hurricane Katrina (Press Release)
• Katrina makes twice refugees  (Asian American Press)
• U.S. Labor Department Announces Job Bank to Assist Workers and Employers Affected by Hurricane Katrina (Press Release)
• Vietnamese and Latino communities could be more at risk (Sun Herald)
• Bayou’s Asian-Americans Try to Recover: ‘We’ll Get By’ (Mobile Register)
• SEARAC Celebrates 30 Years of Southeast Asian Resettlement by Honoring Community Leaders (Press Release)
• Warning of a silent killer (Orange County Register)

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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVING CLARK, COWLITZ AND SKAMANIA COUNTIES

Counties is offering assistance to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts by providing an online portal for donations to the Katrina Relief Fund. Concerned individuals and organizations can make an online contribution to the Fund quickly and easily by using the Foundation’s secure website. Donations to the Katrina Relief Fund within the Community Foundation will be processed promptly and 100% of gifts received will be sent to aid victims in the Southeast. Requests received for emergency relief will be processed within 48 hours.

(http://www.cfsww.org/)

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BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES HURRICANE KATRINA FUNDS

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has established two funds designated to benefit those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund will benefit those individuals evacuated to Baton Rouge from the hurricane impacted areas in Greater New Orleans. The Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Recovery Fund will focus on the rebuilding of infrastructure to provide basic human services to residents of these devastated areas. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation appreciates donations to either fund in this critical time in order to assist those dealing with the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Click here (http://www.braf.org/page25295.cfm) for grant guidelines for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds.

(http://www.braf.org/page25271.cfm)

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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESPONDS TO HURRICANE KATRINA

Habitat for Humanity International announced an emergency appeal for funds to help Habitat families and other low-income families in the affected areas recover and rebuild. In addition to the emergency appeal, Habitat’s Disaster Response Office has initiated the process of assessing the status of Habitat partner families. Further assessments will continue on the housing needs created by the Hurricane as the first step for planning the long-term recovery and the building of permanent recovery homes. As conditions on the ground allow, Habitat teams will move to assist Habitat families and others who lived in the storm’s destructive path and provide whatever immediate assistance possible. Long-term assistance will involve Habitat affiliates and volunteers working together with those impacted by the storm in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Click here (https://www.habitat.org/cd/disaster/house/request.aspx) to let Habitat know your housing needs.

(http://www.habitat.org/disaster/2005/katrina/default.aspx)

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TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FOUNDATION HURRICANE KATRINA RECOVERY FUND

The Twenty-First Century Foundation is a national public foundation created to promote strategic philanthropy by the African American/Black community. The Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund of the Twenty-First Century Foundation will partner with organizations in the region to ensure that resources get to the people who need them most, and achieve the justice goals at the heart of this initiative. The Fund will provide strategic grants for relief, recovery and advocacy efforts that promote long term equitable solutions. Contributions to the Fund will pool individual gifts and target resources to provide direct assistance while investing in the civil rights and economic empowerment of Black communities in the region.

(http://www.21cf.org/HurricaneKatrina.html)

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DISASTER RELIEF GRANT SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS AFFECTED BY DISASTERS

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) offers Disaster Relief Grants of up to $1,000 for craft artists who have been seriously injured or whose homes or studios have been severely damaged by a significant, widespread disaster such as destructive floods, earthquakes, storms or terrorist attacks. To be considered for this grant, the applicant is required to complete the Quick Loan application. CERF will determine whether a loan or a grant offer or a combination of the two will be made. Priority for grants will be given to those most severely affected by the disaster.

(http://craftemergency.org/programs/relief/offer)

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RAPIDES FOUNDATION PROVIDES ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE EVACUEES

The Rapides Foundation is providing $1 million to go to agencies that are offering assistance to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Central Louisiana. The money will go to the United Way of Central Louisiana, which has set up a special fund, the Central Louisiana Katrina Response Fund. In addition, the Foundation will provide money, up to $200,000, directly to school districts for expenses for students who have been evacuated and are enrolling in schools throughout Central Louisiana. The Foundation's Board of Trustees called an emergency vote to suspend the organization's grantmaking application process to immediately provide this funding.

(http://www.rapidesfoundation.org/site.php?pageID=31&newsID=120)

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ENTERGY CORPORATION POWER OF HOPE FUND

Entergy Corporation is working to amass dollars to bring relief to Hurricane Katrina disaster victims - many of whom can be counted among the ranks of its own employees. The Power of Hope Fund will be used to help disaster victims restore their lives in the aftermath of the storm. Entergy will seed the fund with a corporate contribution of $1 million. The Fund is administered through the Foundation for the Mid South. To keep donations coming in, the phone lines must be free. Details about how to apply for assistance will be communicated as soon as it is available. If you are an Entergy employee or customer in need of assistance and would like someone to contact you with information  about how to get help, please send an email to iestormnet@entergy.com and you will receive details as soon as they are available. Contact Liz Brister, Development Director for the Foundation for the Mid South with specific questions about the Power of Hope Fund.

(http://www.fndmidsouth.org/Power_of_hope.htm)

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JONATHAN LARSON PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION EXTENDS APPLICATION DEADLINE

Nancy Kassak Diekmann, Executive Director of the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation, has announced that the September 15^th application deadline will be extended for individuals directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Individuals who were planning to apply but were unable to meet the deadline may contact the office directly to make arrangements for an extension (212-529-0814, or by email at: jlpaf@aol.com). Recognizing that many people still do not have access to phones and/or computers, the Foundation will be as flexible as its application review schedule allows, with regard to extension requests.

(http://www.jlpaf.org)

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HOME DEPOT PROVIDES DISASTER SUPPORT

The Home Depot announced a direct cash donation of $1.5 million to support the relief and rebuilding efforts of areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The company will make a donation of $400,000 to emergency management organizations for immediate disaster relief and recovery. In addition, the company will also make a donation of $600,000 to support long-term rebuilding efforts in the affected communities. This portion of the funding will go to “Rebuilding Funds” established by the Corporation for National Community Service and Hands On Network. These organizations will re-grant funds to nonprofit organizations and manage volunteer-driven rebuilding projects for community facilities, such as schools, senior and community centers, and parks.

(http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/statements_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=176)

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THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF FUND

The Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund was created by The Columbus Foundation to assist those affected by the disaster in the Gulf Coast Region. This fund will award grants weekly to Gulf-area community foundations, such as the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. One-hundred percent of all gifts to the fund will go directly to charity.

(http://www.columbusfoundation.org/GD/_gd_templates/pages/gdPageSecondary.aspx?page=353)

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ALLSTATE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS

The Allstate Foundation provides support to national programs as well as local programs in company communities. Proposals must address needs within one of the following three focus areas to be considered for funding: Tolerance, Inclusion, and Diversity, including teaching tolerance and ending discrimination and hate crimes; Safe and Vital Communities, including disaster response, ending youth violence, and neighborhood revitalization; or Economic Empowerment, including financial education and business skill development. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.allstate.com/foundation)

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CONAGRA FOODS FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS

The mission of the ConAgra Foods Foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities where ConAgra employees work and live throughout the U.S. (To find out if your organization has a ConAgra Foods facility nearby, consult your local phone directory or contact your Chamber of Commerce.) The Foundation provides support to organizations or projects that provide solutions for specific community needs. Grants are focused in the following areas: arts and culture; civic and community betterment; education; health and human services; and hunger, nutrition and food safety. Proposals must be received by the last working day of January, April, July and October.

(http://www.conagrafoods.com/leadership/community_guidelines.jsp)

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JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

OCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Founded in 1973, OCA (www.ocanatl.org) is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APA) in the United States. Originally founded as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA was the first APA organization to establish a national headquarters in Washington D.C. OCA has over 80 chapters and college affiliates nationwide. The Executive Director oversees 13 staff at the national headquarters. OCA's goals are:

*        to advocate for social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment;
*        to promote civic participation, education, and leadership;
*        to advance coalitions and community building; and
*        to foster cultural heritage.

OCA takes no collective position on the politics of any foreign country, but instead focuses on the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.

THE POSITION
The Executive Director (ED) serves as OCA's chief executive officer and works in partnership with the Executive Council, the National Board and OCA's 80 chapters and college affiliates to articulate and execute OCA's vision, strategic direction and programs. The Executive Director oversees seven staff to run OCA's general programs and events, engages in coalition building, supports 80 chapters and college affiliates, and works with seven staff to administer the Gates Millennium Scholars program.

The Executive Director reports to the OCA President and Executive Council and provides regular reports to OCA's National Board and Business Advisory Council.

DUTIES
The Executive Director (ED) will oversee all of OCA's operations, including its programs (education, scholarship, advocacy, internship) and events, fundraising, membership services, administration, personnel management, media outreach, publications and marketing. The ED will be primarily responsible for raising new funding from private foundations, major donors and corporate sponsors. The ED also represents OCA to the public through coalition activities and public speaking events.

The Executive Director's main responsibilities include the following:

*  To serve as a leading spokesperson on OCA's positions;
*  To represent OCA to coalition partners, funders and other OCA stakeholders;
*  To provide direction and general supervision to 13 staff, 3 consultants and up to 25 summer interns administering OCA's operations;
*  To oversee OCA's programs and events, membership services, administration, personnel management, media outreach, publications, i.e. quarterly magazine and marketing.
*  To lead fundraising efforts, including a current capital campaign;
*  To oversee major events planning;
*  To direct the organization's accounting and finances and to ensure legal compliance;
*  To develop human resources by attracting, retaining, and developing employees, interns, and volunteers; and,

SKILLS/BACKGROUND

The ideal candidate should have strong organizational and managerial skills and be able to multi- task and work in a fast-paced environment. Additionally, the ED will have the following qualifications:

*  At least 5 - 8 years work experience in a progressive environment, preferably serving the Asian Pacific Americans (APA) community as part of its constituency
*  Familiarity with APA social justice issues
*  Strong organizational and planning skills managing a medium-sized nonprofit
*  Previous experience with management supervising 5-10 staff
*  Fundraising experience
*  Excellent analytic, writing and oral communications skills
*  Past experience with event planning, membership services, coalition building
*  Knowledge of non-profit governance standards and best practices
*  Knowledge of scholarship administration a plus
*  Knowledge of fundraising web tools, database systems, Pagemaker, Filemaker, Excel, Quark, Access and other similar software plusses.
*  College degree required. Graduate degree preferred.
*  Bilingual skills a plus

ATTRIBUTES
*  Strong commitment to and passion for OCA's mission
*  Knowledge and ability to lead, manage, motivate and mentor people
*  Demonstrated skills to organize, prioritize and multi-task different programs and events and resources; to set organizational and staff goals and measure progress; to problem solve; and to use creative means to stretch scarce resources.
*  High energy and ability to meet tight deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment
*  Ability to build strong relationships with individuals and coalitions
*  Outstanding written and oral communication skills adaptable to all audiences
*  Willingness and flexibility to work long hours and to travel

SALARY & BENEFITS:
*  Salary commensurate with experience
*  Health & dental insurance
*  Paid vacation & holidays

LOCATION:
OCA National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

TIMELINE
Review of applicants will begin immediately. Position is open until appropriate candidate is identified. Start date is immediate.

TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter outlining experience, resume, writing sample(s), and references to the address below.

OCA Personnel Committee
c/o 122 Upshire Circle
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Or via email to: ginnygong@comcast.net

The Organization of Chinese Americans is an equal opportunity employer.

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OCA DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Founded in 1973, OCA (http://www.ocanatl.org) is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APA) in the United States. Originally founded as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA was the first APA organization to establish a national headquarters in Washington D.C. OCA has over 80 chapters and college affiliates nationwide. OCA employs 13 staff at the national headquarters. OCA's goals are:

*  to advocate for social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment;
*  to promote civic participation, education, and leadership;
*  to advance coalitions and community building; and
*  to foster cultural heritage.

OCA takes no collective position on the politics of any foreign country, but instead focuses on the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.

THE POSITION:
The Deputy Director (DD) primarily assists the Executive Director with the day-to-day operations of the National OCA office. The DD also may be called upon to support the ED with the ED's responsibilities to articulate and execute OCA's vision, strategic direction and programs; to give reports to the OCA President and Executive Council; and, to provide regular reports to OCA's National Board and Business Advisory Council.

The DD position reports directly to the Executive Director. In turn, the DD has direct reports, supervising seven staff to run OCA's programs and events, to engage in coalition building, and to support 80 chapters and college affiliates. Additionally, the DD coordinates with the project manager of six other staff to administer the Gates Millennium Scholars program.

DUTIES:
The Deputy Director (DD) will manage OCA's internal operations, including its programs (education, scholarship, advocacy, internship) and events, membership services, administration (office management, accounting and finance), personnel management, media outreach and marketing. Moreover, the DD will provide support to the ED with fundraising efforts, including a major capital campaign. The DD may also fill in for the ED representing OCA in its external relations, i.e., coalition activities, public speaking events and communications with funders and other OCA stakeholders.

The DD's main responsibilities include the following:

*  To directly supervise 13 staff, 3 consultants and up to 25 summer interns in the planning and execution of OCA's programs and major events
*  To supervise staff in the growth and development of OCA's fundraising efforts, including a capital campaign
*  To work with the ED and Personnel Committee to develop and refine human resource practices, including attracting, retaining, and developing employees, interns, and volunteers as well as administering performance evaluations
*  To manage all aspects of office management and accounting and finance
*  To assess and elevate the quality of OCA's operations, build its infrastructure and develop management practices
*  To serve as a liaison to the Executive Council, National Board, chapter members and the Business Advisory Council
*  To manage special projects
*  To attend to other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

SKILLS AND BACKGROUND
*  At least 4 - 5 years work experience in a progressive environment, preferably serving the Asian Pacific Americans (APA) community as part of its constituency
*  Familiarity with APA social justice issues
*  Previous management experience supervising 5-10 staff
*  Strong organizational and planning skills simultaneously managing multiple and varied programs, events, projects and services
*  Previous office management skills dealing with contracts, leases, vendors, etc.
*  Fundraising experience with corporations and particularly with private foundations
*  Customer service orientation to serve members, chapters, board members and funders in a professional manner and respond to requests on a timely basis.
*  Excellent writing, oral and interpersonal communications a must. Journalism/media background and/or public speaking experience are plusses.
*  Past responsibilities with fiscal management, strategic planning and legal compliance are pluses.
*  Experience with major event planning
*  Knowledge of non-profit governance standards and best practices
*  Knowledge in fundraising web tools, Power Point, Excel, Filemaker. Knowledge of Quark, Pagemaker, Access and other similar software a plus.
*  Bachelor's degree. Graduate degree in nonprofit management, public administration, or related fields a plus.

ATTRIBUTES
*  Strong commitment to and passion for OCA's mission
*  Knowledge and ability to lead, manage, motivate and mentor people
*  Aptitude to organize, prioritize and multi-task different programs and events; to set organizational and staff goals and measure progress; to problem solve; and to use creative means to stretch scarce resources.
*  Must have strong initiative, high energy, and keen ability to troubleshoot
*  Ability to meet tight deadlines and to work in a fast-paced environment
*  Ability to build strong relationships with individuals and coalitions
*  Ability to work in growing and fast paced office.
*  Willingness and flexibility to work long hours and to travel

SALARY & BENEFITS:
*  Salary commensurate with experience
*  Health & dental insurance
*  Paid vacation & holidays

LOCATION:
OCA National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

TIMELINE
Applications considered on a rolling basis. Position is open until appropriate candidate is identified. Start date is immediate.

TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample(s), and references outlining experience and skills via email to the address below.

OCA Personnel Committee
c/o 122 Upshire Circle
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Or via email to: ginnygong@comcast.net

The Organization of Chinese Americans is an equal opportunity employer.

“Founded in 1973, OCA, a national organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country, is dedicated to advancing the social, economic, and political well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States."

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TIPS/RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT – IS YOUR DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN READY?

Having a disaster recovery plan in effect well before a catastrophe strikes is vital for any organization. Waiting until the cataclysm has left does not accomplish anything.

In his book Disaster Recovery Planning for Nonprofits, Michael K. Robinson offered some considerations and tips for any organization pondering a disaster plan. A well-thought-out and implemented plan is necessary before disaster of any size strikes.

A good plan should include a schedule of phases, from response to recovery to restoration.

Priority should be established of what is vital to protect, what is important to protect and what is useful to protect. The first element that is vital to protect is people. After that, the essentials are:

* Financial data
* Copies of signed contracts
* Databases
* Custom software
* Human Resources files
* Insurance files
* Proof of ownership/proof of loss.

There should be a team approach to a disaster recovery plan, but not everyone should be involved because some data may be sensitive in nature. Loss of data is a huge problem, but it is not just an IT issue.

Having a plan may mean purchasing equipment that seems redundant, and equipment and procedures should be tested.

Make sure there is a means of retrieval in the event the system crashes.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)

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BOARDS – GETTING THINGS BACK ON TRACK

Although nobody likes to think about disasters, they are a fact of life, and nonprofits must be prepared for them if they are to fulfill their mission. This reality was addressed in a booklet released by BDO Seidman's Institute for Non Profit Excellence, titled Disaster Preparedness and Recovery: A Guide for Nonprofit Board Members and Executives.

According to the guide, part of the fiduciary responsibility for sound management of an organization includes three main items:

* Anticipating and planning for disasters that might affect the organization
* Doing as much as possible in advance to mitigate the effects of a potential disaster
* Putting things back in order as quickly as possible after a disaster strikes.

Generally, disasters affect five key areas of nonprofits: people, operations, facilities, finances and spillover effects from something that has affected some other person or organization.

Preparedness for disaster involves two main categories: preparation and prevention. Preparation usually involves general measures in order to minimize the effects of disaster, imagining scenarios that could happen; prevention entails specific steps to ward off a certain type of problem.

The guide recommends drawing up a disaster plan that includes several lists and charts: of possible disasters (which may vary depending on location or type of activity), activities it is important for the organization to maintain (and people responsible for them), persons in charge of disaster response equipment and suppliers and backup facilities.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/boards.html)

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FUNDRAISING – A CRISIS AND YOUR MAJOR DONORS

If an organization finds itself in a situation bad enough to be considered a crisis, fundraising, especially among major donors, is an extremely important function, regardless of how difficult the crisis may have made it.

In her book Fundraising in Times of Crisis, Kim Klein asserts that donors know that a crisis is not just a suddenly appearing big problem but something that has been brewing. Klein suggests four items that will reassure major donors, many of whom will be satisfied with one or two.

The four things are:

An explanation. Major donors, especially long-time major donors, are like family. When a family member becomes ill, relatives expect to receive more information than neighbors do. Tell these donors whatever you have agreed can be told to anyone in the organization.

A fundraising plan. Be prepared to show donors a cash-flow chart and strategy-by-strategy description, including gross and net incomes for each strategy. Show them the gift-range chart and talk to them about how many other prospects there are.

Help from other donors. Evidence that other people have bought into the plan is important. As gifts come in, ask if the donor's name and gift size can be shared with other prospects.

An escape plan. Some donors need to be offered a contingency they will give only if certain things happen. Such a way out should be offered only if the donors indicate that is what they need.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/fundraise.html)

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NEWS

September 6, 2005

EXPERIENCE EARNS ENDORSEMENT

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER MADISON NGUYEN BETTER-EQUIPPED FOR DEMANDS OF CITY COUNCIL POST

Mercury News Editorial

A week from today, voters in San Jose's District 7 will elect the city's first Vietnamese-American council member -- a young woman of energy and intelligence who embodies the immigrant spirit that makes this community and this nation great.

This will be true whether voters choose Linda Nguyen, 28, or Madison Nguyen, 30. Both have boundless potential.

But Madison Nguyen is better-prepared to represent some of the city's poorest neighborhoods on a 10-member city council. She has held elected office, and she is building broad-based alliances that should help her get things done. Her obvious political ambition often is portrayed as a negative, but District 7 can benefit from her drive.

Leadership void

This is a district desperate for leadership. It has been without effective representation on the council since Terry Gregory took office in 2003. In January, Gregory resigned as part of a plea bargain over, among other things, taking valuable and illegal gifts. His departure cleared the way for a special election in June and next Tuesday's runoff.

Our recommendation of Madison Nguyen is based primarily on her experience. To gain safer streets and other neighborhood improvements, District 7 needs a representative who understands political dynamics and can build coalitions in a maelstrom of competing interests. Linda Nguyen has no experience to prepare her for this challenge.

In 2002, while working for a non-profit organization helping immigrants and at-risk youth, Madison won a Franklin-McKinley school board seat and became the first Vietnamese-American woman in California to hold public office. The following year, after the tragic killing of a young Vietnamese mother by a San Jose police officer, Madison Nguyen more than anyone else voiced her community's anger.

In both cases, her involvement shows some good qualities but also demonstrates that she has room to learn.

At Franklin-McKinley, her presence alone made Vietnamese parents feel empowered. And, as she often says, she had the courage to make unpopular budget decisions to preserve core educational programs.

But rather than emerge as a problem solver, she has tended to paper over the district's problems. And she missed opportunities to connect with parents and community groups, some of whom felt abandoned once she was elected.

When Bich Cau Thi Tran was shot by a police officer who mistook an Asian-style vegetable peeler for a knife, the situation cried out for leadership from the Vietnamese community, and Madison Nguyen was on the spot. But her public posturing in the weeks that followed was more inflammatory than productive, leading some to conclude that she had seized the tragedy as a political opportunity.

Still, her demands for greater cultural sensitivity in the police force were on target. And her fiery style -- once it's tempered with more experience and judgment -- could be powerful.

Needs seasoning

Linda Nguyen is an attorney who works in her family's development business. She has a warmer campaign style than Madison, and a number of neighborhood association leaders support her, saying she listens better than her opponent does.

That may be true, but her perceptions of the neighborhoods' challenges and her ideas for solutions remain superficial. And while she has done volunteer work, she lacks experience in broader civic involvement. She would be a great prospect for the planning commission or school board, but as a first venture into political leadership, a $75,000-a-year job on a metropolitan city council is too great a leap.

Linda Nguyen also is disingenuous about the influence of her family in this race. She is justifiably proud of her parents, who worked their way to wealth in a generation, and she bristles at the suggestion that they are propelling her into office. Yet she acknowledges raising money primarily from friends and family. And her main accomplishment as a volunteer is managing an annual Vietnamese heritage parade that her parents founded. She might well have independent ideas and ambitions, but there's no track record.

Linda Nguyen's supporters say it's Madison Nguyen who is susceptible to outside influence. She is, the rap goes, too political.

That, too, may be true. But Madison Nguyen's support is not from a single interest area. As an example, she is endorsed by the South Bay Labor Council and by the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. There's no guarantee that she'll listen to all viewpoints, but she has the incentive.

Support from civically involved Vietnamese-Americans did not come easily to Madison Nguyen. Many were reluctant to back her in the primary, in part because of a perception that she was inconsistent and had not delivered on promises. Over time, she needs to put those perceptions to rest and build loyalty among her supporters.

Both candidates are young and have much to learn about government. Madison Nguyen has a head start. Growing up in poverty, she has risen on her own power to a position of responsibility and leadership in San Jose. She is the better choice for District 7.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/12570312.htm)

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September 7, 2005

REFUGEE AID GROUPS POISED TO HELP EVACUEES START OVER

By Jessie Mangaliman
Mercury News

National non-profit agencies that help refugees resettle in the United States, from the Hmongs in Thailand to the Bantus in Africa, have offered their expertise in the domestic resettlement of residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The nine large groups that make up Refugee Council USA -- which has local affiliates in the Bay Area, helping to resettle Vietnamese, Cambodians, Ethiopians and Bosnians here -- ``have been in discussions'' since last week with officials of the White House and federal departments helping with hurricane victims evacuated from Louisiana and Mississippi.

``We're saying to the federal government: `Use us. This is what we know how to do,' '' said Sarah Petrin, an official with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a group in Washington, D.C.

Robert J. Carey, vice president for resettlement for the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit group that has offices in San Jose and Fresno, said refugee resettlement groups are ``uniquely positioned to be helpful,'' as tens of thousands of hurricane victims start new lives.

``The scope of this problem is so large that every resource in this country has to be directed to it,'' Carey said. ``We have the capacity, we have the experience and we have something to offer here to bring order and stability back to people's lives.''

Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and family in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the discussions are part of a federal effort to formulate a long-term, comprehensive plan on how to help evacuees rebuild new lives.

Horn's department oversees dozens of different agencies and programs from Project Headstart to temporary assistance for needy families to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

``Resettling a domestic person is in some ways different,'' Horn said. ``But there are some overlaps. We're asking the refugee resettlement groups what capacity they have to help us.''

The decades-old work that resettlement groups do for international refugees -- getting new identification documents, registering children at school, finding jobs and housing -- parallels what Katrina evacuees are experiencing now, said Mark Franken, chairman of Refugee Council USA, who has been leading discussions about the group's involvement in Katrina resettlement.

Katrina evacuees are now seeking the help of local refugee resettlement groups across the country, Carey said. In San Diego and Atlanta for example, IRC's local offices are now helping Bosnian refugees from New Orleans.

Franken said the council is prepared to help in the resettlement of 100,000 Katrina evacuees.

``Acknowledging that this is very different from refugee resettlement, a lot of the needs will be very similar,'' said Ellen Dumesnil, a division director at Catholic Charities San Jose. ``It makes ultimate sense.''

Petrin said the USCRI has dispatched assessment teams in Texas, interviewing scores of evacuees to get a sense of what they might need. Whether in Africa or Southeast Asia or Central Asia, this is standard procedure, she said.

From these initial interviews, Petrin said a clear pattern has emerged: Many of the Katrina evacuees -- like international refugees fleeing war or persecution -- don't have personal identification documents.

These documents are critical, Petrin said, when the evacuees seek welfare assistance, Social Security benefits or low-interest government loans.

``Maybe we didn't do everything right in the beginning,'' Petrin said. ``Let's do the right thing now.''

Contact Jessie Mangaliman at jmangaliman@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5794.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/12579112.htm)

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September 8, 2005

ELECTION SHOWS GROWING VIETNAMESE CLOUT

By TERENCE CHEA
The Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Most of their issues are common to any city council race in America - fixing potholes, stopping gang violence, improving schools. But this election is between two Vietnamese-American women, and they're waging much of their campaigns in a language most of their constituents don't understand.

Tuesday's runoff election to decide between two candidates named Nguyen marks the political awakening of San Jose's Vietnamese community - a fast-growing immigrant group that began arriving three decades ago as political refugees from war-ravaged Vietnam.

"It's a big milestone," said resident Paul Le, 38. "After 30 years, we will finally have someone who wants to represent our interests. It shows that we have the will and political strength to voice our concerns."

School board member Madison Nguyen, 30, and attorney Linda Nguyen, 28, both Democrats, are not related but share the most common Vietnamese surname.

Their runoff next Tuesday is only the latest sign of Vietnamese-Americans' growing political power. In November, Van Tran, a Republican former city councilman in Southern California's Garden Grove, became the nation's first Vietnamese-American elected to a state Legislature.

"This is a new force in local, state and national politics," said Terry Christensen, a political science professor at San Jose State University.

Nearly 10 percent of San Jose's 900,000 residents are of Vietnamese descent.

Even though they're far from the largest ethnic group - the district is 36 percent Asian and 42 percent Hispanic - Vietnamese residents voted in record numbers in June to propel the Nguyens ahead of seven other candidates.

Madison Nguyen emerged as the early favorite after winning 44 percent of the primary vote. She and her family fled their homeland in 1979. After college, she became San Jose's first Vietnamese school board member.

"This is a district made up of immigrants and working-class families that have similar values that I had growing up," Madison Nguyen said.

Linda Nguyen is a political novice from a well-connected family who won 27 percent of the primary vote. Born and raised in the district, she works as a real estate attorney and directs the popular Vietnamese New Year Tet parade.

"I feel like this is an opportunity to make a difference," Linda Nguyen said.

Their appeals in English have focused on city services and accusations of campaign ethics violations that were declared unfounded. While speaking in Vietnamese, they've tried to outdo each other's anti-communist fervor. Some residents, though, worry about being left out.

"Read their pamphlets and handouts. It's all in Vietnamese," said longtime resident Chuck Jeffery, 65. "It's to be expected, but now they have to transition from their culture to the overall community, where there are all sorts of cultures."

Both women say they're working hard for all the district's voters.

"I can tell you that we're both very visible outside the Vietnamese community," Madison Nguyen said. "When we walk the precincts, we see each other all the time. A lot of non-Vietnamese say, 'Weren't you just here?' I say, 'No, that was the other Nguyen.'"

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801191.html)

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 8, 2005

PRESIDENT BUSH ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE RELIEF

Presidential Action:

Today, President Bush Announced Two New Initiatives Providing Immediate Assistance To Hurricane Katrina Evacuees. The President has directed the Federal government to provide immediate financial assistance and streamline Federal benefits for evacuees. These steps will ensure that help is delivered into the hands of those who need it as quickly and easily as possible.

Immediate Financial Assistance:

* The Federal Government Will Provide Evacuees $2,000 In Needed Financial Assistance. The Federal government is working to provide $2,000 in immediate emergency disaster relief to every household affected by Hurricane Katrina. To expedite the process, the President has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work with the Red Cross and large shelters like the Houston Astrodome to get the funds into citizens' hands as soon as possible. Those victims who are currently staying with families, friends, in hotels, or at smaller shelters provided by churches, synagogues, and other community organizations, can register for help benefits by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or if they have internet access, by visiting www.fema.gov. This immediate financial assistance will be available to help evacuees with transportation, clothing, housing, and food costs and is just the first step on the road to full recovery.

* The Federal Government Is Working To Expedite The Aid Process. FEMA is reaching out to evacuees and assisting them in applying for Federal aid. More than 400,000 evacuees have already been registered. Registration is the first step in receiving assistance and the process is being expedited to quickly and efficiently provide help to those in need. FEMA workers are working in shelters and recovery centers to ensure that those displaced by Hurricane Katrina receive the food, shelter, clothing, and financial assistance they need. And FEMA has 3,000 people working around the clock taking calls at 1-800-621-FEMA to help victims get the assistance they need.

Working To Ensure Continuity Of Benefits:

* The Federal Government Will Streamline Benefits To Evacuees. While the Nation is focused on providing evacuees with immediate needs such as food, water, and shelter, many need to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. Many victims need access to the benefits they received before Hurricane Katrina struck - programs like Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start, and Food Stamps. Recognizing that most evacuees have lost records and legal documents, the Federal government will grant special "evacuee" status to streamline and simplify the enrollment process, and provide financial assistance to states for the cost of care. This will make it easier for evacuees to register and collect benefits in whatever state they now reside.

* Evacuees Will Have Access To The Full Range Of Services. States housing evacuees already have in place the systems and expertise to enroll displaced people into benefit programs. State enrollment teams are currently operating in shelters and many have 1-800 information numbers. Any evacuee can go to the nearest state or local benefits office to get information and enroll. For those with access to the internet, they can get information at www.govbenefits.gov. Evacuees can apply for the full range of Federal benefits administered by the states - such as Medicaid, child care, mental health services, Food Stamps, housing, and job training. By streamlining the process, the Federal government is ensuring that evacuees can receive needed Federal benefits.

* Federal Help To States. To help states with the costs of providing immediate care and immediate benefits for their fellow Americans, the President is working with Congress to reimburse the states that are taking in evacuees from the affected areas along the Gulf Coast. The Federal government is committed to helping the states provide the services that evacuees need, including education, health care, mental health, child welfare, child care, and family reunification.

Next Friday Is A National Day Of Prayer:

* The President Has Declared Friday, September 16, 2005, A National Day Of Prayer And Remembrance. Throughout our history, Americans have come together in prayer to heal and seek strength. To honor the victims and survivors of this devastating hurricane, the President has declared Friday, September 16, 2005, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.

# # #

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/hurricane/)

******************

STATE FARM® RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA

As one of our key partners, we would appreciate your assistance in sharing what State Farm is doing to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina with your board members, affiliates and/or chapters.

*        Our foremost concern is our policyholders, employees and agents.

*        Policyholders who can report a claim should. Policyholders who have suffered losses from this storm should rest assured State Farm stands ready to deliver on its promises far into the future.

*        Our $1 million donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and our pledge to match associate giving dollar-for-dollar.

This serves as a first response demonstrating our concern for the welfare and safety of residents in the Southeast.

*        Although safety concerns preclude State Farm from physically entering some areas, we are not standing on the sidelines.

*        Nearly 2,600 dedicated catastrophe claim adjusters are joining more than 3,000 State Farm employees, agents, and agents' staff who live and work in the Gulf Coast states have gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, and Houston, Texas, already handling claims.

*        State Farm has the resources and financial strength to handle a storm of this magnitude.

*        We handled four hurricanes last year and we're prepared to handle Hurricane Katrina.

*        Our planning and preparation focus on making sure we have the financial and people resources to help thousands of policyholders impacted by Mother Nature's ferocity.

*        For State Farm customers who need to file a claim, but have been displaced:

*        Contact any State Farm agent near your current location.

*        Call 1-800-SF-CLAIM (1-800-732-5246).

*        Visit statefarm.com Ò

Thank you for your continued partnership.

For additional information, please refer to our Sept. 8 News Release:

(http://www.statefarm.com/media/release/hurr_katrina2.asp)

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September 9, 2005

KATRINA MAKES TWICE REFUGEES
Asian American Press

Just as millions of Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating and costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, several thousand Southeast Asian communities evacuated prior to the hurricane not knowing they would lose everything. The one-time refugee population that came to grips with building a new life after a war will now rebuild for a second time after a natural disaster of unimaginable proportions.

Current damage estimates range as high as $26 billion, as thousands have been left homeless and millions more lack electricity.

“We encourage each of you to reach out to our extended neighbors and families by supporting local fundraising efforts organized Vietnamese American organizations or by supporting the American Red Cross,” said Hung Nguyen, National Congress of Vietnamese Americans. “We wanted to update you with information regarding the Vietnamese Americans who were stranded at Lavang Church in the Versailles section of New Orleans. Through the actions of many outside the affected area, we were able to help those in the affected area.”

From New Orleans, across Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, the Gulf Coast region is a magnet for people wanting to continue a life on the sea. Because of their proximity to the sea, and their vulnerability to hurricanes, most residents took little more than a days clothes to the evacuation center, not realizing they would lose everything.

A national Lao media source reported Lao and Cambodian-American residents of New Orleans evacuated to New Iberia, La., where they were given refuge in the local Buddhist temple, Wat Thammarattanaram of Louisiana. They remained until sent off to Houston or other permanent shelters.

By-in-large most of the displaced Asian community are Vietnamese that lived off the sea in coastal towns.  The Vietnamese community comprises over half of all Asian Americans along the Gulf States. In New Orleans, the Vietnamese families sought shelter from the storm in New Orleans churches, such as Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, and the Lavang Church in Versailles. After the storm, rising floodwaters trapped hundreds of people in the churches, “growing weak and sick from lack of food and water plus the heat,” said one blogger that was carried over Vietnamese community emails.

Some would be rescued and taken to the Superdome, either by helicopter, or crowded in the back of an over-the-road “18-wheeler” truck that somehow kept going through the water.  Those who could walk or had a boat moved to higher ground – and some faced the armed street gangs. The sick and elderly waited in the church with a priest who stayed with them.

Some stayed all night on a dry, risen highway without food and water.  Many required medical attention.

Along the way many friends and family became separated, but somehow knew a city evacuation was imminent. They all agreed to meet in Houston at Duc Me LaVang Church.

“Please pray even if you haven't for awhile, pray,” said another blogger. That's the only thing that's going to help us now.”

Many of the bloggers said to meet on www.AsianNola.com, a New Orleans Vietnamese community site that hasn't seen any activity since the hurricane struck.

“How can we assure them that violence is unnecessary and that everyone will get out?” asked Anna, another blogger. “Why can't we just pull together?  No one will be left behind if we could help it.”

Alabama is in great need of Vietnamese translators to help conduct needs assessment with the Vietnamese communities.

The Vietnamese community of Houston has been working around the clock to assist the relief efforts. Chi Tieu Muoi Huynh organized an effort to raise more than $10,000 in two days. The money went to serve the immediate needs for more than 850 refugees that are currently residing in churches, convents and temples.

Volunteers from BPSOS, Lend A Hand, VSA at University of Houston, Catholic Youth groups, VN Teamwork and Asian Family Services Agency assisted Le Canh Hai and the Dong DA Minh (Dominican Sisters Convent) of Houston with helping 100 families to fill in their online application for disaster support.

Within one week, the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinity and the Office of Hubert Vo and Radio Saigon Houston together raised more than $40,000 for the Katrina Relief Fund. The VCSA raised more than $10,000 for the same cause.

Tuyet Duong from Boat People SOS is currently working around the clock to coordinate all the volunteer effort in all different areas: FEMA application online registration, Employment Assistance, Housing Assistance, Food Stamp Assistance and Healthcare Assistance.


(http://www.aapress.com/archive/2005/websep9/n-katrina.htm)

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September 10, 2005

S.J. BUSINESSMAN RETURNS TO HELP VIETNAMESE-AMERICANS IN BILOXI

By Amy Worden
Knight Ridder

BILOXI, Miss. - When Henry Huong Le took his first stunned look at the leveled neighborhood that had been the heart of the Vietnamese community here, one thought came to his mind: It was worse than Vietnam after the war.

Le, 48, owner of the Lee's Sandwiches chain in San Jose, returned to Biloxi after the hurricane to see what was left of the community he helped build. He helped found the first Vietnamese-American seafood-processing plant here, and owned 10 commercial and residential properties that were lost in the storm.

Hurricane Katrina flattened scores of small frame houses and Asian businesses in a 12-square-block area. It destroyed the wharves where Vietnamese-American fishermen docked their boats and the seafood plants that processed the shrimp they brought to shore, sometimes after months at sea.

He struggled to hold back tears when he described the losses.

``There is so much destruction that you can't see on TV,'' he said. ``In Vietnam a few houses burned, but most people had something to return to. Here, there is nothing to come back to.''

Neither Le nor the handful of other volunteers helping the Vietnamese-American community are dwelling on the pain, however. There's too much to do.

A steady stream of Vietnamese-Americans, most of whom lost their homes and jobs, flow through an office that Le borrowed from a local bank, seeking help in filling out forms from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Meantime, volunteers hustle to find doctors, lawyers and translators, and to organize food shipments and fundraising drives.

Le, who lived in Biloxi for five years in the early 1990s, returned to lead the effort to rebuild the devastated community. His sandwich store chain, founded in 2001, now has 29 stores in California, Arizona and Texas.

Many of the estimated 5,000 Vietnamese-American residents of Biloxi fled north or east to escape the storm, but more than 1,000 were trapped on fishing boats with no place to go. An additional 200 homeless Vietnamese-Americans are camping out in the community's Buddhist temple. At least 2,000 have been displaced.

Vietnamese-Americans in San Jose -- which has the largest such population of any American city -- and across the country are rallying behind the people of Biloxi, Le said. A fundraiser was held Friday in San Jose for Vietnamese-American families affected by the storm. Organizers hope to raise $100,000 for the American Red Cross.

Three truckloads of food and supplies -- instant noodles, rice, soy sauce, bean curd and chopsticks -- are in Houston, ready to move. But first Le has to find a place to warehouse them.

``There isn't a place to put them,'' he said.

Le was among thousands of Vietnamese who escaped their homeland after the Vietnam War. After three years in a Malaysian refugee camp, he landed in San Jose. Others settled in historic fishing villages along the Gulf Coast, from Mississippi to Alabama.

Many who went to Mississippi settled in Point Cadet, a peninsula in East Biloxi now ringed by oceanfront casinos. It originally was home to French families in the 19th century.

About 80 percent are employed in the fishing industry. The rest work in casinos and on offshore oil rigs. Many are poor and uninsured.

Philip Tran and his wife and two children made it out of Biloxi before the storm and returned recently to the site where their house had stood. Amid the pile of boards, Tran's wife found the shattered glass frame that held a photo of her 2-year-old son. She cradled it and cried softly as she gently broke off the small piece containing her son's face.

Tran, who has lived in Biloxi for 21 years, said he doesn't know if he'll come back. ``It depends on what the city does and it depends on whether there is work.''

Several important landmarks survived the storm: the Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs, the Van Duc Temple and the statue of the female Buddha, Quan Yi, which graced the front of the temple. The temple was dedicated Aug. 28, the day before the storm hit. Now it's a homeless shelter.

``The statue has significance to Vietnamese fishermen,'' said De Tran, editor and publisher of Viet Mercury, a weekly Vietnamese-language publication of the Mercury News. Tran traveled to Mississippi to volunteer as a translator. ``After the evacuation of Vietnam, many of the boat people at sea believed they saw images of her over their boats.''

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/12610165.htm)

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September 11, 2005

FEMALE IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP ONE OF FASTEST-GROWING GROUPS OF ENTREPRENEURS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, COUNTRY

By Heesook Choi
Austin Business Journal

Suzi Lee moved to the United States from South Korea in 1977 with her family. To make a living, she waited tables at Chinese restaurants.

In the early 1990s, she opened her own restaurant, Suzi's China Kitchen at 1152 S. Lamar Blvd. She since has opened two more restaurants -- Suzi's China Grill & Sushi Bar on Shoal Creek Boulevard and on Bee Caves Road.

She makes the rounds at all three businesses every day, serving as hostess, bartender, dishwasher and waitress.

Businesses owned by female immigrants such as Lee are flourishing in the Austin area and across the country.

According to a report released earlier this year by the Immigration Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the number of female immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States has grown nearly 190 percent since 1990. Since 1980, the number has soared by 468 percent.

Census figures show 8.3 percent of all employed immigrant women own businesses. Among women born in the United States, that figure is 6.2 percent.

The policy center's report shows immigrant women entrepreneurs work mostly in industries such as health care, food service, cleaning and beauty.

Lee, who began her restaurant with seven employees, now has about 50 employees.

"I have been in this business for about 15 years," Lee says. "My job is to take care of all the stores to keep them running well. I move from store to store every day to check whether they are OK.

"But you know, every day there is some problem. No pain, no gain, you know. You should work hard and treat your customers like your family."

Another Austin immigrant who has adopted the entrepreneurial spirit is Rommanee Swasdee.

Swasdee came to Texas from Thailand in 1974 to study food science in the graduate program at Texas A&M University. In 1980, after obtaining her master's and doctoral degrees, she moved to Michigan to work for Kellogg Co. In 1987, she came to Austin, where she opened Satay restaurant at 3202 W. Anderson Lane.

"In 1974, when I came to America, I already had that dream to be an owner," Swasdee says. "And now all my degrees ... are about food science."

She also owns take-out food business Satay Express, Thai Noodle House at 2602 Guadalupe St., and a plant that makes products such as sauces, dressings or curries sold under the Satay brand name.

Swasdee says her goal is to develop, manufacture and sell Thai food products in the U.S. market. She's also planning a Satay Express in downtown Austin.

"America is a land of opportunity," she says. "If you know what you want, if you set up your goals and objectives, if you work hard and pursue it, you can normally succeed. I learned that from going to school here, meeting so many people and working for Kellogg's.

"I knew it must be easy for me to start my own business here."

Some immigrant women decide to open businesses after becoming discouraged by the job market. Adeline Bui, who owns A2Z Insurance & Financial Services and Financial Health Management Services in Austin, says she likes being an employer rather than an employee.

"I worked at Dell for five years in the sales department," Bui says. "But I didn't like it at all, because it is always what is wrong with you, not with the market or clients. ... I worked hard. But they have their own numbers, expectations."

She became an entrepreneur three months into her maternity leave. She was supposed to go back to work for Dell Inc., but she decided to open a Vietnamese restaurant instead. Six months later, she sold the restaurant. In July 2004, she entered the insurance and financial services business, targeting Vietnamese-Americans.

"Next to Hispanics, Vietnamese-Americans are the second largest ethnic group in Austin," Bui says. "The communication barrier is big. They always rely on translation, but the person who translates may not know what you are talking about. So I wanted to use the niche market. You can come to me, and I can explain to you in terms you understand.

"I would love to open the services to the general public in the end. In order to do so, you have to get started somewhere. From there, you can expand it."

Bui moved to the United States from Saigon with her family in 1982, when she was 7 years old. She is bilingual, and so are her employees.

"My goal is to build my business to make it bigger," she says, "so that the company gets its recognition and we no longer sell the product, but the product sells itself."

Swasdee already has latched onto several other business interests, including a cookbook.

"I have more projects," Swasdee says. "My dream never stops. I keep going in a different direction."

© 2005 Austin Business Journal

(http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9307734/)

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September 12, 2005

U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES JOB BANK TO ASSIST WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

*WASHINGTON* - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the creation of the Katrina Recovery Job Connection dedicated to connecting workers impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina with employers who want to hire them. It will also support the hiring associated with critical clean-up efforts in impacted areas.

"Workers displaced by the hurricane are eager to get back to work and rebuild their lives," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "We have created this new Internet resource to connect workers to employers who have jobs to give, including temporary jobs cleaning up and rebuilding devastated communities."

The expanded Web site is designed to assist three specific audiences: individuals seeking new, full-time employment either in their home state or in a new state; individuals wishing to assist in the clean-up and rebuilding efforts through temporary employment, and employers who want to list jobs supporting hurricane recovery efforts or want to hire workers impacted by the hurricane.

"As people begin to rebuild their lives and homes, finding a good job will be a top priority," said Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "This new job site offers them a place to find employers eager to hire."

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration is reaching out to multi-state employers from across the country to add job opportunities to this new site.

The Katrina Recovery Job Connection can be found at www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs or through America's Job Bank at www.ajb.org.

(http://www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs)

(www.ajb.org)

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September 12, 2005

VIETNAMESE AND LATINO COMMUNITIES COULD BE MORE AT RISK
Some Vietnamese at risk without translations

BY BETH MUSGRAVE
Sun Herald

GULFPORT - (KRT) - A Vietnamese man who spent five days in a wrecked fishing boat before being saved told rescuers he did not understand the evacuation orders issued before Hurricane Katrina.

And not knowing how to get help nearly killed both men, rescuers said.

Many fear that without translated information the area's largest non-English speakers - the Vietnamese and Latino communities - could be more at risk than their English-speaking neighbors to a litany of health problems - from carbon-monoxide poisoning from generators to skin rashes and gastrointestinal problems from drinking unclean water.

"It's disconcerting that there isn't any infrastructure to offer Vietnamese/English translation to reassure these Vietnamese people," said Tuyet A. Ngoc Tran, an editor at Viettouch.com, a Web site based in New York and San Jose, Calif., which has been following the coverage of the Vietnamese community affected by Katrina. "Someone should pay attention to these people because they have no advocates."

The Vietnamese man was found with a second Vietnamese man in the Lakeshore community in Hancock County. The two men - severely dehydrated and malnourished - had sought refuge in the boat after the storm, rescuers said.

The identities of both men were not released by authorities. One was 38 and had recently moved to the area from Kansas City, Mo., and spoke English.

The other, between 35 and 40, did not seem to understand English and was in a catatonic state.

"They had made no attempt to seek medical attention," said Dr. David Jaslow, an emergency room doctor attached to the Pennsylvania rescue unit that found the two men. Jaslow said the man from Kansas City told him that he did not understand the evacuation orders and never expected to be saved or treated.

Jaslow said the man was surprised that he was given medical attention.

Tran said that many poorer Vietnamese are hesitant to go to a doctor because they cannot afford it.

Adam Nguyen had not heard about the two Vietnamese men but he had heard that a second hurricane was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico and heading to Biloxi.

Nguyen, a 13-year-old seventh-grade student, was struggling to translate information for his grandparents and other Vietnamese adults living at the Chua Van Duc Buddhist temple on a debris-littered East Biloxi street. Aid in the form of water, food and clothes has poured in.

But information has not.

After being reassured that there was no hurricane, Nguyen issued a plea: "Please send out information in Vietnamese. Send it really soon. "

Nguyen is living at the temple with his grandparents. He and his grandmother evacuated to Florida. But his 69-year-old grandfather did not. He escaped the storm by emptying a 5-gallon water jug, stuffing it into his shirt and using it as a flotation device after his First Street home collapsed. The jug now rests on the side of the temple's porch.

So far, only local and international media outlets have provided information in Vietnamese and Spanish.

WLOX-TV has translated and broadcast some information updates and stories in Spanish and Vietnamese, said Renee Johnson, the station's Internet producer.

One of the station's reporters - Trang Pham Bui - speaks Vietnamese and has been translating some news reports since the storm began, Johnson said. The station has also issued some public service announcements in Spanish, Johnson said.

But more information could be available in both Spanish and Vietnamese soon.

Vincent Creel, the spokesman for the city of Biloxi, said the city had not issued evacuation orders in any language but English, but said the city was going to start issuing new releases in Spanish and Vietnamese.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will have Vietnamese and Spanish-speaking community support workers in the area soon, said Tom Hegele, spokesman for FEMA.

"We've got some flyers and brochures that are in Spanish and we're trying to distribute them now," Hegele said. Hegele said they're trying to get the same information translated into Vietnamese. But Hegele said there are people who are from Vietnam who speak other languages than Vietnamese, which complicates the translation process, he said.

"They'll hopefully be in the area in the next several days," Hegele said, of the community support staff.

Nguyen, 13, and Tuong Do, 10, who is also living at the shelter, were also hungry for other information - like when school will be back in session.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want to go back to school," Do said. "I'm bored here. I'd rather be doing homework."

© 2005, The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.).
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

(http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/special_packages/hurricane_katrina/12620086.htm)

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September 12, 2005

BAYOU’S ASIAN-AMERICANS TRY TO RECOVER: ‘WE’LL GET BY’

By Roy Hoffman
Staff Reporter

BAYOU LA BATRE -- Shaded by a lotus leaf, the statue of the Buddhist character Bodhisattva Quan Am rose 20 feet high at the edge of the temple Chua Chanh Giac in Bayou La Batre, looking out at the hurricane-rav aged surroundings with a serene gaze.

Inside the temple Sunday, Lingthong, a Buddhist monk, cleaned up debris from Hurricane Katrina with the help of congregants.

"We'll get by," said Jack Davis, 47, who was born in Saigon with the birth name Tuoi Tran. Tran, who had fled Vietnam on a boat when he was a teenager, works as a welder nearby, and is now without employment. As he fixed the door of the temple where he regularly worships -- Sunday services have been canceled because of Ka trina damage -- he said there was hope that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would give the temple money to rebuild.

If not, he said, hammering away, "We'll do it step by step."

Step by step seemed to be a watchword Sunday along Railroad Street in the Bayou. In one of the Alabama communities hardest hit by Katrina -- and where a Red Cross shelter, at the nearby Bayou La Batre community center, helped hurricane victims of all backgrounds -- some Vietnamese-Americans spent Sunday taking care of their own.

As the monk, Lingthong, stepped outdoors, donned her prayer robe, and walked toward the religious statue, she explained, in halting English, that she was based at another temple, in Ohio, and had only just arrived in Bayou La Batre.

A calm woman with a shaved head whose own family came from war-torn Vietnam as refugees a generation ago, Lingthong said she traveled south from Ohio to help out because the monk in charge had to leave town. The Bayou La Batre monk, she explained, was going to other Buddhist temples to seek aid. "She is getting donations to help this temple," said Lingthong.

Danny Vo, an out-of-work welder, said the donations would help restore the temple, which acts as an important center for the Buddhist Vietnamese, who are part of the larger Vietnamese community, of different faiths, who together constitute a sizable part of the local population.

U.S. Census Bureau informa tion for 2000, the most recent year available, shows that 33.3 percent of Bayou La Batre's population is of Asian background. Less than 1 percent of the population is Asian in the entire state of Alabama.

As Vo looked about at storm-beaten walls and figures of the Buddha on the half-empty altar, he said that, concerning long-term employment, "We will wait."

A half-mile up Railroad Street from the temple, a handwritten sign in front of a warehouse announced: "Gao. 4 o'clock."

"Gao," said Them Tran, means "rice."

Tran, who owns a general store close to Shell Belt Road, Que Huong Oriental Market, had seen his business swallowed up by Katrina's storm surge. "I have no insurance," he said.

Having been one of the "boat people" who escaped Vietnam, Tran, along with his relatives, had also worked in seafood. After he and his wife, Mung Duong, settled on the Alabama coast, they raised four sons in Bayou La Batre.

One son, John, was with him at the Railroad Street warehouse Sunday. John had gone to Alma Bryant High School and graduated from a technical college.

"My heart hurts," Tran said in his simple English, "for many people."

Despite the loss of his own store, Tran, a friendly, energetic man, said he had organized the distribution of rice and other items to Katrina victims -- not just to Southeast Asians, but to any neighbor in need -- because of his feeling of "taking care" of his community.

Tran said he is president of the Vietnamese community association.

As he stood in the doorway of the warehouse, a former VFW lodge which he now owns, he welcomed people asking for information about the giveaway. "At 4 o'clock," he said, which meant it would take place in a couple of hours.

One of the men who helped him was Cong Phan -- "I am King Kong," joked the small, wiry man -- who had worked in seafood. That industry, prior to Katrina, had already begun to take a beating, Cong said.

But the men were not congregating on Sunday to complain. They were lifting bags of rice from pickup trucks into the warehouse. They were getting ready to do what they could for others.

Tran stepped inside.

Around him were thousands of articles of donated clothes -- shoes, shirts, pants -- palettes of canned goods, boxes of dried noodles, stacks of rice in heavy sacks. As he moved about the warehouse, he said these donations had come from other Vietnamese around the country.

He moved near crates of dried noodles. "They came from California."

He looked at the rice and other goods. Some had been donated by the Vietnamese of Mobile, including members of his own church, Hollinger's Island Baptist.

Why was Tran gathering these donations when the Red Cross shelter was distributing food not far away?

"A lot of the Vietnamese don't speak English," said John, Tran's American-born son. "They're confused. They don't know what to ask for, what to expect."

He said that, by late afternoon, the Vietnamese and others of Asian background -- Cambodians and Laotions, among them -- would come to the warehouse. All in need would be welcome.

Tran planned to give away the donations at 9 a.m. Monday, too.

At his store up the road, Tran's wife, Mung Duong, was trying to clean up outside, still, it seemed, not knowing where to begin. She wore an Asian straw hat, and was followed about by her dog, Roco, a watchful boxer.

She said that, when she returned to the store after Katrina, she opened the door to see everything ruined by water. She cried, then did not sleep for two nights.

Like her husband, she seemed grateful, though, for still being safe.

"I am lucky," said Tran, who had returned to the store before going back to the warehouse. "My wife, my sons, we are all alive. I want to help others."

(http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1126516554168190.xml&coll=3)

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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
September 12, 2005

Contact: Tong Lee
(202) 667-4690 or tong@searac.org

SEARAC CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN RESETTLEMENT BY HONORING COMMUNITY LEADERS

Washington, DC - On September 17, 2005, SEARAC will honor individuals and organizations that have supported the Southeast Asian American communities at SEARAC's gala entitled, Beyond Refugees: From Flight to Setting Roots. Southeast Asian honorees in attendance will include: Yong Kay Moua - acknowledged and awarded by former President Clinton as one of the  "Thousand Points of Light"; Dr. Huong Tran Nguyen - 1994 nominee for the National Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award; Torm Nompraseurt – long time activist and the Organizing Director of the Laotian Organizing Project; Loung Ung - a featured speaker on Cambodia, child soldiers, and landmines and author of the national bestselling book, First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers; and Catherina Nou - President of the Khmer American Student Association at the University of California, Davis.  "These honorees represent the progress of the Southeast Asian community in this country.  These awards celebrate the successes of the past and present, as well as the hope for the future of our entire community," says Doua Thor, Executive Director of SEARAC.

At this event, SEARAC will also commemorate the 30th year of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement to the United States and the 25th Anniversary of the Refugee Act by featuring Southeast Asian performances and honoring our allies, Refugee Council USA and State Farm©.  In addition, SEARAC will host a silent auction with proceeds supporting SEARAC programs and relief efforts and survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

The gala will be held on September 17, 2005, from 6:30 to 10:00 pm, at Tony Cheng's Restaurant in Washington, DC.

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(http://www.searac.org)

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September 13, 2005

WARNING OF A SILENT KILLER
Campaign aims to alert Asian-Americans to hepatitis danger.

By BLYTHE BERNHARD
The Orange County Register

WESTMINSTER – Tanh Phan thinks he got hepatitis C decades ago in Vietnam, when nurses used the same needles to vaccinate hundreds of children.

Today, he wants others in the Asian-American community to know they are at risk and should be tested for the virus.

"Very few people are knowledgeable about the transmission of hepatitis B and C and how serious it is," Phan, 51, said Sunday at his Westminster home.

Although hepatitis can infect anyone, it is most common in the Asian community. While Asian-Americans make up less than 4 percent of the U.S. population, they represent more than 55 percent of the 1.3 million Americans infected with chronic hepatitis B.

The hepatitis virus comes in different forms and attacks liver cells, causing scarring. The more serious forms, hepatitis B and C, can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Many patients will require a liver transplant.

One out of eight Vietnamese-Americans suffers from chronic hepatitis B. Of those, 25 percent will develop liver failure or liver cancer.

"A lot of people are going to die and suffer if we don't do something now," Dr. Christopher Xuan Duong Bui said at a hepatitis awareness campaign kickoff last week in Westminster.

Because hepatitis is more prevalent in Asia than North America - mainly due to unsanitary medical practices - those born in Vietnam are more likely to have contracted the disease from their mothers at birth.

Hepatitis initially does not cause any symptoms, so it is important for those at high risk to be screened for the disease before it becomes more serious. The disease can be treated with drugs, but herbal treatments are not recommended, doctors said.

Phan, a computer systems analyst, tried herbal remedies for 18 months without success. He now takes interferon injections and drugs to help his liver cells produce enzymes that counteract the virus.

Besides mother-to-child transmissions, the disease can be passed through unsafe sex and nonsterile acupuncture, tattoos, drug needles and blood transfusions. The virus cannot be caught through casual contact.

There is a vaccine for hepatitis B, recommended for all children and those at high risk of contracting the disease - Americans of Asian descent, intravenous drug users and health-care workers who come into contact with blood.

Dr. Bichlien Nguyen of the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation stressed the importance of raising awareness about hepatitis at the campaign event.

"Tell your friends, please tell your community, please tell everybody about this silent killer," Nguyen said.

Free hepatitis B and C screenings will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 23 at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital in Fountain Valley. Information: (714) 751-5805 or www.ungthu.org

CONTACT US: (714) 796-6880 or bbernhard@ocregister.com

(http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/09/13/sections/local/local/article_672245.php)

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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.

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