NCVA eREPORTER
- September 6, 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
DISASTER RELIEF
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
TIPS/RESOURCES
NEWS
******************
EVENTS
FUNDRAISING EVENT TO SUPPORT HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
WORK
Viet Heritage Society (VHS,) United Vietnamese Americans (UVA,)
and Beyond Fun
Location: Capital Club Athletic
196 North 3rd Street (and St. John),San Jose, CA
When: Friday, September 9,
7:00pm - Saturday, September 10, 1:00am
Phone: 408-888-7483
"I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything; but
still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I
will not refuse to do something that I can do." - Edward Everett
Hale
By now, all of us have come to know the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina. The magnitude of the loss and damage is unfathomable.
* 90,000+ square miles (nearly 55% of the size of California)
are damaged;
* Regional damages estimated at $50 billion; and
* Hundreds of thousands of people have lost everything.
In joining the national effort to assist the victims of Katrina,
The Viet Heritage Society (VHS,) United Vietnamese Americans (UVA,)
Dana Hanh Contey, Silicon Valley Businesses, and Community Based
Organizations (CBOs) are hosting a fundraising event at the
Capital Club Athletic on Friday, September 9, 2005.
PLEASE BRING YOUR FAMILIES & FRIENDS TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR
EFFORTS TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THIS DISASTER!
AGENDA:
7:00 PM - 7:45 PM Hors D'oeuvres/Reception
7:45 PM - 9:00 PM American Red Cross Benefit Program
9:00 PM - 1:00 AM Silent Auction, Fashion Show, Dancing
SPEAKERS: Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, Dang Pham & Dr.
Sherman Tran from the American Red Cross, Santa Clara Chapter,
and Thuy Vu, former Anchor ABC.
DONATIONS: All donations accepted. Please make checks out
to: “American Red Cross,” Memo: “Hurricane Katrina” Tax ID#:
53-0196605 - Major Credit Cards Accepted.
CONTACTS: Ryan Nguyen Hubris (408) 505-7388, Debbie
Nghiem (408) 888-7483, Dana Contey (408) 206-5203
SPONSORS: VHS, UVA, Beyond Fun, Capital Club Athletic,
VAREPA, Viet-ACF, BAVS, UVSA, ICAN, VietET, Think Viet, Miss VN
of No. CA & Court, Miss VN of So. CA, San Jose Heart Institute,
Innovia Estates & Mortgage, Network PCB, Lido, American City
Loan, Thao Dang Real Estate Group, Frontline Sound Systems,
Shannon Drake, Aidan West Financial, Andy Le, Catrina Phan,
Jennette Bui, Madison Nguyen, and many other friends…(WE WOULD
LOVE TO ADD YOUR NAME HERE.)
LIST OF DONORS (TO DATE)
San Jose Heart Institute - $5,000.00
Innovia Estates & Mortgage - $3,000.00
Network PCB-$2,000.00
Suzanne from Lido-$1,000.00
Mona from American City Loan-$1,000.00
Law offices of Dan Do and Jenny Do-$300.00
Andy Le -$500.00 (for food at the event)
Anonymous-$150.00
Cung Thi Dang-$100.00
Ai Minh and Rick To-$100.00
Holly Hue Chau-$100.00
Trina Vu-$100.00
(WE WOULD LOVE TO ADD YOUR NAME HERE.)
PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR PLEDGE! WE’D LIKE TO RAISE $100,000 FOR
THE VICTIMS. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EVITE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE.
TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
******************
2005 VIRGINIA ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CANDIDATES’ FORUM
Come meet candidates running for office this fall, and listen to
them address issues affecting our community!
Reception to follow! Come mingle with the candidates and sample
delicious Asian foods!
It’s free, and all are welcome to attend!
3:00 –
5:00pm, Saturday, September 10
Korean Central Presbyterian Church
8526 Amanda Place, Vienna, VA 22180
directions at
http://www.kcpc.org/churchinfo/map.asp
* SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS *
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater
Washington, DC Area (APABA-DC) * Coalition of Asian Pacific
Americans of Virginia (CAPAVA) * Federal Asian Pacific American
Council (FAPAC) * Indian American Forum for Political Education
– VA * Korean American Association of Northern Virginia (KAANV)
* Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan
Area (KAAW) * Korean American Chamber of Commerce Greater
Washington * Korean American Coalition-DC Area Chapter (KAC-DC)
* Korean Central Senior Center * League of Korean Americans (LOKA-USA)
* National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA-Washington) *
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA) * Organization
of Chinese Americans Northern Virginia Chapter (OCA-NOVA) *
Organization of Korean American Women (OKAW) * Sikh American
Chamber of Commerce * Vietnamese American Voters Association (VAVA)
* WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF *
AM 1310 * Asian Fortune * Ben Bahn * Han Sung Oak Resturant *
Internal Medicine Center of VA * Jackie Bong-Wright * K & K Sign
* KBN TV * Korea Daily News * Korean Central Presbyterian Church
* Korea Times * Korean Weekly * New Star Realty * OKAW * Sorak
Garden Restaurant * Sports Seoul * TIYM Publishing * Vietnamese
American TV * Washington Media
rides to the forum may be available
for more information go to
www.kacdc.org or call Julie Park at (703) 725-7773
(http://www.ncvaonline.org/archive/prj_CandidatesForum_091005.htm)
******************
ON-GOING FUNDRAISING IN SUPPORT OF HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
WORK – 30 DAYS, $30,000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Thomas Tran, 301-588-6862
Date: September 6, 2005
Many of you have seen and heard about the devastation and
destruction caused by hurricane Katrina in the past few days.
Many victims in the Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi
region are without food, clean water, shelter, and medical
supplies. The Army Corp of Engineers estimates that it will take
about 3-6 months for all of the water to be pumped out of the
city of New Orleans alone. Many victims will also run out of
money because they will have no job to return to when they
return home.
Those of us living in the Washington Metropolitan Area have been
very fortunate to have avoided such tragedy and disruption to
our lives. To help with the disaster relief effort, the
following community organizations have joined together to form
the Katrina Disaster Relief Campaign to help the victims of
hurricane Katrina:
Han Bai Kung Fu (HBKF)
Ket Doan Association (KDA)
Lien Doan Potomac (LDP)
Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA)
National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies (NAVASA)
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA)
Vietnamese American Television (VATV)
Vietnamese Seniors Association of Maryland (VSAM)
Our goal is to collect $30,000 from the community in the
Washington Metropolitan Area over the next 30 days and send the
money to organizations that are providing direct relief to the
thousands of victims who have been evacuated to Houston, Texas.
If you would like to make a donation to the Katrina Disaster
Relief Campaign, please make checks payable to either “MVMA”,
“KET DOAN”, “NAVASA”, or “NCVA” (indicate “Katrina Disaster” in
Memo section) and mail it to any of the following addresses
(please do not mail cash):
MVMA, 8121 Georgia Avenue, Suite 503, Silver Spring, MD
20910,
www.mdvietmutual.org
Ket Doan Association, P.O. Box 2452, Rockville, MD 20857,
www.ketdoan.org
NAVASA, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 310, Silver Spring, MD
20910,
www.navasa.org
NCVA, 6433 Northanna Drive, Springfield, VA 22150,
www.ncvaonline.org
All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, please
contact any of the following individuals:
Mr. Thomas Tran, 301-588-6862
Ms. Hongly La, 301-518-0410
Mr. Bang Viet Nguyen, 301-963-6977
Ms. An T Vo, 301-587-2781
Mr. Bich Ngoc Nguyen, 1-877-592-4140 (toll free)
On behalf of all the participating organizations in the Katrina
Disaster Relief Campaign, thank you in advance for your generous
donation.
(http://www.ncvaonline.org)
******************
DISASTER RELIEF
DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Purpose
Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides financial assistance
to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost
or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster declared
by the President of the United states. Before an individual can
be determined eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, it
must be established that the individual is not eligible for
regular unemployment insurance benefits (under any state or
federal law). The program is administered by states as agents of
the federal government.
Eligibility
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed U.S.
nationals and qualified aliens who worked or were self-employed
if they:
* worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin
work or self-employment in an area declared as a federal
disaster area.
* can no longer work or perform services because of physical
damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct
result of a disaster.
* establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer
perform was their primary source of income.
* * do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits
from any state.
* can not perform work or self-employment because of an injury
or because they were incapacitated as a direct result of the
disaster.
* became the breadwinner or major support of a household because
of the death of the head of the household.
* can not work or perform self-employment due to closure of a
facility by the federal government.
* lose a majority of income or revenue because the employer or
self-employed business was damaged, destroyed, or closed by the
federal government.
Suffering a monetary loss due to damage of property or crops
does not automatically entitle an individual to Disaster
Unemployment Assistance.
Benefits
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to individuals for
weeks of unemployment beginning after the date the major
disaster began and for up to 26 weeks after the major disaster
was declared by the President, as long as their unemployment
continues to be a result of the major disaster.
The maximum weekly benefit amount is determined under the
provisions of the state law for unemployment insurance in the
state where the disaster occurred.
Filing a Claim
Claims should be filed in accordance with the state's
instructions published in announcements about the availability
of Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or contact the State
Unemployment Insurance agency.
(http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp)
******************
LOUISIANA RESIDENTS
The best way for Louisiana residents to apply is online at
www.LaWorks.net. The application procedures are greatly
simplified. For instance, they do not need to know the exact
address of their last employer, just city and state will do.
They will need to specify the address where checks can be
mailed. Louisiana has committed to begin mailing checks
immediately.
QUESTIONS? Call 1-866-783-5567 for more information about
Unemployment Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
(http://www.LaWorks.net)
******************
EVACUEES IN TEXAS
2-1-1 Texas System Dedicated to Serving Katrina Evacuees in
Need
Evacuees and their families may dial 2-1-1 for around-the-clock
information about shelters and health and human services
available to them. Due to the uncertainty of cell phone access
from providers outside of Texas, the 2-1-1 Texas system
implemented a toll-free number, 1-888-312-4567, for Louisiana
residents affected by Hurricane Katrina.
People without online access can call the Texas Workforce
Commission Call Center (call the local number listed below or
800 # if they are not in any of the listed local areas) to
apply. A Customer Service Rep. will take their application over
the phone.
The numbers to call are:
Austin........................512-340-4300
Dallas........................214-252-1200
El Paso..................... 915-832-6400
Fort Worth..................817-420-1600
Houston.....................281-983-1100
McAllen.....................956-984-4700
San Antonio...............210-258-6600
All other areas in Texas ....................800-939-6631
The Call Centers will be open extended hours taking calls from
Louisiana evacuees as follows:
Friday 9-2-05 until 7pm
Saturday 9-3-05 8am to 2pm
Sunday 9-4-05 1pm to 5pm
Monday 9-5-05 8am to 12noon
FOOD STAMPS & MEDICAID
* Texas Health (http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/)
& Human Services Commission Phone: 1-888-312-4567
* Women, Infants, (http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20050901.shtm)
& Children (WIC Program) Recipients Phone: 1-800-942-3678
******************
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Attention Minority Business Enterprises!
MBDA is now accepting applications for the operation of MINORITY
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CENTERS (MBOC).
Funding Opportunity Description:
In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. Section
1512, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is
soliciting competitive applications from organizations to
operate Minority Business Opportunity Centers (MBOC) (formerly
Minority Business Opportunity Committees). The Minority Business
Opportunity Centers through their staff will provide brokering
services and assistance to minority business enterprises (MBEs)
that (a) generate $500,000 or more in annual gross revenues or
(b) are capable of creating significant employment and long-term
economic impact (commonly referred to as “rapid growth-potential
MBEs). In addition, MBOCs provide access to buyers of goods and
services and procurement and financing opportunities within the
public and private sectors. MBOC operators and executive
directors should have experience in and knowledge of the local
minority business sector and established working relationships
with buying organizations. MBOCs are supported by a volunteer
advisory committee that assists the MBOC in implementing program
requirements and providing contract and financing opportunities
to MBEs. The program is primarily evaluated by MBDA based on the
number and dollar value of contracts and financial transactions
awarded to minority business enterprises. MBOCs will be required
to engage in the activities delineated in this Announcement.
(http://www.mbda.gov/?section_id=1&bucket_id=101&content_id=3480)
(http://www.mbda.gov/documents/MBOC_Annoucement_2005.pdf)
******************
YOUTH VISIONS FOR STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS GRANTS
CTCNet will award Youth Visions grants to eight community
technology programs throughout the U.S. Each grantee will
receive $20,000 and must contribute at least $8,000 in
non-federal matching funds. Orientation and preparation for
selected programs will begin in December 2005. Program
operations will begin in January 2006 and the program must be
completed by July 30, 2006.
Youth Visions grants are designed to give youth and community
technology programs the opportunity to use multimedia tools and
training to engage in community decision-making to strengthen
their neighborhoods. Organizations that serve at-risk youth
(ages 14-18), are engaged in community partnerships, and have
experience providing video and other multimedia training are
eligible. CTCNet will provide a flexible curriculum and
evaluation support for a 5-6 month program integrating
community-based activities and multimedia training.
Additionally, each grantee organization will be required to host
a capacity-building workshop to help other youth-serving
organizations learn to use multimedia tools to promote youth
engagement in their communities.
To learn more about the grant, including eligibility
requirements, how to apply, and to register for the application
assistance calls, visit
http://www.ctcnet.org/youthvisions.
(http://www.ctcnet.org/youthvisions)
******************
NICKELODEON LET’S
JUST PLAY GIVEAWAY PROGRAM
The Nickelodeon Lets Just Play Giveaway Program provides support
to create or expand opportunities for physical play in K-9
schools and after-school community-based organizations. Children
6 to 15 years of age as of May 31, 2006 can enter their schools
or community-based programs. Each month during the giveaway,
starting in September 2005 and ending June 2006, $5,000 will be
distributed to a minimum of 20 randomly selected winners from
four different regions nationwide. The program is committed to
reaching the broadest and most diverse entrants possible.
Entries are encouraged from urban, rural, and suburban areas,
and from small and large community-based organizations serving
all ethnicities.
(http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/ljp_grants.jhtml)
******************
NEW VOICES COMMUNITY NEWS VENTURES FUNDED
New Voices, administered by J-Lab at the University of Maryland
and supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation, is a pioneering program to seed innovative community
news ventures in the United States. Through 2006, New Voices
will help fund the start-up of ten micro-local, news projects
with $12,000 grants. The program will also support grantees with
an educational website, and help foster their sustainability
through $5,000 second-year, matching grants. Successful
applicants will: benefit a defined geographic or
special-interest community; and foster an open exchange of
journalistically sound ideas, information, news and opinion in
those communities. Funding is available for print or electronic
news initiatives, including online, cable, broadcast,
narrowcast, satellite and mobile efforts. Eligible to apply for
funding are nonprofit organizations and education institutions,
including civic groups, community organizations, middle schools,
high schools, colleges and universities.
(http://www.j-newvoices.org/)
******************
KEY FOUNDATION GRANTS ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The Key Foundation's objective is to improve the quality of life
and economic vibrancy of the places where KeyCorp customers,
employees, and shareholders live and work in the states of
Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Support is
provided to organizations and institutions that promote economic
self-sufficiency through financial education and workforce
initiatives in locations where the company operates. In addition
to these primary areas of interest, the Foundation provides
support, to a lesser degree, to organizations that enhance the
quality of life in Key communities. Applications are accepted at
any time.
(http://www.key.com/html/A-12.3.html)
******************
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHARITABLE SERVICE TRUST FUNDS
VETERANS PROGRAMS
The Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust is
dedicated to one purpose: building better lives for our nation's
disabled veterans and their families. To carry out this
responsibility, the Trust supports physical and psychological
rehabilitation programs, meets the special needs of veterans
with specific disabilities such as amputation and blindness, and
aids and shelters homeless veterans. The Trust provides grants
to nonprofit organizations located in the United States, with a
focus on long-term service projects providing direct assistance
to disabled veterans and their families. Applications are
reviewed four times per year. The next application deadline is
November 1, 2005.
(http://www.dav.org/cst/index.html)
******************
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
The Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA),
located Washington, DC, is seeking a bilingual Community
Services Representative (CSR)
Job Title: Community Outreach Coordinator
Salary Range: DS-12, $48,352- $62,356
Work location: 441 4th Street NW, #805 South, Washington DC
20001
Hour of duty: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closing Date: Opened Until Filled
Some of the responsibilities of the CSR include but are not
limited to: 1) assists in assessing the needs of the API
community, 2) provides advocacy assistance for the District of
Columbia's API community members, 3) advises the API community
on programs and services, 4) plans, promotes, and coordinates
multi-cultural education programs, 5) responds to unplanned
crisis situation affecting the Asian and Pacific Islander
community, and 6) prepares reports and statistical studies.
The ideal candidate will be a team player, have at least a
bachelor's degree or equivalent, and be familiar with the
community based agencies and organizations servicing the Asian
and non-Asian communities. Experience in statistical and report
preparation is necessary. Excellent oral and written
communication skills in both, English and Chinese, Korean, or
Vietnamese is preferred.
OAPIA advises the Mayor, the D.C. Council, and the District
government on the views, needs and concerns of Asian and Pacific
Islanders (API) in the District of Columbia.
If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter
to:
Contact person: Soohyun Koo
441 4th Street NW, #805 South
Washington DC 20001
(Fax) 202-727-9655
Email:
Soohyun.koo@dc.gov
******************
COORDINATOR – OPERATION RICE BOWL
Job Summary:
Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services' Lenten program
that generates more than $8 million to assist the poor, and
involves more than 15,000 parishes and schools across the U.S.
in prayer and action. Food Fast is Catholic Relief Services'
hunger awareness program for youth. For Operation Rice Bowl (75%
of time), the Program Coordinator will assist the ORB Program
Officers with the materials development process; track revenue
and expenses for the program; and provide day-to-day customer
service and fulfillment through Our Sunday Visitor.
The Program Coordinator will also coordinate with staff in CRSD
to provide program-specific support to the regional offices and
DDs. For Food Fast (25% of time), the Program Coordinator
manages the primary contact with the fulfillment house vendor;
oversees Food Fast ordering process; works with the Youth
Programs Officer on the development of Food Fast materials and
mailings each year and acts as the liaison with Creative
Services and assist the Youth Program Officer with website
content; and processes acknowledgments and maintains
correspondence with Parish Food Fast Coordinators.
Job Responsibilities:
Customer Service
1.Respond promptly to phone calls and website inquiries for Food
Fast and Operation Rice Bowl.
2.Promote Food Fast and Operation Rice Bowl to interested
prospects through phone or written communication to diocesan
directors, parish leaders, teachers, and others when they make
general information request for resource materials.
Fulfillment
1.Manages the day-to-day relationship with fulfillment house
vendor for Operation Rice Bowl and Food Fast.
2.Directs and monitors materials ordering, fulfillment process,
and inventory balances. Serves as primary contact for monthly
invoices for ORB and Food Fast fulfillment.
3.Provides analysis to ORB Program Officer and Youth Programs
Officer regarding the ORB and Food Fast programs each year which
includes final order totals, order processing, response types,
order placements, materials used, shipping costs, printing costs
and other important information regarding the ordering process
for Operation Rice Bowl and Food Fast.
4.Researches options for list rental and/or purchase and works
with vendors to secure mailing lists for ORB and Food Fast
direct mail campaigns.
Programmatic
1.Assist in development and writing of ORB program materials.
2.Acts as primary contact with Creative Services (and Purchasing
Dept. on some occasions) for developing Food Fast
materials/mailings each year, including developing production
schedule, determining quantities, and meeting with designer and
vendors and reviewing specifications and bids.
3. Work with Youth Programs Officer in development process of
Food Fast materials including writing and editing, and
assistance with website development.
4.Coordinates development of Food Fast written materials with
Spanish Translator.
5.Provides analysis to Youth Programs Officer regarding Food
Fast each year which includes final order totals, order
processing, response types, order placements, materials used,
shipping costs, printing costs and other important information
regarding the ordering process for Food Fast.
Budget and Revenue
1.Track ORB unit expenses as required. Resolve differences with
Finance Department.
2.Work with CRSD Communications Coordinator to develop and
maintain reports relevant to diocesan revenue, particularly for
general mail and emergency responses. Report monthly on all ORB
and Food Fast revenue.
3.Enter ORB revenue data into the departmental database.
4.Work with ORB team to obtain revenue estimates from Diocesan
Directors for ORB.
5.Develop ORB receivables report and maintain contact with
Finance regarding ORB receipts from dioceses.
Constituency Support
1.Collaborate with the Constituency Relations and Support
Department to enter and maintain comprehensive database of
contacts, and update diocesan records with annual ORB revenue
and participation numbers.
2.Coordinates system for distribution of action date and
participation and order reports for Diocesan Directors for Food
Fast.
3.Serve as backup in absence of Program Officers.
4.Handle other duties as needed to maintain the effective and
efficient operation of the ORB and Food Fast programs.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal - Domestic Programs Department, Constituency Relations
and Support Department, Finance, Purchasing, Creative Services,
Donor Services
External - Fulfillment vendor, Diocesan Directors, Catholic
schools and parishes, teachers, catechists, youth ministers,
students, and others as necessary
Personal Skills:
1.Strong written and oral communication skills
2.Ability to work independently on multiple tasks at once
Qualifications:
1. Bachelors of Science/Bachelors of Arts required
2. Minimum of one year of relevant experience
3.Advanced computer skills for Microsoft Office, Word, Access,
Excel, Outlook and Power Point
4.Strong customer service skills with an emphasis on marketing
Foreign Language Required: None
Major Responsibilities of Position: Administration,
Finance and Report Writing
NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in
the U.S. at the time of application.
Additional Qualifications:
How to Apply:
To apply for this position please go to our website at
www.catholicrelief.org In your cover letter please include
requisition number D 05 044 and salary requirements.
NO EMAILS PLEASE!
Preferred method of submitting your resume is through:
(http://www.catholicrelief.org/about_us/careers/current_openings/index.cfm)
******************
NATIONAL NONPROFIT VOTER ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE PROJECT
COORDINATOR
Overview
The National Nonprofit Voter Engagement Initiative is a new and
ambitious effort to dramatically expand the role of America’s
nonprofits in voting and elections. A program of the Center for
Civic Participation, it builds on the success of organizations
such as MassVOTE, National Voice and the Minnesota Council of
Nonprofits in mobilizing the broad nonprofit community and their
civic allies. The initiative seeks to leverage the enormous and
untapped potential of nonprofit organizations to reach
traditionally underrepresented voters in key states with high
densities of underrepresented voters.
This new initiative is dedicated to expanding the role of
nonprofits that have little or no history of doing voting work.
The impact of these nonprofits on voting and democracy can, and
will, be transformative when brought to scale. This effort
intends to do that by building fully staffed, state-based voter
engagement initiatives to help identify, train and support the
voting related work of individual nonprofit organizations.
Responsibilities
• Oversee all aspects of national voter engagement
initiative with responsibility for implementing national
initiative business plan and ensure high quality service
delivery to individual state initiatives.
• Supervise all national initiative staff and vendors.
Directly supervise organizing and voting rights staff and
administrative support staff – jointly supervise development
and communications specialists along with appropriate CCP
department heads. Assist with integrating initiative and CCP’s
other activities.
• Conduct state assessments to determine readiness for
state-based voter engagement initiatives.
• Develop state initiative plans with selected states,
working with other CCP staff as necessary to ensure coordination
and integration of all activities.
• Assist state initiatives as they begin plan
implementation. Provides support to state initiatives,
including assistance with planning, training, outreach,
fundraising, materials and communications.
• Oversee dissemination of all materials, whether created
in-house or contracted from vendors and coordinate delivery of
technical assistance to the state initiatives.
• Manage National Initiative Advisory Council.
• Assist with fundraising for national and state
initiatives. Provide guidance and training for state
initiatives as they establish their own fundraising models.
Qualifications
• Minimum three to five years of grassroots organizing
experience
• Project management experience
• Experience supervising staff
• Experience work with nonprofit organizations required
• Experience with electoral or civic engagement work
strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle a variety
of projects simultaneously
• Strong interpersonal and communication (oral and
written) skills
• Ability to create and experiment with new organizing
models and systems
• Willingness to engage in direct “hands-on” organizing
as well as more strategic visioning and supervisory functions
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse organizations
as well as a range of organizing philosophies and styles
• Comfort with public speaking
• Second language skills preferred
• Ability to travel
• Willing to be based in Minnesota
TO APPLY:
Please send your résumé, cover letter and salary requirements to
Suzanne Stenson O’Brien, Executive Director, Center for Civic
Participation, 2105 First Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55404,
612-870-3423, or by email to
suzanne@centerforcivicparticipation.org.
The position will be filled as soon as possible.
(http://www.ccp.org)
******************
ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE
AND EDUCATION FUND FALL INTERNSHIPS 2005
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF),
founded in 1974, is the first organization on the East Coast to
protect and promote the legal rights of Asian Americans through
litigation, legal advocacy and community education. Current
program priorities include economic justice for workers,
immigrants’ rights, voting rights and civic participation,
language rights, affirmative action, the elimination of
anti-Asian violence and police brutality, youth rights and
educational equity, and the assistance of low-income Chinatown
residents and workers affected by 9.11. For more information
about AALDEF, visit our website at
www.aaldef.org.
FALL LEGAL INTERNSHIPS 2005
Legal internships are available in the following program areas:
Economic Justice for Workers, primarily working on litigation on
behalf of garment, restaurant, and other low wage workers;
Immigrant Access to Justice, litigation, legal services, and
organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including
special interest detainees, special registration, voluntary
interviews by the government, the 9-11 absconder initiative, and
local and state enforcement of immigration laws; Voting Rights,
legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act
challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, expanding bilingual
ballots, and counting votes cast by Asian Americans; advocacy on
state and local election reform; produce reports and organize
forums on the Asian American vote; Educational Equity and Youth
Rights Project, legal services, policy work, community
education, research and litigation concerning educational
equity, juvenile justice, and post 9-11 hate violence and racial
targeting; Korean Workers Project, direct legal services on
employment-related claims to Korean immigrant workers, as well
as community education and advocacy in collaboration with YKASEC
- Empowering the Korean American Community; South Asian Workers
Project, direct legal services on employment-related claims to
South Asian immigrant workers, as well as community education
and advocacy; and Language Rights, including access to health
care and other social services.
Description of Internships.
Interns are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas.
Legal interns will work on litigation, particularly legal
research and writing, legal and policy advocacy, client intakes,
and some community outreach and education. Each program area
differs in emphasis.
These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit
can be arranged. Interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per
week. The internship usually commences with the start of classes
or at late August/early September through early December.
To Apply: Any bilingual ability should be stated in the
resume. Bilingual ability is helpful but not required.
Applications should also state the number of hours the intern is
able to work per week. Send a resume and cover letter to:
Legal Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303 Email:
info@aaldef.org
***
DEFENDING ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS for Undergraduate,
Graduate, and Law Students
In prior elections, Asian Americans faced a series of barriers
in exercising their right to vote; for example, ballots have
been mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans
and vice versa, lack of interpreters, denial of language
assistance, rude and hostile poll workers. Then, when the news
media reported on election returns and the vote by specific
groups, Asian Americans were overlooked. AALDEF?s Voting Rights
Program aims to enhance the political participation of Asian
Americans and guard against anti-Asian voter discrimination.
Voting Rights Interns work on the following:
*Election monitoring to ensure Asian Americans are treated
fairly at the polls and to document violations of the Voting
Right Act and federal Constitution. The Voting Rights Act
mandates the availability of Chinese and Korean language
assistance and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination.
*Coordinate a survey of Asian American voters to document the
use of bilingual ballots and report on Asian American voting
patterns. The survey will be taken at poll sites in New York
City and New Jersey. Interns will recruit, train, and supervise
volunteers, as well as coordinate logistics at three dozen
polling sites.
*Register new voters after citizenship swearing-in ceremonies.
*Conduct research and advocacy on local, state and federal
election reform proposals.
Description of Internships.
Supervision: Interns are supervised by attorneys through regular
meetings and trainings.
Compensation: These internships are not paid positions, but
academic credit can be arranged.
Hours: Interns work anywhere between 12 to 25 hours per
week in the office.
Duration: The internship usually follows the semester,
commencing with the start of classes or (end of August/
beginning of September) and goes to the first or second week of
December.
To Apply: Bilingual ability is helpful but not required.
Students with language ability in Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin),
Korean, Bengali, Urdu, or Punjabi are especially welcome to
apply and languages (if any) should be stated in the resume
Applicants should also state the number of hours they can work
per week and a possible schedule. Send a resume and cover letter
to:
Voting Rights Fall Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor New York, New York 10013-2815
fax: 212-966-4303 Email:
info@aaldef.org
***
FEDERAL
WORK STUDY POSITION - OFFICE ASSISTANT
Responsibilities include data entry, organizing press clippings,
answering phones, doing mailings, and performing general
clerical duties. Other responsibilities include providing
support for fundraising events, and community education and
outreach projects. Computer experience with databases, graphics
and web programs helpful.
You must have a federal work study grant.
To Apply: Interested applicants should send a resume and cover
letter by September 19, 2005:
Fall Work Study Application
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor New York, New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303 email: info@aaldef.org
For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932,
ext. 212 or
jweng@aaldef.org.
(http://www.aaldef.org)
******************
ABC’S “EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION”
*We are currently casting families in the Southeast / South and
Southwest for Winter shoots. All others are still welcome to
apply, however if they're on the East coast we can't consider
them until Spring of 2006.
* Families must OWN their home. The home should not be larger
than 2,000 Sq. Feet and MUST be a single family residence (no
townhomes, condos or apartments)
* Families must have a clean criminal history and pass an
extensive background check
* Families should have children (School age) still living at
home
* Families should be outgoing, emotional and yet humble and
extremely likeable
* Families should speak Fluent English
* They should be in a situation where, by changing their house
in some way, we can help that situation. Their story should be
compelling & moving.
* Currently we ARE NOT looking for the following stories
relating to: Adoption, Wheelchair accessibility, Cancer, death
of or dying parent, Armed Services, hearing impaired or visually
impaired
* They should be "deserving" - i.e. help out the community,
their neighbors or hold jobs such as police, fire, teachers,
nurses, medics, do volunteer work, non-profit, etc. (not all
members but one at least!)
* Families houses should LOOK like they need repair!
* And, finally families should live on an accessible street, no
hills, no cul-de-sacs
To download an application for the show, go to this link:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/casting.html
Applications should be sent DIRECTLY to me at the below address,
NOT the PO Box on the application. This way I can personally
review each application. If the family is in the Southeast or
Texas, we will need applications in no later than Sept. 15th!
If they're in California, October 1st. But, the sooner the
better!
Charisse Simonian
Family Casting Director
ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
1149 N. Gower St. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90038
******************
CORO FELLOWS PROGRAM IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a nine-month,
full-time, post-graduate experiential leadership training
program which introduces diverse, intelligent and driven young
public servants to all aspects of the public affairs arena.
Field assignments, site visits, interviews and special
individual and group projects and consultancies prepare Coro
Fellows to translate their ideals into action for improving
their own communities.
Sixty-four Fellows are chosen annually each year through a
highly competitive selection process. They represent a broad
range of cultural, racial and economic backgrounds, ages,
interests, and academic and work experience, but all are
committed to excellence in public affairs. The Fellows Program
in Public Affairs is conducted in San Francisco, Los Angeles,
St. Louis, New York and Pittsburgh.
(http://www.coro.org/programs/fellows_program/fellows_program.html)
******************
TIPS/RESOURCES
FUNDRAISING – DEALING WITH NON-CASH
GIFTS
Although money stands out as the item being sought in nonprofit
fundraising, non-cash gifts can be a great help to many
organizations.
Gifts of something other than cash may look very attractive, but
there can be times when these gifts may be more trouble than
they are worth, or they can work to an organization's detriment.
In fact, many nonprofits prefer not to deal with non-cash gifts
at all. These items can include stocks, bonds, real estate,
artwork, antiques, business and intellectual property, cars,
boats, race horses, jewelry and wine cellars.
When considering whether to accept non-cash gifts, organizations
would do well to keep a few things in mind, problems that could
occur with such contributions:
* The difficulty of managing or trying to get rid of a non-cash
gift.
* The organization's inexperience in handling such items.
* Ownership headaches, including ensuring the safety and
security of the items such as a rare work of art and
environmental risks. Environmental risks may include taking
control of a polluted property that must be cleaned up.
* Assumption of liabilities. If a building is donated, it is up
to the organization to maintain the building and pay any back
taxes.
* Potential of being stuck with the property. There is a
possibility that the item (any kind) will be a white elephant
that cannot be sold.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/fundraise.html)
******************
PLANNED GIVING – A “TO-DO” CHECKLIST
Despite the importance of planned giving for nonprofit
organizations, not every nonprofit manager has a clear
understanding of how to get the best use out of it to achieve
maximum results.
Part of the answer to getting optimum return lies in what a
planned giving officer should do, even on what such an officer
should be.
Based on interviews with 29 senior-level planned giving
professionals, Cynthia W. Krause, president of Wilson & Krause
and trust counsel of the Methodist Health System, and Betsy A.
Mangione, vice president of The Denver Foundation, developed a
checklist for planned giving officers.
* Focus on becoming more of an educator and less of a
technician.
* Focus on individuals who are truly motivated by charitable
intent, not just tax considerations.
* Strengthen donor-recognition programs to keep current donors.
* Utilize market strategies that incorporate your mission.
* Strengthen your focus on philanthropy and caring about future
generations.
* Create a strategy or process for educating your board and
senior leadership about the benefits of planned giving.
* Determine what type of planned giving program best suits your
organization and adjust your strategic plan accordingly.
* Look for ways to retain staff and lower the turnover in your
organization.
Krause and Mangione also believe that giving at the nation's
nonprofits is likely to shift from technically focused programs
to a back-to-basics movement based on bequests and charitable
gift annuities.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/plangive.html)
******************
MANAGEMENT – DEVELOPING CAPACITY STRATEGIES
Despite their noble intentions and feisty attitude, many
nonprofits are small local organizations that are underfunded
and understaffed. Even if they want to make a dramatic
improvement in their impact, they often have no idea of how to
go about doing it.
In his book Managing at the Leading Edge, Mike Hudson offers
four possible strategies that nonprofits can employ in order to
become more effective.
The four approaches are:
* Diversification strategy. Most nonprofits diversity even if
they do not plan to do so. They may begin by providing services
and then campaigning for their cause, or they may expand the
range of services they provide. Diversification may draw new
resources and does not usually threaten the coalition of
stakeholders that has been established. One drawback is that an
organization may diversify and then find it does not have the
capacity for everything it wants to do.
* Specialization strategy. The flip side of diversification,
this is an intensified focus on what the organization already
does. This could mean enhancing existing services or improving
service quality.
* Scaling-up strategy. It is a strategy for replicating
successful approaches so they can benefit more people.
Organizations that have scaled up successfully include the Red
Cross, Volunteers of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Critics charge that this is a business perspective that is
concerned only with efficiency and impact.
* Scaling-deep strategy. Organizations that employ this strategy
focus deeply on a limited geographic area and on a well-defined
user group.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)
******************
ONLINE – WHAT YOUR
WEB SITE MUST HAVE
Virtually all nonprofit organizations are seeing the value of
maintaining a Web site as a means of increasing visibility and
bringing in added revenue. Web sites can offer immediate
benefits to organizations by giving interested people quick
access.
In his book The Public Relations Handbook for Nonprofits, Art
Feinglass points out the benefits of keeping a site. Further, he
provides a list of elements that should be on every nonprofit
organization's site.
Of course, they must be visually attractive and easy to
navigate, with opportunities for visitors to make donations
online.
The essential components of the site, according to Feinglass:
* Information about the organization's history.
* The organization's mission statement.
* Biographies of officers and key staff members.
* Information on funding sources and current projects.
* Policy statements.
* Reports on the organization's activities and achievements.
* Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the organization,
along with the answers.
* An archive of news stories that have appeared about the
organization.
* The current issue of the organization's newsletter and
archived issues of previous newsletters.
* The organization's current annual report.
* An online brochure.
* An outline of planned giving opportunities for supporters.
* A regularly updated calendar of upcoming events sponsored by
or related to the organization.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/ontheweb.html)
******************
FUNDRAISING – BIG GIFTS FOR SMALL GROUPS
The process of soliciting the big gift usually involves three
steps: a letter, a telephone call and a visit. In his book Big
Gifts for Small Groups, Andy Robinson wrote that, although those
are the steps, there are also three points that are vitally
important in the solicitation of big gifts.
The key points are:
* Honesty and transparency generate the best results. At each
stage - letter, phone call, visit - you must be completely clear
about your purpose, which is to raise money for the
organization. If you ambush people - go see them on other
pretenses and then spring the fundraising question like a loaded
trap - you will annoy them and consequently not raise as much
money. Transparency means naming numbers right from the start.
* Don't start what you can't finish. Once you begin, you must
follow through. The worst thing you can do is mail a letter that
promises a follow-up phone call and then not make the call. The
credibility of the organization depends on honoring commitments.
* Begin with reasonable expectations. The beauty of a
straightforward approach is that it screens out those who are
less likely to give. True, you will lose some candidates at each
stage, but the ones who remain will be strong prospects.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/fundraise.html)
******************
YOUR
FORM 990: HOW DO YOU REPORT CONTRIBUTIONS?
By Harvey Berger, CPA, and D. Greg Goller, CPA
Do you engage in fundraising programs to derive contributions?
Do you receive in-kind contributions of personal property,
securities or other assets? Do you engage in auctions or other
special events to raise funds?
If you do any of these, you might not be filing a properly
completed Form 990. This observation is based on the number of
inquiries and discussions on this subject and on recent reviews
of many returns. Since the Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Congress, and the public are demanding that Form 990 disclosure
become more complete, more accurate, and more timely, you are
under more pressure to report activities correctly.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/Sep05/news/news-0905_1.html)
******************
NEWS
September 1, 2005
GOLDENBERG, NGUYEN LAM NAMED AT CLMER CENTER
Teacher Education’s Claude Goldenberg was named executive
director of CSULB’s Center for Language Minority Education and
Research (CLMER) while the center’s interim director Kim-Oanh
Nguyen-Lam was named associate director.
College of Education Dean Jean Houck praised the selection.
“Clearly, the new leadership in the Center for Language Minority
Education and Research is an exciting, dynamic one,” she said.
“I feel happy to be named executive director of CLMER,” said
Goldenberg, a Seal Beach resident who joined the university in
1994. “I’m pleased about the prospect of getting involved with
aspects of work that have implications for educational
opportunities for language minority students. In addition, I
also think I can bring more of the research focus to CLMER than
it has had over the past few years.”
Nguyen-Lam, a member of the university since 1993, also was
pleased at her appointment. “It gives me the opportunity to
continue to do the community advocacy work that I care deeply
about while expanding the research focus of the center,” said
the Fountain Valley resident. “The center was established in
1993 as the only center created from the top down with the very
clear primary charge of building partnerships with the community
in terms of local school districts, community-based
organizations, and diverse language, ethnic and racial groups
that form the larger part of the university community. We took
that charge very seriously.”
CLMER is a university-wide appointed entity affiliated with the
College of Education that engages in a wide range of services,
projects and research initiatives aimed at the promotion of
equity, excellence and justice in schools and society with a
focus on traditionally underserved and underrepresented
children, families and communities. CLMER services have included
professional development and program development for K-12
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Programs; assessment and assistance
for high-priority, low-performing schools; program development
and evaluation services for 21st Century Community Learning
Centers and Community Technology Centers; alternative
certification for pre-service and in-service educators; and
professional development, coaching and mentoring in standards-
and research-based English Language Development instructional
services.
Goldenberg has done research on literacy development among
Latino students, home-school connections and educational reform.
He is the author of Successful School Change: Creating Settings
to Improve Teaching and Learning which was published by Teachers
College Press in 2004, the same year he received a Distinguished
Faculty Scholarly and Creative Achievement Award. He served for
several years as the College of Education’s associate dean.
Teacher Education’s Leslie Reese and he recently received a
four-year, $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services for a project titled “Language and Literacy
Development in Mexican Children.” He appears on the PBS program
“Becoming Bilingual” currently airing around the country and
available on the Web site
www.readingrockets.org/tv/bilingual.php. He has an A.B. (Magna
Cum Laude in History) from Princeton University and an M.A. in
1982 and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood and Development Studies from
UCLA in 1984.
Nguyen-Lam currently directs two federally funded projects
working with in-serve teachers of language minority students and
preparing highly qualified teachers for high needs urban
schools. She also oversees professional development contracts
with local school districts working to improve secondary
education for the underserved populations including recent
contracts with the Inglewood Unified School District to work
with Morningside High School for one year. She is a member of
the Garden Grove School Board and was appointed recently to the
statewide P-16 Council formed by Superintendent of Public
Instruction Jack O’Connell. She earned her B.A. in psychology
from CSULB in 1980, her M.A. in educational psychology from
United States International University in 1983, a second M.A. in
Educational Administration from Pepperdine in 1989 and her
doctorate from California Institute of Intergrated Studies in
San Francisco in 2002.
Nguyen-Lam led the effort in the establishment of the CSU Asian
BCLAD Consortium in 1998, a collaborative endeavor among six CSU
campuses in the L.A. basin area to prepare bilingual teachers in
a number of Asian languages including Mandarin, Korean, Khmer
and Vietnamese. She was the president of the National
Association for the Education and Advancement of Cambodian,
Laotian and Vietnamese Americans and served on its Board of
Directors from 1996-2004.
One of Goldenberg’s goals as executive director is gauging the
impact of the center’s projects. “Education has a habit of
moving from enthusiasm to enthusiasm,” he said. “We mustn’t
confuse activity with effect. Are the people we are trying to
serve better off as a result of what we do? I want to answer
that question.”
As associate director, Nguyen-Lam wants to strengthen the
center’s partnerships with local school districts and community
groups. “I want to bring to this campus their voices and
perspectives to the many levels of decision making,” she said.
“I also want to document the good practices happening in area
schools and to share those practices with other schools through
research and dissemination.”
(http://www.csulb.edu/misc/inside/archives/vol_57_no_16/e3.htm)
******************
August 30, 2005
ASIAN AMERICANS FAULT REPORT ON WSU PLAYERS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Asian American students and community leaders are criticizing a
state Human Rights Commission task force report on Washington
State University's handling of a student complaint about
behavior by two school basketball players.
"I was very disappointed," said Doug Chin, president of the
Seattle chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans.
The report looked at the way the university responded to a
complaint in February by WSU student Nina Kim, who worked in the
school's Multicultural Center.
She complained that two white male students, part of a group
that frequently would pass by her office window, making animal
noises and dancing in what she referred to as a monkeylike
style.
On one occasion, she said, one of the young men pulled up his
eyes in a slant and motioned, "I heart you."
Kim's complaint prompted a Feb. 23 campus march by about 100
students calling for expulsions and better minority recruiting
at the university.
A WSU student conduct board found that although the two young
men might have engaged in adolescent behavior, there was
insufficient evidence to call it harassment under the
university's code of conduct. The board also decided the
behavior was not racially motivated.
When informed of the complaint, the students apologized, stopped
the behavior and expressed surprise that it had been perceived
as harassment, the school said.
The rights commission task force report -- released last month
-- found that the process the university used to address the
conduct was sound but that issues such as communication between
students and the university should be addressed.
The report was produced at the request of WSU and was neither an
official commission document nor the product of an
investigation.
Yvonne Kinoshita Ward, chairwoman of the Washington Commission
on Asian Pacific American Affairs, said she was stunned by the
report, adding it made judgments and comments on the people
involved.
"It makes comments about the victim supposedly not cooperating,"
she said. "They're blaming her."
Ward said she's considering scheduling a public hearing or
making a recommendation to the governor's office or Legislature
for a new outside investigation of the university's handling of
the complaint.
Kim said she felt the report unfairly "points a lot of the blame
back at me rather than really looking at the larger issues that
occur on the campus."
But she added her main issue is with WSU, rather than the two
students or the task force report. WSU could have handled the
situation more fairly, she said.
Marc Brenman, executive director of the state Human Rights
Commission, said the task force report didn't pass judgment, but
simply noted facts and made recommendations.
Nadine Shiroma, chairwoman of the Eastside Asian Pacific
Islanders, said in a statement that her organization supported
the rights commission task force's recommendations, such as
diversity training in freshman orientation, although it, too,
was concerned that not everyone involved was interviewed.
Sally Savage, the university's vice president for university
relations, said the report was helpful for WSU and the school
would make changes that would touch on the recommendations,
which included a suggestion that harassment and discrimination
complaints be handled by the university's Center for Human
Rights.
(http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/238568_humanrights30.html)
******************
August 30, 2005
NAPALC STRESSES NEED FOR CLOSER SCRUTINY OF JOHN ROBERTS’
RECORD ON MINORITIES’ RIGHTS
To: National Desk
Contact: Adlai J. Amor of the National Asian Pacific American
Legal Consortium, 202-296-2300 ext. 135 or
aamor@napalc.org
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As the Senate begins its
confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts
on Sept. 6, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
(NAPALC) calls for the close examination of Roberts' record and
rulings on civil rights and liberties.
"The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in upholding the
civil rights and liberties of Asian Americans," said Vincent A.
Eng, deputy director of NAPALC. "As the community faces new
challenges due to 9/11, it is important that we have Supreme
Court justices who are committed to upholding the civil rights
and liberties of all Americans"
NAPALC's research and reports related to the nomination of
justices to the Supreme Court can be found at
http://www.napalc.org/SCourt. Included are the "Supreme
Court: Frequently Asked Questions" and the recent report, "The
Supreme Court Vacancy: What's at Stake for Asian Pacific
Americans".
In examining American jurisprudence, NAPALC's report cites how
Supreme Court decisions have affected Asian Americans. In 1922,
the Supreme Court ruled that Asians could not be U.S. citizens;
in 1923, it ruled that Asians could not own land; in 1944, it
upheld the internment of Japanese Americans; and in 1974, it
ruled that Chinese American students were entitled to bilingual
education.
More recent immigration-related cases such as Kim Ho Ma v.
Ashcroft (2001) and INS v. St. Cyr (2001) have had a profound
impact on the community, as roughly 60 percent of the Asian
American population of 14.5 million is foreign-born.
The report also expresses concern about the possible
constitutional challenge to the Voting Rights Act if it is
re-authorized by 2007. Since its last reauthorization in 1982,
certain decisions by the Supreme Court have weakened the
landmark act.
"Our democratic constitution ensures that the majority is well
protected in the electoral system, but often the only resort for
minorities' rights is the Supreme Court," said Aimee J.
Baldillo, NAPALC staff attorney and author of the report. "That
is why it is critical that any candidate who replaces Justice
O'Connor must be committed to respecting minorities' rights and
freedoms."
---
The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium --
http://www.napalc.org -- is a national civil rights
organization dedicated to advancing and defending the civil
rights of Asian Pacific Americans.
-0-
(http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=52267)
******************
August 31, 2005
PROPOSED REFUGEE ADMISSIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 REPORT TO
THE CONGRESS
The President of the United States to the Commitees on the
Judiciary, United States Senate and United States House of
Represenatives in in fulfillment of the requirements of section
207( e) (1)-(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
Introduction
This Proposed Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2006: Report to
the Congress is submitted in compliance with Section 207(e) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The Act requires that
before the start of the fiscal year and, to the extent possible,
at least two weeks prior to consultations on refugee admissions,
members of the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the
House of Representatives be provided with the following
information:
1. A description of the nature of the refugee situation;
2. A description of the number and allocation of the refugees to
be admitted and an analysis of conditions within the countries
from which they came;
3. A description of the plans for their movement and
resettlement and the estimated cost of their movement and
resettlement;
4. An analysis of the anticipated social, economic, and
demographic impact of their admission to the United States;
5. A description of the extent to which other countries will
admit and assist in the resettlement of such refugees;
6. An analysis of the impact of the participation of the United
States in the resettlement of such refugees on the foreign
policy interests of the United States; and
7. Such additional information as may be appropriate or
requested by such members.
In addition, specific reporting required by section 602(d) of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. L.
105-292, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2787) (IRFA) on information
about religious persecution of refugee populations eligible for
consideration for admission to the United States and section
305(b) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Pub. L.
108-333, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1287) on information about
specific measures taken to facilitate access to the United
States refugee program for individuals who have fled countries
of particular concern for violations of religious freedoms,
identified pursuant to section 402(b) of the IRFA, is included
in this report.
(http://www.state.gov/g/prm/refadm/rls/rpts/52366.htm)
PDF Report (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/52475.pdf)
******************
For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005
Contact: Douglas Lee - Program Manager
dlee@ocanatl.org
202-223-5500
OCA ANNOUNCES 2005 UPS FOUNDATION GOLD MOUNTAIN SCHOLARSHIP
WINNERS
Washington, DC – OCA, a national organization dedicated to
advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian
Pacific Americans in the United States with over 80 chapters and
affiliates nationwide, has selected twelve winners to receive
the OCA-UPS Foundation Gold Mountain Scholarship. This
scholarship awards AAPI high school students who are the first
in their families to attend an institution of higher education.
The scholarship provides $2,000 to each recipient to be used for
college expenses. Select scholarship winners also received an
all-expenses paid trip to the OCA National Convention, held this
year in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 28-31, paid for by the UPS
Foundation. The scholars who attended the convention were
presented with their awards at the Gala Awards Banquet on
Saturday, July 30.
The theme of Gold Mountain is based on the hopes and dreams of
Asian immigrants to find the mountain of golden opportunity in
America. Seeking to improve the lives of their families,
Chinese immigrants left their homeland in search of Gold
Mountain. The twelve OCA-UPS Foundation Gold Mountain Scholars
have carried on these hopes by being pioneers in their families
to first reach the Gold Mountain of higher education.
“OCA is pleased to work with the UPS Foundation to recognize
these students who have taken such a large step towards
achieving the American dream,” stated Ginny Gong, OCA National
President. “These students have demonstrated hard work,
community involvement, and academic excellence.”
"UPS is proud of its role in building stronger communities by
providing opportunities for our youth," says Evern Epps,
president of The UPS Foundation and vice president of UPS
corporate relations. "Through organizations like OCA, UPS helps
qualified students pursue their dreams of a better life through
education."
“We congratulate the scholarship recipients on their dedication
and perseverance in pursuing a higher education,” stated Sharon
Wong, OCA Vice President for Education and Culture. “OCA, in
cooperation with the UPS Foundation, is proud to afford these
deserving students a chance to attain a higher education.”
OCA is proud to announce the twelve winners of this year’s
OCA-UPS Foundation Gold Mountain Scholarship:
Paul Boupha
Paul Boupha of Las Vegas, NV attended Ed. W Clark High School,
where he was enrolled in the Academy of Finance and took classes
in business, marketing accounting, and economics. At school,
Paul was the president of the Japanese Club, bulletin editor of
Key Club, and a member of Future Business Leaders of America as
well as other organizations. Paul will be majoring in business
management at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Ai-Nhan L. Do
Ai-Nhan Do attended Pike High School, an International
Baccalaureate School in Indianapolis, Indiana. During her high
school career, Ai-Nhan was involved in many extracurricular
activities including Business Professionals of America, Model
United Nations, and the Pre-Med Club. Ai-Nhan was also a Student
Ambassador, National Honor Society student, and a hospital
volunteer. She plans to study pre-pharmacy at Purdue University
this fall.
Nancy Tran Huynh
Nancy Huynh hails from Palacios, Texas, where she was an honors
student at Palacios High School. She contributed to the
community through volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club,
Palacios Nursing Home, Relay for Life, and the Palacios Public
Library. Nancy was also a member of the Texas Association of
Future Educators, Spanish Club, Academic Decathlon, and the
Student Council. This fall, Baylor University welcomes Nancy to
the class of 2009.
Danica Iglopas
Danica Iglopas is from Tamuning, Guam, where she attended John
F. Kennedy High School. Throughout high school, Danica immersed
herself in many extracurricular activities, and became the
freshman class president, J.F.K. Health Certificate Coordinator,
and Senior Class Public Relations Officer. Danica also has an
avid interest in the U.S. Peace Corps, and will be studying at
Seattle University in Seattle, Washington.
Duc Ngoc Le
Duc Le is from Panama City, Florida, where he was an
International Baccalaureate student at Rutherford High School.
In his spare time, he was involved in my extracurricular
activities including Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Club, and Student
Government Association. Duc also volunteered at St. Dominic
Catholic Church, the Junior Museum, and Everitt Middle School.
He looks forward to studying Civil Engineering at Florida State
University this fall.
Qiao Li Huang
Qiao Li Huang, or Lily Huang, attended Lincoln Park High School
in Chicaco Illinois. Aside from being an honors International
Baccalaureate student, Lily founded the Chinese American Service
League (CASL) WIA Youth Program Events Planning Committee as
well as the youth club of Chicago Guang Zhou Association. Her
volunteer experience includes helping out at the Chicago Police
Department and the CASL Family & Learning Resource Center. This
fall, Lily will be enrolled at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
Sarah Martinez
Sarah Martinez lives in El Prado, New Mexico, where she attended
Taos High School and took classes that fueled her interest in
music, such as mariachi performance and guitar classes. During
her spare time, Sarah participated in the community theatre, a
heavy metal cover band, and flamenco guitar lessons. She was
also a volunteer for Community against Violence, Kids Unleashed
Project, and Taos Community Music School. This fall, Sarah will
be studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, majoring
in Music Performance.
Nhu Ngo
Nhu Ngo graduated with an outstanding GPA from Lincoln High
School in Lincoln, Nebraska. While in high school, Nhu was
involved with Student Council, the Asian Caucus, the Scribe
Literary Magazine, and the Advocate Newspaper, as well as
Ecology and Spanish Clubs. Nhu also volunteered at Bryan LGH
Medical Center, Elliott Elementary School, F. Street Community
Center, and the Upward Bound Program. This fall, Nhu plans to
study political science, journalism, Asian-American studies, and
history at Columbia University.
Alvin To
Alvin To lives in Oakland, California, where he attended Skyline
High School. During his high school career, Alvin participated
in many extracurricular activities such as Key Club, Excel Club,
Spanish Club, and the Berkeley Math Club/ Matheletes. Alvin was
also involved in Junior ROTC, the Cross Country Team, and an
Early Academic Outreach Program. He will be studying at the
University of California- Berkeley this fall.
Nelson Truong
Nelson Truong attended Brooklyn Tech High School in Brooklyn,
New York. His high school extracurricular activities included
the National Beta Club, Vietnamese Culture Club, and the
Obsidian Press. Outside of school, Nelson was a volunteer at
Maimonides Medical Center, and a participate in the NYU Medical
Center Explorers Program and the Mount Sinai CEYE Program.
Nelson will be enrolled in the College of Arts and Science at
New York University this fall.
Alexander Tsao
Alexander Tsao resides in Sedalia, Missouri, where he attended
Smith-Cotton High School. On top of maintaining an excellent
GPA, he was involved in Spanish, Art, Math, and Science Clubs,
as well as Future Business Leaders of America, Upward Bound, and
Student Council. Alexander looks forward to receiving a quality
education at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Anson Tsui
Anson Tsui attended James Logan High School in Union City,
California, where he graduated at the top 1% of his class. While
he was in high school, Anson received such awards as Outstanding
Musician, the Superintendent’s Honor Roll, and the WBA Marching
Band Champion. Anson’s extracurricular activities include
tutoring, the Leo Club, Youth Alive Club, and the Boy Scouts of
America. This fall, Anson will be studying bioengineering at the
University of California-Berkeley.
# # # #
“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.”
(www.ocanatl.org)
******************
September 2, 2005
AAJA 2005 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
A year of preparation and in four days it was all over. But what
a week it was!
The Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American Journalists
Association (AAJA) hosted the 2005 National Convention from
August 17 through August 20 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.
Nearly 1,200 attended at least part of the convention, matching
the highest attendance of a national conference.
Asian journalists in electronic, print and broadcast media
converged on the Twin Cities for the first time since the
Chapter hosted the event in 1996, just three years after the
chapter formed in 1993. The 2005 conference was bustling with
dozens of workshops and presentations to enhance professional
growth. There were more than 100 recruiters and representatives
from print, broadcast and online industries available to speak
with attendees, and even a critique session on their work.
“I would say the overall programming was the highlight,” said
Neil Justin, convention chair and AAJA Minnesota Chapter member.
“Our workshops, which we're known for, for the most part were
packed.
“I think a lot of the attendees were not very familiar with the
Twin Cities,” he said. “Many were here for the first time. Over
and over again, we heard people remark how taken they were with
the area. That was one of the reasons we had the convention in
downtown Minneapolis and planned lots of events that showcased
the entire area. Selling the Twin Cities was a big goal of ours,
and I think we succeeded very well.”
Justin credited the support of major media companies, most
prominently McClatchy and Knight-Ridder, as a major factor in
the convention's success. They sponsored a Cyber Café for
convention participants to have access to the Internet and
e-mail, a river boat cruise up the Mississippi, and many other
activities.
“Both companies signed up early, which allowed us to spend more
time on programming and special events that we don't always have
the time and resources to invest in,” he added.
Nancy Ngo, AAJA Minnesota chapter president, was in charge of
the convention entertainment. She organized a nightly showcase
that included Grammy-nominated jazz artist Keiko Matsui from
Japan, Hip-hop artist Jin Au-Yeung, Comedian Henry Cho, an Asian
spoken word event at First Avenue, and many other events,
including a brunch with author and radio personality Al Franken.
There were many memorable convention events.
Former vice president Walter Mondale keynoted the National
Journalism Awards luncheon on Thursday. The ceremony recognized
outstanding journalists and coverage of Asian American community
issues, and the outstanding AAJA chapter of the year.
The 2005 AAJA National Award Winners: (Print) were: Tracy Jan,
Boston Globe; Alison Overholt, Fast Company magazine; Amy
Waldman, foreign correspondent, New York Times; Noreen O’Donnell
and Marcela Rojas. White Plains (N.Y.) Journal News. (ONLINE)
Ben de la Cruz, washingtonpost.com; John Nania, Epoch Times.
(RADIO) Ruby de Luna, KUOW Public Radio, Seattle; Dmae Roberts,
MediaRites Productions of Portland. (TELEVISION) Sue Kwon,
KPIX-TV, San Francisco; David Ono, KABC-TV, Los Angeles
At the AAJA Gala Banquet on Aug. 20 four people were honored for
their contributions to the organization.
Joe Grimm, a recruiter for the Detroit Free Press was honored
for promoting diversity in the newsroom. He organized a
Minorities in Newspaper Jobs Fair and inspired the publication
of a pamphlet on understanding Arab Americans, the largest
population in the U.S. is in Detroit.
Lori Matsukawa, a broadcast journalist with AAJA’s Seattle
Chapter, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her
leadership role in her chapter.
Ray Rivera was honored for some of the most compelling post 9-11
civil rights articles. His nine-part Seattle Times series
chronicling the plight of U.S. Army Captain James Yee, a Muslim
Chaplain who was detained for over two months on espionage and
spying charges until all charges were dropped. He now writes for
the Washington Post.
Skip Rhodes of San Francisco was honored for his staunch support
for the local AAJA. His help led to networking and workshop
sessions for teens and to thousands of dollars in scholarships.
Some of the notable workshops included sessions on what Asian
Americans watch on television or listen to on their radios,
their interests and why accurate and reliable viewing and
listener data are the bedrock of the media industry.
Another session dealt with the current coverage of Islam and its
believers and how reporters and editors can acquire the
necessary knowledge to provide a more complete picture of this
religion.
Vietnamese journalists conducted a workshop on how coverage of
Vietnam changed news coverage, and the challenge to see the
country and the Vietnamese, and American Vietnamese today.
Local Asian journalists and Senator Mee Moua led a discussion on
fair and accurate reporting of Hmong in the local media.
The Gala Scholarship and Awards Banquet presented an opportunity
to recognize scholarship, internship and fellowship recipients.
“We've got a lot of new, young leaders in our organization
coming into their own, and I'm excited to see how they take
Minnesota AAJA to the next level.”
Founded by a handful of Los Angeles journalists in 1981. Today,
the nonprofit organization has more than 2,300 members in 19
chapters nationwide and in Asia.
The 2006 AAJA National Convention will be held June 20 - 24,
2006 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.
(http://www.aapress.com/archive/2005/websep2/c-aaja.htm)
******************
September 2, 2005
ETA News Release: [09/02/2005]
Contact Name: David James or Mike Volpe
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or x3984
Release Number: 05-1670-ATL
U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION NATIONAL
EMERGENCY GRANT TO CREATE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 TEMPORARY JOBS TO
ASSIST MISSISSIPPIS HURRICANE KATRINA RECOVERY EFFORTS
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a
National Emergency Grant of up to $50 million to establish
approximately 10,000 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated
workers to help in the recovery and clean-up efforts underway in
Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Approximately
$16.6 million in grant funds will be released immediately.
Many Mississippians are missing a paycheck because their place
of employment has shut down or they can't earn a living because
their business or livelihood has been devastated. This $50
million National Emergency Grant will create approximately
10,000 temporary jobs so Mississippians can help in the cleanup
and recovery of their communities and earn a paycheck too, said
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. Workers in these temporary
jobs will be involved in the provision of food, shelter and
other services to fellow Mississippians.
The Labor Department grant, given to the Mississippi Department
of Employment Security, will hire workers in temporary jobs
providing food, clothing, shelter and humanitarian assistance
for victims. The grant will also be used for demolition,
renovation and reconstruction of destroyed public structures,
facilities and lands. In addition, grant funds will be available
for work on the homes of the economically disadvantaged who are
eligible for the federally-funded weatherization program.
The damage caused by this storm has left thousands without homes
and suitable shelter, said Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. The Department of
Labor will continue to work with the state of Mississippi to
coordinate resources to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Through the grant, 52 Mississippi counties targeted for
assistance will be served: Adams, Amite, Attala, Chickasaw,
Choctaw, Claiborne, Clarke, Clay, Copiah, Covington, Forrest,
Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Itawamba,
Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper,
Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lee, Lincoln, Lowndes,
Madison, Marion, Monroe, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha,
Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone,
Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Webster, Wilkinson, and Winston.
National Emergency Grants are part of the Secretary's
discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to
meet specific guidelines. For more information on the
Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please
visit
www.doleta.gov.
(http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20051670.htm)
******************
September 3, 2005
ETA News Release:
Contact Name: David James or Stephanie Cathcart
Phone Number: 202-693-4676
Release Number: 05-1678-DAL
LABOR SECRETARY ELAINE L. CHAO ANNOUNCES $62.1 MILLION IN AID
TO ASSIST LOUISIANA’S HURRICANE KATRINA RECOVERY EFFORTS
Grant Will Provide Approximately 10,000 Temporary Jobs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today
announced a National Emergency Grant of up to $62.1 million,
with an initial release of $20.7 million, to provide
approximately 10,000 temporary jobs for dislocated workers to
help in recovery and clean-up efforts underway in Louisiana in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
"Our hearts go out to the people of New Orleans and communities
throughout Louisiana, who face many challenges as they recover
from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina," said
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This grant will provide up
to $62.1 million to create temporary jobs that will mean
paychecks for thousands of dislocated workers and will help to
clean-up, rebuild and repair their communities."
The Labor Department grant, given to the Louisiana Department of
Labor, will be used for demolition, renovation and
reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities and
lands in coordination with other agencies providing services to
affected communities. Funding will support projects that provide
food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for
individuals struck by the disaster. They will also be used to
perform work on the homes of economically disadvantaged
individuals who are eligible for the federally-funded
weatherization program, with priority given to services for the
elderly and individuals with disabilities.
"Hurricane Katrina's destruction has left many residents of
Louisiana homeless and in need of help," said Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover
DeRocco. "The department will continue to ensure that people's
needs are addressed as recovery efforts go forward."
The parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche,
Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St.
John, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington have
been targeted by the state for assistance under this National
Emergency Grant. Due to mass dislocation of Louisiana residents,
all 64 state parishes will participate in providing worksites
for displaced individuals until evacuation orders are lifted.
National Emergency Grants are part of the Secretary's
discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to
meet specific guidelines. For more information on the Department
of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit
www.doleta.gov.
(http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20051678.htm)
******************
September 3, 2005
E-MAIL CAMPAIGN LEADS TO CHURCH RESCUE
by Debbie Elliott, All Things Considered
A resourceful civil engineer living in Arlington, Texas, helped
authorities rescue 300 fellow Vietnamese Americans at a church
on the eastern edge of New Orleans. Trang Nguyen used an e-mail
blitz to raise help in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4831761)
******************
September 5, 2005
KATRINA CLOUDS VIETNAMESE SHRIMPERS’ AMERICAN DREAM
By Jonathan Tilove
c.2005 Newhouse News Service
GULFPORT, Miss. -- In 1979, Jane Ngo and her family escaped from
Vietnam on a fishing boat with nothing but the clothes on their
backs. An American dream later, the Ngos have the clothes on
their backs, plus those on the clothesline stretched across
their 99-foot shrimp boat, the Queen Elizabeth.
And that's it.
Hurricane Katrina took everything else, turning the Intercoastal
Waterway where the mostly Vietnamese fleet of Gulf Coast shrimp
boats took refuge into a little Pearl Harbor of vessels strewn
and sunken, scuttling the prospects of an industry and a way of
life already caught between soaring gas costs and the plummeting
price of cheap imports.
"We hope we survive," said the unsinkable Ngo, her boat nestled
next to those of her brother and cousin.
They all lost their homes and cars in neighboring Biloxi, where
most of the shrimp fleet was ordinarily docked. Ngo's little
shore-side store and deli was damaged, then looted. All they
have left are large notes on their boats and a livelihood on
hold for the foreseeable future.
"This year's over," said Thomas Thai, Ngo's cousin.
"It's gone," said Binh Truong, Ngo's brother's stepson, meaning
forever.
Like the other Vietnamese shrimpers, the three families, three
generations, rode out Katrina on their boats, together. What
unfolded for seemingly endless hours last Monday was a harrowing
life-and-death sea battle worthy of Melvlle.
Their boats moored but engines running, the captains wheeled
against Katrina to keep from crashing into each other or cutting
loose.
"She (Katrina) would go this way, and they would go that," said
Ngo, swaying and gesturing toward her husband, Thong Ngo.
"He's a good one," she said. " A good one."
The Queen Elizabeth -- Ngo named it out of her love for English
history -- somehow managed to reel in another shrimp boat
surging toward the bridge where a jumble of wrecked boats now
rest with an uncertain number of people on board.
When Truong saw another boat spinning loose of its moorings and
threatening to draw boats in its path into its frenzied vortex,
he defied Katrina's rage, leaping into the waters and swimming
to shore where he retied the boat's mooring rope to a tree along
the banks.
All but two of Thai's seven children (the two live in Texas)
weathered the storm by his side, including a daughter who was
supposed to return home to California days earlier, but would
not leave.
None of his children are shrimpers. He is glad. "It is too
hard," he said.
In the calm after the storm, Truong, who escaped Vietnam as a
small boy and speaks in the "yes sir," cadences of the Gulf
Coast, resorted to the more mundane heroism of scrounging for
food and water to keep the families alive.
They were, it seemed, marooned here in their safe harbor with
nothing.
Truong had left shrimping to become a casino dealer -- a soft
and easy life soured only by the anger directed his way by
players on a losing streak. But, when the shrimp business
started going south after Sept. 11, 2001, he returned to help.
Shrimp is America's most popular seafood, but with increasingly
inexpensive imports now accounting for 80 percent of the U.S.
market, the numbers for American shrimpers no longer add up.
The biggest sources of foreign shrimp are Thailand, China, and
with no small irony, Vietnam.
"Vietnam," said Thai, "has more shrimp."
In December, the Commerce Department slapped tariffs on shrimp
imports from China and Vietnam after determining that those
countries were dumping their product on the U.S. below cost to
increase their market share. American seafood companies
objected.
It's greed, Truong said of the opposition to tariffs. What about
protecting the nation's food source in a time of terrorism? What
about thinking about Americans first?
"They're hurting their own country, hurting their own people to
line their own pockets," he said.
"We're doomed," agreed David Bieller, whose small shrimp boat,
Lucky Angel, rested beside Thai's and Truoung's.
Bieller had never met them before, but credits them with keeping
his boat safe during the storm. Bieller, a Louisiana Cajun, was
not surprised by the generosity of the Vietnamese. Earlier in
the year, Lucky Angel sprang a leak and began to sink. He sent
out a distress call. "It wasn't the Americans who came to my
rescue. It was the Vietnamese fleet."
After the hurricane, Thai ran a line from his generator to
Bieller's boat to power his little air conditioner and TV. When
Ngo cooked their first meal after Katrina, they brought Bieller
and his wife, Theresa, aboard for dinner.
The food -- a beef and noodle soup -- was unfamiliar to Theresa,
who has suffered a series of recent heart attacks, and had sent
their newly adopted baby away to safety before Katrina.
"It was the best food I ever had," she said. "I cried the entire
time I ate that soup. I'll never forget these people."
In turn, she has made her cell phone -- which miraculously never
stopped working -- the Vietnamese's link to the outside world.
Her husband borrowed a car so he could drive Ngo's nephew, Thanh
Huynh, to the airport to fly home to Chicago. Huynh, who had
stayed in Biloxi instead of on the boat during the hurricane,
ended up perched in a tree, hanging on for four hours for dear
life.
After the storm, Ngo's father, who is in his 80s, suggested to
his daughter that "maybe we go back to Vietnam.",
No, Ngo said. She likes it here.
She renamed herself Jane because, she said, "I have a lot of
good friends around here, so I go get American name so they can
call me a lot."
She and her husband bought their first wooden shrimp boat with
money they saved when he worked for an American shrimper and she
picked crabmeat for $3 an hour.
She would soon start cleaning up her store. Theresa Bieller has
offered to help.
"This is a good country," Ngo said. "At least they don't let you
die."
(Jonathan Tilove can be contacted at
jonathan.tilove@newhouse.com.)
(http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/tilove090505.html)
******************
September 5, 2005
KATRINA UPROOTS IMMIGRANTS FROM HOMES
Michael Graczyk
Associated Press
HOUSTON - Thousands of Vietnamese settled in the familiar
climate of the Gulf Coast region after the upheaval of two wars
in their homeland. Hurricane Katrina uprooted them again - the
third mass evacuation in a collective memory of loss.
Quan Hong Huyn first learned what it meant to lose a home and
escape near-certain destruction when he was sent to a
"re-education" camp in his native Vietnam in 1975 and when he
fled to the United States through Malaysia.
"We have experience about escape, about evacuation," Huynh, 55,
said outside the Houston church where he was among hundreds of
Vietnamese-Americans being sheltered. Their homes 300 miles to
the east were damaged or destroyed.
Vietnam's history is marked by two milestone evacuations when
millions were uprooted - first by the war against the French
that ended in 1954 and then in the 1970s.
Because of Katrina, about half of Louisiana's Vietnamese
population of 30,000 have taken refuge in Houston, already the
adopted home to one of the largest groups from the Southeast
Asian country. Others from as far away as Mississippi and its
devastated shrimping community also may be coming to Texas.
Most were staying at church shelters in Houston or with friends
or relatives, and most appeared to have heeded the early
warnings to leave before Katrina hit.
"We thought when we evacuated it would be like before, a couple
days and back," said Liem Le, 39, a manager at a Kenner, La.,
plant that manufactures plastic bags.
Along with his wife and four children, they packed only a few
pieces of clothing for what they thought would be a short trip.
"Now we don't have anything," said Le, who came to the United
States in 1980. "We don't know what to do."
They spotted their house on television. The water was up to the
roof.
Huynh, president of the Vietnamese American Community in
Louisiana, sent his wife and three children to Houston in
advance of the storm while he stayed behind "to help my people."
He learned before he fled that only the tip of his roof remained
above the rising waters.
"It looked like bombs from a B-52," he said, describing the
damage he saw from Katrina.
For 39-year-old Peter Hoang, confined to a shelter with his wife
and five children, it was the second time he has been a refugee:
"The first one was from the war."
"The war was worse," he added. "But this was like the war. When
you watch people on TV killing, looting."
Texas has about 134,000 Vietnamese, second most behind
California, according to U.S. Census figures, which put the
total Vietnamese-American population at around 1.2 million.
A Houston shopping mall that caters to Vietnamese is serving as
a staging area for many refugees, who started showing up a week
ago to find an air conditioned haven. That drew the attention of
Radio Saigon Houston, a Vietnamese station, that began
organizing some of the relief efforts.
"People wanted to help," said Thuy Vu, one of station owners.
About 200 Vietnamese were at St. Catherine's Catholic convent,
normally home to 50 Vietnamese Dominican nuns, where a gym-sized
hall reserved for prayer on Sundays is filled for the first time
in its 20-year history with chatter and children's laughter.
"It's very different," said Sister Bernadette Nguyen. "But this
was an opportunity for us to serve our people in a very tangible
way."
In Mississippi, where like in Texas many Vietnamese work the
gulf for shrimp, 13-year-old Nick Luong told of how his family
lost their home in Biloxi but saved their boat. It's where they
rode out Katrina, moored hours away, and where they sleep now.
"We may have lost everything, but we're going to rebuild
everything," the boy said, speaking for his father, Non, who
came to Mississippi about seven years ago and speaks no English.
"We'll probably go to Texas or something," Nick said. "We'll go
for a couple months or so, 'til we can rebuild a couple of
houses so we can live there. Then we can build more."
The family of Viet Thu Linh, 55, wasn't as fortunate. Linh has
lived in Biloxi since he was 5 and now works at an oyster plant.
His son has a fleet of fishing boats. He believes all six sank.
Linh and his dog survived the storm and now sleep in the rubble
of what was once a large home just steps from Biloxi Bay. He has
food, water, a hammock and a chair, but not much else except
resolve.
"I build again," he promised.
Associated Press writer Vicki Smith in Jackson, Miss.,
contributed to this report.
(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/12566965.htm)
******************
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
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