NCVA REPORTER - November 23, 2004

In this NCVA Reporter:

Events

• CineFest Vietnam Film Screening – Dec 4, 2004
• The Humanity Through Arts: Traces of the Hundred Viets – Oct 17 – Dec 4, 2004
• Briefing on “No Child Left Behind” and Asian Pacific American Students – Dec 13, 2004

Funding Opportunities

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Requests Letters of Interest for Men's Health Detection Program
• Adobe Action Grants Program
• Pathways to Health Professions
• Healthy Communities Access Program
• International AIDS Education and Training Centers
• Applications Invited for HOPE Awards to Promote Minority Home Ownership
• Funds for Youth Nutrition and Fitness Programs
• Funds for School Projects Focused on Wildlife Habitats
• Support for Arts, Environment, Health Jewish Life, and Social and Economic Justice
• Grants for Museums
• Focus on Service, Advocacy, and Empowerment for Disadvantaged Populations
• Surdna Foundation Supports Entrepreneurial Programs Throughout the U.S.
• Enterprise Foundation: Green Communities Initiative
• Sun Microsystems Academic Excellence Grant Program

Jobs/Internships

• NAVASA’s Dan Than Fellowship Program
• Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Program
• 2005 Smithsonian Fellowships
• SEARAC Leadership and Advocacy Program Manager
• Discrimination Research Center Seeks New Director

Tips/Resources

• Website Connects Nonprofits and Volunteers

News

• OPM to Begin Accepting Applications for the Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program (Press Release)
• JACL Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow (Press Release)
• APIASF Scholarship Applications Available Now Online (Press Release)
• Human trafficking in Cambodia tackled (Associated Press)
• One in four Californians considering moves toward lower prices (Associated Press)
• Senate Set to Clear Miscellaneous Trade Bill (Congressional Quarterly)
• Garden Grove plans Vietnamese center (Orange County Register)
• 2 Southland Marines Killed in Battle for Fallouja (Los Angeles Times)
• U.S. officials meet monks from banned Vietnam Buddhist church (Associated Press)

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EVENTS

VCSA-DC CINEFEST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC – The Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA-DC) announces the second CineFest Vietnam event at 6:30pm, December 4, 2004 at the University of Maryland Shady Grove auditorium (9630 Gudelsky Dr., Rockville, MD 20850). Co-hosted by the Vietnamese-American Television (VATV), this event spotlights the works and in-person appearances of two emerging Vietnamese-American film artists, Tuan Kien Nguyen and Simon Phan.

The Dec. 4 screening event brings to the audience Tuan Kien Nguyen's short animation films and documentary works, followed by a feature presentation of Simon Phan’s Mother Tongue, Fatherland (Tieng Me; Trên Ðat Cha, 2003, 85 min.), a documentary presenting first-person accounts of the plight of con lai - children of American servicemen and Vietnamese women - spanning from the years of war in Vietnam to the present day America. A special forum dedicated to exploring contemporary issues facing Amerasians in the US will also follow the feature presentation.

For more information about this event or ticket reservation, please contact Vien Van (301-604-7533), Cuong Phan (703-820-7595) or Trang Khanh (757-218-8632), or by email at vcsa_dc@yahoo.com. Information is also available on the web at http://cinefestvietnam.vcsa-dc.org. Screening starts at 6:30pm. Films are in Vietnamese with English subtitles.

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THE HUMANITY THROUGH ARTS: TRACES OF THE HUNDRED VIETS

VAPA, Co VN and Friends of Hue Foundation are this year's host organizers of The Humanity Through Arts and we proudly present TRACES OF THE HUNDRED VIETS, an exhibition and auction of original artworks depicting the diverse Vietnamese experience and vision beyond the Vietnam war. With over 20 great caliber artists representing a wide spectrum of age, experience, styles and media, this expansive and unprecedented collection will be exhibited and open to the general public for the very first time.  And for the first time available to the general public is a Live Painting Collaboration by some of the participating artists on 12/4/2004 event.

Exhibition: Sunday 10/17/04 through Saturday 12/4/04. Free of charge.
Auction-Reception: Saturday 12/4/04 at 2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Auction-Reception Tickets: $15 donation suggested.
Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in San Jose, on the second floor, 150 E. San Fernando St., San José, CA 95112 Directions

Please contact us at 408-221-9136 or email us at info@humanitythrougharts.org for tickets. Tickets are limited; advanced purchase is strongly advised.

Humanity Through Arts is made possible by a unique collaboration between the following Bay Area non-profit organizations: Cô VN (Creating Opportunities in Vietnam), FHF (Friends of Hue Foundation), and VAPA (Vietnamese American Professionals Alliance). Proceeds will benefit humanitarian programs of Cô VN, FHF and VAPA.

About the name "TRACES OF THE HUNDRED VIETS"
For thousands of years, the Vietnamese have been taught the mythology of being descendants of a dragon and a fairy whose union produced one hundred children. These mythical children dispersed to the mountains and to the seas. They became the ancestors of the modern Vietnamese. This myth teaches that the Vietnamese people are culturally diverse, but all share a common heritage.

Now living all over the world, Vietnamese artists continue to preserve their heritage while adapting to new or changing environments. These artists are thriving in the modern art scene. They explore new media and travel far beyond the boundaries of traditional Vietnamese themes and media. Whether new or traditional, their arts still hint at the traces of the hundred Viets.

About VAPA
VAPA (Vietnamese American Professionals Alliance) is a network of Vietnamese American professionals formed to serve the community and to support the professional and personal development of its members. For more information on VAPA, visit www.vapabayarea.org

About Cô VN
Cô VN (Creating Opportunities in Vietnam) has a mission of improving the quality of life of disadvantaged women in Vietnam. Cô VN encourages and fosters entrepreneurship as a means to reduce poverty, raise income, and enable self-reliance among women in Vietnam. For additional information on Cô VN, visit www.covn.org

About FHF
FHF (Friends of Hue Foundation) provides assistance to impoverished people and victims of natural disasters in Thua Thien Hue province of Central Vietnam. Built and successfully maintain the only American run orphanage in Thua Thien Hue province. For additional information on FHF, visit www.friendsofhue.org

(http://www.humanitythrougharts.org)

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The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)
and the National Education Association (NEA) invite you and your staff to a briefing on

"NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" AND ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN STUDENTS

Monday, December 13, 2004
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Conference Room B, 2nd Floor
NEA Headquarters
1201 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC

APAICS and NEA are pleased to offer this opportunity to learn more about the positive and negative components of federal legislation regarding education, and ways that the "No Child Left Behind" Act impacts Asian Pacific American students in our nation's schools.

Seating is limited.  Please R.S.V.P. by Monday, December 6 to Daphne Kwok at dkwok@apaics.org.

Inquiries may be directed to Daphne Kwok, APAICS Executive Director (dkwok@apaics.org) at 202-296-9200 or Kevin Kumashiro, NEA Senior Program Specialist (kkumashiro@nea.org; 202-822-7439).

+++

Daphne Kwok
Executive Director
Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)
1001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 835
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202/296-9200
Fax: 202/296-9236
Web: www.apaics.org

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATION REQUESTS LETTERS OF INTEREST FOR MEN’S HEALTH DETECTION PROGRAM

Deadline: January 15, 2005 (Letters of Interest)

The BCBSM Foundation ( http://bcbsm.com/foundation/ ), the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, is dedicated to improving the health of Michigan residents through the support of research and innovative programs.

The foundation seeks proposals for Improving Men's Health Through Early Detection, an initiative to encourage research as well as demonstration and evaluation projects on improving men's health through the early detection and screening of disease.

The BCBSM Foundation will focus on increasing screening and prevention for men in the following five clinical areas: diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

Michigan-based physicians and doctoral-level researchers  based at universities, academic medical settings, community hospitals, health systems, and community-based  nonprofit organizations are invited to submit letters of interest to improve men's health through screening, referrals, and follow ups. Research projects should result  in information that is directly applicable to the design  of strategies to increase screening, referral, and follow-up care in Michigan.

Visit the BCBSM Foundation Web site to download the complete Request for Letters of Interest.

(http://bcbsm.com/foundation/grant_programs.shtml)

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ADOBE ACTION GRANTS PROGRAM

Deadlines: December 31, 2004; March 31, 2005; June 30, 2005; and September 30, 2005

Software company Adobe ( http://adobe.com/ ) supports programs and partnerships designed to help make Adobe communities "better, stronger, and more vibrant places to live, work and do business."

The Adobe Action Grant program provides one-time cash-only grants for general operating and program support through a competitive, quarterly online application process. Grant amounts range from $5,000-$20,000 and are for one year only.

Focus areas for the company's giving include:

Creativity in Education -- Adobe supports schools and community-based organizations with programs that enable and inspire K-12 students to think creatively, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively, using digital technology and communication tools.

Commitment to Community -- Adobe also supports nonprofit organizations and programs located in Adobe communities that address community-specific needs, with an emphasis on the following criteria: promoting and providing cultural awareness and arts education programs for the broader community; providing services for low-income families -- specifically, reducing hunger and homelessness and providing affordable housing; protecting the natural environment and improving public spaces for the enjoyment of the community; and improving access to electronic information for people with disabilities.

To be eligible for support, nonprofit organizations and schools must be located in one of the following areas: San Jose/Silicon Valley, California (southern San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, southern Alameda County); Seattle/King County, Washington; and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

(http://adobe.com/aboutadobe/philanthropy/commgivingprgrm.html)

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PATHWAYS TO HEALTH PROFESSIONS

WHO: Faith-based organizations, elementary, middle, and high schools, community colleges, colleges and universities, and institutions of higher education, non-profit community based organizations, including tribes, tribal organizations, and health or educational professional organizations. WHAT: To support the continuation and development of innovative, culturally competent approaches that encourage underrepresented minority (URM) and disadvantaged students in colleges and universities, community colleges, elementary, middle, and high schools to pursue a career in a health or allied health field.

WHEN: Applications due December 17, 2004.

AWARD AMOUNT: Approximately $400,000 dollars will fund between 4-6 awards.

CONTACT: To view the program announcement, head to
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-05-118/Grant.html

For more information, please contact Jeanean Willis at (301) 443-4494 Fax: (301) 443-4943, or email jwillis@hrsa.gov.

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HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ACCESS PROGRAM

WHO: Faith-based and community-based organizations, and public or private nonprofit entities that represent a consortium whose principle purpose is to provide a broad range of coordinated health care services to their defined community's uninsured and underinsured populations.

WHAT: To provide assistance to communities and consortia of health care providers and others to develop or strengthen integrated community health care delivery systems that coordinate health care services for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, and to develop or strengthen activities related to providing coordinated care for individuals with chronic conditions who are uninsured or underinsured.

WHEN: Applications due March 2, 2005.

AWARD AMOUNT: Approximately $9.8 million dollars will fund up to 10 awards.

CONTACT: To view the program announcement, head to
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-05-104/Grant.html

For further information, please contact Cicely at (301) 594-4300 or email cnelson@hrsa.gov.

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INTERNATIONAL AIDS EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTERS

WHO: Faith-based and community-based organizations, national, regional and local non-profit organizations involved in addressing global HIV/AIDS related issues.  Applicants must have a history of developing and disseminating informational materials and providing training and technical assistance, to HIV/AIDS related organizations outside of the United States within the past three years.

WHAT: To assist countries with developing systems of care to understand and put into action best practices for high quality, comprehensive HIV primary care and support service delivery to people living with HIV/AIDS.

WHEN: Applications due October 7, 2005.

AWARD AMOUNT: Approximately $1 million dollars will fund up to 2 awards.

CONTACT: To view the program announcement, head to
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-05-017/Grant.html

For further information, please contact Thurma McCann Goldman at (301) 443-1993 or email tgoldman@hrsa.gov.

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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR HOPE AWARDS TO PROMOTE MINORITY HOME OWNERSHIP

Deadline: December 1, 2004

Organizations and individuals making outstanding contributions to promote minority home ownership are invited to submit applications for the 2005 HOPE (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone) Awards.

Each of the award winners in as many as seven categories will receive a $10,000 honorarium and national recognition for their contributions to removing barriers to minority home ownership. Winners will also be given the opportunity to discuss their work and share their experiences with housing policy makers at a symposium at the National Press Club.

Categories for the awards include Home Ownership Education, Finance, Project of the Year, Real Estate Brokerage, Public Policy, Media Coverage, and Leadership.  Awards will be based on the impact of the nominee's work on promoting minority home ownership, use of innovative ideas, acceptance by the minority community, focus on  minority home ownership, and affordability.

For more information on the program, submission guidelines, and online entry forms, visit the HOPE Awards Web site.

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

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FUNDS FOR YOUTH NUTRITION AND FITNESS PROGRAMS

General Mills Champions Youth Nutrition and Fitness Initiative

The goal of the General Mills Champions Youth Nutrition and Fitness Initiative, a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Challenge, is to improve youth nutrition and fitness across the U.S. The Initiative will award 50 grants of $10,000 each to community-based groups that develop creative programs to help youth (ages 2-20) adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. Grants will be awarded to programs that demonstrate significant potential impact on youth groups that are at-risk or that have an impact on large populations of youth. Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools/school districts, and Native American tribes throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. The application deadline is February 1, 2005.

(http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx)

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FUNDS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS FOCUSED ON WILDLIFE HABITATS

National Wildlife Federation: Schoolyard Habitats Program

The National Wildlife Federation's Schoolyard Habitats Program provides grants of $250 for educators and educational organizations interested in creating or revitalizing wildlife habitats on school grounds or on land near educational organizations. Prospective projects should reflect the goals of the Schoolyard Habitats Program, including the four components for wildlife: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Educators at public and private schools and educational organizations throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed at the beginning of each month. Visit the above website for more information on these grants, as well as other resources

the Schoolyard Habitats Program offers.

(http://www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/)

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SUPPORT FOR ARTS, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, JEWISH LIFE, AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

The Nathan Cummings Foundation

The Nathan Cummings Foundation is rooted in the Jewish tradition and committed to democratic values and social justice, including fairness, diversity, and community. The Foundation seeks to build a socially and economically just society that values nature and protects the ecological balance for future generations; promotes humane health care; and fosters arts and culture that enriches communities. The Foundation makes grants in the areas of arts and culture, environment, health, Jewish life, and inter-program initiatives for social and economic justice. Nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. Funding priority will be given to projects having impacts at the state, multi-state, or national level. Letters of inquiry are accepted year-round. Visit the above website for more information.

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

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GRANTS FOR MUSEUMS

Institute of Museum and Library Services: National Leadership Grants for Museums

The Institute of Museum and Library Services' National Leadership Grants for Museums program offers funding for museums throughout the U.S. Support is provided for the development of museum-based learning networks and services for people of all ages with a broad variety of learning goals; the creation, use, and preservation of digital collections and of tools to improve the management of digital resources; and research in museum services and demonstration projects that test potential solutions to problems in real-world situations. Nonprofit museums of all disciplines, nonprofit museum service organizations or associations, museum consortia, and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. The application deadline is February 1, 2005.

(http://www.imls.gov/grants/museum/mus_nlgm.asp)

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FOCUS ON SERVICE, ADVOCACY, AND EMPOWERMENT FOR DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS

Public Welfare Foundation

The Public Welfare Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that provide services to disadvantaged populations and work for lasting improvements in the delivery of services that meet basic human needs. Strong emphasis is given to organizations that solve specific problems through service, advocate to address those problems in a systemic way through changes in public policy, and empower people in need to play leading roles in achieving those policy changes and remedying the specific problems. Funding priorities for 2004 include community development, criminal justice, the environment, health, human rights and global security, reproductive and sexual health, and youth. While most grants are made to organizations in the United States, the Foundation has no geographic restrictions and limited support is provided to organizations in other countries. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply throughout the year.

(http://www.publicwelfare.org/index.asp)

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SURDNA SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE U.S.

The Surdna Foundation supports catalytic, entrepreneurial programs that offer viable solutions to difficult systemic problems, as well as high quality, direct service programs. The Foundation's program areas are community revitalization, the environment, effective citizenry, arts programs focused on arts and education, nonprofit sector support, and capacity building. Nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

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

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ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION: GREEN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE

Green Communities is a five-year, $550 million initiative developed through a partnership between the Enterprise Foundation/Enterprise Social Investment Corporation and the Natural Resources Defense Council to ensure smarter, healthier homes for Americans with limited incomes. Interested applicants may submit a letter of inquiry starting November 15, 2004.

(http://www.enterprisefoundation.org/majorinitiatives/green/index.asp)

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SUN MICROSYSTEMS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE GRANT PROGRAM

The Sun Microsystems Academic Excellence Grant Program donates equipment to eligible organizations that have developed creative projects that address the company's investment priorities and create partnerships for success. This program is for hardware donations only. The next application deadline is December 3, 2004.

(http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/edu/promotions/grants/)

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JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

DAN THAN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT NAVASA
Vietnamese American Community Action Project (VACAP)

The Dan Than Fellowship Program at NAVASA seeks to engage emerging Vietnamese American community leaders who are between the ages of 21 and 35 and who have a strong interest in using community development strategies to build strong communities. Fellows will dedicate one-year to community service. During the service year, fellows will engage in a variety of programs to meet critical needs in their communities. They will primarily focus on housing, employment, child and senior care, and health care.

In addition to making an impact on the lives of community members across the country, fellows will participate in a leadership training program. Through this program, fellows will learn to assess community needs and the root causes of poverty and to organize collective power to bring about social change, to gain social and political influence, and to ensure equitable access to public and private resources for the community. Fellows will learn leadership and management skills to manage projects and, in the long-run, non-profit organizations.

The term of the fellowship is 10 months, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The 2004-2005 fellowship is from January to October 2005. In addition to monthly stipends of $1,250 and a full comprehensive benefits package, fellows will receive $4,000 at the completion of their service.

Make A Difference!
Contact Huy Bui if you are interested in joining the fellowship or know someone who may be.

(www.navasa.org)

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DORIS DUKE CLINICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Deadline: January 18, 2005

A program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation ( http://ddcf.org/ ), the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Program is designed to encourage medical students to pursue careers in clinical research by giving exceptional students the opportunity to take a year to experience clinical research first hand.

The CRF Program is available at the following ten medical schools: Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons; Harvard Medical School; Mount Sinai School of Medicine; University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine; University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucile A. Carver College of Medicine; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; and Yale University School of Medicine.

A minimum of fifty fellowships will be offered across the ten participating CRF schools for the 2005-06 fellowship year. Fellows will conduct clinical research for one year at a participating CRF medical school beginning no earlier than July 1, 2005.

Each fellow receives a $23,000 stipend, health insurance, financial support to attend annual CRF meeting and other research meetings, and supplementary research and training funds.

Students matriculated at any U.S. medical school who are in good academic standing and have completed two or more years of medical school prior to the start of the fellowship are eligible to apply to any of the participating schools.

(http://ddcf.org/page.asp?pageId=292)

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2005 SMITHSONIAN FELLOWSHIPS

Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution provide students and scholars with opportunities to pursue independent research projects in association with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff. Applications must be postmarked by January 15, 2005 for awards to begin on or after June 1, 2005.

(http://www.si.edu/ofg/fell.htm)

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November 10, 2004

SEARAC LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM MANAGER
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) seeks an experienced trainer, technical assistance provider, and public-policy advocate to serve as a full-time "Leadership and Advocacy Program Manager" based in Washington, DC.

Now celebrating its twenty-fi fth anniversary, SEARAC is the national organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans through leadership development, capacity building, and community empowerment.  SEARAC serves as a coalition-builder and leader, carries out action-oriented research projects, and strengthens the capacity of community-based organizations such as mutual assistance associations (MAAs) and religious organizations that provide social services.  SEARAC nurtures a national network of over 180 community-based organizations through the provision of technical assistance, training, and sub-grants that have totaled over one million dollars.  SEARAC also supports the efforts of communities and organizations that share similar histories and visions for the development of American society.  SEARAC seeks to identify common views among Southeast Asian Americans, and to strengthen community participatio n in shaping domestic and global policy. Areas of special attention include education, civil rights, immigration, and economic empowerment.  Since 1979, advocacy has been integral to all of SEARAC's work.

For more information about SEARAC visit http://www.searac.org.

Responsibilities:
*  Provide training and technical assistance services in leadership development to leaders of diverse refugee organizations nationwide.
*  Serve as the main organizer for the annual "Leadership-Advocacy Training," which gathers together fifty Southeast Asian Americans and friends in Washington, DC, for training in leadership, advocacy, and strategic communications, and for meetings with Members of Congress and Administration officials.  Supervise volunteers and temporary staff brought in for the training.
*  Conduct policy analysis and advocacy on issues such as immigration (including deportation), education, health, and economic empowerment.
*  Assist with fundraising and reporting for programs under the position's management.
*  Supervise between one and three interns each summer.
*  Represent SEARAC in coalition meetings as appropriate.
*  Other duties as specified by the Executive Director and Deputy Director.

Basic Qualifications:
*  Two or more years of experience in technical assistance and training with refugee and/or immigrant leaders or organizations.
*  Two or more years of experience with policy analysis and advocacy.
*  Undergraduate degree.
*  Excellent writing skills.
*  Experience with drafting reports to funders.
*  Extensive knowledge of Southeast Asian American communities, cultures, and languages.

Salary:
*  $35,000 to $40,000 depending on experience.

Benefits:
*  Competitive package including health, dental, an d other benefits; vacation and sick leave; retirement account opportunities; federal holidays; bereavement leave; and others

Application Procedure:
*  Please submit a cover letter and resume to:
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
Attn: Project Manager Search
1628 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Fax: 202/667-4690
E-mail: searac@searac.org

*  No phone calls please.

Deadline:
*  Open until filled.

SEARAC is an equal-opportunity employer.

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DISCRIMINATION RESEARCH CENTER SEEKS NEW DIRECTOR

The Discrimination Research Center (DRC), a project of The Impact Fund, seeks a new Director.  DRC combines research, matched pair testing, advocacy and public education to enhance social justice and combat discrimination.  DRC seeks a dynamic Director to provide leadership in the areas of organizational development, fundraising, policy development, public education and strategic communications in the field of discrimination research.  She or he must be a creative leader, comfortable with both internal non-profit administration and external relations and knowledgeable about the field of discrimination research. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply. The position offers a competitive salary, benefits and a flexible work environment in Berkeley, California, close to the San Francisco Bay.

For the full job description, visit http://www.impactfund.org/pages/about/jobs.htm.  For further information about DRC, visit http://www.drcenter.org.Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and three references to Brad Seligman, 125 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710,
fax materials to (510) 845-3654, or email materials to bseligman@impactfund.org.

Siri Thanasombat
Program Manager
Discrimination Research Center
125 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710-1616
Tel: (510) 845-3473 x. 310
Fax: (510) 845-3654

(www.drcenter.org)

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TIPS/RESOURCES

WEBSITE CONNECTS NONPROFITS AND VOLUNTEERS

VolunteerMatch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer, offers a variety of online services to support nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. VolunteerMatch offers nonprofits a free volunteer recruitment tool and increased local and national exposure. Through the VolunteerMatch website, nonprofits can post volunteer opportunities, and interested volunteers can find local volunteer opportunities posted by organizations throughout the U.S. Visit the above website to find out how your organization can recruit volunteers through VolunteerMatch.

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

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NEWS

October 29, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Orenstein
202-606-2402

OPM TO BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE FEDERAL CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Director Kay James alerts communities of veterans, minorities, people with disabilities, and women of prep program for those seeking ambitious federal careers

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has notified hundreds of organizations representing middle managers, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities and others that applications for the government's Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program are being accepted starting November 15.

The Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program (Fed CDP) is a comprehensive program that prepares individuals for top leadership posts through exposure to competitive programs that include rotational assignments within the Executive Branch, formal training, mentoring and performance assessments.

"I am excited about the impact this program will make in preparing our next generation of leaders, and I am deeply appreciative of the support of Congressman Danny Davis," said OPM Director Kay Coles James "Today, as never before, federal agencies must be ready with succession plans and have people in line who can step in and assume the awesome task of managing and directing major government operations. The Fed CDP will work to carry on the great tradition of the Senior Executive Service, while increasing access for a wider diversity of candidates."

Said U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization: "I support the goals of the Candidate Development Program to identify and develop individuals with great potential for the senior leadership cadre which reflects the rich diversity of America."

Earlier this year, James met with representatives of employee organizations, Hispanic Association Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Veterans Service Organizations and others for a briefing on the Fed CDP. During these meetings, James stressed the value of the program to men and women who plan ambitious careers in federal public service.

"My work with these organizations has been personally rewardingand matched only by my professional satisfaction knowing that many of their members and constituents are logical successors to the rich talent pool that comprises today's Senior Executive Service," said James.

During her meetings with stakeholders and in testimony before Congress, James stressed that OPM's recruitment for the Fed CDP would be "consistent with the merit principles" and would further the ideals of government and the Senior Executive Service to include people "from all segments of our society."

The Senior Executive Service (SES) is the federal government's top cadre of managers. Its members manage many of the federal government's most important programs in national security and defense; science and technology; agriculture; the environment; and, information technology.

Further information about the Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program can be obtained at www.opm.gov/ses/fedcdp.

(http://www.opm.gov/viewDocument.aspx?q=667)

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For immediate release
November 10, 2004

For further information, please contact:
John Tateishi, JACL National Executive Director (415) 921-5225

JACL ANNOUNCES MIKE M. MASAOKA CONGRESSIONAL FELLOW FOR 2004-05
Application Deadline for 2005-06 Set for April 1st

San Francisco -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is pleased to announce the selection of 2004-05 recipient of the Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship award: Ms. Maya Yamazaki of Bellevue, Washington.  After a highly competitive selection process, the Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund Committee of the JACL named Ms. Yamazaki as the 2004-05 Congressional Fellow. She will spend approximately three and one half months in the spring of 2005 working in the Capitol Hill office of Representative Robert Matsui (D-CA), where she will learn first-hand about policymaking and public service and receive a stipend of $8500 and roundtrip airfare.

Dr. H. Tom Tamaki, Chairman of the Committee, commented, "Ms. Yamazaki represents the leadership of the next generation.  Her work and commitment to issues affecting the Japanese American community is substantial and quite impressive.  The Fellowship Fund is confident that she will continue in and uphold the legacy of Mike Masaoka's public service through this Fellowship, and we are pleased to name her as the 2004-05 Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow."

Expected to graduate the University of Washington with her B.A. in International Studies in December 2004, Ms. Yama zaki has been involved in the Asian Pacific American community for years, including several positions on the national and district level boards of the Japanese American Citizens League; as co-founder and president of Kaizen Group, an organization of youths dedicated to fighting for civil rights; and as an officer of the University of Washington Japanese Student Association. Beyond the Japanese American community, Ms. Yamazaki's community involvement and interests are extensive and include work with Women in Science and Engineering; the Girl Scouts of America; the Children's Hospital; and the Center on Human Development and Disability.  Ms. Yamazaki's career goals include working as a pediatrician focusing on minority communities in underserved areas and as a liaison between policymakers and patients.  Eventually, she would like to run for public office and become an advocate for healthcare reform.  The Japanese American Citizen s League is pleased to welcome Ms. Yamazaki as the newest Mike M. Masaoka Fellow.

The JACL established the Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund in 1988 to honor Mike M. Masaoka (1915-1991) for a lifetime of outstanding public service in promoting justice, civil rights and human dignity.  The major purpose of the Fund is to develop leaders for public service by providing opportunities for college seniors or students in graduate or professional programs to work for a Member of Congress or a Senator. The Fellows' assignments include a variety of tasks where they will be exposed to all facets of the work of the Representative or Senator and his/her staff.

Students interested in applying for a 2004-2005 Masaoka Fellowship should contact the Washington, DC office of the Japanese American Citizens League at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20036 (email: dc@jacl.org) or visit the JACL website at http://www.jacl.org/masaoka.html.  The deadline for applications is April 1, 2005.

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Celebrating 75 years of advocacy and community empowerment

Kristine Minami
Director for Public Affairs
Japanese American Citizens League
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 730
Washington, DC 20036
dc@jacl.org
tel: (202) 223-1240
fax: (202) 296-8082

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November 16, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Nov. 16, 2004                                        Tim Leong, APIASF, (415) 808-0805
                                                            www.apiasf.org

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW ONLINE

Qualified Students Entering as Freshmen in 2005 Encouraged To Apply

San Francisco (Nov. 16, 2004) - Applications are now available online for scholarships offered by the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF).  Applications may be downloaded directly from the APIASF website at www.apiasf.org and are available for college-bound students of Asian and Pacific Islander American descent who will be freshmen during the 2005-06 school year.  The deadline for completed applications is Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005.  The amount of each scholarship award is a maximum of $2,000 and will be awarded in Washington, DC, in May of 2005.

In order to qualify for an APIASF scholarship, a student must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national (including citizens of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico), a permanent U.S. resident, or a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.  Students must have achieved a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or a General Educational Development (GED) equivalent.

Funding support for APIASF scholarships has been provided by companies, foundations, civic organizations and individuals, including the Asian McDonald's Operators Association, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, General Mills, Hilton Hotels Corporation, McDonald's Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, Washington Mutual, and Wells Fargo.

For further information about APIASF, visit http://www.apiasf.org/.

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APIASF is the only national organization devoted to providing scholarships to Asian and Pacific Islander American students and is currently based in San Francisco. The organization's vision is to see all Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who wish to pursue higher education have that opportunity, regardless of their ethnicity, national origin or financial means.  APIASF is a non-profit, charitable organization.

(www.apiasf.org)

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November 17, 2004

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CAMBODIA TACKLED

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Associated Press) - Diplomats, aid workers and Cambodian officials met Tuesday to discuss ways to fight human trafficking, a severe problem in this impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

Human trafficking has become a lucrative business in Cambodia, which is recovering from three decades of civil war that forced thousands to flee their homes and in some cases seek refuge abroad.

"This problem is one that Cambodia has struggled with in its recent past as traffickers move human beings into, through and from Cambodia to other countries in the region," US Ambassador Charles Ray said in a statement.

Ray's comment came on the first day of a two-day conference sponsored by the US, British, Thai and Australian embassies aimed at drafting recommendations to stop the practice.

Cambodian children have been forced to beg on the streets of Thailand and Vietnam and young men to work as forced laborers on fishing boats in Thailand. Women have been pressed into prostitution in Malaysia and Cambodia, and an unknown number of people from China and Vietnam also have been trafficked into Cambodia.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said authorities have rescued more than 8,000 victims of cross-border trafficking and passed a law to fight the practice.

Still, diplomats and Cambodian officials said the country must take further steps to stamp out the scourge, including strengthening its judiciary and law enforcement and boosting cooperation with its neighbours.

"The traffickers have their network, and its tentacles span the continent," Ray said. "Now it is our turn to create a true anti-trafficking network that rivals and exceeds the sophistication of the traffickers."

Earlier this year, Australia agreed to fund anti-trafficking training for Cambodian police and judges, and the United States said it would give Cambodia US$5.6 million to fight trafficking.

(http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/nov17w10.htm)

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November 18, 2004

ONE IN FOUR CALIFORNIANS CONSIDERING MOVES TOWARD LOWER PRICES

By Jim Wasserman, Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- High rents and rising home prices are pushing one in every four Californians to consider moving elsewhere in the state or leaving California entirely, says a new statewide survey on places people call home.

While Californians value their quality of life near ocean shores and mountain views, the survey released Thursday shows nearly one-third of those under 35 are considering moves toward cheaper prices and that 52 percent of adults are very concerned their children won't be able to buy homes in their part of the state.

Even many homeowners now see little upside to rising prices that have greatly inflated their property values, believing they couldn't afford to buy another house in their own neighborhoods, said Mark Baldassare, the study's author and statewide survey director for the Public Policy Institute of California.

"We're at a point where it's very hard for people who are moving from other states to think about coming to California," Baldassare said. Instead of being optimistic about life in California, a new generation "coming into the owning stages of their lives ... are exactly the people who are talking about moving elsewhere.

"You're talking about your work force. You're talking about your future," he said.

The survey, the most comprehensive of its kind in years in California, reveals the moving-out sentiment is highest in coastal areas and that many are acting on it. The PPIC recently reported that since 1995 more than 350,000 coastal Californians have moved to the less expensive Central Valley.

The PPIC surveyed 2,502 people from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1 in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. The survey, funded by the Irvine, Packard and Hewlett foundations, has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

California's traditionally high mortgage costs are also further discouraging renters, the survey reports. Only one in five who hope eventually to buy a house are confident they can do it.

The results dovetail with findings this month by the California Association of Realtors showing that only 19 percent of the state's households can afford the state's median-priced home of $465,000. That's a 5 percent drop from a year ago. Nationally, the median-priced home -- where half cost more and half cost less -- was $186,600 in September.

The results also come as California's builders push up more homes and apartments than any year since 1989. After building 134,000 single-family homes and 54,200 apartments last year -- 188,200 in all -- industry officials say they're on track to build 205,000 in 2004.

But while they fret about the high costs of housing and the shortage of affordable housing, many Californians also believe that's too many new homes, the survey shows.

Stressed by traffic, crowded schools and other consequences of growth in their neighborhoods, at least half believe state government is doing enough -- and even too much -- to encourage housing construction.

One in five likely voters told the PPIC that state government does too much to stimulate housing. And six in 10 believe the state should keep its tough environmental laws even if it discourages supply and causes housing prices to rise still more. Baldassare said likely voters tend to be homeowners.

On the Net: www.ppic.org

(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/11/18/state0306EST0011.DTL)

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November 19, 2004

SENATE SET TO CLEAR MISCELLANEOUS TRADE BILL

Congressional Quarterly

After voting 88-5 to cut off debate Friday morning, the Senate was poised to clear a catch-all trade bill that has been held up for most of the 108th Congress. The measure (HR 1047) would suspend duties on hundreds of products for which there is no domestic source, reimburse companies that incorrectly paid duties in recent years and make modest adjustments to trade laws. Enacting such legislation is generally a routine exercise for each Congress, but this measure was held hostage for months on end in the Senate by partisan wrangling over procedure and efforts by senators to add items outside the narrow scope of the bill. The final sticking point concerned the extension of so-called normal trade relations to Laos. Wisconsin's two Democratic senators, Russell D. Feingold and Herb Kohl, opposed that provision, arguing that Laos has a poor human rights record, particularly with regard to its Hmong population. Many Hmong refugees live in Wisconsin. The cloture vote cut off their protests.

(www.cq.com)

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November 19, 2004

GARDEN GROVE PLANS VIETNAMESE CENTER

By Nguyen Huy Vu
The Orange County Register

GARDEN GROVE – A humanitarian group and City Council members have been working for months on a $10 million Vietnamese library and cultural center that they hope would cement the city's place as the heart of the Vietnamese experience in the United States.

What's envisioned is a world- class educational and research institution for scholars to learn about the history leading up to the Vietnam War and the subsequent life of American refugees. An auditorium, reception hall, library, museum and temple would serve the community, home to the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam.

"We need to preserve this valuable history or it will fade away 100 years from now," said Phat Bui, director of the Nhan Ai Foundation, the nonprofit group that is raising funds to build and operate the center that's proposed on land that would be donated by the city.

Plans include a four-story, 88,880-square-foot building to be constructed in a residential neighborhood near the city's civic center.

The project, which officials say is still in its infancy, has angered some residents and community leaders who feel they've been left in the dark as negotiations have been under way for five months behind closed doors.

Eugene Zaluzec started passing out fliers to neighbors when he learned a few weeks ago his home is two doors from the proposed center.

"No one notified us about this," Zaluzec said. "They have been doing all of this in secret. The job of city government is to take care of our property and protect us, and they are not doing it."

The city inked an exclusive negotiating agreement with Nhan Ai on Aug. 24 that allows the nonprofit humanitarian group to come up with a detailed plan to build and operate the center.

In a Nov. 3 memo, the city's economic development manager, Chet Yoshizaki, said the agreement violated the Brown Act, the state law governing what public officials are allowed to discuss and act on in private.

Mayor Bruce Broadwater contends that the city committed no Brown Act violation in its dealings with the nonprofit group, and that Yoshizaki was incorrect in his assessment.

The City Council at its meeting Tuesday is slated to consider rescinding its agreement with Nhan Ai.

The foundation, started in Santa Ana in 1995, currently runs a Vietnamese library and research facility in Garden Grove, housing more than 30,000 books on culture, archaeology and history and hundreds of Vietnamese artifacts.

Vietnamese activist Joseph Dovinh said he was thrilled about the prospect of a Vietnamese cultural center, but it is critical to accurately depict history and culture.

"I think it's a wonderful idea, but the devil is in the details," said Dovinh, an adviser for the Oakland Museum of California's Vietnam War retrospective.

"Will it be completely anti-Communist, or are we going to be more open-minded and deal with the modern-day Vietnam? Will the majority of people be involved in the process, or will it be a pet project for a small group of cultural elite? If it's a place to showcase a one-sided history, don't do it."

The seeds for a Vietnamese library and cultural center were planted four years ago during a City Council retreat.

The subject didn't come up again until May 2003, when city officials were approached by Bui about building a center on Brookhurst Street and Garden Grove Boulevard. Nhan Ai officials said city leaders pledged to donate 3 acres of the Brookhurst Triangle for the project and help raise money.

That plan was nixed after opposition from Korean- American community activists who didn't want a Vietnamese cultural center at the gateway to the Korean Business District.

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About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.