NCVA eREPORTER
- March 14, 2006
The National
Congress of Vietnamese Americans' NCVA eReporter is a regular email
newsletter containing information on
grant/funding
opportunities, events/forums/conferences, available
internships
and news items pertinent to the Vietnamese American and Asian
Pacific American communities.
In this NCVA eReporter:
EVENTS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
TIPS/RESOURCES
NEWS
******************
EVENTS
DOONENICETHING.COM OPERATION FEEL BETTER
Dear Friends,
This Sunday DoOneNiceThing.com will be launching OPERATION FEEL
BETTER. We will ask people to make get well cards for seriously
ill children. Then we'll collect and send the cards to
hospitals. We're also going to scan and display the cards on our
site. It will be fun to view them, and also it will encourage
more people to participate when they see what others created.
Will you please help me kick off this project? Please take 5
minutes and make a get well card for a sick child. You can do
it! Get in touch with your inner-child and draw something happy!
Send it to me at:
Operation Feel Better
Do One Nice Thing
149 S. Barrington Ave. #279
Los Angeles, CA 90049-3310
Some of you work with children and other groups who could make
cards as a group project. If you know other people who might
like to participate, please feel free to forward this email or
your Sunday DoOneNiceThing email.
Thank you!
Warm wishes,
Debbie Tenzer
Founder, DoOneNiceThing.com
dtenzer@DoOneNiceThing.com
(www.DoOneNiceThing.com)
******************
“ENVISION YOUR SUCCESS”
2006 Career and Entrepreneurship Expo
Date: Saturday,
March 18, 2006
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Fairfax County Government Center, Fairfax, Virginia
Theme: “Building a Market for Career and Business Growth”
Highlights of the 2005 Expo:
* More than 1,000 job seekers and prospective entrepreneurs
attended workshops and informal counseling sessions; visited
more than 40 major area employers and service provider exhibits;
and toured a model SkillSource Center.
* The event featured an Employer Networking Breakfast and
Business Partnership Awards, led by Chairman of the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors, Gerald Connolly.
* The Expo was widely covered in the ethnic media, and shown in
a prime-time news feature on two national television stations.
Goals of the 2006 Expo:
* Equip job seekers and career changers with information, tools,
resources, and strategies for achieving long-term success in
high-growth industries;
* Engage major employers as industry experts to educate career
seekers on demand skill sets and career paths, and connect these
industry leaders to qualified candidates; and
* Connect prospective entrepreneurs with regional economic
development service providers and resources they can use to
start or expand their business.
2006 Expo Organizers:
* Fairfax County SkillSource Centers
* Center for Business Planning and Development
Contact:
James Do, Business Services Manager
Phone: (703)533-5471 E-mail:
james.do@fairfaxcounty.gov
******************
the closing night screening of
JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
at the 24th San Francisco International Asian American Film
Festival
Thursday,
March 23, 2006
7:00 PM
Palace of Fine Arts
(http://www.tickets.com/venue_info.cgi?vid=81)
Credits
Director: Ham Tran (http://www.nhamagazine.com/arts_ham_tran_p1.htm)
Producer: Lam Nguyen - Kieu Chinh
Writer: Ham Tran
Cast:
Kieu Chinh, Long Nguyen, Diem Lien, Nguyen Thai Nguyen
San Francisco Premiere
USA/Thailand 2005 | 134 mins | Color 35mm | English, Vietnamese
w/E.S.
In Person: Director Ham Tran, actors Kieu Chinh & Long
Nguyen
Synopsis
The first major American film to dramatize the traumatic
aftermath of the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective, Ham
Tran's impressive feature-length debut delves into the stories
of those left behind after the fall of Saigon.
For tickets and more information about the film and festival,
click here.
(http://www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org/films/film_detail.php?i=61)
(http://www.journeyfromthefall.com)
******************
Korean American Coalition (KAC) presents
9TH ANNUAL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2006, “CATALYSTS FOR A
COMMUNITY IN MOTION”
The 9th Annual Korean American Coalition National Leadership
Conference is in Orange County, California on March 30-April 2,
2006. This year's conference promises to be our most rewarding
and informative one yet! Korean American community members from
all over the country will come together to develop their
leadership skills in organizing and maintaining community-based
outreach organizations.
When & Where?
* March 30 (Thur) - April 2 (Sun), 2006
* Hyatt Regency Orange County, Garden Grove, California
(www.orangecounty.hyatt.com)
Why?
* To increase understanding of the unique circumstances
of non-profit organizations
* To develop skills for helping non-profit organizations
to be more strategic in their day-to-day operations and in
* their thinking
* To explore fundraise opportunities - How to write
grant proposals, sponsorship packets, etc.
* To learn how to successfully apply for 501 (c) 3
status
* To strengthen communication and network between
non-profit organizations in the Korean American community
* To use KAC's successful history as a model to discuss
about issues in managing non-profit organizations
* To provide leadership training specifically designed
for college students
Who Should Attend?
* Interested in getting involved with KAC, or is
currently a member
* Currently working in the non-profit sector or is
serving as a board member/ member of non-profit organization
* Interested in getting involved in the non-profit
sector
* Community relations officers of corporate and
Government entities reaching out to the Korean American
community
* Looking to network with other Korean American
community leaders
* College students currently involved in a community
service organization or is looking to start a campus
organization
What is KAC?
Established in 1983, Korean American Coalition (KAC) is a
nonprofit community based organization dedicated to facilitating
full participation of Korean Americans in the civic,
legislative, and community affairs of American society.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, KAC maintains chapter offices in
Los Angeles, Orange County, and Washington, D.C. And 17 chapters
and affiliates nationwide.
Please Join Us!
The 2006 KAC 9th Annual Leadership Conference provides an
unequaled opportunity to learn about how to become effective
leaders in the community. You will be introduced to important
issues facing the Korean American community and its non-profit
sector, and meet other leaders like you. We would like very
much to count you among the conference participants and we
encourage you to register NOW and make plans to join us in
Orange County in March.
VISIT www.kacnational.org/nlc.html to register TODAY or send us
a request for a registration brochure!
Contact Us
KAC-Orange County Chapter @ 714-590-6123 or
kac_oc@yahoo.com
National Headquarters @ 213-385-KACN (5226) or
kacnational@gmail.com
EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, EMPOWER
KOREAN AMERICAN COALITION, WASHINGTON DC AREA CHAPTER
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20036 |
o. 202.296.9560 | f. 202.296.9568
(http://www.kacdc.org)
******************
FOR RELEASE APRIL 1, 2006
Contact:
Sandra Duncan
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
408-621-1101,
pr@sjquiltmuseum.org
Mai Bui
Chair, Association for Viet Arts
650-868-6158,
mai@vietarts.org
MUSEUM OF QUILTS & TEXTILES PARTNERS WITH ASSOCIATION FOR
VIET ARTS TO PRESENT AO DAI: A MODERN DESIGN COMING OF
AGE
SAN JOSE, Calif., January 30, 2006 - In the first exhibition of
its kind in North America, the San Jose Museum of Quilts &
Textiles, in partnership with the Association for Viet Arts is
pleased to present the upcoming exhibition, Ao Dai: A Modern
Design Coming of Age. The ao dai (pronounced 'ow yie' in the
south, but 'ow zie' in the north) is a versatile garment of
ancient Vietnamese origin known for its unique beauty and grace.
Considered a cultural symbol of Viet Nam, the ao dai is worn by
women and men as a fitted tunic-style gown worn over long,
loose-fitting pants. The exhibition opens April 18, 2006 and
features the largest survey of historical and contemporary ao
dai pieces, many never before seen in Viet Nam or the United
States, from international designers, collectors and a royal
restorer.
Ao Dai: A Modern Design Coming of Age is co-curated by Caroline
Kieu Linh Valverde, Assistant Professor of Asian American
Studies at the University of California at Davis, and Robin
Treen, Chief Curator, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. The
exhibition will be on view through July 9, 2006.
“Aside from the striking beauty of the ao dai presented in this
exhibit, each piece tells a story that allows us to connect with
the Vietnamese culture while learning of the magnificent ways in
which it has evolved and transformed in Viet Nam and overseas,”
said Valverde.
“Through the pieces in this exhibition you can trace the
evolution of, and participation in, cultural expressions of
identity brought upon the ao dai revival of the last two decades
by communities displaced by war and economic reconstruction, as
well as the reinvention of culture by post-war generations,”
added Treen.
In recent years, the contemporary ao dai has made its mainstream
debut on Hollywood celebrities as well as on the haute couture
runways of Paris from top fashion designers including Christian
Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren, Claude Montana and
Richard Tyler. Though originating in the mid 18th century as the
national dress for both genders, the modern ao dai form only
emerged in the 1930s. The exhibition takes the viewer on an
journey through the past and present and combines traditional
techniques with new global influences that embody both
functional and artistic designs, representing the innovative
spirit of Viet Nam’s ao dai tradition. The exhibition features
the work of: prominent Vietnamese ao dai designer, Minh Hanh;
fashion designer Le Minh Khoa; Si Hoang, an artist and educator
turned ao dai designer; Le Phuong Thao, a Vietnamese-American
designer who combines traditional and modern techniques; and
Trinh Bach, a collector and restorer of royal ao dai from the
19th and 20th centuries.
In conjunction with the exhibition the museum will host several
monthly educational lectures and children’s workshops looking at
the culture, design and influence of this art form. Professor
Caroline Kieu Linh Valverde will host a program on the history
of ao dai, its re-emergence as a national dress, and its design
influences outside of Viet Nam. A lecture with Professor Susan
B. Kaiser will cover textiles, design, fashion, and its
influence on society. And designer Monica Tran will discuss the
fashion industry and how she incorporated ao dai into her
designs for mainstream consumption. Three programs for children
are also scheduled, presenting ao dai as both an art-making
opportunity, and a form of individual expression. For program
dates and times visit
www.sjquiltmuseum.org or call 408-971-0323.
Association for Viet Arts
Founded in 1991, the Association for Viet Arts (AVA) is a
non-profit, multi-disciplinary arts organization serving San
Jose and the Bay Area. AVA’s goals are to provide opportunities
for Vietnamese American artists to present their work, open
dialogues for cultural understanding, bridge Vietnamese and
American cultures, and the sustain the arts through arts
education for youth in the community. For more information call
650 868 6158 or visit
www.vietarts.org
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
Founded in 1977, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is the
oldest museum of its kind in the United States and in 2005
became one of the top 10 attractions in San Jose. Museum and
Museum Store hours are: 10:00am-5:00pm Tuesday through Sunday;
open until 8:00pm Thursdays; closed Mondays and major holidays.
Admission is $5 general; $4 students and seniors; and free to
museum members and children under 13. Admission is free on the
first Thursday of each month. The San José Museum of Quilts &
Textiles is located at 520 South First Street in downtown San
Jose. For more information, call 408-971-0323 or visit
www.sjquiltmuseum.org.
###
This exhibition and associated programming is supported, in
part, by "Advancing the Arts Initiative," an initiative of
Community Foundation Silicon Valley, funded by the James Irvine
Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; by a
grant from Arts Council Silicon Valley, in partnership with the
County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council; the City
of San Jose; the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; and the
Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association.
(http://www.vietarts.org)
******************
ASPIRE 2006 ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
ASPIRE is pleased to present our 2006 Asian American Women In
Leadership (AAWIL) Conference on April 29, 2006 at Simmons
College.
We look forward to an inspiring day of celebrating and promoting
professional and community leadership among Asian American girls
and women. At AAWIL, conference participants and prominent
speakers will convene to discuss pertinent aspects of modern
leadership. These include: essential highlights of effective
leadership, ways to develop a powerful and personal leadership
style, and innovative approaches to developing leadership
skills.
If you have any questions please email Olive and Emilie at
conference@girlsaspire.org.
(http://www.girlsaspire.org)
******************
FILIPINOS FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION – “ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE:
HONORING OUR PAST, BUILDING OUR FUTURE”
Filipinos For Affirmative Action (FAA) presents "Advancing
Social Justice: Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future," a
one-day conference to commemorate and build on the 100-year
anniversary of formal Filipino immigration to the United States.
2006 is a special year for Filipinos in the U.S. It marks the
centennial anniversary of formal Filipino migration to this
country, when in 1906, the first of tens of thousands of
migrants came to what was then the U.S. territory of Hawai’i to
work on sugar cane plantations. On the occasion of this
centennial, Filipinos for Affirmative Action, a 31 year-old
community based organization, will gather the Filipino community
to reflect on the issues affecting the community that we have
built here in the Bay Area, the health of the institutions that
make up the infrastructure of the community, and use this
occasion to celebrate, assess and promote the health and
well-being of our community.
Workshop topics include: Youth, Low-wage workers,
Immigrant Rights, Newcomers, Civic Participation, Filipino World
War II veterans, Organizational Sustainability, and Preservation
of Community. Time will also be dedicated to caucuses at the end
of the day.
Keynote speaker: Professor Dean Alegado, University of
Hawai’i. Dean Alegado is the chairperson of the Department of
Ethnic Studies at UH. His childhood and educational pursuits
have taken him far and wide. Born in the Philippines, but raised
in the San Francisco Bay area, Alegado earned his bachelor s
degree from UC Berkeley and his master s degree in Philippine
history from Goddard-Cambridge. His research interests include
international labor migration from the Philippines and the
emergence of the Filipino transnational communities and diaspora.
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Time: 9am - 5pm
Location: First Unitarian Church (Oakland, CA)
Admission: $35 general, $25 college, $10 high school
Please visit our website for more details about logistics,
workshops, and also to register or become a sponsor:
www.filipinos4action.org
Christopher Punongbayan
Advocacy Director
Filipinos for Affirmative Action
310 8th Street Ste 306, Oakland, CA 94607
510-465-9876 Ext 304, 510-465-7548 fax
(http://www.filipinos4action.org)
******************
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA)
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (T/TA)
to Assist Protection and Advocacy Systems (P & As) to
Establish or Improve Voting Access for Individuals with
Disabilities
WHAT: The purpose of funds awarded under this
announcement is to provide training and technical assistance to
Protection and Advocacy Systems in their promotion of full
participation in the electoral process for individuals with
disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and
accessing polling places; developing proficiency in the use of
voting systems and technologies as they affect individuals with
disabilities (including blindness) in order to assess the
availability and use of such systems and technologies for such
individuals.
WHO: Faith-based and community organizations are eligible
to apply. Eligible applicants must have demonstrated experience
in voting issues for individuals with disabilities and must be
governed by a board with respect to which the majority of its
members are individuals with disabilities or family members of
such individuals or individuals who are blind.
WHEN: Applications are due by April 24, 2006.
AWARD AMOUNT: Four awards totaling $338,115.
CONTACT: Margaret Schaefer at 202-690-5962 or mschaefer@acf.hhs.gov.
(http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2006-ACF-ADD-DH-0034.html)
******************
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: OPERATIONAL PROJECTS
WHAT: The Community Economic Development program supports
projects that create employment and business opportunities for
low-income residents and their communities through business,
physical, and commercial development.
WHO: Community Development Corporations (CDCs), including
faith-based CDCs, that are experienced in implementing economic
development projects. NOTE: Proof of experience in developing
and managing economic development projects is required in
application.
WHEN: Applications are due May 12, 2006.
AWARD AMOUNT: 19 to 20 awards of $700,000 per project
period.
CONTACT: Debbie Brown at OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.
(http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2006-ACF-OCS-EE-0019.html)
******************
BIDDERS CONFERENCE WEBINAR FOR THE $341 MILLION NATIONAL GRANT
COMPETITION FOR THE SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training
Administration (ETA) announces a grant competition for national
grantee funding under the Senior Community Service Employment
Program (SCSEP). These projects will promote part-time
work-based training opportunities in local communities for
unemployed, low-income individuals who are age 55 and over, and
will foster increased prospects for their economic
self-sufficiency. SCSEP is the only nationwide Federal program
that focuses on training and placing older individuals into
community work-based training and unsubsidized employment.
The total amount of funds available for this SGA is
approximately $341,000,000. It is anticipated that no more than
20 awards will be made under this SGA, including at least one
award to an Indian and Native American organization and at least
one award to an Asian Pacific Islander organization. Eligible
entities include any non-profit organization, Federal public
agency, or Tribal organization that has the ability to operate
in more than one state and that meets the eligibility and
responsibility requirements outlined in 20 CFR part 641 subpart
D. The final date for receipt of applications is April 17, 2006.
There will be a bidders webinar for organizations interested in
submitting a grant application:
WHEN: Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 12:00 Noon ET
WEBSITE: http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/SGA/SGA.cfm
Information and instructions for accessing the live webinar will
be posted at the above site no later than Friday, March 10,
2006.
There will a limited number of openings available for the
webinar. A recording of the webinar will be archived and posted
from March 16 – April 17, 2006 for those unable to attend the
live event. When available, the site link for this archived
webinar will be made available at
http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/SGA/SGA.cfm.
For further information on the SCSEP Solicitation for Grant
Application, please visit the following two websites
(http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/SGA/SGA.cfm)
(http://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm)
******************
QWEST FOUNDATION FUNDS EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS
The Qwest Foundation's philosophy is to help build strong
communities through investing in people and the places where
company employees live and work. The Foundation provides support
to nonprofit organizations in the company's 14-state region,
including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming. The Foundation awards grants to
nonprofit organizations that generate high impact and measurable
results through community-based programs, including pre K-12
education and workforce development. Applications can be
submitted throughout the year.
(http://www.qwest.com/about/company/community/foundation/index.html)
******************
GTECH AFTER SCHOOL ADVANTAGE PROGRAM SUPPORTS INTER-CITY
COMPUTER CENTERS
The GTECH After School Advantage Program is a national community
investment program that provides nonprofit community
organizations with state-of-the-art, Internet-ready computer
centers. For each After School Advantage program, GTECH donates
an average of $15,000 in computers, online technology, software,
and volunteer hours. These computer centers are designed to
provide inner-city children aged 5 to 15 with a meaningful
learning experience in a safe environment during the critical
after-school hours. After School Advantage Programs will be
implemented in all jurisdictions where GTECH's offices are
located nationwide, including locations in Arizona, California,
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington,
Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. Applications are accepted on a
rolling basis.
(http://www.gtech.com/about_gtech/proposal_guidelines.asp)
******************
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES CHALLENGE GRANTS
The National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grants help
institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in
and support for their humanities programs and resources.
Challenge grants most commonly augment or establish endowments
that support humanities activities in education, public
programming, scholarly research, and preservation. Awards are
made to museums, public libraries, colleges, research
institutions, historical societies and historic sites, public
television and radio stations, universities, scholarly
associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit
entities. Grant recipients must raise three times the amount of
federal funds offered from nonfederal donors. The application
deadlines are May 1 and November 1, annually.
(http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html#program)
******************
AMERICAN
ELECTRIC FUNDS COMMUNITY PROJECTS
The American Electric Power (AEP) Corporate Giving Program
supports nonprofit organizations in communities within the AEP
service territory, including communities in Arkansas, Indiana,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia. Contributions are made principally
in the areas of education, the environment, and human services,
such as hunger, housing, health, and safety. AEP also offers the
Teacher Vision Grant program, which provides grants to educators
who have a creative idea for projects to improve academic
achievement. There is no deadline for the Corporate Giving
Program; however, Teacher Vision Grants are due by April 28,
2006.
(http://www.aep.com/go/corpgiving)
******************
NETSQUARED
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Thanks to the generosity of the WK Kellogg Foundation,
NetSquared is offering a limited number of scholarships to its
May conference. Scholarships will be awarded to non-governmental
organizations and nonprofits already using blogs, podcasts, or
other new-generation Internet technologies and to nonprofit
staffers who would like to learn how these tools can help extend
their organization's impact and reach.
To nominate a candidate, visit:
(http://ga0.org/ct/i1aKh9516RRt)
(http://www.netsquared.org)
******************
NASD INVESTOR
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The NASD Investor Education Foundation's 2006 General Grant
Program is accepting competitive grant proposals from eligible
organizations for research projects and/or educational programs
that address the Foundation's investor education and investor
protection priorities. Priorities include projects that have a
positive impact on investor education or protection; better
prepare Americans to save for or handle finances during
retirement; encourage women and minority populations to take
control of their financial future. The application deadline is
May 15, 2006.
(http://www.nasdfoundation.org)
******************
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
Taiwanese American Citizens League is offering:
SUMMER POLITICAL INTERNSHIP IN TOP GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES
Spend your summer as an intern with the Taiwanese American
community's premier Internship Program.
Interns experience first hand how the political system works and
observe and participate in the formation of policies, both
domestic and foreign. In addition to working in their offices,
interns visit top legislators in an intense Sacramento trip,
attend community events, participate in leadership development
workshops, and various other activities.
The TACL Summer Internship Program, established in 1992, was
formed to infuse the Taiwanese American community with a greater
understanding of the political system through placement of
college level students at offices of local, state, and national
public officials. This allows Taiwanese Americans to be better
recognized as a developed community with a voice. Our primary
mission for TACL is to promote Taiwanese culture, heritage and
identity as well as involvement in American society.
List of last year's 2005 participating political offices:
* ****Barbara Boxer, US Senator
* ****Howard Berman, US Representative
* ****Bob Beuprez, US Representative
* ****Cruz Bustamante, California Lieutenant Governor
* ****Gilbert Cedillo, California Senator
* ****John Chiang, California State Equalization Board Member
* ****Judy Chu, California State Assembly member
* ****Charles Dent, US Representative
* ****Jane Harman, US Representative
* ****Johan Klehs, California State Assembly member
* ****Tom Lantos, US Representative
* *****Bob Margett, California State Senator
* ****Barbara Boxer, US Senator
* ****Lucille Roybal-Allard, US Representative
* ****Adam Schiff, US Representative
* ****Hilda Solis, US Representative
* ****Diane Watson, US Representative
The 9-week program will begin on June 9, 2006 and end on August
12, 2006.
Political interns will be assigned to offices located throughout
Washington , D.C. the Greater Los Angeles area, and San
Francisco area.
APPLICATION AVAILABLE AT:
http://tacl.org/programs/internship
The completed application package is due no later than March 12,
2006 to accommodate interviews, but applications received sooner
will be appreciated. You may submit the application by email to
teddy.liaw@tacl.org
(http://tacl.org/programs/internship)
******************
APAPA's 2ND ANNUAL STATE CAPITOL INTERNSHIP
AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
The application deadline for APAPA's 2nd annual State Capitol
Internship and Scholarship Programs has been extended to
4/10/06. We urge you to broadcast and outreach your communities
and families for their students to apply. Please post the link
to your website for us. The students can apply for either one
or both. Please see the attached application forms and
guidelines. There will be a minimum of 10 to 15 college or
college-bound students to be awarded for either one or both.
Our Award Ceremony has been set for 5/17/06 at Radisson Hotel.
Good luck to your students. Please note that the Internship is
NOT POLITICAL! It is an Educational program to send our
qualified students, regardless their major, to our governmental
and public service offices to learn and prepare themselves to
become great leaders of our country in the future. The
internship is for 6 weeks in the Summer.
Please go to our
http://www.APAPA.org. Our on-line application submittal
function is now available.
Mayue Carlson
APAPA Chief Ambassador
APAPA State Capitol Internship/Scholarship Program Founder and
Chair
(http://www.APAPA.org)
******************
PUBLIC ALLIES LOS ANGELES IS STARTING UP AGAIN FOR 2006-2007!
Please forward to all your amazing people encourage them to
apply!
*Please forward far and wide!!*
What is Public Allies?
Public Allies is a 10 Month paid intensive internship and
leadership development experience. Young adults between the ages
of 18-30 get the opportunity to serve at a community non profit
organization doing work in the community while simultaneously
participating in a leadership development, political awareness
and skill building program. Program participants are expected to
work 45+ hours weekly and maintain commitment to the program for
10 months. Allies are compensated $1,500.00 a month (before
taxes) and receive an educational award totaling $4,725.00 which
can be used for future schooling or to pay off past loans.
For more details contact us or attend an info session ASAP!!!
You can also visit our web page at:
www.publicallies.org/losangeles/.
CONTACT US TO ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION TODAY!!!
It is recommended that anyone interested in applying for the
Public Allies Program attend an Information Session. Contact
Tafarai Bayne at Public Allies - Los Angeles, 213.741.2202 x4 or
via email at
tafaraib@publicallies.org.
The Information Sessions for the 2006 - 2007 Program are:
Wednesday, March 15th : 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday, March 29th : 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, April 15th :11:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday, April 26th :11:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday, May 6th :11:00am - 1:00pm
Wednesday, May 10th : 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday, May 17th : 6:00pm - 8:00pm
RSVP TODAY!!
Info sessions will be held at Public Allies Office at:
520 West 23rd st. 1st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(www.publicallies.org/losangeles)
******************
FORD FOUNDATION SUMMER INSTITUTE ON REPLENISHING DEMOCRACY
We are pleased to announce the second Ford Foundation Summer
Institute on Replenishing Democracy, June 11-24, 2006 at Amherst
College. We ask your help in identifying undergraduates with
interests in social justice and activism and encouraging them to
apply.
This program for undergraduates is designed to encourage
connections between academic institutions and grassroots
activism. The Institute will bring together distinguished
scholars and activists with undergraduates to rigorously study
the theory and practices of democratic engagement. In this
forum, undergraduate student leaders will learn about the
complexities of political action and gain practical knowledge
about grassroots organizing.
This year we will address two particular themes under the broad
rubric of replenishing democracy through civic engagement. The
first concerns the links between poverty, inequality and
criminalization. The second theme concerns the relationship
between religion and politics. This program will be enriched by
the presence of community activists and leaders from the United
States and abroad.
Twenty undergraduates with demonstrated interests in social
activism and leadership skills will be invited to participate.
Preference will be given to students between their junior and
senior years, and efforts will be made to ensure that a diverse
group of students is chosen. The selected group will include
students from the United States, South Africa and India.
The Institute will be free of charge for the selected
participants. The participants will be provided with the
necessary course materials and reimbursed for their travel
expenses to Amherst.
Further information about the program and online application
materials are available at:
http://www.amherst.edu/~democracy/.
The Institute follows Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
policies and encourages women, minorities and persons with
disabilities to apply.
Sincerely,
Amrita Basu
Professor of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies
Kristin Bumiller
Professor of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies
Hilton Kelly
Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Black Studies and
Sociology
Amherst College
Amherst, MA 01002
Institute Contact (for information and application materials):
Leena Valge, Academic Department Coordinator, Women's and Gender
Studies
14 Grosvenor House, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002
Phone (413) 542-5781; Fax (413) 542-8192; E-mail
lvvalge@amherst.edu
******************
TIPS/RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT: NOT
ALL CAPITAL IS FINANCIAL
Money is of course the primary concern of nonprofits, including
raising it, managing it and using it. Money is capital, but not
all capital is money. In their book Governance as Leadership,
Richard P. Chait, William P. Ryan and Barbara E. Taylor argue
that nonprofit organizations must learn to recognize, appreciate
and capture the value of four forms of working capital that go
beyond money.
The forms of working capital are:
-- Intellectual capital. This is the collective brainpower that
can be put to use to generate mission-critical resources. This
is not imply the sum of the knowledge of many but a shared sense
of the nature of the work of the organization and enough common
knowledge to do the work together. Communities of practice can
create multiple opportunities to pool usable knowledge in areas
such as leadership transition, development and financial
oversight.
-- Reputational capital. The ultimate intangible asset cannot be
gained through haphazard recruitment. The organization should be
asking what reputation it wants to advance (or repair) and with
what stakeholders. Deadwood adds no value. Figureheads add token
value.
-- Political capital. This connotes the influence and leverage
that people within an organization acquire and deploy to frame
problems, elevate one above others and promote one solution over
another.
-- Social capital. Relationships and social capital are not
synonymous; rather, the first term provides the raw material
that produces the second. In an organizational context, certain
characteristics enable people to extract productive value from
their relationships.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)
******************
ETHICS: MAKING THE
MORAL CHOICE
In addition to their official duties, nonprofit managers find
that they practice ethics on a routine basis. Personal,
professional and public expectations converge to challenge
managers almost daily.
In their book The Ethics Challenge in Public Service, Carol W.
Lewis and Stuart C. Gilman offer several terms and definitions
that they say will help in getting a clear vision of ethical
conduct.
Among these terms are:
-- Ethics. This involves thinking systematically about morals
and conduct and making moral choices about right and wrong when
faced with ethical dilemmas. I goes beyond though to performance
and action.
-- Moral choice. This is the would-should divide, the heart of
good moral character to which most of us are exposed as
children. The mama test (what mama would have said) clarifies
simple choices between right and wrong.
-- Moral judgments. These are what individuals must make when
they find themselves between the rock and hard place of
incongruent duties and conflicting claims -- the stuff of
ethical dilemmas. Unfamiliar situations, organizational and
technological impersonality and professional and public power
intensify pressures.
-- Moral character. This means having appropriate ethical values
and is associated with attributes such as honesty and fidelity.
Character is a sort of internal gyroscope that helps a person
distinguish right from wrong.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/ethics.html)
******************
NEWS
March 9, 2006
LOCAL
DESIGNER WINS FASHION REALITY
SHOW
She beats two other finalists for $100,000 prize to start
clothing line
By Joy Sewing
Houston Chronicle
After weeks of anticipation, Houston designer and boutique owner
Chloe Dao took the top prize of Bravo's fashion reality show,
Project Runway, Wednesday night.
Hundreds of fans cheered as they watched Dao beat Daniel Vosovic
in the show's final episode at Farrago on West Gray.
In the show, designers are tested on their ability to create and
produce garments under tight deadlines and extreme conditions.
"The 13 challenges nearly killed me. I think I did a great job,"
Dao said, surrounded by family and friends.
Dao, 34, appeared in New York on NBC's Today Show and ABC's The
View before arriving in Houston for the celebration.
As owner of Lot 8 boutique in Rice Village, Dao was one of three
finalists on the reality show. Collections by Dao, Vosovic and
Santino Rice were shown at New York Fashion Week in February.
Dao receives $100,000 to launch her own clothing line, a $24,000
Saturn vehicle, a spread in Elle magazine and a mentorship with
Banana Republic.
(http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/celebrities/3711104.html)
******************
March 11, 2006
CHILD SEX TOURISM CONTINUES IN SOUTHEAST
ASIA DESPITE LEGAL EFFORTS
By Christopher Torchia
Associated Press Writer
SINGAPORE - Southeast Asia is one of the world's top
destinations for people seeking sex with children, and signs of
the trade are often evident.
In one late-night scene at a Cambodian bar, half a dozen
children played with a puppy and watched cartoons on television
as Western men strolled outside. In Thailand, despite tougher
law enforcement, foreigners are sometimes seen walking with
young girls dressed in high heels and halter tops.
Despite these telltale signs of impropriety, legal efforts to
curb child sex tourism in Southeast Asia face a huge challenge
in a region beset by corruption, limited resources and, in some
places, a tolerance for an act considered heinous elsewhere.
"Many of these countries do have certain laws in place. The
issue is enforcement," said Ruben Rodriguez of the U.S.-based
International Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Hundreds of thousands of girls and boys are believed to be
working in the sex trade in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand,
Vietnam, the Philippines and other countries in an underground
industry that inflicts untold emotional and physical harm on
young lives.
Police and courts struggle with a backlog of drug, murder and
other cases. Child sex prosecutions are relatively rare, and
tend to snare individual offenders rather than the trafficking
networks that supply them. Many pedophiles pay off authorities
or the families of victims, who are usually poor and eager to
avoid the shame of a public trial.
On March 3 in Vietnam, a court sentenced former British rocker
Gary Glitter to three years in jail for molesting two girls, and
his lawyer said he could be paroled sooner. The judge said the
US$2,000 that Glitter paid to each girl's family contributed to
the lighter sentence from a possible maximum of seven years.
Such an outcome could reinforce a perception of lax laws in
Southeast Asia and attract foreign child molesters who face
tougher penalties at home, experts said. In some cases settled
out of court, they said, the destitute family of a young victim
takes hush money even if the distraught child doesn't want the
bribe.
"There are more and more tourists coming, more and more danger
for the children," said Christian Guth, a former French police
officer who has assisted Cambodian authorities in investigating
the child sex trade.
Cambodia has made progress with help from international
agencies. In 1999, fewer than 50 people were prosecuted for sex
offenses in the country, while at least 400 cases went to court
in 2005, Guth said. Sex crimes data are hard to compile because
of inconsistent reporting, he said, and it's unclear how many of
the cases involved children.
The United States, Britain and Australia are among countries
with laws allowing the prosecution of their citizens who
sexually abuse children overseas. A U.S. law from 2003 mandates
a sentence of up to 30 years for anyone, at home or abroad, who
has sex with a minor, defined as someone under the age of 18.
But crafting legal cases based on evidence from another
continent entails long delays, and sometimes requires victims to
travel a long distance to testify. Some transient children are
difficult to locate, especially for a small team of
investigators from another country.
Most perpetrators of child sex crimes in Asia are Asian. This
month, Singapore became one of the first Asian countries to say
it would amend its law to prosecute its citizens who have sex
with minors overseas. The wealthy enclave is a short ferry ride
from the Indonesian resort island of Batam, where sex tourism
flourishes.
The Philippines has a law that protects children against all
forms of abuse, but it needs to be amended to cover the
pervasive problem of child pornography on the Internet, said
Anjanette Saguisag, a child protection officer at the UNICEF
office in Manila.
"With the advances in technology, the law hasn't been able to
cope with the new ways of committing the crime," she said. Few
other countries in the region have specific legislation that
targets child pornography offenses on computers.
Saguisag said some sex offenders try to attract children through
online chat rooms, sometimes pretending to be children
themselves. Philippine activists are pushing lawmakers to
upgrade the law, but the lobbying is expected to take a long
time.
Legal experts and social workers said some laws don't clearly
define child sex tourism as a crime, and that the ambiguity of
the wording can weaken their impact. Cambodia, for example,
prosecutes some child molesters under a law that bans
"debauchery."
"They don't have a specific statue that would focus on having
sex with children under a certain age," said Katharine Bostick,
a former U.S. federal prosecutor based in Singapore with
Microsoft Corp. The company helps train law enforcement
officials and social workers in the region in how to track down
pedophiles operating on the Internet.
Changing perceptions as well as laws is part of the battle,
Bostick said. An Indian social worker told her about members of
an Indian group who thought an incestuous relationship between a
father and a daughter was acceptable, even though the group was
caring for young victims of sexual abuse. Bostick cited another
case in which a Cambodian official said a 7-year-old victim
should not have given her consent to the molester.
"There's a long way to go in terms of understanding that this is
a problem," Bostick said.
Ages of consent differ from country to country, and the lack of
comprehensive laws across Southeast Asia means that pedophiles
can shift activities from one place to the next to avoid a
crackdown.
"Since Thailand has become more stern in their law enforcement,
more pedophiles are coming to Indonesia," said Tjokorda Bagus of
Indonesia's Committee Against Sexual Abuse. He said there had
been at least 200 reported incidents of child sex abuse since
2001 on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
Bali suffered an economic downturn after terrorist bombings
disrupted its tourist industry, forcing more children to earn
money for their families in the sex trade, humanitarian workers
said.
Bernadette McMenamin of Child Wise, an Australian charity, said
two teenage Australian brothers vacationing with their parents
on Bali in January were approached by a man in the popular Kuta
Beach area. The man asked them if they would like to have sex
with two local 13-year-old girls.
AP reporter Zakki Hakim contributed to this report from Jakarta,
Indonesia.
On the Net:
ECPAT International:
http://www.ecpat.net/eng/index.asp
International Center for Missing and Exploited Children:
http://www.icmec.org
(http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/mar/12/yehey/top_stories/20060312top4.html)
******************
March
12, 2006
FAITH UNDER
FIRE
Vietnamese Christians come to aid of U.S. businessman
Even as Hanoi seeks WTO membership, religious persecution
continues
By Jay Baggett
WorldNetDaily.com
When Vietnam's prime minister, Phan Van Khai, visited the U.S.
last summer to discuss his country's entry into the World Trade
Organization, he was faced with demands to ease religious
persecution – a demand he took to heart upon returning to Hanoi
with several liberalizing measures – but one Northern California
businessman, who claims he's been harassed for the last week
while visiting Christian friends in Ho Chi Minh City, says the
local police must not have been informed of the new policies.
Chad MacNamee, a building contractor and land developer from
Northern California, is on his third trip to Vietnam in five
years. "It's really changed.. There are more cars, fewer
bicycles, and the food in the restaurants and the accommodations
are much better.
But the police have been unbearable, he said. "From Monday we
have been followed everywhere we go. Even the hotel staff have
been threatened into telling all our movements and who comes and
goes with us."
The only reason for this treatment, he said, is because the
friends they are visiting in Vietnam are Christians.
In their travels throughout Southeast Asia, the McNamees have
met local Christians and formed lasting friendships. Some of
those they've met have visited them in California.
"We've only come as tourists to visit this beautiful country and
see our friends that have come over to the U.S. before," said
Loree McNamee, Chad's wife. "The prime minister of Vietnam told
President Bush that there is freedom here. However, we have been
followed and harassed since we arrived. Although Chad is a
building contractor, not a preacher or a teacher, they seem to
want to believe otherwise."
The pair, and another American couple traveling with them, now
find themselves in the center of an escalating faceoff between
local authorities and a Christian church in Ho Chi Minh City.
Last Thursday, the two couples received "invitations" to come to
the immigration office the next morning at 8:30 a.m.
"Really," Loree said. "At the top, it read 'Invitation.' We were
'kindly invited' to come to immigration the next day. As we were
busy that day, we kindly declined their 'Invitation.'"
At 10:00 p.m., Friday, the police came to the couples' hotel to
inquire about their failure to appear.
"No problem. No problem," the officers repeatedly assured them,
while continuing to insist they come to the immigration office
on Monday morning to have their visas checked.
"They never threatened the men physically," noted Loree. "They
were very courteous and careful."
At that point, Chad McNamee informed the officers that a local
pastor was on his way to the hotel and they left quickly.
"They did not want to talk to Pastor Mai," Loree said, noting
that the minister and other church members arrived at the hotel
carrying cameras.
According to the McNamees, Mai reports many instances of the
police intimidating Vietnamese Christians. In return, he and
some of his parishioners have begun videotaping and
photographing incidents to document cases of official
harassment. According to the Vietnamese Embassy website, the
nation's constitution guarantees citizens "freedom of belief and
religion."
Mai has told the McNamees, who have a meeting at the U.S.
Consulate tomorrow, he will deal with the police for them.
In a related matter, Associated Press reports a U.S. trade
delegation, representing more than 20 major American companies
and currently meeting in Hanoi, endorsed Vietnam's bid to join
the WTO.
"We'd like to see Vietnam's WTO accession finalized by the end
of the year, preferably by the end of November. That's a pretty
vigorous timetable," said Matthew Daley, head of the US-ASEAN
Business Council. "There will be questions of religious freedom,
there will be questions of democracy, there will be questions of
human rights. Any number of these things could come up. I think
it's going to be important for Vietnam and the United States to
be in a position to address those in straightforward manner," he
said.
The pro-business McNamees don't think Vietnam is ready for WTO
membership just yet.
"Although Vietnam has told President Bush that there is freedom
of religion in Vietnam, apparently there is a misunderstanding,"
Chad McNamee said. "The government here wants to have it appear
that they have freedom of worship but not lose control – saying
one thing to the outside world and doing another.
(http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49228)
******************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 13, 2006
CONTACTS:
Douglas Duvall, Freddie Mac, 703-903-2476
Brad German, Freddie Mac, 703/903-2437
Candy Cardwell, Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, 225-763-8700
SENATORS LANDRIEU, VITTER HAIL FREDDIE
MAC, LHFA’S $36 MILLION BELOW MARKET RATE MORTGAGE EFFORT FOR
STORM VICTIMS
Statewide Mortgage Initiative Also Targets Police, Teachers,
Low-Income Borrowers
NEW ORLEANS, LA. – Senators Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) and David
Vitter (R-LA) joined Eugene McQuade, president of Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE)
and officials from the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA)
today to announce nearly $36 million in new below market 30-year
fixed rate mortgages and $1 million in downpayment and closing
costs assistance to promote recovery in federally designated
hurricane disaster areas and foster homeownership opportunities
for police officers, teachers, and qualified low-income
borrowers.
Freddie Mac, one of the nation’s largest investors in
residential mortgages, is buying $36 million of LHFA tax-exempt
mortgage revenue bonds for its investment portfolio as part of
the $1 billion commitment it made last year to help finance the
Gulf Coast’s recovery from last year’s storms. Separately, the
LHFA is providing over $1 million from its own funds to provide
four points of downpayment assistance to qualified borrowers.
Minneapolis-based US Bank is the new initiative’s master
servicer.
“This $36 million investment in affordable mortgages is very
good news for Louisiana families, particularly those most
devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I want to thank
Freddie Mac and others in the state for their work to provide
affordable homeownership for our citizens,” said U.S. Sen. David
Vitter. “I’m particularly pleased to see that some of this
funding will benefit first responders. Our first responders and
other essential personnel play such a key role in the recovery
of south Louisiana, and this will continue the momentum as we
rebuild and revive Louisiana’s communities.”
“This is $36 million in critical new mortgage funding for
Louisiana,” said Senator Mary L. Landrieu. “Our homes and
neighborhoods may have been destroyed by the catastrophes of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the subsequent levee breaks, but
the spirit of our people can never be taken away. Freddie Mac
and the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency have stepped up as two
of Louisiana’s most reliable, willing and enthusiastic partners
for rebuilding our storm-damaged homes and communities. I want
to thank them for keeping their pledge to our families by
fulfilling their public mission to keep homeownership strong.”
“Today’s announcement marks a new opportunity for families
across Louisiana to achieve home-ownership and for storm victims
to repair, build and reinvigorate their communities,” said
Eugene McQuade, President and Chief Operating Officer of Freddie
Mac. “I want to thank Senators Landrieu and Vitter, the LHFA and
their colleagues for giving us the opportunity to work with them
and to fulfill our Congressional mission to keep mortgage
financing stable, liquid and affordable at such a critical time
in Louisiana’s recovery.”
Altogether the new bond initiative will provide an estimated 300
borrowers with 5.35 percent or lower 30-year fixed rate
mortgages that can be used to repair existing homes or purchase
new ones. In addition, subsidies from the Police Foundation,
LHFA and $1 million from the state of Louisiana’s federal HOME
grant are being used to subsidize special mortgage set-asides
with even lower rates for police, teachers, and low-income
borrowers. In some cases, borrowers may be able to qualify for
30-year fixed rate mortgages with rates as low as 3.85 percent.
“This effort, consistent with our Agency’s mission, reflects the
effectiveness of those strong partnerships necessary to rebuild
our hurricane-devastated Louisiana,” said Helena Cunningham,
President of Louisiana Housing Finance Agency. “The LHFA is
proud to be a part of this financing initiative and looks
forward to the continued creativity in providing financing of
our depleted housing stock.”
LHFA is giving special priority to federally designated disaster
areas in order to add momentum to the state’s storm recovery
efforts and historically underserved parishes targeted for urban
revitalization. The mortgages, are available on a first-come,
first-serve basis through a list of participating lenders that
can be found on LHFA’s website (http://www.lhfa.state.la.us)
In an effort to help more borrowers caught in the 2005 storms,
LHFA is waiving its usual first-time homebuyer requirement and
raising its cap on home repair loans from $15,000 to $150,000
under special provisions in the 2005 Katrina Emergency Tax Act.
To be eligible for the new mortgages, borrowers can earn no more
than 140 percent of their area median income.
Today’s announcement builds on Freddie Mac’s ongoing effort to
rebuild the Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita. Freddie Mac has also financed $120 million in
Mississippi Home Corporation bonds, provided MHC with $900,000
to buy 35 travel trailer units for use as temporary housing for
displaced families and more than $1 million for rental units and
credit counseling to storm victims.
In addition, Freddie Mac adopted emergency policies that
temporarily suspended mortgage collections from many single and
multifamily borrowers affected by the storm, assured forbearance
for National Guard members involved in recovery operations,
financed as much as $300 million in pre-storm loans closed on
homes in federally-designated disaster areas, and joined with
the Freddie Mac Foundation to donate $10 million to hurricane
relief organizations.
For more information, contact Louisiana Housing Finance Agency
at 225-763-8700 ext. 275.
Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned company established by
Congress in 1970 to support homeownership and rental housing.
Freddie Mac fulfills its mission by purchasing residential
mortgages and mortgage-related securities, which it finances
primarily by issuing mortgage-related securities and debt
instruments in the capital markets. Over the years, Freddie Mac
has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and nearly four
million renters in America.
http://www.freddiemac.com
# # #
(http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/news/archives/corporate/2006/20060313_lamrb.html)
******************
March 14, 2006
SOUTHEAST ASIAN YOUTHS AT RISK, STUDY CONCLUDES
Data on Vietnamese, Laotian arrests challenges stereotype of
'model minority;' language barrier plays a role
By John Geluardi
Contra Costa Times
A newly released study on youth crime in Richmond shatters the
so-called "model minority myth," by showing high crime rates
among Southeast Asians.
At a press conference Friday, a diverse coalition of community
leaders including Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia and
Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson said the study's findings revealed
that Vietnamese and Laotian families in Richmond are isolated by
language barriers and little understanding of social systems.
As a result, the families struggle economically and their
children are performing poorly in school. They are also more
likely to get involved in crime. Vietnamese and Laotian youth
are arrested on a per capita basis more than any other ethnic
group besides blacks, according to the study.
"Before now, Southeast Asians have always been compared to
Chinese and Japanese, who are usually associated with
over-achievement," said Sang Saephan, 21, a member of Southeast
Asian Leaders. "This study gives a better idea of how each
subgroup is doing."
While Southeast Asian youth represent a small part of Richmond's
population, there are about 500 Southeast Asian juveniles in
Richmond, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
The study points to a disturbing trend that was previously
unknown, presenters said. In the West Contra Costa Unified
School District, about 48 percent of ninth-grade Vietnamese
students scored at or above the national average, while 43
percent were well below the average. Many Laotian students, 69
percent, failed to achieve average scores.
Saephan said Southeast Asians are having difficulty assimilating
into American culture largely because they have only been
immigrating to the United States for the past 30 years. The
Japanese and Chinese have been immigrating to the United States
since the 19th century and have well established community
support systems that ease the transition for new arrivals.
"I hope this study can raise awareness about issues in the
Southeast Asian community," Saephan said. "And hopefully it will
result in more programs that can help them make the transition
to American culture."
Gioia said the study could result in programs that end
linguistic isolation, including employment information for
parents and culturally specific after-school programs and
activities for their children.
"The study shows a clear relationship that exists between
poverty, academic achievement and crime," he said. "It's clear
that the earlier we intervene in the lives of at-risk youth, we
can increase the likelihood of a better outcome in that child's
life."
The $25,000 study, titled Hidden Challenges, was sponsored by
the Southeast Asian Youth and Family Alliance and the National
Council on Crime and Delinquency. It took 18 months to complete
and uses statistical information from the Richmond Police
Department, West Contra Costa Unified School District, the
county probation department and the 2000 U.S. Census.
The study was inspired by the death of 15-year-old Chan Boonkeut,
an honor student who was shot in the head when she answered the
door of her Richmond home. The alleged target was a family
member who reportedly was affiliated with a Southeast Asian
youth gang.
Contact John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or at
jgeluardi@cctimes.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Find the study on the Web:
www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/n_pubs_main.html
Or call the National Council on Crime and Delinquency at
510-208-0500.
(http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/14094081.htm)
******************
March 14, 2006
ENCLAVE
FEARS IDENTITY IS ON THE BLOCK
A Beverly Hills developer is buying part of San Francisco's
Japantown. Residents want guarantees the area's character will
be left intact.
By John M. Glionna, Times Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO — The heart of this city's historic Japantown is
being sold, stirring up fears in the century-old community that
it could lose its deeply rooted cultural identity.
The nine-block area faces a double hit: Not only are the new
owners not Japanese, they're from Southern California.
A family-owned development company in Beverly Hills is
negotiating to buy several major properties — including two
hotels and two retail malls — that comprise two-thirds of
Japantown's commercial area and have been owned by Japan-based
Kintetsu Enterprises since the 1960s.
As the two sides close the sale, expected later this month, some
of the city's Japanese Americans worry that the new owner won't
respect the cultural role the properties play in the life of
their community. Activists have collected 14,000 signatures on a
"Save Japantown" petition, calling for guarantees that the
area's character be left intact.
Robert Sakai still owns the market his grandfather opened in
1906 after selling his wares from a horse and cart. He frets
that the small cultural stronghold — which survived the
internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War
II and the redevelopment frenzy of the 1960s — will lose the
soul it has left.
"People are afraid," said Sakai, 55, as shoppers wandered his
store looking for sushi and imported foods. "If Japantown loses
its character, we're hurt. The customers will stop coming. And
the first foothold that Japanese Americans had in San Francisco
will be gone."
Once the largest Asian nationality in California, Japanese
Americans are now fourth, after Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans.
In 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 315,500
Japanese Americans lived in California, including 13,300 in San
Francisco and 50,500 in Los Angeles.
Only three of the nation's Japantowns remain, including Little
Tokyo in Los Angeles and Japantown in San Jose. All three are in
small, largely commercial areas that have declined over the
decades and face uncertain futures as non-Japanese residents and
businesses encroach.
Longtime residents refer to San Francisco's Japantown,
established after the city's devastating 1906 earthquake, simply
as "J-town" or by the Japanese name, "Nihonmachi." The two malls
up for sale — the Kintetsu Mall and the Japan Center — have more
than 40 Japanese-themed restaurants and shops.
San Francisco officials, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, have
sought assurances from the developer — 3D Investments, owned by
the Daneshgar family — that it would preserve Japantown's
flavor. But community leaders complain that the family has
offered few clues about their plans for the area.
Bobby Okamura loves the quaint neighborhood, with its
cobblestone courtyard and stately pagoda, a 1968 gift from the
Japanese government. "Our greatest nightmare is the new owners
will start kicking out tenants to make way for McDonald's and
Starbucks," said Okamura, who runs a confectionary store opened
by his grandparents a century ago.
Despite repeated telephone calls and a visit to the Beverly
Hills offices of 3D Investments, a company representative
declined to comment on the deal, provide any information about
3D or make the Daneshgars available for comment.
"These people refuse to meet with the community as a whole, the
people they supposedly want to partner with to preserve the
legacy of Japantown," said Paul Osaki, executive director of the
Japanese Cultural Center in the city. "Give me a break. These
kind of mystery developers are good at this. They're accountable
to no one."
Information on the company is scarce, but newspaper accounts
indicate that 3D has numerous holdings in Hawaii. An affiliate
of the company recently paid $30 million for the 24-story
Waikiki Trade Center in Honolulu. And a group led by 3D bought
Honolulu's 140-room Continental Surf Hotel for $11.6 million
last year.
Don Tamaki, a San Francisco lawyer representing Kintetsu,
defended 3D's "good reputation."
"They're family-owned and not publicly traded," he said. "Their
preference is to be very low-profile."
But 3D's image in Japantown has already suffered. A deal was
signed last month to sell the 218-room Radisson Miyako Hotel and
the 125-room Best Western Miyako Inn — without the guarantee of
long-term ownership activists seek.
When company officials recently met with community leaders, the
employees at the hotels — more than 120 in all — received
"termination notices," Japantown leaders said.
"We met with them for three hours, during which they promised
not make any quick changes. Meanwhile, these employees are
getting pink slips," said Osaki. "That's a bad omen."
Tamaki said the notices — sent out by Kintetsu — were required
by federal law, which mandates that employers with more than 100
workers provide 60 days' notice of termination due to the sale
of the business. He said 3D planned to keep "a majority" of the
workers.
Anxiety pervades the state's Japanese communities, where
Japanese-run businesses have sold out to newly arriving Korean
and Chinese immigrants and where affluent non-Asian residents
are replacing Japanese Americans.
San Francisco's Japantown — a mile west of the city's thriving
Chinatown — once bustled with 25,000 Japanese Americans. Now a
little more than a thousand of the 11,000 residents in the area
bounded by Fillmore, Bush and Laguna streets and Geary Boulevard
are Japanese, most of them living in senior centers, activists
say.
Forced to leave during World War II, many Japanese Americans
never returned to the enclave, which once stretched more than 30
blocks. The area was also shrunk by urban renewal projects in
the 1960s and '70s.
Many third-generation Japanese families have moved out and no
longer speak or read Japanese. Others have married outside their
ethnicity. "There's this steady whittling away of the area's
Japanese-ness," said Kaz Maniwa, chairman of the San
Francisco-based Japanese Cultural and Community Center of
Northern California.
"Parents want a better life for their kids — stressing
professional careers and education, so the new generation is
less likely to take over the family business," he said. "The
question for these kids is: Do you want to work for Intel or
continue making noodles?"
Little Tokyo, near Los Angeles City Hall, faces its own issue:
the arrival of non-Japanese residents with downtown
gentrification. The area expects 1,500 new housing units in the
next few years, and community leaders know few new residents
will be Japanese American. Today, only half of the enclave's
1,500 residents are of Japanese descent.
"I worry we're going to lose the heart and soul of what was once
a thriving ethnic neighborhood," said Bill Watanabe, executive
director of Little Tokyo Service Center, a social service
provider. "I don't want Little Tokyo to become the Epcot Center,
a place with restaurants and shops but no genuine culture."
In San Jose, activist Jimi Yamaichi said most businesses in the
city's small Japantown remain Japanese-owned.
"We're trying to attract younger Japanese Americans to come back
to the enclave — the insurance people, lawyers and accountants,"
he said. "It's a survival tactic."
To reassure San Francisco's Japanese American community,
Kintetsu attorney Tamaki is working with 3D on what he called
"binding commitments" to preserve Japantown's heritage.
"We have done our best to find a buyer who would hold the
property for the long term and not flip it," he said.
City officials want to ensure that doesn't happen. Supervisor
Ross Mirkarimi, whose district includes Japantown, has
introduced an ordinance that would require any changes in the
Japantown property to preserve the area's cultural integrity.
"We won't be able to protect Japantown unless we have something
in the code that looks into the future," he said, dismissing the
value of any restrictive covenants. "It's myopic to be lulled
into a false sense of security."
Some Japantown residents are "cautiously optimistic." Activist
Sandy Mori has met with 3D representatives. She researched one
3D project — a hotel in the East Bay city of Concord — and was
satisfied "they did what they told people they were going to
do."
Linda Jofuku, executive director of the Japantown Task Force,
said Japantown has endured bigger threats to its identity.
"I think our community needs to get real," she said. "The real
upheaval we experienced was when everything was taken away in
World War II and when the city took our properties by eminent
domain in the 1960s and '70s and bulldozed them.
"That was the real loss. We can survive this."
Times staff writer Steve Chawkins contributed to this report.
(http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-japantown14mar14,1,5330652.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california)
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