NCVA eREPORTER
- February 22, 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
VIETNAMESE AMERICAN TELEVISION MEDIA TRAINING
The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a proud
supporter of this technical training program.
This training is provided by VATV and offered to all volunteers
and Nonprofit organization members who are interested in the
Media reporting arena.
DATE & TIME:
Saturday,
February 25, 2006
9:00 AM-
6:30 PM
LOCATION:
Scouts R Us - 7120 Woodley Lane, Falls Church, VA 22042
CONTACT:
Nhan Vo,
301-257-8496, or 301 Buttry Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20877
REGISTRATION:
Register by Wed
02/22/2006
Training Workshops include:
* a brief history of the need for media
* getting more youth involved in media and broadcasting
* technical training on how to conduct interviews
* camera techniques for field reporters
* use of lighting and audio for high performance recording
* basic video/audio editing techniques
VATV is collaborating with BPSOS, VAVA, NCVA, APACAF, VCSA,
NAVASA, MVMA, KETDOAN, LSTN, VietTien TV, VPTV, SBTN to conduct
VOICE Project.
Training location is sponsored by Dr. Nguyen Duc Tung (Scout R
Us).
Note: VATV will provide Camera, Computer and equipment for
training but participants are welcome to bring their own gear.
A live hands-on event will occur after the training to provide
participants an opportunity to put their new learned skills in
practice
(
http://www.ncvaonline.org/archive/prj_MediaTraining_022506.shtml)
******************
Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF)
Executive Development Institute (EDI) and
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics. Inc. (LEAP) invite you
to...
FOURTH ANNUAL PUGET SOUND ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE
Save The Date!
When:
Saturday,
February 25, 2006
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What:
Join us for a day of leadership training by a
selection of nationally renowned trainers on topics such as
mentoring, personal development, emerging leadership and
politics.
Where:
Student Union
Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Avenue North
Shoreline, Washington 98133-5696
Cost:
$35 general registration fee
$15 student registration fee
(Checks and Visa/MasterCard/AMEX accepted)
DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION
FORM
AT:
http://www.leap.org
or
http://www.aclfnorthwest.org/leap.htm
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Starr Macdonald, EDI, at (425)
467-9365/starr@ediorg.org
Negin Almassi, ACLF, at (206)
625-3850/aclfnw@aclfnorthwest.org
Jade Agua,
LEAP, at
(213) 485-1422
x4107/jagua@leap.org
This event sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
******************
ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS: 6TH ANNUAL ASIAN PACIFIC
AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING
Tuesday,
February 28, 2006 from 9:30 to
11:00 am
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento, CA
AACRE Asian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality
A Partnership of
CAA
| Center for Asian American Advocacy, Asian Pacific American
Legal Center, and Asian Law Caucus Invites you to a legislative
briefing discussing critical issues impacting the Asian Pacific
American community as part of the California Asian Pacific
Islander Policy Summit
Tuesday,
February 28, 2006 from 9:30 to
11:00 am
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento, CA
Asian Pacific Americans comprise 14% of the state’s population.
In this informative session, leading experts and community
members will provide an overview of the state’s fastest growing
population, highlighting policy priorities and key legislative
proposals. Topics include:
' Asian Pacific Americans and Language Access. Asian
Pacific American households have the highest levels of
linguistic isolation in California. Experts will share new
data, broken down by legislative districts, about Californias
diverse
API
population and the need for expanded language services.
' Meaningful Parental Involvement in Education. Due to
language barriers, many parents cannot be partners in their
child’s education. An Asian American parent will speak about
the importance of being engaged in her children’s education, and
the need for translated documents to meaningfully involve
parents in the educational system.
' Access to Justice. For Californians needing language
assistance, the prospect of navigating the legal system is
daunting. Equal access to justice requires language services
that enable all parties, regardless of language ability, to
understand pleadings, forms or other legal documents;
communicate effectively with clerks or court staff; and
participate meaningfully in court proceedings.
' An APA Legislative and Budget Agenda for 2006. An
overview of key legislation and budget issues impacting the
Asian Pacific American community.
For more information, please contact Vivian Huang, AACRE
Legislative Advocate, at 916-321-9001.
To RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Ferrer, Advocacy
Intern, at
rferrer@caasf.org
This legislative briefing is a component of the California Asian
Pacific Islander Policy Summit “Partnering for Community
Empowerment,” convened by the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative
Caucus, in partnership with Asian Americans for Civil Rights &
Equality, Asian Pacific Islanders California Action Network,
Asian Pacific State Employee Association, California Asian
Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Institute, and the
California Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American
Affairs. Registration materials for the summit can be found at
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/apilegcaucus.
At this exciting two day summit:
' Learn about 2006 budget and legislative proposals
impacting APIs
' Participate in a joint hearing of the
API Caucus and APIA Commission to learn about
emerging issues and provide public testimony on issues of
concern to you
' Build networks with advocates and community leaders
from around the state
' Advance your career through leadership and
professional development workshops
' Refine your advocacy skills and participate in Capitol
legislative visits to share
API
priorities with legislators
Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality
1225 8th Street, Suite 590
Sacramento, CA 95814
tel 916.321.9001 fax
916.448.6774
a project of
CAA | Center for Asian American Advocacy
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Asian Law Caucus
******************
AACI’s 33RD ANNUAL BANQUET
AND
COMMUNITY STAR AWARDS
Changing Lives, Changing the Community
May 19th, 2006
6:00 pm Reception and Silent Auction
7:00 pm Dinner Program and Awards
Fairmont Hotel San Jose
For more information or to reserve tickets contact:
Kathleen Cordova, Development Director
(408)
975-2730 ext. 102
kathleen.cordova@aaci.org
Asian Americans for Community Involvement
2400 Moorpark Avenue, Ste.300
San Jose, CA 95128
Fax (408)
975-2745
http://www.aaci.org
AACI's mission is "Working to improve the quality of life in the
community, focusing on Asian Pacific Americans."
(
http://www.aaci.org)
******************
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
DEPT OF JUSTICE 2006 PUBLIC AWARENESS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
110 kb)-offers $350,000 for up to 7 awards, ranging from $25,000
to $50,000, to raise the awareness of underserved populations,
particularly socially isolated immigrant communities, about
victims' rights and how to access crime victim services.
Favorable consideration will be given to applicants partnering
with one or more ethnic community-based or faith-based
organizations with close ties to the targeted audience. Note:
Applications that focus on prevention will not receive strong
consideration for funding. A private non-profit organization
does not need to have 501(c )( 3) status to apply for grant
funding under this solicitation. Those applying are urged to
begin the application process well in advance of the March 21,
2006 deadline.
The overall goal of this program is to raise the awareness of
traditionally underserved populations on victims' rights as well
as improve their knowledge on how to access local services
available to crime victims. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
will support the planning and development of
victimization-focused public awareness campaigns targeted at
underserved populations with limited English proficiency (LEP)
in the local community. Victim service organizations will work
in partnership with ethnic media (radio, print, television) as
well as ethnic- and/or faith-based organizations to produce
linguistically and culturally appropriate public awareness
campaigns on one or more victimization issues.
(
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7910)
(
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/fund/pdftxt/FY06_UnderservedAwareness.pdf)
******************
WELLS FARGO
FUNDS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Wells Fargo is committed to improving and sustaining the
company's local communities through grants and volunteer
activities that support community programs and organizations.
The Wells Fargo Charitable Contributions Program varies from
state to state. However, Wells Fargo generally supports the
following areas of interest: community development, including
housing and workforce development; education, including
financial literacy programs; human services; and arts, culture
and civic projects.
(
http://www.wellsfargo.com/about/charitable/index.jhtml)
******************
CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION GRANTS TARGET POVERTY ISSUES
The mission of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is to support
efforts that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society.
One of the Foundation's four program areas, Pathways Out of
Poverty, seeks to address reduction in poverty rates for
low-income people and communities in the U.S. The program
focuses on improving community education; expanding economic
opportunity; and building organized communities. Outside the
Flint, MI area, home of the Foundation, grants are not made for
local projects unless they are part of a national demonstration
and have clear implications for replication in other
communities. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the
year.
(
http://www.mott.org)
******************
AMERICAN HONDA FOUNDATION FUNDS SCIENCE
AND
YOUTH PROGRAMS
The American Honda Foundation supports projects in the areas of
youth and scientific education. The Foundation defines "youth"
as prenatal through twenty-one years of age. "Scientific
education" encompasses the physical and life sciences,
mathematics, and the environmental sciences. The Foundation
provides grants for K-12 education, higher education, and other
nonprofit organizations that focus on youth and/or scientific
education. Only projects that are national in scope will be
considered for funding by the Foundation. Application deadlines
are February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year.
(
http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf)
******************
A.J. MUSTE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE SUPPORTS SOCIAL CHANGE PROGRAMS
The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute supports projects that promote
the principles and practice of nonviolent social change. Funded
projects must be concerned with one or more of the following
issues: peace and disarmament, social and economic justice,
racial and sexual equality, and the labor movement. Through its
regular grant program, the Institute makes about 20 to 30 grants
annually to international, national, and local projects, giving
priority to those with small budgets and little chance of
funding from more traditional sources. The next deadline is
April 14, 2006.
(
http://www.ajmuste.org/guidelin.htm)
******************
WALGREENS GRANTS FOR HEALTH
AND
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Walgreens Company Contribution Program provides support to
nonprofit organizations in local Walgreen communities throughout
the U.S., as well as to organizations in the Chicago
metropolitan area, home to the company's headquarters. A small
portion of the budget is reserved for selected national
organizations. The company's priority funding areas are health
and education, with health as the major area of focus. Eligible
organizations should have cost-effective projects operating
within the community area surrounding a Walgreens store.
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
(
http://www.walgreens.com/about/community)
******************
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER SUPPORTS YOUTH ACTIVIST PROJECTS
The Mix It Up Grants Program, administered by the Southern
Poverty Law Center, funds youth-directed activist projects that
focus on identifying, crossing and challenging social boundaries
in schools and communities. Preference is given to applications
that clearly show: youth leadership - i.e., projects created and
carried out by youth activists; collaborative efforts across
social boundaries - i.e., different youth groups or clubs
working together, or school-based clubs working with
community-based organizations; and continuing efforts to
identify, cross or challenge social boundaries - i.e., the
funded project isn't "the end" of the effort. Applicants are
encouraged to be creative as the program is definitely open to
new ideas. Applications may be submitted at any time.
(
http://www.tolerance.org/teens/grants.jsp)
******************
BOLLINGER FOUNDATION SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
The Bollinger Foundation, a unique foundation created to provide
financial assistance to families of economic development,
community development, and public housing workers is seeking
nominations for this year’s awards. Specifically, assistance is
available to families who have lost a parent or guardian where
the deceased or surviving parent or guardian worked in the field
of public housing, community development, or economic
development.
The deadline for nominations is May 20, 2006.
(
http://www.bollingerfoundation.org)
******************
MAURICE FALK FUND GRANTS FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Maurice Falk Fund is dedicated to encouraging a tolerant,
just and inclusive society. The Fund primarily awards grants for
research, education, training and innovative interventions to
prevent discriminatory practices due to personal prejudices,
biased private and public policies, unfair resource allocation,
deprivation of access, and other exclusionary practices. The
Fund focuses on inequities in healthcare, education, workforce
development, mental health, housing, transportation, and
environmental and criminal justice. Because the Fund has a small
endowment and is limited in the ability to award large or
numerous grants, the priority is to support innovative projects
that address injustice and may involve a high degree of risk.
Letters of inquiry are accepted at any time.
(
http://www.falkfund.org)
******************
INTEL CORPORATE GRANTS FOR SCIENCE,
MATH
AND
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
Intel Corporation is committed to maintaining and enhancing the
quality of life in the communities where the company has a major
presence in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. (A list
of eligible company communities is available on the website.)
Intel's primary giving focus is science, math and technology
education, with emphasis on K-12, higher education, and
community programs that deliver the kind of educational
opportunities that all students will need to prepare themselves
to succeed in the 21st century. Intel will also consider funding
for environmental programs as well as programs that improve the
quality of life in its site communities. Applications may be
submitted throughout the year.
(
http://www.intel.com/community/grant.htm)
******************
INFORMATION GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR HP TECHNOLOGY FOR COMMUNITY
GRANT INITIATIVE
The HP Technology for Community Grant Initiative is designed to
provide technology tools to nonprofit organizations to enhance
their effectiveness and to support the innovative use of mobile
technology. In 2006, HP will award up to a hundred organizations
in the United States and Puerto Rico an HP wireless technology
package valued at approximately $17,000.
The 2006 HP Technology for Community Grant award includes the
following: five HP Notebook PCs; one HP Tablet PC; one HP iPAQ
Pocket PC; a wireless ready HP all-in-one
printer/scanner/fax/copier; a wireless ready HP digital
projector and wireless remote control; a wireless access point;
an HP digital camera bundle; a $1,000 stipend; and training to
set up a new wireless network.
Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit agency that meets all of
the following requirements: operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
organization (government agencies, civic organizations, member
agencies, and collaboratives are not eligible); operates
programs in one or more of the following areas: health and human
services, workforce development, environment, arts and
technology, and/or community/economic development; has some
experience maintaining a technical infrastructure; and did not
receive a grant from HP in 2005.
The HP Technology for Community online application is managed
with assistance from TechSoup. To apply for the grant, an
organization must be registered at TechSoup Stock and must
complete the qualification form. Applicant organizations are
encouraged to register before the grant application period
begins.
For more information about the program's goals and application
process, see the HP Technology for Community Grant Initiative
information guide at the HP Web site. The application page will
be available online starting February 27, 2006.
(
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/programs/tech_community/index.html)
******************
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND
POVERTY – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Western Center on Law & Poverty seeks an Executive Director to
lead a well-established and highly reputed nonprofit poverty
advocacy organization - California's oldest and largest legal
services support center - to the next level of service on behalf
of the state's low-income people. An outstanding, hard-working
and committed Board of Directors and staff will support the
incoming Executive Director.
About Western Center: Western Center on Law and Poverty
advances and enforces the rights of low-income Californians to
the basic necessities of life by working statewide for systemic
change. WCLP engages in legislative and administrative
advocacy, impact litigation and technical assistance to legal
and social services organizations to effectuate broad-based
change aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty. Leaving the
representation of individual clients on individual cases to
neighborhood legal aid offices, we take the lead on advocacy
designed to make large scale improvements in the way low-income
Californians receive the most critical services and benefits,
primarily in the areas of health care, housing and public
assistance. Our successful court cases, legislative work and
administrative advocacy help hundreds and often thousands of
people at a time.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, WCLP has two branch offices in
Sacramento and Oakland. The staff currently numbers 29,
including 16 lawyer/advocates. In addition to poverty advocacy
work, WCLP staff annually responds to between 3,500 and 4,000
requests for technical assistance and provides between 70 and
100 trainings around the state. WCLP publishes several
authoritative manuals on topics such as CalWORKs, Medi-Cal
eligibility, emergency benefits, lead poisoning prevention,
foster care benefits and affordable housing. Additional
information about Western Center may be found on its website:
www.wclp.org.
Western Center has an annual budget of over $3.1 million. In
1996, Congress cut off federal financial support for programs
like Western Center. Since then, WCLP has been supported by
private donations, foundation grants, contracts for services,
and attorneys' fee awards. With the resignation of its respected
Executive Director, Pegine Grayson, who is leaving to spend more
time with her family, a unique opportunity is presented for the
right leader.
About the Position: WCLP seeks a respected, experienced and
dynamic leader who is passionate about and has a demonstrated
commitment to promoting access to justice for low-income
people. The new leader will work closely with a dedicated and
hard-working Board of Directors and an outstanding, creative and
committed staff, as well as a broader community of advocates,
private lawyers, and donors. The Executive Director is the
primary spokesperson for Western Center, oversees its legal,
legislative advocacy and administrative staff, and is
responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, and managing
daily operations.
Roles and responsibilities include:
* Maintaining WCLP's standard of excellence
in the legal services community in all of its functional areas,
including impact litigation, legislative and administrative
advocacy, and the provision of technical assistance and support.
* Maintaining and expanding WCLP's current
sources of funding.
* Maintaining and expanding partnerships,
relationships and strategic alliances with other legal services
programs, community based organizations, private lawyers,
government agencies, and the legislature.
* Increasing WCLP's visibility in California
as the "go to" organization on poverty advocacy issues.
* Continuing WCLP's leadership role in the
broader legal services community on issues related to the
delivery of legal services to, and access to justice by,
low-income Californians.
* Providing the leadership and management
required to ensure WCLP implements its ambitious strategic plan
and stays on track to realizing its vision.
* Providing for the professional development
of WCLP's excellent professional staff and creating a positive
work environment to maintain the organization's high-quality
advocacy and to continue to attract and retain excellent staff
members.
* Working closely and effectively with WCLP's
Board of Directors.
* Strengthening and expanding WCLP's impact
litigation capacity.
* Overseeing the staff and operations of
WCLP's three offices.
The ideal Executive Director candidate would be:
* An attorney licensed to practice in
California or in another state;
* Demonstrably committed to social justice
and advocacy on behalf of low-income communities;
* An excellent oral and written communicator
and listener;
* A consensus builder;
* Politically astute;
* An effective spokesperson and advocate for
the organization;
* Able to think strategically and plan
effectively;
* Positive and energetic;
* An experienced and effective manager and
problem solver;
* An executive with a track record of working
effectively with a Board and staff of a mission-driven
charitable organization who has demonstrated financial
management experience and acumen; and
* Someone with a demonstrated enthusiasm for,
and track record of, raising funds and support from a variety of
sources.
Salary:
Competitive, and based on experience. Generous
benefits package.
Application Procedures:
Applications will be accepted
until the position is filled. Interested applicants should
submit:
1. A cover letter expressing in detail why they are interested
in the position of Executive Director of WCLP as well as what
they believe they can contribute to the future of the
organization and its client community;
2. A current resume;
3. Two writing samples; and
4. The names and contact information for three references.
Submit all materials electronically to:
WCLP Executive Director Search Committee
pgrayson@wclp.org
Richard A. Rothschild
Western Center on Law and Poverty
3701 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 208
Los
Angeles,
California
90010-2809
Phone:
213-487-7211,
ext. 24
FAX: 213-487-0242
rrothschild@wclp.org
(
http://www.wclp.org)
******************
1CALIFORNIA ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS INTERNSHIPS
Paid Legislative Internship, Asian Pacific Islander (API)
Legislative Caucus of the California Legislature; 1 full-time or
2 part-time internships available.
Location:
Sacramento, California.
Compensation:
Hourly paid position, depending on
experience (No benefits)
Desired Skills/Qualifications: The Asian Pacific Islander
Legislative Caucus, comprised of the six Democratic Asian
Pacific Islander Members of the Assembly, is seeking a
legislative intern (recent college graduate, graduate student or
upper division undergraduate,) to assist the Caucus consultant
with all aspects of day-to-day operations at the Caucus. This is
an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to the legislative and
political process while working on a wide-range of issues
relevant to the
API
community. To find out more about the API Caucus, please visit
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/apilegcaucus/.
Responsibilities will include:
a.. Compose correspondence, reports and other written
materials as necessary;
b.. Organizing events/functions such as legislative briefings,
hearings, press events and annual API Policy Summit;
c.. Conduct research on policy and legislation affecting the
API
community;
d.. Providing administrative coverage of Caucus office,
including phone inquiries, sorting mail, and updating website;
e.. Community outreach and organizing, including attending
community events.
The ideal candidate will possess:
a.. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills;
ability to write
and articulate ideas in a persuasive, organized, and effective
manner;
b.. Excellent organizational skills with attention for detail;
c.. Strong interpersonal skills: ability to interact with
legislators, legislative staff, advocates, community leaders,
and a wide range of individuals;
d.. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, multi-task
and handle multiple projects;
e.. Easy going personality and a sense of humor;
f.. Proficiency in a wide range of computer software programs
desired; graphic design and web design a plus;
g.. Knowledge of the legislative process a plus but not
required.
Additional:
Internship begins March 2006. Preference will be given to
individuals who are interested in committing to between six
months to one year.
Send candidate's resume with cover letter, two brief writing
samples, and references by
February 28, 2006 to:
Pam Chueh, Senior Consultant
Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus
1020 N Street # 370
Sacramento, CA 95814
E-mail:
pam.chueh@asm.ca.gov
(
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/apilegcaucus/)
******************
GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM COORDINATOR - STUDENT SERVICES
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) is a scholarship program
aimed at expanding access to higher education for students who
reflect the diverse society in which we live. Established in
1999 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this program is
designed to fund the college education of twenty thousand high
achieving low-income minority students.
GMS is administered by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in
partnership with OCA, which serves the diverse Asian Pacific
Islander American communities. OCA, founded in 1973 as the
Organization of Chinese Americans, is a national organization
dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic
well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. For
more information about the GMS program, please visit the
following website: www.gmsp.org. For more information about OCA,
please visit:
www.ocanatl.org.
The Student Services component encompasses scholarship
processing, records retention, leadership development, academic
facilitation services and GMS scholar/alumni community building.
PRIMARY DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• In accordance with GMS policies and procedures, assess
eligibility of nominees for selection and scholarship allocation
each academic year.
• Communicate and coordinate with external agencies, staff and
GMS scholars to obtain and/or provide information related to the
scholarship.
• Assist with academic facilitation services.
• Assist with other student services and outreach functions.
This position is based in Washington, D.C. and reports to the
Director of Student Services. This position may require some
travel.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelors degree;
• Minimum of two years experience in the area of student support
services and/or financial aid;
• Demonstrated organizational skills;
• Outstanding communication skills;
• Technological literacy;
• Commitment to student development;
• Good analytical skills;
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies in the Asian
American and Pacific Islander communities.
COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS
• Pay commensurate with experience
• Health benefits
• Paid vacation and holidays
HOW TO APPLY:
Mail, fax or email a resume with cover letter outlining
experience and working knowledge, plus names and contact numbers
of two professional references to:
Gates Millennium Scholars/APIA
OCA
Attn: GMS/APIA Program Director
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #725
Washington, D.C. 20036
Fax: 202-530-0643, Attn: Program Director
Email:
gale@ocanatl.org
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
March 3, 2006; or until filled
******************
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2006
Contact:
Doug Lee, Programs Manager
(202) 223-5500,
dlee@ocanatl.org
OCA 2006 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
Washington, DC - OCA is pleased to announce that applications
for the 2006 OCA Scholarship Program are now available online.
Up to 60- $2000 scholarships will be awarded to incoming Asian
Pacific American (APA) college freshmen for the 2006-2007
academic school year. OCA recognizes that scholarships and
financial aid play an essential role in helping students achieve
a college education. "OCA is dedicated to education in the APA
community," said OCA National President Ginny Gong. "We
recognize the need to provide opportunities to students who do
not have access to the financial resources necessary to pursue
higher education."
Although the average level of education for APAs is higher than
the national average, the statistics are misleading. While there
are many members of the APA community who have advanced degrees,
there are also countless APAs who are unable to attend college
due to financial reasons. Through its many scholarships, OCA
strives to achieve its goals of promoting civic participation,
education, and leadership.
“For the 2006 OCA Scholarship Program, OCA offers a variety of
scholarships to disadvantaged APAs. OCA offers scholarships not
only for students who demonstrate financial need, but also for
students who show high achievement, for those who are the first
member in their family to attend college, and for APA women,
said OCA Executive Director Dorothy Wong.
For more information on OCA’s scholarship programs and an
application, students may go to OCA’s website at
http://www.ocanatl.org. The deadline for applying to the
2006 OCA Scholarship Programs is April 18, 2006
###
About OCA
Founded in 1973, OCA, a national organization with over 80
chapters and affiliates across the country, is dedicated to
advancing the social, economic, and political well-being of
Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.
(
http://www.ocanatl.org)
******************
CONFERENCE ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS
On behalf of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership
(CAPAL), I am excited to announce that CAPAL will award three
(3) scholarships to outstanding Asian Pacific American (APA)
students committed to public service and community action.
Awarded annually since 1992, CAPAL’s scholarships have enabled
promising students with leadership potential to explore public
service and learn how to influence public policy that affects
our communities. CAPAL Scholars are awarded $2,000 scholarships
to support their successful completion of an internship in
Washington, DC, as well as their development of a Community
Action Plan.
CAPAL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, educational
organization that was founded in 1989 by APA professionals in
the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Its mission is to promote
Asian Pacific American interests and success in public sector
careers, to provide information and education on policy issues
affecting the APA community, and to serve the APA community at
large.
We would appreciate your assistance with informing undergraduate
and graduate students of this opportunity to receive financial
assistance to complete an internship in our nation’s capital
during the summer of 2006. Please retain this information in
your files, as this is an annual program.
Application and scholarship requirements are attached. For more
details or to download the application, please visit our website
at
http://www.capal.org or email questions to
scholarships@capal.org.
All applications must be received by Friday, March 17, 2006.
Thank you for your efforts and assistance.
Sincerely,
Candace J. Chin
Chair, CAPAL Scholarship Committee
Applicants committed to the breadth and diversity of the Asian
Pacific American community, including but not limited to
economic, ethnic, generational, and regional diversity, are
especially encouraged to apply.
(
http://www.capal.org)
******************
TIPS/RESOURCES
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT: SERVICE LEARNING
HAS ITS PITFALLS
Service learning, the procedure by which college students
perform some type of community service, usually through a
nonprofit organization, is gaining popularity on campuses
throughout the country.
Despite its popularity and its benefits, it can suffer from
problems experienced by any such arrangement. Care must be
exercised to ensure that everyone involved, students,
nonprofits, the community and even the college derive the
maximum benefit from the experience or, conversely, not be hurt
by the experience.
Eugene Tempel and William Plater of Indiana University’s Center
on Philanthropy suggested several caveats that should be kept in
mind by all parties considering service learning agreements.
* Nonprofits should be sure that their needs are being
addressed. In some settings, for example, nonprofits and clients
may need stability rather than new volunteers every few months.
* The needs of students must be kept in mind. In some
organizations, the leader may not have the time to be
meaningfully involved with the students. In such a situation, it
unlikely that they will learn very much.
* Reflection and evaluation are essential for both organization
and students. An organization should not participate in a
service learning project if it cannot take the time to reflect
on and assess its own work.
* Nonprofits should be directly involved in the teaching of
service learning, not simply providing a ‘place’ for students.
* There should be clearly defined goals of mutual benefit.
(
http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/volunteerman.html)
******************
MANAGEMENT: USING A
NEW CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY MODEL
There is continued debate regarding whether for-profit
organizations have any obligation other than making money for
shareholders -- whether they have any social responsibility.
For nonprofits, however, there is no debate, social
responsibility is what most of them are about. And, very often
nonprofits seek to engage for-profit companies in their
missions.
At a recent philanthropy conference, Sondra Lintelmann-Dellaripa
and Robert Nolan of the corporate relations office of
Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, made it clear that
nonprofits can utilize a new corporate philanthropy model that
maximizes incoming money while helping for-profits enhance their
commitment to philanthropy.
Under the old nonprofit model, the focus was on the nonprofit
and its mission and the tax benefit to the company, with little
idea of the business of business.
Corporate social responsibility then centers around several key
components:
It embraces to main concepts not found in traditional strategic
philanthropy: accountability and transparency.
It is the alignment of business operations with social values.
It recognizes that many of the changes a corporation implements
in conducting its social responsibility strategy are internal
changes in operations, products and materials.
It consists of integrating the interests of stakeholders – all
those affected by the organizations conduct -- into the
organization’s business policies and actions.
Its goal is to positively impact society while achieving
business success.
(
http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)
******************
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR NONPROFITS – E-BASE
ebase is powerful, sophisticated software developed for use by
nonprofit organizations to manage their relationships with their
community: members, donors, activists, clients, volunteers and
constituents. ebase is a series of Filemaker Pro templates that
was created by nonprofits for nonprofits. Technical support and
training for ebase is based on the community model: ebase users
work together, online and in-person, to help each other learn
the in's and out's of ebase software and to extend its
functionality.
(
http://www.ebase.org)
******************
NEWS
February 3, 2006 Episode no. 923
BELIEF &
PRACTICE: Vietnamese New Year
BOB ABERNETHY,
anchor: Last Sunday (January 29),
Vietnamese people all over the world celebrated Tet -- the first
day of their new year. The week-long holiday is a time for
prayer and family reunions, and it usually combines bits of
Buddhism, ancestor worship, and Daoism, the Chinese system for
harmonizing with nature and observing life's passages. Nguyen
Ngoc Bich follows his family traditions in Springfield,
Virginia.
NGUYEN NGOC BICH:
Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, is by far
the biggest festival during the year.
The Vietnamese are known to be what you call eclectics. We like
to pick what we believe to be the best part of various
traditions.
Many Vietnamese, even when they are not Buddhists, still feel
themselves very close to many of the ideas of Buddhism, and
that's why one essential part of celebrating Tet is to go to the
Buddhist temple to pray to Buddha. A lot of the womenfolk go for
fortune reading. Kids go there looking forward to either the
dragon or unicorn dance.
The Vietnamese also perform the unicorn dance, hoping that
somehow the real unicorn will come to earth and bring peace, not
only to our family but also to the whole world.
At the dot of midnight, between the old year and the new year,
there you pray to the Jade Emperor, the Emperor of Heaven. And
he is asked to come and witness the change between the little
god that oversaw last year and the new god which is to come and
oversee the new year.
Tet is a time when we ask the ancestor[s] to come back to give
us their blessing. It's believed the ancestors also have a life
in another world. That's why in Vietnam sometimes you burn
offerings to the ancestors so that, hopefully, they can enjoy
all these things, even money -- to use it over there.
You have to prepare a whole meal so that the ancestors can
partake of them, the way they would be sitting down with us at
the table. The Vietnamese believe that people really do not die.
And because of that, the dead are believed to have their
presence around us. They are the ones to protect us, keep us
from harm.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN (Praying): Thank you for helping us always.
That's why the ancestors are very, very close to us. The
Vietnamese believe that you can communicate with your ancestor
up until the fifth generation before you. It's because the
Vietnamese like to simplify the math. So they wait for the New
Year's Day and make everyone one year older. And in order to
mark this, you have to say wishes to the elders of the family,
and the family reward you with the lucky money, as well as give
you some advice about new year.
ABERNETHY:
To Vietnamese and everyone celebrating Tet,
Happy New Year.
(
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week923/belief.html)
******************
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
CONTACT: Jimmy Lee or Erik Wang, 202-482-2204
WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS
AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS ANNOUNCES TECHNICAL WORKSHOP IN LOS
ANGELES FOR KOREAN AMERICANS
Washington DC: The White House Initiative for Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders today announced that the first Korean
American specific technical workshop will be held in Los
Angeles, California at the Korean Education Center on Friday,
March 17, 2006.
Along with the White House Initiative Office, the President’s
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,
local federal agencies and governmental officials will be
conducting workshops to bridge the divide between programs and
services of federal agencies with Korean American community
groups and business leaders in the State of California.
Free Workshops will include such topics as how to write
effective grants, how to secure grants and find grants for your
organization, encourage financial literacy for your community,
federal internship programs, and minority contracting
opportunities for your small business. For a list of up to date
partners and federal agencies that will be at the technical
conference please go to
www.aapi.gov.
Sponsored by the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, the technical assistance workshops are
created to aid the economic development in the Asian American
and Pacific Islander community nationwide. The White House
Initiative was created through an Executive Order signed by
President George W. Bush on May 13, 2004, to increase economic
opportunities for and improve the quality of life of Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders through greater participation in
federal programs where they may be underserved (e.g. economic
and community development).
Technical Conference Information
Location: Korean Education Center
680 Wilshire Place
Los Angeles, CA. 90005
Date: Friday, March 17, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free (Refreshments will be served)
Local Contact: William Kil, Commissioner (213-385-1779)
(
http://www.aapi.gov)
******************
February 8, 2006
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ENROLLMENT BUCKS NATIONAL TREND
PSU may benefit from national grants targeted at expanding
foreign language programs
By Emily A. Palm
Despite a noted descent nationwide in foreign language
education, Portland State’s enrollment in such programs is
growing.
Dr. Sandra Rosengrant, department chair of Foreign Languages and
Literature, said she finds this gratifying.
According to the Modern Language Association, 15 K-12 public
schools in the U.S. teach Arabic. Less than 2 percent of high
school students in the U.S. today study Farsi, Urdu, Korean,
Arabic, Japanese, Russian or Chinese. In an effort to combat
this national decline, President George W. Bush proposed a
National Security Language Initiative last month. He requested
$114 million for the 2007 fiscal year from Congress.
Rosengrant said it is premature to tell what this will mean for
PSU, but said the university is poised to apply competitively
for grants that may become available from the initiative.
The initiative is a partnership between the Department of
Education, the Department of Defense and the director of
National Intelligence.
“Our goal is, in essence, to ramp up the mastery of these
critical languages, not solely for national security reasons but
also in terms of America’s standing in the world,” said Barry
Lowenkron, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human
rights and labor, at a briefing on the program.
The administration intends to produce 2,000 advanced speakers of
Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Farsi and Central Asian
languages over the next several years.
Rosengrant noted that the language department at PSU has been
expanding its programs. Last fall they hired a new assistant
professor of Farsi. She hopes to add a Farsi minor to the
available major in Chinese and minor in Arabic. “We simply
cannot afford to be monolingual or monocultural,” Rosengrant
said, and noted that she finds PSU students to be aware of this
fact. In the fall of 2004 Arabic classes offered at PSU yielded
120 students, and Rosengrant said the program has grown.
A component of the administration’s strategic language plan
entails expanding a Fulbright Scholarship program where
Fulbrighters come to the United States and teach languages. Last
year PSU hosted Fulbright teaching assistants from Iraq, Turkey
and Pakistan. “These are wonderful, wonderful young people,”
Rosengrant said. She said they plan to continue participation in
the program, and next year will have teachers from Oman, Turkey,
Russia, India and Iran.
The Fulbright teaching assistants at PSU support the newfound
Heritage Language Initiative at PSU. Native literacy instruction
is targeted at the languages with significant populations in
Portland. The classes are taught in part by members of the
community. The list comprises Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Farsi,
Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Bush noted that understanding another language is a kind
gesture. “When somebody comes to me and speaks Texan, I know
they appreciate the Texas culture,” he said. “When Americans
learn to speak a language, learn to speak Arabic, those in the
Arabic region will say, gosh, America is interested in us. They
care enough to learn how we speak.”
(
http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/02/08/43ea760d3f455)
******************
February 9, 2006
NEW PUBLIC TV FOR A
NEW AMERICA:
WORLDVIEW Launches as an Independent Program Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent public
broadcaster MHz NETWORKS has launched WORLDVIEW, an
internationally diverse 24/7 program stream for public
television stations. The new stream aims to attract globally
aware viewers with a wide range of international programming
blocks - - World News, Foreign Affairs, International Mysteries,
World Music, Sports, and Foreign Films -- all of it English
accessible (in English or subtitled). "The idea is to make the
world, and all its rhythms, opinions, textures, easier for
Americans to understand," says Frederick Thomas, the executive
behind WORLDVIEW. "The channel will tell all of the stories
about the world, good and bad, going beyond the usual tragedy
stuff." It won't be difficult for viewers to gain different
perspectives given the wide range of countries and cultures
carried on WORLDVIEW.
The evening World News block features newscasts from Taiwan,
India, Japan, France and Germany -- with Bolivian and Russian
news being added in March, and Pan-African news arriving by
June. The World Music block features Strictly Global, with
videos from across the globe and the Emmy Award-winning MHz
Presents, which features artists from all genres of music,
guests such as Floetry, The Chieftains, Sweet Honey in the Rock,
Afro Celts, Suzanne Vega, and dozens more. The International
Mystery block features iconic detectives from all over the
world; the super sleuths that become "can't miss it" viewing
opportunities.
Another important audience for WORLDVIEW will be America's
recent immigrants, who represent a wide range of countries.
"Through our experience in the Washington, D.C. market we know
that immigrants will support this type of programming, and the
stations that carry it, because they feel they have a stake in
it, like an investment," says Thomas. In Washington, MHz has
been successful at raising on-air pledge dollars in at least six
different languages: Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese,
Urdu, and French, and has acquired significant local
underwriting from businesses wishing to reach these viewers.
"'Passionate' is a word frequently used to describe how local
ethnic communities feel about MHz," says Nancy Sherwood, MHz's
membership manager. MHz plans to upload a weekly
American-Diversity block of programming produced by ethnic
producers across the country on the WORLDVIEW feed.
In a nod to the largest group of recent immigrants,
Spanish-speaking groups from Latin and South America, WORLDVIEW
is presenting a Spanish- Language block of daily news and
informational programming. Dialogue is WORLDVIEW'S signature
series in its Foreign Affairs block, while the Indian
programming block on WORLDVIEW recognizes the influx of South
Asian immigrants to the U.S. Interstitial programming on
WORLDVIEW comes from washingtonpost.com, one of the premier news
websites. In a unique alliance, WORLDVIEW will be the broadcast
outlet for washingtonpost.com's video stories, usually housed on
washingtonpost.com's website. Lastly, rounding out the genres is
WORLDVIEW's Shortie block of programming which showcases films
from the annual MHz Shortz Student Film Festival.
WORLDVIEW to Help Promote Financial Independence
MHz NETWORKS has been operating as an independent public
television organization (non-PBS affiliated) for over a decade.
Shrinking Federal and State funding over that time forced MHz to
become more entrepreneurial, with the ultimate goal being to
create financial self-sustainability. WORLDVIEW has been funded
internally by MHz. "The financial realities dictated that we
become very flexible," says Thomas, "over the last decade we've
had to turn on a dime, many times, finding new ways to acquire
programming and generate revenue. We think our experience will
help us meet the specific needs of other stations that take the
WORLDVIEW feed." MHz plans to share its unique marketing and
development knowledge with WORLDVIEW-presenting stations,
helping them attract local dollars through underwriting,
ancillary sales, and even video-on-demand opportunities. The
approach is to build new U.S. programming partners in the same
way that MHz has forged programming partnerships with
international programmers, many of whom have been on MHz's
stations in Washington, D.C. for years. These programmers trust
MHz as a U.S. programming partner -- as a U.S. organization that
"speaks their language." "WORLDVIEW is a great platform for our
content," says Sanjiv Prakash, Editor and CEO of Asian News
International (ANI) based in New Delhi. "We've been with MHz for
a while and are really excited to see the evolution of their
vision." ANI provides exclusive content from South Asia for
WORLDVIEW.
"Programming independence can lead to financial independence --
I think these are the two best concepts we have to guarantee the
future of public broadcasting," says Thomas, "We believe
WORLDVIEW can help stations move in that direction."
Viewers who would like to see MHz WORLDVIEW offered through
their local public TV station should contact them directly.
MHz NETWORKS, which operates in Northern Virginia and serves the
Washington, D.C. market through WNVC and WNVT, is owned by
Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation (CPBC),
headquartered in Richmond, VA. CPBC is a 501(c) 3 non-profit
corporation which also operates WCVE-TV/FM and WCVW in Richmond,
VA and WHTJ-TV in Charlottesville, VA. The WORLDVIEW program
stream in sponsored in part by the GlobeCast WorldTV service and
is available on Intelsat America 5. MHz produces its original
programs through its two production studios, one in Northern
Virginia at its technical operations center, the other at the
Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
Visit
http://www.mhzworldview.org for more information.
CONTACT: Jenna Reedy of MHz NETWORKS, +1-703.770.7135, or
jreedy@mhznetworks.org
(
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060209/dcth031.html?.v=41)
******************
February 14, 2006
ARE WE HAPPY YET?
Pew Charitable Trusts Polls/Survey Results
Americans have always had a thing about happiness. We all have
certain unalienable rights, declares our Declaration of
Independence, among them "life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness."
So then, a couple of centuries into the chase, how are we doing?
Alas, only so-so. Just a third (34 percent) of adults in this
country say they're very happy, according to the latest Pew
Research Center survey. Another half say they are pretty happy
and 15 percent consider themselves not too happy. These numbers
have remained very stable for a very long time.
But some of us are happier than others, and this variance helps
to paint a portrait of the kind of people Americans are. It also
casts doubt on some of the famous wisdom on the subject.
For example, remember grandma's aphorism about money not buying
happiness? Well, brace yourself, but dear ole grandma may have
been misinformed. Our survey shows that nearly half (49 percent)
of those with an annual family income of more than $100,000 say
they're very happy. By contrast, just 24 percent of those with
an annual family income of less than $30,000 say they're very
happy.
This finding definitely puts grandma on shaky ground, but it
doesn't necessarily prove her wrong. It establishes a
correlation (two things that go hand in hand) rather than a
cause (one thing that leads to the other). There are, in fact,
any number of possible causes of this correlation. Perhaps money
leads to happiness. Perhaps happiness leads to money. Or perhaps
both are influenced by some other, more powerful factor.
Later in this report we'll try to sort out which correlations
are most powerful. But meantime, we should note at the outset
that all of the findings from this survey should be taken with a
general caution.
Much of the research into the field of happiness -- to say
nothing of simple common sense - suggests that at the level of
the individual, happiness is heavily influenced by life events
(Did you get the big promotion? Have a fight with your
boyfriend?) as well as by psychological traits (self-esteem,
optimism, a sense of belonging, the capacity to love, etc.). The
Pew survey did not look at life events or psychological
characteristics. We only looked at happiness by demographic and
behavioral traits. But through this admittedly limited prism, we
found some fascinating correlations.
Several of them stand out: Married people are happier than
unmarrieds. People who worship frequently are happier than those
who don't. Republicans are happier than Democrats. Rich people
are happier than poor people. Whites and Hispanics are happier
than blacks. Sunbelt residents are happier than those who live
in the rest of the country.
We also found some interesting non-correlations. People who have
children are no happier than those who don't, after controlling
for marital status. Retirees are no happier than workers. Pet
owners are no happier than those without pets.
The findings are drawn from a telephone survey of a nationally
representative, randomly-selected sample of 3,014 adults,
conducted from Oct. 5 through Nov. 6, 2005. You can go directly
to the full battery of happiness tables by clicking on this
index. Here is a run-down of the most compelling findings.
Income
The correlation between happiness and family income is very
strong indeed - reported happiness rises in a nearly straight
line through eight levels of annual family income. At the
highest income category -- $150,000 and above - fully 50 percent
of respondents report being very happy; by contrast, just 23
percent of those who have a family income below $20,000 say they
are very happy.
But there is also a way to look at the long term trend in
happiness that sheds a different light on the question of
whether it is tied to money. As noted above, about a third of
the public has been reporting they are very happy ever since
1972, when the General Social Survey (sociological surveys
funded largely by the National Science Foundation) started
asking the same happiness question that Pew posed in its survey.
But during these past three decades, the average annual per
capita income in this country has more than doubled in inflation
adjusted dollars. Thus, in the aggregate, Americans have more
money now than they did a generation ago. But in the aggregate,
we're no happier.
So was grandma right after all - money doesn't buy happiness?
Well, no. The trend data also show that what matters on the
happiness front is not how much money you have, but whether you
have more (or less) at any given time than everyone else.
That raises one more question: how about the really rich? Does
the linear relationship between happiness and income continue
right up into the income stratosphere - with billionaires
happier than millionaires, who in turn are happier than the
folks just getting by on $500,000 a year?
This survey can't provide an answer; random phone calls don't
generate a large enough sample of the super rich. So all we can
do is fall back on the wisdom of the popular culture, which is
fond of chronicling the travails of the rich and famous. Of
course, we can't be sure if these stories are based on a
representative sample. But we do notice that reading them often
makes us happy.
Political Party Affiliation
Some 45 percent of all Republicans report being very happy,
compared with just 30 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of
independents. This finding has also been around a long time;
Republicans have been happier than Democrats every year since
the General Social Survey began taking its measurements in 1972.
Pew surveys since 1991 also show a partisan gap on happiness;
the current 16 percentage point gap is among the largest in Pew
surveys, rivaled only by a 17 point gap in February 2003.
Could it be that Republicans are so much happier now because
their party controls all the levers of federal power? Not
likely. Since 1972, the GOP happiness edge over Democrats has
ebbed and flowed in a pattern that appears unrelated to which
party is in political power.
For example, Republicans had up to a 10 and 11 percentage point
happiness edge over Democrats in various years of both the
Carter and Clinton presidencies, and as small as a three and
five percentage point edge in various years of the Reagan and
first Bush presidencies. Also, we should explain here a bit
about how our survey questionnaire was constructed. The question
about happiness was posed at the very beginning of the
interview, while the question about political affiliation was
posed at the back end, along with questions about demographic
traits. So respondents were not cued to consider their happiness
through the frame of partisan politics. This question is about
happiness; it is not a question about happiness with partisan
outcomes.
Of course, there's a more obvious explanation for the
Republicans' happiness edge. Republicans tend to have more money
than Democrats, and -- as we've already discovered -- people who
have more money tend to be happier.
But even this explanation only goes so far. If one controls for
household income, Republicans still hold a significant edge:
that is, poor Republicans are happier than poor Democrats;
middle-income Republicans are happier than middle-income
Democrats, and rich Republicans are happier than rich Democrats.
Might ideology be the key? It's true that conservatives, who are
more likely to be Republican, are happier than liberals, who are
more likely to be Democrats. But even controlling for this
ideological factor, a significant partisan gap remains.
Conservative Republicans are happier than conservative
Democrats, and moderate/liberal Republicans are happier than
liberal Democrats. Hmmm, what other factors might be at play?
Well, there's always...
Religiosity
People who attend religious services weekly or more are happier
(43 percent very happy) than those who attend monthly or less
(31 percent); or seldom or never (26 percent). This correlation
between happiness and frequency of church attendance has been a
consistent finding in the General Social Surveys taken over the
years.
The same pattern applies within all major religious
denominations. For example, 38 percent of all Catholics who
attend church weekly or more report being very happy, while just
28 percent of Catholics who attend church less often say they
are very happy. The survey also finds that white evangelical
Protestants (43 percent) are more likely than white mainline
Protestants (33 percent) to report being very happy, but this
difference goes away after taking frequency of church attendance
into account.
Marital and Parenting Status
Married people (43 percent very happy) are a good bit happier
than unmarrieds (24 percent) and this too has been a consistent
finding over many years and many surveys. It holds up for men as
well as for women, and for the old as well as the young, though
the marriage gap in happiness is not quite as great among the
old.
Overall, parents are happier than adults who have no children,
but this gap disappears once a person's marital status is
considered. That is, married people with children are about as
happy as married people without children. And unmarried people
with children are about as happy as unmarried people without
children.
Race and Ethnicity
Blacks (28 percent) are somewhat less likely than whites (36
percent) or Hispanics (34 percent) to report being very happy.
The difference in average family income among the groups appears
to be a factor, but it plays out in different ways for different
groups. For non-Hispanic whites, having more family income is
clearly correlated with being happier. (There are not enough
Hispanics in the survey for analysis by income groups.) But
among blacks, there is no correlation - blacks with a family
income of $50,000 a year or more are about equally likely to say
they are very happy (28 percent) than are blacks with a family
income of less than $50,000 (27 percent). It's possible that
blacks with incomes much higher than $50,000 (say $100,000 or
more) are happier than others, but there were not enough of
these higher income blacks in our survey for further analysis on
this point.
Age and Gender
There is virtually no difference in happiness by gender and only
a bit of variance in happiness by age. But the age data run
counter to the prevailing ethos of the popular culture, which is
forever extolling the blessings of youth.
It turns out that the young are less happy than the middle-aged
or old. This gap is a bit more pronounced for men, who have a 15
percentage point happiness gap between those who are 18-to-29
years old and those who are over age 65, than it is for women,
among whom the equivalent gap is just seven percentage points.
Work, Education, Health, Geography, Miscellaneous
Here most of the findings are pretty predictable - healthier
people tend to be happier, and so do better-educated people.
The pattern in happiness by work status is a bit more
complicated. Retirees (36 percent) and workers (35 percent) are
equally likely to report being very happy, and both are happier
than those who are not employed (26 percent very happy). There
is a significant gender variance here. Retired men and retired
women are about equally likely to be very happy, as are working
men and working women. But among those who are not employed, men
(16 percent) are less likely than women (30 percent) to report
being very happy - presumably because for more women than men,
not working outside the home is a matter of choice.
Recent immigrants are about as happy as those who have been here
for generations. People who often feel rushed are less happy
than those who don't. Suburbanites are a bit happier than city
folks, and Sunbelt residents are a bit happier than people who
live in colder climates.
Putting It All Together
How do all these factors play out together? Well, it can get
complicated. Sometimes the correlations tend to reinforce one
another. For example, healthy people tend to have more income,
and both these traits independently correlate with happiness.
But sometimes the correlations are not in sync. Frequent
church-goers, for example, on average have less income than
infrequent church-goers - so their religious profile pushes them
up the happiness scale while their financial profile pushes them
down. Which factor is more powerful? And is being a Republican
really a predictor of happiness, independent of all other
factors?
One way to find out is by way of a statistical technique known
as multiple regression analysis, which gauges the relationship
between each factor and happiness while controlling for all the
other factors. That analysis shows that the most robust
correlations of all those described in this report are health,
income, church attendance, being married and, yes, being a
Republican. Indeed, being a Republican is associated not only
with happiness, it is also associated with every other trait in
this cluster. Even so, the factor that makes the most difference
in predicting happiness is neither being a Republican nor being
wealthy - it's being in good health.
The same regression analysis also finds that education, gender,
and race do not have a statistically significant independent
effect on predicting happiness, once all the other factors are
controlled.
Keep in mind, however, that even taking into account all these
factors, we don't actually improve by very much our ability to
predict which specific individual is likely to be very happy. If
we knew who'd been fired last week, or who's a
glass-is-always-half-full kind of person, we'd probably do a lot
better.
Unhappiness
So much for happiness. What about the other side of the coin?
Which Americans are "not too happy"? Well, as one would expect,
the unhappy campers are for the most part the demographic mirror
image of the happy campers. But there are a few wrinkles.
The first has to do with race. As already noted, whites and
Hispanics are about equally likely to say they are very happy,
and both groups are happier than blacks. But looking only at
unhappiness, the relationship between the three groups changes:
many fewer whites (12 percent) than blacks or Hispanics (each 23
percent) say they are not too happy.
On the health front, while there's a strong association between
feeling healthy and happy, there's an even stronger association
between feeling unhealthy and unhappy. Fully 55 percent of
people who say their health is poor also report that they are
"not too happy." No other characteristic measured in this report
comes close to rivaling poor health as a predictor of
unhappiness.
The unhappiness data also highlight the plight of another
demographic group -- single parents with minor age children.
More than a quarter of them (27 percent) report being not too
happy - by far the largest percentage for any marital or
parenting sub-group in the survey.
A Closing Note on a Delicate Subject
Lastly, we come to what may be the most controversial
non-finding of all. It turns out that there is no significant
happiness gap between dog owners and cat owners. Or between
owners of pets of any kind and those who have no pets. We're at
a loss to explain. We're just happy - no, make that very happy
-- that neither Fido nor Felix can read.
About this report
The Pew social trends reports explore the behaviors and
attitudes of Americans in key realms of their lives - family,
community, health, finance, work and leisure. Reports analyze
changes over time in social behaviors and probe for differences
and similarities between key sub-groups in the population.
The surveys are conducted by the Pew Research Center, a
nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides information on the issues,
attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.
(
http://www.pewtrusts.org/ideas/ideas_item.cfm?content_item_id=3251&content_type_id=18&issue_name=Public%20opinion%20and%20polls&issue=11&page=18&name=Public%20Opinion%20Polls%20and%20Survey%20Results)
******************
February 15, 2006
GRANTS
TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS FALL, STUDY SAYS
White House to Rebut Report in March
By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Despite the Bush administration's rhetorical support for
religious charities, the amount of direct federal grants to
faith-based organizations declined from 2002 to 2004, according
to a major new study released yesterday.
White House officials immediately disputed the findings. They
said they will release their own figures next month showing an
increase in federal funding for religious groups.
The dispute highlighted a lack of independent, widely accepted
data about how many federal tax dollars are going to religious
organizations, what they are doing with the money and whether
they are more, or less, effective than other charities.
Some critics of the President's Faith-Based Initiative have long
contended that the administration is shifting who gets money,
but not increasing the total amount of federal funding available
to shelter the homeless, counsel prisoners and provide other
social services.
The study released yesterday "is confirmation of the suspicion
I've had all along, that what the faith-based initiative is
really all about is de-funding social programs and dumping
responsibility for the poor on the charitable sector," said Kay
Guinane, director of the nonprofit advocacy program at OMB
Watch, a liberal watchdog group in Washington. "It sounds warm
and fuzzy, but they've been cutting down the size of the pie all
along."
The study by the nonpartisan Roundtable on Religion and Social
Welfare Policy examined 28,000 grants made by nine federal
agencies over three years. It found that religious charities got
an unchanging share -- about 18 percent -- of the money awarded
each year.
But because the total pie of available funding shrank by more
than $230 million over the three years, the slice that went to
religious groups also declined, from $670 million in fiscal 2002
to $626 million in fiscal 2004.
At the same time, the study found that the initiative has
succeeded in encouraging more religious groups to apply for
funding, and the number receiving grants rose almost 15 percent.
"Less federal money is being divided into more grants," the
study concluded.
In a telephone interview, the study's authors declined to
discuss its political implications. Lisa M. Montiel and David J.
Wright said the study focused only on direct federal grants, not
monies distributed through block grants to states and
municipalities, which are several times larger.
The authors also said they did not attempt to determine how much
money went to religious organizations before President Bush took
office in 2001. They looked only at grant programs that were in
existence for all three years covered by the study, Montiel
said, because they were trying to get a picture of the "trend
line," not a static snapshot of the money given to religious
charities in any one year.
H. James Towey, director of the White House Office of
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, accused the study of
bias, saying it was "only the latest indication of the
Roundtable's agenda in opposition to the president's faith-based
initiative."
The study did not count grant-making programs that were created
after 2002 and ignored such programs as Head Start, which he
said was the second-largest source of federal funds for
religious organizations, after the Department of Housing and
Urban Development's Section 202 housing program for the elderly
poor.
"They have picked rotten cherries and come up with a rotten
pie," Towey said. "They took a very small sample of programs and
grants and are drawing conclusions that are completely
inaccurate."
Towey said the White House has been collecting growing amounts
of data on grants each year, beginning with two federal agencies
in 2002, five in 2003, seven in 2004 and 10 in 2005. When it
issues its report for 2005 in March, he said, "we'll look at
25,000 grants in just one year" and "will show there's been an
increase every year in the category of competitive, nonformula
grants for social services."
Several independent researchers who were not involved in the
study defended the Roundtable.
Candy S. Hill, senior vice president for social services at
Catholic Charities USA, said the study's findings fit with her
experience. "It doesn't surprise me, because overall the funding
for most social service programs is shrinking," she said. "We're
grateful there's a recognition by the administration of the
wonderful work that faith-based groups do, but we continue to be
concerned about the levels of funding."
Stanley Carlson-Thies, director of social policy studies at the
Center for Public Justice, an evangelical Protestant think tank
in Annapolis, said the study "gives the lie to alarmists" who
think the administration is funneling vast sums to churches.
"Look at the huge percentage of money that continues to go to
secular organizations," said Carlson-Thies, who formerly worked
in the White House faith-based office. "The image that there's
this Bush push that's going to turn the government into a
religious apparatus -- if people think that that's what's
happening, they're wrong."
(
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/about)
(
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/14/AR2006021401903.html)
******************
February 21, 2006
VIETNAMESE AMERICANS BRING HEALTH CARE, HOPE TO RURAL VIETNAM
Volunteers travel to their homeland to provide medical and
dental care
By Todd Bullock
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- A tiny insect nearly derailed the educational
aspirations of a 12-year-old girl in rural Vietnam.
It had become lodged in her ear and had caused an infection that
resulted in hearing loss. Dr. Clarissa Dudley, a physician from
Virginia, discovered the errant bug and was able to work with
local villagers to obtain an instrument close enough to an "ear
curette" to enable her to remove the insect and prevent further
deafness in the little girl.
It is difficult for children to study or play when they are
hurting; it is harder still for sick children in rural Vietnam,
where simple maladies can become disabling.
Recognizing the need for basic health care in Vietnam,
Vietnamese Americans have volunteered to fill the gap.
Vietnamese Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) and Hope for
Tomorrow (HOPE), two U.S. nonprofit organizations led by
Vietnamese Americans, sent a team of 20 volunteers -- including
seven dentists, two doctors and two public health workers -- to
the central highlands region near Da Nang November 12-23, 2005,
and provided medical care to rural Vietnamese children and
public health training for communities. (See related article.)
Because of the caring efforts of these two organizations, the
health and futures of 2,700 Vietnamese children, many of whom
never had been to a dentist or a doctor, will be brighter.
VNAH is a Virginia-based nonprofit organization originally
established to assist war amputees and other disabled people in
Vietnam. Its president, Ca Van Tran, an entrepreneur who
immigrated to the United States from Vietnam after the war,
founded VNAH in 1991 to help disabled Vietnamese overcome their
disabilities and lead richer, fuller lives.
VNAH works closely with the Vietnamese government and has
received funding and support for its programs from several U.S.
agencies, including the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Labor.
HOPE, a Maryland-based nonprofit organization, has a core
mission of providing medical relief efforts to needy communities
throughout the world. Its president, Chau Nguyen, an
entrepreneur who also emigrated from Vietnam, is particularly
interested in helping improve the lives of under-served
Vietnamese.
In an interview with the Washington File, Dudley said she "found
it very rewarding to witness my Vietnamese-American friends
return to their country and contribute to their homeland."
"They represent a new generation of Vietnamese Americans who,
while raised in the United States, have a strong connection with
their culture and strive to preserve their history," she
continued.
DENTAL
AND MEDICAL TREATMENT
According to Tran, the medical team visited five schools west of
Da Nang, a coastal city with a population of almost 600,000,
most of whom lack access to basic infrastructure such as
electricity and running water. The mission also provided basic
dental and medical services to the Montagnards, an ethnic
minority that lives in isolated villages located in Vietnam's
central highlands.
"The mission team had two 'dental vans' which traveled to each
school with the team bringing along all the necessary dental
supplies," Nguyen, said adding each van had a chair set up for
fillings enabling three dentists to work within each van at the
same time.
According to Nguyen, about 75 percent of all kids screened had
dental caries (small cavities).
"Many children with permanent teeth had severe cavities.
Fillings were needed for the majority of children and
extractions were mainly done for those for decayed and abscessed
teeth," he said.
Many children also had overcrowding of teeth, which happens when
the mouth does not grow fast enough to accommodate adult teeth
due to poor nutrition, according to Nguyen.
The mission team also worked with parents and local health
officials to establish fluoridation systems.
Along with dental screening, the medical team also performed
medical checkups. Whenever a problem was identified, Tran said,
the child underwent a more detailed examination.
"About 100 children were screened per day and some of the common
problems encountered were malnutrition and parasitic
infections," he said.
The team distributed milk for its nutritional value and anti-helminthic
tablets to rid infected children of parasites and worms, Tran
said. The group also provided vitamin supplements to parents
for their children.
In addition to the health and dental screenings, the medical
team provided critical care for specialized cases. For those
patients who need more extensive care, according to Tran, VNAH
will pay to transport the child and his parents to a city where
the necessary care can be obtained.
PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY-BUILDING
"Experience from previous missions indicates that our target
population tends to have a poor understanding of disease process
and prevention," Tran said.
"Since health education is severely deficient in the rural
areas, we integrated oral hygiene and cavity prevention programs
into our dental care efforts," he said.
The public health team went to each classroom in the schools it
visited and conducted training sessions on proper tooth-brushing
techniques and showed the children how to use a salt substitute
for toothpaste," Nguyen said.
The mission team covered other basic hygiene instruction such as
hand washing.
"The teachers were also instructed to enable them to continue
and reinforce these lessons to their students," Nguyen said.
According to a VNAH-HOPE mission report, the public health
program was the most popular assistance during the trip because
it engaged many schoolchildren, their parents and teachers in
open discussions about proper oral health and personal hygiene.
"To exchange this knowledge with health care professionals and
individuals in rural communities and glean from them information
about how medical care is best delivered is a tremendous
learning experience for both sides," Dudley said.
See also "Vietnamese Legislators Study U.S. Disabilities
Legislation."
For more information on U.S. policy, see East Asia and the
Pacific and Humanitarian Assistance and Refugees.
For information on how U.S. foreign assistance is affecting
lives, see Partnership for a Better Life.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
(
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=February&x=20060221165356TJkcolluB2.994937e-02&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
******************
February 21, 2006
34th
SENATE DISTRICT MAY SIGNAL TIGHTER RACES
CULTURALLY and politically, Orange County is a doughnut and
Santa Ana is the hole - a concentration of Latinos and Democrats
surrounded by Republican-voting whites and Asian Americans.
The concentration is big enough that when the Legislature redrew
political maps five years ago in a bipartisan deal, it made
Santa Ana as the heart of one Democratic congressional district,
one state Senate district and one Democratic Assembly district
while leaving the rest of the county firmly in Republican hands.
As drawn in 2001, the 34th Senate District was nearly 60percent
Latino and had a Democratic registration advantage of 25,000
voters (nearly 10percentage points). The tilt came largely on a
30-point Democratic margin in Santa Ana, from a strong influx of
Latinos in recent years.
With the 34thSD's purposeful Democratic configuration, Democrat
Joe Dunn easily won re-election in 2002 but in the four years
since, Republican Party leaders - with few other opportunities
to gain legislative seats - have conducted a massive and
expensive voter-registration drive that has erased the
Democratic advantage.
The latest secretary of state registration numbers, dated Jan.3,
have the Democratic edge down to 1.4points, thus making the
34thSD the single most competitive legislative district this
year, and Republicans are claiming that since then they have
eked out a 34thSD voter plurality.
Dunn is being forced out of the Legislature by term limits and
probably will run for statewide office this year. His departure
has touched off intense primary battles in both parties that
will lead to a partisan showdown in November. And with few other
legislative seats in which the outcome is in doubt, it's likely
that both parties and myriad interest groups will spend millions
of dollars, perhaps as much as $10million, on the two-part
contest to elect Dunn's successor.
The primary duels are microcosms of the ideological divisions in
both parties.
For the Republicans, that means a face-off between freshman
Assemblyman Van Tran, the Legislature's first
Vietnamese-American member and a favorite of party
conservatives, and three-term Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher, a
pro-abortion rights moderate.
For Democrats, it pits Assemblyman Tom Umberg against former
Assemblyman Lou Correa, now a county supervisor and a moderate
who draws business support. Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata
backs Correa, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez supports Umberg.
Both primary battles promise to be nasty with positions on gay
marriage, abortion and other hot-button issues grist for
campaign propaganda - and ethnic rivalries and the candidates'
personal peccadilloes looming as unspoken but potent issues. And
as parties, unions, business groups and other interest groups
pour money into the district, it's a stark reminder of how much
California's legislative elections have changed in recent years
due to term limits and the bipartisan gerrymanding.
Although term limits force constant turnover of legislators -
roughly a third of the Legislature every two years -
gerrymandered districts mean that virtually all of the vacated
seats are filled by winners of the primaries without partisan
contests, depending on the designated party ownership of each
district.
In the two election cycles since the gerrymander went into
effect, there have been 200 legislative elections - 100 in 2002
and another 100 in 2004 - but voters have acted against the
intentions of the political mapmakers in just five of those
elections, involving three districts, for a success rate of
97.5percent.
Another 100 legislative seats are to be filled in 2006, 80 in
the Assembly and 20 in the Senate, but with the gerrymander
still in place (voters last year turned down Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger's measure to draw new districts), only two or
three are expected to be even marginally competitive. The 34th
SD may be the only Senate district in serious play.
Thus, it is largely a matter of bragging rights. At best,
Republicans could improve their standing in the 40-member Senate
from 15 to 16, still five short of a majority with no hope of
getting there at least until the next round of redistricting.
Dan Walters is a columnist for The Sacramento Bee.
(
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_3529590)
******************
February 21, 2006
LOUISIANA GOVERNOR UNVEILS RECONSTRUCTION PLANS
By Melinda Deslatte
The Associated Press
LAKE CHARLES, La. — Gov. Kathleen Blanco outlined a $7.5 billion
rebuilding, relocation and buyout plan Monday for thousands of
residents whose homes remain damaged or destroyed after last
year's hurricanes.
It is Louisiana's first comprehensive housing proposal since
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in August, followed
a month later by Hurricane Rita.
"In the not-too-distant future, I predict the sounds of hammers
and saws will be ringing through all of our communities as our
homes are rebuilt," Blanco said.
Assistance would be capped at a maximum of $150,000 per
homeowner under the proposal. But direct relief is still months
away, and homeowners receiving the aid could be taking on more
debt to rebuild.
The draft faces scrutiny from local officials, state lawmakers
and the affected residents; and it depends in large part on
federal dollars awaiting congressional approval.
But the plan represents a significant step in using billions of
already available federal recovery dollars.
About $4.2 billion of the money proposed for the program has
been recommended by the White House but hasn't yet been approved
by Congress. Any plans for spending the federal aid that
Louisiana has received — and any additional housing money
appropriated by Congress — would require approval from the
Legislature and federal officials.
About 128,000 owner-occupied homes had major damage from the
storms and 210,000 more received minor damage, according to
Blanco's Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA).
The Blanco administration plan would provide money to repair or
rebuild damaged homes and to relocate people who want to build
elsewhere in Louisiana.
For those who don't want to relocate or rebuild in Louisiana,
the plan would buy them out at 60 percent of the pre-storm home
value.
The program would use a mix of direct grants and home loans, in
some cases with no interest and no payments due until the homes
are sold or transferred to new owners.
"The priority is to help people return to their way of life, to
return to their homes and their communities," said Walter Leger,
an LRA board member.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
(
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002818573_katrebuild21.html)
******************
February 22, 2006
WESTMINISTER
MAY RENAME STREET FOR DO
The Westminster City Council tonight is expected to discuss a
proposal to rename Moran Street in honor of Yen Do, the founding
publisher of Nguoi Viet Daily News.
By Nguyen Huy Vu
The Orange County Register
WESTMINSTER – The family of the founder of the nation's
longest-running Vietnamese-language newspaper is asking city
officials to stop discussions about naming a street after the
ailing icon.
The Westminster City Council tonight is expected to discuss a
proposal to rename Moran Street in honor of Yen Do, the founding
publisher of Nguoi Viet Daily News.
But the effort has backfired, creating a rift among some of
Nguoi Viet's competitors that work along Moran Street and
prompting debate about the pioneer's contribution to the
community.
The idea of renaming the street began last year when some in the
community felt it was time to honor a Vietnamese-American in the
city. Do's daughter, Anh Do, a Register columnist, said the
family researched the effort but decided to pass.
"It's a lovely gesture and it's nice to be considered ... but
the City Council and our family have more pressing issues to
deal with," said Do, a senior manager at Nguoi Viet. "My father
is a very simple man and we don't seek attention.''
City Councilman Frank Fry, who put the proposal on the agenda,
said the city will discuss the item as planned to settle the
matter.
Yen Do founded Nguoi Viet in 1978 to inform the developing
Vietnamese community about news in its homeland and how to
navigate life in the United States.
The weekly newspaper Do peddled out of his garage has since
grown into a daily institution in Little Saigon, home to the
nation's largest concentration of Vietnamese-Americans.
Do retired last year because of diabetes and complications from
kidney disease.
Fry said the initial request for the name change came from
Jeffrey Brody, a Cal State Fullerton professor, Do biographer
and former Register reporter.
Fry said he would likely vote against the change because local
businesses would have to pay for new building signs and
advertising.
"You're talking about a lot of money," he said.
Mayor Margie Rice, who also opposes the name change, said it
could create confusion if city officials began naming streets
after individuals.
"If you are going to honor somebody, you'll have to honor
everybody," Rice said. "There are so many deserving people here,
I couldn't begin to make a choice."
Councilmen Kermit Marsh and Andy Quach said they would like to
hear from the community before making a decision.
"Yen Do is a great contributor to this community, but his
competitors do business on the same street, which isn't fair,"
Quach said. "It's like putting a 'McDonald's Street' next to a
Burger King."
The reaction Tuesday among business owners along Moran Street
was mixed.
Hoang Nguyen, of Bien Tinh Music, said she thinks a name change
would be appropriate because of Do's contributions.
"He's done so much to help the community," Nguyen said in
Vietnamese. "A lot of people support him and so do I."
CONTACT US: (714) 445-6685 or
vnguyen@ocregister.com
(
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/homepage/article_1010795.php)
******************
February 22, 2006
WHY RENEW VOTING RIGHTS ACT?
ALA. TOWN PROVIDES ANSWER
By DeWayne Wickham
When Asian-American residents of Bayou La Batre, a small Alabama
town that was made famous by Forrest Gump, went to the polls in
August 2004, they might have had one of the film's most
memorable lines on their mind. "Momma always said life was like
a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get, "
Gump, the title character in the Oscar-winning movie, said
prophetically in the opening scene.
After being urged by several candidates to vote in the municipal
election, many of the Southeast Asian-Americans in the town of
about 3,000 had their ballots challenged. Nearly 50 of them were
forced to fill out paper ballots and have another registered
voter vouch for them.
Despite these hurdles, Phuong Tan Huynh — the first
Asian-American to run for City Council there — defeated Jackie
Ladnier in the October runoff, but only after the Justice
Department intervened.
Tuesday, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a
non-partisan group, released a 187-page report that argues the
need for reauthorizing the sections of the Voting Rights Act
that are set to expire next year. One of them empowered the
Justice Department to send observers to monitor Bayou La Batre's
runoff election.
Though the law "has accomplished much during its first 40 years,
more remains to be done in order to protect the rights of racial
and ethnic minorities to fully and equally participate in the
electoral process," the report concludes.
Prime example
What happened in Bayou La Batre is proof of that. The voter
challenges came from supporters of Ladnier, who is white. The
challengers complained that the Asian-American voters were not
citizens, had criminal records or didn't live in Bayou La Batre.
Ladnier told the Mobile Register he knew that some of the
Asian-Americans had been in trouble with the law. "A lot of them
we didn't know but had to make a judgment, say if someone came
and met them outside and ... seemed to be guiding them through
it," he told the newspaper. "Also, we figured if they couldn't
speak good English, they possibly weren't American citizens."
That's just the kind of knee-jerk opposition the Voting Rights
Act is supposed to guard against.
"We can confirm that there were race-based challenges to
Vietnamese voters in the city's primary election," Justice
Department spokesman Eric Holland told me. "We monitored the
election and in concert with local officials prevented any
race-based challenges" in the runoff. That's the sort of good
news ending that drafters of the report, "Protecting Minority
Voters: The Voting Rights Act at Work 1982-2005," want to
safeguard.
Support, but concern
Both President Bush and the Republicans who control Congress
support renewal of the Voting Rights Act. But that hasn't
stanched the concerns of civil rights activists.
"The president has made a general statement of support for
reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act ... (but) the devil is
in the details," Theodore Shaw, the president of the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund, said during a January conference call with The
Trotter Group, an organization of black columnists.
Likewise, Karen Narasaki, executive director of the Asian
American Justice Center, told the group that she fears
conservatives will weaken the law even as they renew it. "You
can reauthorize something, but it does not necessarily mean that
it is actually going to be effective and strong" when the
process is completed, she said.
And that's what worries me. The renewable sections of the Voting
Rights Act are the heart of this important law. They require "preclearance"
of voting law changes; they permit the use of federal election
monitors and language assistance for voters in jurisdictions
that have a history of discriminatory treatment of minority
voters.
It was these protections that paved the way for the election of
Phuong Tan Huynh — and which need to be renewed intact.
DeWayne Wickham writes weekly for USA TODAY.
(
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-02-22-forum-voting-act_x.htm)
******************
About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese
Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy
organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese
Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum –
by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens
engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil
liberties.
Copyright material is distributed without profit or payment for
research and educational purposes only, in accordance with Title
17 U.S.C. section 107
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