NCVA eREPORTER - August 24, 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
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EVENTS
MVMA BENEFIT AUCTION
Dear All,
Here is another opportunity for you to get together with your friends, learn about Asian American Art, and enjoy wine and other hors d'oeuvres, while support our efforts in strengthening our Golden Age Project for Seniors.
MVMA is partnering with Lac Viet Gallery (www.lacvietgallery.com) to make this Benefit Auction possible. Please save August 26th, from 11-3pm, for us. Lac Viet Gallery has an extensive collection of Jia Lu art works. For those who may not know Jia lu, she is an international renowned artist, who is known for her oil painting. You can view some of her art works here: http://www.jialu.com/htdocs/galOil95.htm
For female guests, wearing ao dai is welcome. Please contact us to purchase your ticket. Please see attachment for more information and feel free to disseminate this event to your friends.
As always, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Yen
Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association, Inc.
8121 Georgia Ave, Suite 503
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301) 588-6862
Fax: (301) 576-4502
(http://www.mdvietmutual.org)
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CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON NONPROFIT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Council of Community Services of New York State: CAMP FINANCE 2006
The Council of Community Services of New York State is offering CAMP FINANCE 2006, a two-day financial management conference for nonprofit organizations. This retreat will gather together executive directors, fiscal staff, board members, and financial professionals working with nonprofit organizations. Conference sessions, led by experts in nonprofit financial management, will focus on communicating an organizations financial information effectively, accounting and compliance updates, technology and financial systems integration, and basic concepts in nonprofit accounting. The conference will be held October 5-6, 2006 in New Paltz, NY.
(http://www.ccsnys.org/cf06/index.html)
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES GRANTS CATALOG
The White House Grants Catalog identifies opportunities that organization may be eligible to compete for funding in the next fiscal year.
The Grants Catalog provides some basic information about the Federal grants process. It also lists over 170 programs that may interest your organization. Grants programs are organized into general categories ranging from programs for elders and the homeless to those that serve at-risk youth and people making the transition from welfare to work.
You can access this and many other helpful resources at:
(http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/funding.html)
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FOUNDATION FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM OFFERS SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH ON IMMIGRANT CHILDREN
Deadline: November 1, 2006
The Foundation for Child Development Young Scholars Program provides approximately four fellowships of up to $150,000 each over a maximum period of three years to study issues affecting the development of young immigrant children in the United States.
The FCD Young Scholars Program aims to stimulate basic and policy-relevant research focused on the early education, health, and well-being of immigrant children from birth to age ten, particularly those who are living in low-income families.
YSP supports the career development of young investigators -- from the behavioral and social sciences or in an allied professional field -- to attain tenure or who have received tenure in the last four years from a college or university in the United States.
Scholars must have earned their Ph.D. within the last fifteen years (seven years from completion of residency for M.D.s). Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or its equivalent in one of the behavioral and social sciences or in an allied professional field (e.g., public policy, public health, education, social work, nursing, medicine). Applicants must be U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or those who have employment authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services for the duration of the award.
(http://www.fcd-us.org/ourwork/y-how.html)
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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES CHALLENGE GRANTS SUPPORT HUMANITIES PROGRAMS
The National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grants help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs. Awards are made to museums, public libraries, colleges and universities, research institutions, historical societies, public television and radio stations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities to improve the quality of their humanities activities and their financial stability. Challenge grants most commonly augment or establish endowments that support humanities activities in education, public programming, scholarly research, and preservation. Institutions may use the income from invested funds to meet ongoing humanities-related costs. Challenge grants can also be used for construction or renovation projects on behalf of humanities initiatives, or for acquisitions in support of humanities programming. The next application deadline is November 1, 2006.
(http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html)
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HERB BLOCK FOUNDATION: DEFENDING FREEDOMS ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROGRAMS
The Herb Block Foundations Defending Freedoms grant program seeks proposals from organizations throughout the U.S. that strive to safeguard the basic freedoms guaranteed in our Bill of Rights and work to eliminate all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Anti-discrimination projects which involve joint efforts of two or more organizations are encouraged. In addition, the Foundation will consider support for requests that address contemporary societal issues that may arise. (The Foundation also offers two geographic-specific grant programs that support nonprofit organizations in the greater Washington, D.C., region.) Letters of inquiry for the Defending Freedoms program are due October 10, 2006.
(http://www.herbblockfoundation.org)
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BEN & JERRY’S FOUNDATION FUNDS SOCIAL CHANGE PROGRAMS
The Ben & Jerry's Foundation provides support to nonprofit, grassroots organizations throughout the United States that facilitate progressive social change by addressing the underlying conditions of societal and environmental problems. Specifically, the Foundation seeks groups that are working to help themselves, help their own communities, and help others like themselves through self-empowering, community organizing efforts. Grant applicants need to demonstrate that their projects will lead to societal, institutional, and/or environmental change; address the root causes of social or environmental problems; and lead to new ways of thinking and acting. Requests for the support of direct social services programs are not accepted. Letters of interest may be submitted at any time and are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
(http://www.benjerry.com/foundation)
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NESTLE VERY BEST IN YOUTH PROGRAM AWARDS
The Nestle Very Best in Youth Program honors young people who have excelled in school and who are making their community and the world a better place. Twenty-five young people selected from nominations from RIF coordinators, volunteers, parents, and teachers will be featured in a special publication and honored at a ceremony in Los Angeles, CA during the summer of 2007. Nestle will provide all the expenses for the winners trips to Los Angeles, and will also donate $1,000 in the name of each winner to the charity of his or her choice. Nominees should have a strong background in citizenship, school, community involvement, and reading. Legal residents of the U.S., between 10 and 18 years of age, are eligible for the program.
(http://nestle-verybestinyouth.com)
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SOROS MEDIA JUSTICE FELLOWSHIPS
Soros Justice Media Fellowships support mid-career or veteran print and radio journalists, filmmakers, and individuals who propose writing projects that improve the quality of media coverage and representation of the U.S. Justice Fund’s core issues. Fellowships may be awarded for up to $45,000. Applications must be received by September 13, 2006.
(http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus_areas/justice_fellows/guidelines/media2006)
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JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
KCCD FISCAL MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR
KCCD’s Mission
KCCD was founded in 2001 as a non-profit faith-based organization with a vision to serve as a bridge between the Asian American community and the greater community at large in connecting and creating private and public collaborations both locally in Southern California as well as on a national level. Our mission has been to maximize the capacity of Korean and Asian American faith-based organizations and other community non-profits to remove the cultural, language and economic barriers by increasing their access to resources and funds in order to assist low income individuals and revitalize neighborhoods.
Position Summary
Under the direction of CEO and COO, the Fiscal Manger/Administrator is responsible for the overall fiscal management of the organization’s operating budget as well as overseeing various grant contracts for compliance and judicious management of government contracts. In addition, the Fiscal Manager/Administrator will also be responsible for providing general administrative duties such as human resources support, vendor contracts, and other organizational operation management responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
Primary Responsibilities:
* Review and monitor organizational fiscal budget, prepare monthly expenditure report and financial statements accordingly. Ensure all financial documentation is accurate and complete.
* Review and manage government contracts for fiscal and contractual compliance and develop fiscal reports.
* Monitor fiscal budget of the grants awarded to various organizations for financial compliance and prepare reports accordingly.
* Develop reimbursement protocols and procedures for grant contracts.
* Provide fiscal trainings to sub-grantees and assist sub-grantees with fiscal management of grant contract.
* Input and maintain appropriate accounting.
* Assist with independent financial audits.
* Assist with budget forecasting.
* Assist with payroll functions.
* Provide HR functions (e.g., process new employee paper work, enrollment into insurance, and etc)
* Assist with identification and selection of vendors and prepare contracts accordingly.
* Other duties and special projects as assigned.
Knowledge of:
* Financial and accounting concepts.
* Government and non-profit accounting
* Purpose and interpretation of financial statements
* Budgeting and forecasting
* Accounting software
Ability to:
* Plan, organize and meet deadlines by prioritizing work.
* Generate reports and recommendations based on fiscal assessment.
* Review documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations and procedures.
* Develop, organize, and implement fiscal training activities for grantees.
* Analyze financial problems and recommend solutions.
* Work well in a fast paced environment and meet deadlines.
* Work well in a team settings
* Maintain accurate records and files.
* Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
* Work independently and exercise initiatives and good judgment.
Experience Requirements:
Minimum of three (3) or more years in accounting, preferably in non-profit or government is required.
Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance or related field is required. An equivalent combination of applicable experience may be substituted for education requirements.
Fringe Benefits:
KCCD offers a fringe benefits including health, dental, and life insurance.
Salary Range:
Annual compensation of $40,000 - $45,000
Please submit cover letter and a resume including three professional references and salary history via email to:
Hyepin Im, CEO: hyepin@gmail.com
Position opened until filled.
KCCD is a non-profit faith-based organization, which serves as a bridge between the Asian American community and the greater community at large in connecting and creating private and public collaborations. Our mission is to maximize the capacity of Asian American faith-based organizations and other community non-profits to remove the cultural, language and economic barriers by increasing their access to resources and funds in order to assist low income individuals and revitalize neighborhoods.
(http://www.kccd3300.org)
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ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND
COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP Description Fall 2006
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy and community education. Founded in 1974, AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including immigrant rights, civic participation and voting rights, economic justice for workers, language access to services, Census policy, affirmative action, youth rights and educational equity, and the elimination of anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.
Central to AALDEF's initiatives is educating Asian Americans, policymakers, and the general public about the legal rights of Asian Americans, litigating cases that have a major impact, providing legal resources to community-based organizations, and facilitating grassroots community organizing efforts. AALDEF's Communications Internship offers undergraduate or graduate students the opportunity to develop skills in writing, media outreach, public policy education, research, web site maintenance, event planning, and databasing. The internship is unpaid, but receiving academic credit for the semester is possible.
Specifically, the Communications Intern will gain hands-on experience in:
* Assisting with press conferences or public events (briefings, town hall meetings, rallies, etc.);
* Tracking and archiving AALDEF media appearances;
* Updating reporter database encompassing print, TV, radio, and online media;
* Researching coverage of pending policy issues or legal challenges;
* Assisting with updating content on aaldef.org website in HTML;
* Drafting press advisories and press releases (dependent on experience); and
* General administrative duties.
Requirements:
Candidates must be detail-oriented, possess strong writing skills, and be able to commit at least 15 hours a week over a minimum of two days per week. Spoken and written knowledge of Korean, Bangla, Chinese, or a second language a plus.
Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter by September 15, 2006:
Jennifer Weng
Fall Communications Internship
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York , New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303
email: info@aaldef.org
For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or jweng@aaldef.org.
(http://www.aaldef.org)
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CALIFORNIA COMMON CAUSE: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ORGANIZER
California Common Cause is a nonpartisan citizen's lobby, dedicated to making government responsive and accountable to the people. Since the 1970s, we have led the fight for campaign finance reforms, ethics and accountability in government, civil rights, and open government on national, state and local levels.
POSITION AVAILABLE: Northern California Organizer. Full-time. Temporary, 5 months, may be extended based on funding. Based in San Jose or Northern California. Compensation: $2,500/ month. Position available immediately.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direction of the California Common Cause Executive Director and national staff, the Northern California Organizer will work on a wide variety of Common Cause's issues, including clean money elections, redistricting, ethics, and electoral reform. The Northern California Organizer's work will be focused on organizing in the San Jose / South Bay area, but will also include efforts in Oakland, San Francisco and surrounding areas.
A. Ethics / Clean Money Campaign in San Jose
The City of San Jose is currently considering Clean Money election reforms, ethics / lobbying law changes, and other significant changes to their governance structure. The Northern California Organizer will be responsible for assessing the situation, developing a strong local network of members and partners from other organizations, working with other California Common Cause staff to develop a comprehensive plan for advocacy around these issues, and organizing members locally to implement this plan.
B. Prop. 89 Campaign
California Common Cause is active in supporting the Clean Money and Fair Elections Initiative, Proposition 89, which will be decided by voters in the November 2006 election. As part of our statewide campaign, the Northern California Organizer will be responsible for outreaching to and organizing interested CCC members and volunteers to participate in voter education activities, a speakers' bureau, phone banks, and fundraising. The Northern California Organizer will work with CCC staff to carry out public education campaigns through use of traditional media, the website, mail and the internet.
C. Redistricting Organizing / Campaign
California Common Cause is currently leading statewide efforts to advance redistricting reform proposals that would create an independent commission to take over the responsibilities of redistricting from self-interested state incumbent legislators. The Northern California Organizer will work with CCC staff to organize a town hall meeting in September..
D. Bay Area Proposition Forum
Work with San Francisco and Oakland members to organize a non-partisan proposition forum in September/October 2006 to help voters discuss and understand all propositions on the ballot.
E. Other
Support statewide or national Common Cause efforts as needed. Serve as an integral part of the CCC team and support CCC staff and member efforts generally.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Familiarity with Common Cause's policy issues, particularly clean money and redistricting. Experience in organizing in Bay Area, especially San Jose. Familiarity with local community groups and leaders, particularly serving traditionally disenfranchised communities a plus. Strong organizing, interpersonal and communication skills; strong research and writing skills. Experience speaking to media and presenting to live audiences. Willingness to travel. Website, graphics skills a plus. Bilingual skills a plus. Demonstrated public interest commitment and self-initiative. Willingness to work as team member, ability to work independently.
SEND COVER LETTER, RESUME, AND WRITING SAMPLE TO:
Kathay Feng, Executive Director, California Common Cause, ca-info@commoncause.org
Common Cause is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, party or political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any illegal or prohibited factor
(http://www.commoncause.org)
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CAAB FINANCIAL EDUCATION COUNSELOR
Capital Area Asset Building Corporation (CAAB), a nonprofit organization located in the District of Columbia, is seeking a full-time staff member to support its financial education and savings programs. CAAB was founded in 1997 to help low- to moderate-income individuals improve their financial management skills, increase their savings, and build wealth. We sponsor money management and consumer education workshops, as well as savings programs that encourage investment in education, job training, small business development and homeownership. Additionally, CAAB advocates for programs and policies that encourage savings and wealth creation for all. For more information, please visit www.caab.org.
Position: Financial Education Counselor
Reports to: Director of Financial Programs
Starting Salary: $40,000 plus benefits
RESPONSIBILITIES
* Deliver money management and credit education workshops (using existing curricula).
* Develop strategies to motivate and encourage savings program clients to save regularly.
* Provide one-on-one financial (budget and credit) counseling to current and prospective savings program clients.
* Review clients' credit reports and teach them how to monitor their credit files.
* Refer clients to loan officers and other financial professionals as needed.
* Provide clients with ongoing support and case management services (in person or via phone/email).
* Keep good electronic records of case management activities to assess outcomes and ensure compliance with savings program rules.
* Assist clients in setting and achieving monthly savings goals, fulfilling financial education requirements, and choosing appropriate asset training.
* Conduct savings program informational sessions at CAAB's office and other locations.
* Provide follow-up services and tracking of savings program alumni, including conducting exit interviews of graduates, providing regular communications with alumni to update contact information and report on progress towards additional savings goals, and managing alumni database/directory.
* Other related duties as assigned by the Director of Financial Programs or Executive Director.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
* Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of experience in the area of financial education.
* Excellent presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
* Broad knowledge of the financial services industry and issues specific to low-income populations.
* Experience working with low-income clients on a one-on-one basis, especially with issues related to credit scores and credit repair.
* Good recordkeeping and writing skills. Some database experience.
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES
* Friendly; a team player with a good sense of humor.
* Able to work flexible hours, including early evenings and weekends.
* Adapts readily to new circumstances and changing priorities.
* Training/certification in budget and/or credit counseling.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Casual, friendly office. We are a small organization (5 employees) and we share a large suite with three nonprofit organizations of similar size.
HOW TO APPLY
Send a letter of interest along with your resume and a short writing sample to the attention of Brenda Estrella, Director of Financial Programs.
Applications should be submitted by e-mail to jobs@caab.org or by fax to (202) 419-1447. No phone calls, please.
(http://www.caab.org)
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TIPS/RESOURCES
NEDAP REPORT ON PROMOTING FINANCIAL JUSTICE FOR IMMIGRANT NEW YORKERS
NEDAP has released a report, Promoting Financial Justice for Immigrant New Yorkers, summarizing findings from a New York City forum held on February 8, 2006.
The report describes barriers immigrant New Yorkers face in the financial services system, and highlights emerging organizing and advocacy strategies by local groups to promote corporate accountability and reinvestment in immigrant neighborhoods.
<http://www.nedap.org/news/documents/FORUMREPORTfinal.pdf> CLICK HERE for a copy of the report.
For more information about the NYC Immigrant Financial Justice Project, please visit www.nedap.org/programs/ifjp.html.
(http://www.nedap.org/news/documents/FORUMREPORTfinal.pdf)
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FREE XEROX PHASER 8550 NETWORK COLOR PRINTER
Now you can print all your documents in FULL, brilliant color -- on a genuine Xerox Phaser 8550 Network Color Printer!
The Xerox Corporation is offering organizations like yours the opportunity to receive a professional, high-speed, networked color printer at NO COST.
* Xerox Phaser 8550 Network Color Printer
* 3-year service agreement
* Support by email and toll-free telephone
Total program value of more than $3,000! Plus...you'll receive a BONUS Xerox media sample pack upon approval!
(https://www.freecolorprinters.com/application/apply.cfm)
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TECHNOLOGY: 11 COMPUTER QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR STAFF
Organizations that are initiating or expanding the use of technology in their operations can often be hampered, or helped, by the familiarity of their staff with high-tech gadgetry.
At a recent conference on nonprofit technology, attendees learned that to maximize the benefit a computer system can bring, or to minimize the difficulties associated with such a move, a questionnaire of employees about their computer ability can help.
The questionnaire could ask:
* Describe one or two major duties and responsibilities of your role.
* What four specific tasks do you perform most often (not necessarily related to technology)?
* Rank your computer skills ( e.g., novice, moderate, educated, advanced, expert).
* How many hours a day do you spend working on a computer?
* Which of these tasks would you like to do with technology to help you better fulfill your responsibilities?
(This can include a wide variety of areas, such as communication, tracking and management, accounting, etc.)
* What would you like to do that you can’t without computer equipment?
* In what ways has technology made you more productive or effective, or made your job easier?
* How many hours per month do you spend receiving help from co-workers to solve computer-related problems?
* How many hours per month do you spend assisting others?
* How much formal classroom training have you had on computers or related systems?
* How much informal training have you had (e.g., studying a book, etc.)?
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/technology.html)
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FINANCE: YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HAS GREAT VALUE
Nonprofits might become so focused on mission and fundraising that they lose sight of other important considerations. One of these areas of concern, which was discussed at a recent national conference on nonprofit technology, is intellectual property and protection of it.
Although it might not seem like a priority item, intellectual property can be important for any nonprofit. Intellectual property involves four items:
* Trademarks. These identify an agency's services with the agency itself, allow recipients of services to know who they are working with and allow funders to know who they are donating to. Trademarks can be protected by trademark search and state and federal protection or registration.
* Copyrights. These protect creative expression, protect written work (including software and Web sites) and create a structure to license works, thus allowing an organization to control how its works are used. They can be protected by copyright notice, copyright registration and licenses and agreements.
* Patents. These can protect software, scientific discoveries, medicines and business processes, and allow an organization to control how its discoveries are used. Patents can be costly to obtain. Federal registration provides protection.
* Trade Secrets. These can increase the value of a nonprofit by keeping information confidential. One form of protection for trade secrets is nondisclosure agreements.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/finance.html)
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NEWS
August 15, 2006
GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM – DECADES AFTER HE FLED, A RADIO HOST IS GOING HOME
Vanessa Hua, Chronicle Staff Writer
For decades, Nguyen Qui Duc, founding host of KQED-FM's "Pacific Time," has searched for home. After fleeing Vietnam as a teenager in the aftermath of war, he lived in Ohio, Virginia, Morocco and London -- and traveled to many other places as well.
Now, he is moving to Hanoi with his ailing 82-year-old mother. There, he believes, his mother will receive better, more affordable care. And there, Nguyen, an accomplished poet and fiction writer, will join the flourishing literary scene, and report from Asia, covering arts, culture and social issues.
"Vietnam is home, and it's part of the most exciting continent," said Nguyen, 48. "I had a lot of opportunity in this country, which has given us a lot. But here, I'm on the computer 24 hours a day. Over there, I feel warmer in Vietnam. I have time for friends."
His last show is Sept. 14, and in the next few weeks, he's embarking on a series about Asian Americans in small towns across the country.
"Pacific Time," the only nationally distributed radio show about Asia and Asian Americans, reaches 165,000 each week on 20 stations nationwide and in Hong Kong -- its biggest audience since its inception in November 2000, but down from a peak of 43 stations. Where the show is carried depends on the interests of the individual station manager, producers say, and the radio magazine's half-hour format makes "Pacific Time" harder to schedule than if it were an hourlong show. KQED declined to release the budget of the show, which is distributed for free.
Having aired its 300th show Thursday, "Pacific Time" has survived even as other English language, Asian American media have struggled in the past decade. The 13 million Asians and Pacific Islanders living in the United States are a group composed of distinct cultures and languages. Most U.S. Asian ethnic media are geared toward immigrants and delivered in their native languages.
"We've had bold and bright points of light that winked out one by one," said Jeff Yang, a consultant on Asian American consumer culture and founder of aMagazine, a pioneering journal that folded in 2002. "Everybody acknowledges this vacuum exists for this fast-growing and dynamic population, but there is not a lot of media in any form that specifically targets and serves them. 'Pacific Time' plays an incredibly important role." (Yang is also a frequent contributor to SFGate.com.)
Surveying its show in three-month increments to measure what regions and communities are covered, "Pacific Time" has worked to strike a balance in its coverage, said Nguyen, who goes by his surname first, according to Vietnamese tradition, unlike in Western countries, where the family name comes last.
"Are we too insider or outsider? If we do the show for non-Asians, how do we keep Asians interested? Are we doing basic 101? Or how deep can we go?" he added in his distinctive baritone with French, British and Vietnamese inflections.
Recording his show in the studio Thursday, he wore black jeans, a gray button-down shirt, glasses with thick black frames and ratty black canvas sneakers (Comme des Garcons, purchased in Japan but made in Vietnam, he points out). He's at once mischievous and worldly.
The show featured pieces on Filipino Americans going to the Philippines for medical school, the woes of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (his name a tongue twister he practiced several times), and an essay about Hmong online (the show staff have had extensive debates on whether the word rhymes with "hung" or "song").
"Pacific Time" has evolved over the years, now including more stories about Asian Americans, while briefs on Asia were scrapped because listeners did not have the background knowledge to understand the short items.
A reporter as well as host, Nguyen is proudest of his pieces in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the tsunami in Indonesia.
"This man does not sleep. In the middle of the night, he's talking to people in Asia. In the middle of the day, he's here," said Raul Ramirez, the show's executive producer. "This is not a profession for him. This is a life calling."
Bruce Pickering, executive director of the Asia Society in San Francisco, praised Nguyen for the whimsical, offbeat look at the critical issues the show covers.
He and Nguyen were aboard a 2004 flight from San Francisco to Vietnam, the first commercial service between the two countries since the end of the Vietnam War. He recalled how Nguyen drove him around on a motorbike for two days, to markets, shrines and back alleys.
"We're on this wide road, with truck traffic. He tells me he thinks we missed the turn, then looks over the shoulder, and takes a broad turn in front of 10,000 cars. I'm glad I had a chance to live to talk about it," Pickering said. "In certain things he does, he's Americanized, but he still remains a Vietnamese kid. I've never seen anyone straddle two cultures so well."
While attending San Francisco State University, where he studied broadcasting, Nguyen saw the need to tell the story of Vietnamese American and Vietnamese and to bring information to an isolated community with limited English skills.
"I couldn't be an engineer or doctor, unlike the typical Asian. I just wouldn't be any good at it," Nguyen said with a laugh.
His career has included stints at the BBC in London, as correspondent for National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and program director for KALW in San Francisco.
The youngest of three children, Nguyen was reunited with his parents in 1984. From 1968 to 1980, his father, a former civilian provincial governor in South Vietnam, was imprisoned in the North. His father, a writer and storyteller, died in 2000, and his mother suffered a stroke about 1 1/2 years ago.
"People like Duc have carved the way," said San Francisco writer Andrew Lam, discussing how the Vietnamese American community has changed after the war. "Now 30 years hence, you see people much less uptight about survival, and moved to the stage of being expressive."
Nguyen has mentored scores of Asian American journalists and artists. Freelancer Bernice Yeung broadcast her first radio pieces on "Pacific Time" after he taught her both the technical procedures and how to use sound to convey mood and place.
"There aren't many Asian Americans in public radio, and he's been dedicated, committed to nurturing more," she said.
Nguyen has been critical of KQED for a lack of diverse on-air talent, and says that the station hasn't taken enough steps to address the problem during his tenure, such as training programs or diversity workshops.
Nguyen pointed at a sign on his cubicle: "Janitorial closet."
"Do you know why?" he asked. "Because every single janitor is Asian. I'm the only Asian on air."
Ramirez, KQED's news and public affairs director, agreed. "One of the unfortunate realities of public radio is that it seems to be unable to attract a diverse workforce. The natural pool we draw on is really not diverse. We need to continue trying."
Along with his journalism, Nguyen writes short stories and poetry, in both English and Vietnamese, and also has a memoir, "Where the Ashes Are."
"There's some stories that lend themselves to one language or another. In English, there's a certain flexibility. With Vietnamese, there's a certain old-world sentimentality that would come out corny in English. Now that I have been outside, and write with a different style, I hope to contribute to Vietnamese literature," he said.
He's also a visual artist, with a forthcoming exhibit, "Exposure & Memory," at the Togonon Gallery in San Francisco, featuring pieces created from photographs, found objects and paintings.
"He always mixes up culture into political reporting," said Kevin Chen, program director at the Intersection for the Arts, an alternative arts space in San Francisco. He praised Nguyen for his strong support of emerging artists and his cultural activism. "You can look at immigration and the sense of belonging through photography, music and poetry. It's the same issues as an academic speaker, but it's more sexy."
Nguyen plans to start up international arts retreats, in the mountains and on a boat in Halong Bay. He wants to connect Vietnamese artists with others from post-colonial countries such as Algeria and India.
He's selling his furniture and his car, and getting rid of his rented apartment in the Fillmore. He's taking only his books, CDs and his most prized possessions: a green 1934 BMW motorcycle, a collection of spoons and knives from different countries, and "little pieces of junk" that remind him of Morocco, London or Indonesia.
"Home is about elsewhere. It's about the places you've been."
E-mail Vanessa Hua at vahua@sfchronicle.com.
(http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/15/DDGK2KH7QV1.DTL&type=tvradio)
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August 18, 2006
YEN DO, 65; PUBLISHER OF FIRST, LARGEST U.S. VIETNAMESE PAPER
By Mai Tran and Stuart Silverstein, Times Staff Writers
Yen Do, who published the Nguoi Viet Daily News, the first and largest Vietnamese daily newspaper in the nation, died Thursday afternoon. He was 65.
Do died of complications of diabetes and kidney disease at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, according to his eldest child, Anh Do, English section editor and vice president of community relations for the newspaper.
In 1978, Do established the Nguoi Viet, which means "Vietnamese People." Initially a four-page weekly that he printed in his Garden Grove garage, the newspaper would grow and help shape the Southern California Vietnamese exile community.
It provided information to refugees, whose lives were upended by the Vietnam War, and guided them with articles on how to adjust in their new land. It reconnected loved ones separated by the war and offered tips on how to register children for school and how to obtain a driver's license.
"Yen Do was instrumental in working on getting the community on the right track," said Tony Lam, a former Westminster city councilman and friend of Do's.
Many of the immigrants settled in Westminster, a blue-collar town in Orange County, and cobbled out an enclave known as Little Saigon. It is the largest hub of Vietnamese commerce and business outside the Southeast Asian country.
Do's journalism career began when he was 12, working for an underground high school newspaper in Saigon. During his teens, he led student protests against the South Vietnamese government to seek more student scholarships and upgraded classrooms. He was arrested and then suspended from school for protesting, which was outlawed.
He later worked as a reporter and editor for several publications in Vietnam before he became an interpreter, working with American and French journalists as South Vietnam was being attacked by Communists.
He and his wife, Loan, were married in Saigon in 1963.
Do and his family were among the first wave of Vietnamese immigrants to arrive at Camp Pendleton in 1975, after the fall of Saigon. While at the Marine base, he asked soldiers to donate books to the library he had started for immigrants.
"He loved to read, and he wanted people to learn English," said Nick Lecong, who lived at Camp Pendleton with Do. "He wanted people to know about the American culture because he thought that some day, we would become Americans."
Like many of the refugees, Do arrived empty-handed. He found work as a dishwasher at a fast-food restaurant before moving to Texas in search of more lucrative work. But he was soon back in Southern California with the idea to start a newspaper to serve the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees who would be arriving over the next few years.
"He foresaw Orange County as the center for Vietnamese immigrants," said Lecong, who helped him deliver newspapers.
Using $4,000 he had saved, Do printed 2,000 copies of the first edition of Nguoi Viet on Dec. 6, 1978.
Initially, Do and his family shared a two-bedroom apartment with 10 others in Santa Ana. He and a group of friends continued to put out the newspaper. He worked late to translate, cut, paste, lay out and deliver the newspapers while slashing ad rates to $5. He gave away newspapers and created jobs for new arrivals.
"He helped all the former writers to get on their feet, no matter how late they came from Vietnam," Lecong said. "They get their feet wet with him and then they move on. His paper was a dropping spot."
Do, who tried to incorporate Western-style journalism in his paper, was criticized by staunchly anti-Communist peers and readers who thought the content did not take a firm enough stand against the Communist government of Vietnam. Some of the criticism turned into public protests.
In 1989, 150 protesters gathered outside his newspaper office after Do showed pictures of Communist leader Ho Chi Minh's tomb.
In 1994, about 300 people stormed the newspaper and demanded an apology from Do after he defended a trip to Vietnam by Dr. Co Pham, president of the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce. Do refused to apologize but resigned as editor after the protesters threatened a boycott.
"He felt disgusted and frustrated," Lam said, "but he's the kind of person that's quiet, low-key."
Today, Nguoi Viet has more than 70 employees, a circulation of about 18,000 and is known worldwide. It also publishes an English section and a yellow pages. Writers he once employed are now part of the thriving competing newspapers and magazines that opened across the street.
In addition to his wife, Loan, of Garden Grove and his daughter Anh of Costa Mesa, Do is survived by three other children: Lin of Walnut; and Dao and Tung of northern Virginia.
Services are pending.
(http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-yendo18aug18,1,2482663.story)
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August 20, 2006
ASIAN BOSTON MAGAZINE GETS NEW LOOK AFTER FIRST ISSUE CRITICIZED
By Ling Liu
Associated Press Writer
Boston - Driving a sedan filled with cardboard boxes, Leo Ballou is spending more than two weeks visiting hundreds of video stores, grocery stores, restaurants and other Asian-owned businesses in New England.
Ballou, the publisher of Asian Boston magazine, has just come out with 15,000 copies of his free glossy's second issue, which looks noticeably different from the debut in February that was criticized for sexy photos of Asian woman and his perceived ignorance of the local Asian community.
"Their faces were lighting up," Ballou said of the reaction to the new issue. "It's just a great feeling."
Much better, in fact, than how Ballou was feeling this spring. A month after his first issue hit the stands, The Boston Globe wrote an article questioning how a white guy from South Boston could pull off a magazine about Asians. The issue was subsequently disparaged in letters to the editor and on blogs, where Ballou was accused of objectifying Asian women and of being an outsider who didn't understand Asian-Americans.
Ballou said the criticism hurt, but denied in a recent interview that the magazine's new look - featuring fewer models in less skimpy outfits - is a result.
"I walked around one day and said, 'There's no Asian magazine'" in New England, Ballou recalled. "I'm not saying no one ever thought about it, but no one ever brought it into fruition. ... It took someone from the outside to appreciate it."
The first issue of Asian Boston led with a story called "The Essence of the Far-East Asian Women of New England." The cover shot was of an Asian model in low-cut blue jeans and a plunging gold, barely there blouse attached with a single tie across the chest. Inside, 11 pages were dedicated to color photos of female models in suggestive Asian-inspired dresses, skirts and tops, with one image featuring a model lying on her back, sprawled out on a colorful carpet.
The magazine's articles, including one on Chinese medicine and others on health and beauty, were written in English.
In sharp contrast, the second issue's cover features a young bride in the arms of her model groom smiling in front of Boston Harbor.
The modeling section has been cut to three pages of both male and female models, and the sexy outfits have been traded for bridal fashions designed by Quincy-based designer Phi Du.
Articles appear in Chinese and Vietnamese and focus on local Asian artists, health, food, immigration, fashion and beauty. The new 40-page issue also includes a profile of Tieng-Xanh Voice, a Dorchester organization that works with high-risk youth.
Ballou defended the premiere's modeling spread, saying it was a way of jump-starting careers and promoting the modeling and casting agency he runs with the magazine. He recruits Asian models, mostly women, through online postings, on the street, at parties, in grocery stores and casinos.
Giles Li, founder of the Asian Boston Progress Arts Collective, said the first issue was "an insult to the community" in a letter to the Globe. He was surprised to hear that Asian Boston was still running.
"It's looking to appeal to a pretty different demographic, which is nice," said Li.
Anh Nguyen, a development associate at the Asian American Civic Association in Boston, had told the Globe that Ballou was promoting Asian women as "submissive sex objects." She called the second issue a "drastic improvement," but was still concerned about Ballou's intentions.
"He's packaging Asians to make money," she said. "He's an outsider looking at the Asian race."
Ballou, who wouldn't say his age, has never been to Asia or formally studied Asian culture or history. Born and raised in Boston's mostly Irish "Southie" neighborhood, he met Asian friends and a Vietnamese girlfriend while studying to be a paralegal. After being laid off from a job where he sold wireless and broadcast tower space, he was inspired by financial guru Robert Kiyosaki, a fourth generation Japanese-American raised in Hawaii, to start his own business.
Ballou said he's fascinated by Asian culture and his ethnicity shouldn't be a factor.
"The Asian culture just grabbed me - the art, entertainment, food, everything about it," he said. "There's a mystique about it that I can't figure out, that I don't want to figure out because I always want it to be there."
Melissa Hung, editor-in-chief of the San Francisco-based Asian American magazine Hyphen, said she doesn't understand the idea of an outsider creating such a magazine.
"If you want to cover something, you need to be an expert at it," she said.
But Jeff Yang, a consultant on Asian-American consumer culture and founder of the now defunct aMagazine, one of the most successful Asian-American publications in history, said Ballou's background isn't the problem.
"The task is whether or not he really understands the market, whether or not the publication really fills a public need or service," he said.
Yang was also concerned that Ballou's mentality puts Asian-Americans in a permanent state of foreignness.
"We Asian-Americans don't think of ourselves as particularly mysterious," he said.
Last Tuesday, Ballou, who can say hello in several Asian languages, peddled his product at dozens of locations in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. Volunteer writers and models helped him distribute magazines and build rapport with potential advertisers.
"I've seen a lot of other magazines focusing on other ethnicities," said Minik Chauigyn, 20, who's a cover model for the second issue. "I always wondered why there are no Asian magazines."
Ballou has spent more than $20,000 of savings to design and print the first two issues. A third is planned for fall. Eventually, Ballou wants to create similar magazines in other cities.
"I hope in the future people will know what Asian Boston is and associate it with honor and integrity," he said.
(http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060820/APF/608200703&cachetime=5)
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August 28, 2006
POLL: MINORITY PARENTS VALUE EDUCATION
By Araceli Esparza Staff Writer
While they feel let down by the state's public education system, Latinos and minority parents have high expectations for their children and rank education as their No. 1 priority, according to a poll released Wednesday.
A majority of African-American, Asian-American and Latino parents interviewed were not satisfied with merely having their children attain a high school diploma. They want and expect their offspring to achieve bachelor's degrees or higher, the poll, which was conducted in several languages by New America Media, showed.
"Immigrant and ethnic minority parents clearly view schools as opportunity providers, not sorting mills," said Sandy Close, New America Media's executive director. "They look at the education of children as paramount in life and expect children to come out of school to go to college."
Minority parents also strongly support preschool programs and the California High School Exit Exam, the poll showed.
Researcher Sergio Bendixen in May oversaw the New America Media poll, which was conducted in six languages - English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
About 57 percent of those interviewed have lived in California for 20 years or more, meaning they are likely immigrants or first-generation Americans, officials said.
Bendixen presented the poll results at a news conference Wednesday in Sacramento and is scheduled to also release the results in San Francisco and Los Angeles today.
An estimated 600 parents were questioned about their views on education-related issues, including what they want their children to accomplish academically and what they hope for the state's education system.
"Ethnic minority parents understand that their children are more likely to succeed in school if they have access to good preschool programs," said
Catherine Atkins, president of Preschool California. "It's no wonder they want more preschool opportunity for their children."
The findings also came as no surprise to Ron Garcia, president of the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce in Whittier, which works with Latino families.
"They look around and they can see people graduating from college, and so it raises the bar," Garcia said of Latino parents.
New America Media officials hope the poll results will spur parent and education advocacy groups to push for changes in public school policy. For now, it offers hope toward reversing high dropout rates among Latino and other minority students, Close said.
"This is very strong faith that if you get the good education, if you learn in school, your life is going to be better," she said."If \ were blas or passive, we wouldn't have much force for improving schools."
Lonnie McConnell, area superintendent at the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, said the poll's results demonstrate that all parents want better opportunities for their children.
"You want your children to do as well as they can and to do better than you did," McConnell said. "Even though our population is diverse, the goals are common."
To view the entire poll results, visit www.newamericamedia.org/polls.
araceli.esparza@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3024
(http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_4229063)
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About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.
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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