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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.


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NCVA eREPORTER - January 16, 2004

In this NCVA eReporter:

Events

Funding Opportunities

Jobs/Internships

Tips

Legislation

News

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Events

National Faith-Based Grant Writer's Briefing!

WHO: All faith-based organizations and ministries interested in applying for federal funding.

WHAT: A two-day grant writing briefing sponsored by We Care America. Recent grantees and government program managers will cover key information for Your organization to become competitive in its' grant efforts. Up-to-date insights into program priorities, effective models and technical approaches will expand your skills and increase your competence.

WHEN: January 21-22, 2004 - Washington, DC

CONTACT: For further information, call (202) 299-7820 or head to http://www.wecareamerica.org/info/grants/nationalGrantBrochure2.pdf or www.wecareamerica.org.

You can register for the conference by emailing grantinfo@wecareamerica.org.

******************

VATV Tet Celebration and Fundraising Dinner

Vietnamese American Television (VATV) would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.  As we are getting ready for the Vietnamese New Year, the Year of the Monkey, there’s a special event waiting for you right around the corner!

You are cordially invited to the annual Vietnamese American Television (VATV) Fundraising Dinner. This eventful evening will include an elegant 7-course meal, special screenings/footages from the Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) from California, entertaining past footages of VATV, cultural shows, karaoke, raffle with great prizes and much more.

What: VATV Tet Celebration and Fundraising Dinner

When: Saturday, January 24, 2004

Time: 6:00pm-11:00pm

Where: Fortune Seafood Restaurant

Address: 6249 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22044

Phone: (703) 538-3333

Cost: $30.00 per ticket/$300 per table

Tickets: Please contact Nhan Vo at (301) 257-8496 or Tuan Nguyen at (301) 775-5028 or log onto www.vatv.org for more information

Vietnamese American Television (VATV) is a volunteer-based not-for-profit organization.  We are the only Vietnamese American Television program in the Metropolitan area with over 35,000 viewers. This annual fundraising dinner is one of the most important events to raise the required amount of funding to run our programs.  All proceeds will be used towards our programs and services to educate, inform and enlighten our community and beyond.  In order to sustain our programs and services made possible by devoted volunteers, we rely on your generous support.  We have enclosed a form of donation.  We hope you will use this form to show your appreciation and support of VATV’s dedication in serving our community.

Sincerely,

Vo Thanh Nhan

Executive Producer

13117 PEACH LEAF PLACE • FAIRFAX, VA • 22030

PHONE: (703) 502-9383

****************************************

VATV New Year Fundraising Dinner

Donation Form:

In supporting the VATV New Year Fundraising Dinner, you contribute your part in helping us meet our current budget needs and form a stronger foundation for the future.  Thank you for helping us begin the New Year with a bang!

DATE: _______________________________________

NAME: _______________________________________

COMPANY: ____________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________

_____________________________________________

PHONE: ______________________________________

CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT:

q        $35.00

q        $50.00

q        $100.00

q        $200.00

q        Other Amount  $________________

CONTRIBUTION METHOD:

q        Cash

q        Check

q        Money Order

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO “VATV”

Comments:

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

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White House Conference for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

WHO: Any faith- and community-based leaders interested in learning more about President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

WHAT: White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to help faith-based and community organizations learn more about President

Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The Federal government is working to make sure that faith-based and community groups can compete on an equal footing for Federal dollars, receive greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers.

WHEN: Thursday February 12, 2004 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Phoenix Civic Center

111 North Third Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

HOW: The Conference is free, but pre-registration is required.

Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit www.fbci.gov to register online. We strongly encourage you to register online. If you are unable to register online.

Complete the form and fax it to 703-299-4589 or 703-706-0476. If you are not able to view this file, please call 202-456-6718 to have a form faxed to you. Please register by Friday, February 6, 2004. If you are unable to attend the conference, please cancel your registration via email, to fbci@dtihq.gov, or via fax, to the numbers listed above, so we may accommodate as many people as possible.

CONTACT: Please call (202) 456-6718, send an email to fbci@dtihq.com, or visit www.fbci.gov, for further information.

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The Second Annual Trafficking in Persons Conference on Modern Day Slavery: Global, National and Local Perspectives for Prevention, Protection and Prosecution

Adam's Mark Hotel in Dallas, TX

March 3-5, 2004.

Guest speakers will include experts from the fields of social services, legal representation and law enforcement.

The conference is supported by ORR, the Office for Victims of Crime, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the TX Department of Human Services/Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and led by Mosaic Family Services, a Dallas based nonprofit organization.

For registration information contact Development Director Amanda Johnston at 214-821-5393 or email trafficking@mosaicservices.org.

******************

The Compassion Capital Fund Events & Training Website

WHO:  All faith-based and community-based organizations interested in the Compassion Capitol Fund and other opportunities for special training.

WHAT:  A website listing of numerous training workshops around the country that include topics such as The Faith-Based Initiative and Your Organization, Grant Writing, How and When to Borrow Money, Serving Ex-Offenders, etc.

WHEN:  January 2004-August 2004

WHERE:  Various locations across the U.S.

CONTACT:  To access the entire calendar, head to www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccf/calendar/ccfc.jsp

******************

Funding Opportunities

Mini-Grant for Refugee Services

Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services (BRYCS), a joint program between Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) is pleased to announce availability of funding for sites to develop and implement local cross-service trainings.  BRYCS will select six sites and provide a mini-grant in the amount of $3,000 to a lead agency responsible for implementing the cross service training in each service area.

The deadline to receive applications is Feb. 17, 2003.  Early submission is encouraged for selection of the April training.  For an electronic copy of the text please send an e-mail to ta@brycs.org or call Kerry McCarthy at 1-888-572-6500 and after the prompt, press #2.

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Economic Independence Fund to Support Financial Literacy Projects

For the fifth year in a row, the American Express Foundation and NEFE will jointly administer the American Express Economic Independence Fund. Through The Fund, American Express will grant a minimum of $500,000 in 2004 to community organizations. The grant money will support projects and programs that deliver financial education to underserved adult populations.

Applicants to The Fund grants program are encouraged to consult the Financial Education Clearinghouse, located on the NEFE website, as a resource to identify curricula and teaching materials for use in their projects. The Clearinghouse was developed as a component to The Fund, and provides a comprehensive list of financial resources available for use by nonprofit organizations in the delivery of money management education programs.

Community organizations interested in applying for an Economic Independence Fund grant should view the Request for Proposals, which will be posted to the NEFE website, beginning JANUARY 10, at www.nefe.org/amexeconfundrfp. In addition to the application guidelines, the website also contains answers to frequently asked questions and a list of common application mistakes. All applications to The Fund grants program for 2004 must be postmarked on or before March 5.

******************

Community Support from Pioneer
 Pioneer Community Investment

(http://www.pioneer.com/pioneer_info/corporate/us_guidelines.htm)

The Pioneer Community Investment Program is committed to helping to improve the quality of life in the communities where Pioneer customers and employees live and work, both nationally and internationally. The company focuses on programs that address rural economic and social issues. Projects that receive consideration include those that focus on education, agriculture, and the environment. Priority is given to organizations located in Pioneer facility communities or rural agricultural regions, and organizations with active Pioneer employee participation and company-related expertise and interest. Applications are accepted year-round. Visit the above website for application guidelines, or for more information.

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Support for Indigenous Cultures and Indigenous Healing
 Ringing Rocks Foundation

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

The mission of the Ringing Rocks Foundation is to explore, document and preserve indigenous cultures and their healing practices. Grants of $500 to $5,000 will be awarded to organizations throughout the world that promote indigenous healing, work with indigenous cultures, and educate the public at large about these topics. Grants can be used for start-up costs, program development and general operating expenses. Eligible programs must support indigenous healing and cultural practices and must have support from the indigenous community being served. Nonprofit organizations and organizations recognized as charities by their governments worldwide are eligible to apply. Letters of intent are due by February 4, 2004. Visit the above website for more information and application instructions.

******************

Computer Labs for Inner-City After-School Programs
GTECH After School Advantage Program

(http://www.gtech.com/public/asa.htm)

The GTECH After School Advantage Program provides computer labs for nonprofit community organizations serving inner-city youth. Organizations in company communities in 21 states and Washington D.C are eligible to apply. GTECH donates up to $15,000 in computers, online technology, computer software, and volunteer hours to after-school programs in inner-city communities. The computer centers are designed to provide inner-city children aged 5 to 15 with a meaningful, fun, and safe learning experience during after-school hours. Nonprofit community organizations with an existing after-school program serving disadvantaged youth of diverse backgrounds are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted year-round. Visit the above website to see eligible states or to access application instructions and guidelines.

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Jobs/Internships

HND Educational Scholarship

Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND) is a national non-profit organization developing capacity to ensure the full participation of Hmong people in society.  HND works with local and national organizations, public and private entities, and individuals to promote educational opportunities, to increase community capacity, and to develop resources for the well-being, growth, and full participation of Hmong in society.

HND Builds the Future of Hmong People

Because education creates the foundation to ensure the Hmong community can fully participate in society, HND is committed to helping Hmong students pursue their educational goals in higher education.  We realize that financial resources are scarce for Hmong students as many Hmong families live in poverty.  Additionally, Hmong students are often the first generations in their families to have the opportunity to pursue their education.  Through fundraising activities, HND funds its Educational Scholarship Program, which will offer ten $500 scholarships to selected Hmong students who are enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university during the 2004-2005 school year.  The Educational Scholarships strives to promote higher education; support and encourage Hmong student to strive for academic excellence; assist Hmong students to assume and achieve important roles as leaders in their chosen profession; and promote a stronger presence of Hmong in academia and in the professional community.

Eligibility

Applicants who apply must be a Hmong student with residency in the United States and plans to attend an accredited college/university or graduate degree program for the 2004-2005 school year.  In addition, students applying are required to complete the application package, which includes:

o       Application form,

o       Official transcript,

o       1 letter of recommendation,

o       1 page about students' employment history, involvement in community and extra-curricular activities and honors received, and

o       Personal essay.

HND Educational Scholarship Application Guidelines

1.      Application must be completed, signed and mailed with all required attachments in order to be considered.  The application packages must be received by 5:00PM EST on January 30, 2004.  No exceptions.

2.      If a scholarship recipient terminates his/her studies for any reason, the unused balance must be returned directly to HND, and cannot be used for the student's personal needs.

3.      The HND Educational Scholarship can only be used to pay for tuition, room and board and/or school supplies, such as, books for classes.  The scholarship will be revoked if recipients use funds for personal purposes.

4.      Immediate family members of current HND's board and staff are not eligible to apply.

5.      Scholarship winners must submit proof of admissions and status as a full-time student by July 30, 2004.

Application Deadline

A complete Scholarship Package must be received by 5:00PM EST on January 30, 2004.

Notification of Award

Only scholarship winners will be notified.

Proof of Admissions and Full-time Status

Scholarship winners must submit proof of admission to an accredited college, university or graduate degree program and proof of status as a full-time student.  This material must be postmarked by July 30, 2004 and mailed to HND.

Proof of admissions and status as a full-time student may be accomplished by submitting (1) an official registered class schedule for the quarter/semester for which the scholarship award will be applied OR (2) a letter from the school indicating that the applicant is entering school as a full-time student for the 2004-2005 school year.

Failure to provide this proof by July 30, 2004 can result in the withdrawal of the HND Educational Scholarship.

Complete application packages must be received by 5:00PM EST on January 30, 2004.

If you have questions, please contact:

Tong Lee

Program Coordinator

Hmong National Development, Inc.

1112 16th Street, NW, Suite 110

Washington, DC 20036

p: 202-463-2118 ~ f: 202-463-2119

website: www.hndlink.org

email: tong@hndlink.org

******************

Ford Foundation Opening/Sexuality and Reproductive Health and Rights - Vietnam

I seek your assistance in identifying candidates for the position of Program Officer for Sexuality and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Ford Foundation's Peace and Social Justice Program. The location for this position is Hanoi, Vietnam. Attached is the position description.

As the description details, the program officer will be responsible for advancing a grantmaking program in the field of sexuality and reproductive health in Vietnam and Thailand. This program supports pilot interventions and policy development on reproductive and sexual rights, including rights-based approaches to expanding and securing access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups. The program officer will maintain close working relations with grantees and with leaders in government, research and training institutions and other local Vietnamese organizations. In addition, he/she will communicate program outcomes and participate in the Foundation's worldwide discussions of program goals and strategies.

 We are seeking someone with a graduate degree in social sciences, public health or law, and fluency in English; experience with rights-based approaches to health and with conventions and standards supporting economic, social and cultural rights; ability to interpret institutional dynamics in the Vietnam context; demonstrated analytical, writing, public speaking and organizational skills; contacts and knowledge of resources outside Vietnam relevant to the work; demonstrated knowledge of principles of gender equity; ability to work effectively with colleagues from diverse disciplines and perspectives; commitment to acquiring a working knowledge of spoken Vietnamese within the first two years. We strongly prefer knowledge of Vietnam's society, history and culture; fluency in spoken Vietnamese; prior experience in program development or project management.

I hope that you would be willing to assist us in identifying a talented and diverse pool of candidates. You are invited to send nominations to me by e-mail (d.miller@fordfound.org), fax (212-351-3644) or telephone (212-573-4794). Of course, we also welcome your own application. We would also be very grateful if you would circulate this announcement to those in your networks who may be interested. Our preferred application deadline is February 15, 2004 but we will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled.

I thank you in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Douglas A. Miller

Search Coordinator

Office of Human Resources

The Ford Foundation

p  212.573.4794

f  212.351.3644

e  d.miller@fordfound.org

******************

DEADLINE FEBRUARY 3, 2004

MIT SUMMER PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

The Women's Technology Program at MIT is a 4-week summer residence program to introduce high school girls to electrical engineering and computer science. If you know a girl who is currently a high school junior with demonstrated math and science ability and an interest in finding out about EECS, please encourage her to visit our website for more Information and for an application form (applications are due February 3, 2004):

http://wtp.mit.edu

Our classes are taught in a supportive environment by a staff of women MIT PhD candidates and undergraduates. The full-time academic program Includes hands-on experiments and team-based projects in computer science, Electrical engineering, and mathematics.

Our goals are to:

* increase girls' interest and confidence in pursuing computer science and engineering and make them aware of their potential for success in these fields

Participants are selected from a nationwide applicant pool of girls Who attend the program in the summer between their junior and senior year in high school. No prior experience in computer programming, physics, Or electrical engineering is expected, but applicants typically Have strong academic records, especially in math and science.

Thank you for your help in communicating information about this opportunity to girls across the country!

Our email address is: wtp@mit.edu.  Call (617) 253-5580 during business hours.

Women's Technology Program, c/o Cynthia Skier, Director

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Room 38-443, 77 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02139

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Virginia Exit Pollsters

VIRGINIA:  Edison Media Research will be conducting non-partisan surveys and vote total collection throughout the state of Virginia on February 10th. We are now looking to hire those pollsters and vote total collectors and would greatly appreciate any input or help you could provide. As mentioned in our research calls, getting recommendations from the county offices serves both our purposes and yours. We know they will be responsible hires and will follow the election laws prescribed by your office and the state.

Exit Pollster - $200 for the day's work

Precinct Vote Collector - $50 for making a phone call with results

Please email me at pfontana@edisonresearch.com or call toll free 1-888-325-8683 with any names/contact numbers or with any questions or concerns.

Peter Fontana, Election Research Coordinator

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2004 SUMMER INTERNSHIPS NATIONWIDE ($5,500 Per Student)
For Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) College Students And Native American/Alaska Native (NAAN) College Students
Application Deadline is March 1, 2 004

The Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association, Inc. (MVMA) serving as a non-profit partner of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is seeking applications from Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Native American/Alaska Native (NAAN) college students nationwide for its 2004 MVMA-FAA Summer Internship Program (SIP). Last year, more than 75 interns were placed at FAA headquarters and field offices throughout the United States. The FAA is a technical organization responsible for every aspect of the aviation industry, and therefore MVMA is looking for undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in aviation studies, engineering (aerospace, civil, electronics, electrical and mechanical), computer science, economics, math, law, and business administration.

MVMA-FAA Interns will gain professional and technical experience, and will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a professional setting. The internship program is intended to better prepare AAPI and NAAN college students for entering professional positions in the public and private sector. If selected for the MVMA-FAA SIP, Interns must be able to work full-time for 10 weeks during the 2004 Summer (June-August). Each MVMA-FAA Intern will receive a stipend of $4,500 ($450 per week) plus a $1,000 allowance for housing and local travel during the 10-week program.

WHO MAY APPLY
To be considered for the 2004 MVMA-FAA SIP, an undergraduate or graduate student must:

1. Be a U.S. Citizen;
2. Be an Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Native American/Alaska Native (NAAN) student enrolled in one of the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) or accredited U.S. colleges and universities;
3. Have completed 12 semester credit hours from a junior college or 60 semester credit hours from four-year college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 or higher. Students who have applied for a graduate or professional school must show proof of enrollment with fees paid.

HOW TO APPLY
The application deadline for 2004 MVMA-FAA Summer Internship applications is March 1, 2004.

Step 1: All applicants must submit all of the following items to the Internship Project Manager (IPM) via email at FAA.Intern@mdvietmutual.org or by fax at 301-942-1257 by March 1, 2004:
1. A completed 2004 FAA Summer Internship Application (see attached one-page Application);
2. A resume (see attached suggested resume format);
3. A school transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for Step 1).

Step 2: Applicants who are selected as Semi-Finalists will be notified and required to submit the following items by mail (altogether in one package) postmarked by April 15, 2004:
1. An official school transcript;
2. Two letters of recommendation;
3. An essay (maximum of 250 words) describing your career goals.

Semi-Finalist materials should be mailed to:
MVMA, c/o Internship Project Manager, 11501 Georgia Avenue, Suite #312, Wheaton, MD 20902.

2004 FAA Summer Internship Application
(Please limit to one page)
Note that the application deadline for 2004 FAA Summer Internships (June - August) is March 1, 2004.

1) PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:
____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
First Name Middle Last Name

Permanent Address: __________________________________

Current Address: _____________________________________


_____________________________________________

Phone: ( ) ____________________________________

( ) _______________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

Social Security Number: _________________________

U.S. Citizen: Yes____ No____

2) EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (Begin with current school and list all colleges and universities attended)

College/University Major Date Attended Degree Program Graduation Date

3) WORK EXPERIENCE (Please list paid and unpaid/volunteer positions beginning with the most recent)

4) I certify that the information submitted on this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

_______________________________
_________ _____________________
Name of applicant (please print) Signature
Date

SUGGESTED RESUME FORMAT

The Federal Government does not require a standard application for internship. However, to receive the full consideration for an internship, we do need certain information to fully eval uate your qualifications and determine if you meet requirements for the internship. If your resume does not provide all the information requested in this format, or contains false statements, you may not be considered for an internship. A resume should contain:

PERSONAL INFORMATION:
· Full name
· Contact information: School and permanent mailing addresses, day and evening phone numbers, and e-mail address
· Country of citizenship (to be eligible, applicants must be a U.S. Citizen)

EDUCATION:
· Names and locations of all colleges/universities attended
· Type of degree, major, and year of all degrees received or anticipated
· Cumulative GPA and Major/Minor GPA
· List relevant courses and computer skills

WORK EXPERIENCE: Please include all of your paid and unpaid/volunteer work:
[Not to exceed one page long.]
· Job title (include series and grade if previous Federal employment)
· Employer's name and address· Supervisor's name and phone number (plus e-mail address if available)
· Duties and accomplishments
· Starting and ending dates (month and year)

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
· Title and year of job-related training courses, other than those used towards your degree(s)
· Job-related skills, certificates and current licenses
· Job or school-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments, e.g., publications, membership in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, and performance awards. Provide dates, but do not send documentation unless requested.

******************

Position Announcement: Executive Director

Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Associations, Inc. (WUCMAA) is a statewide coalition of the 16 mutual assistance associations (MAAs) in Wisconsin and was founded in 1986 to work on behalf the MAAs in the state level on its member agencies' needs and interests.

WUCMAA is seeking to a full time Executive Director who is capable, dedicated, and shares its vision and mission. The successful applicant will be someone who is at least three years of administrative, management, grant writing, coalition building experience. WUCMAA is an equal opportunity employer.

Summary of Duties and responsibilities:

* Oversight of the organization's overall policies and program planning, development and implementation.

* Oversight and coordination of all aspects of fund raising, budgeting, planning and fiscal management.

* Management of the day-to-day management and operations.

* Performing public relations.

* Report to WUCMAA's Board of Directors.

Qualifications:

* BA/BS or Master Degree in Administration, Social Work or related field with at least 3 years of experience in managing a non profit organization, or ten year experience in non-profit administration.

* Excellent organizational and communication skills.

* Able to read and write fluently both Hmong and English is preferred.

* Management, finance and budgeting experience.

* Fundraising, grant-writing and public speaking skills.

* Experience working with a non-profit Board of Directors and organizations.

* Knowledge of the Southeast Asian communities and MAAs.

* Willingness to travel in-state and occasionally, out-of-state.

Position will be open until filled.  Starting salary will be $40,000 with benefits. 

Please send your letter of interest and resume with three references to:

Chasong Yang, Chair, Hiring Committee

c\o Hmong Mutual Assistance of Sheboygan, Inc.

2304 Superior Avenue

Sheboygan, WI 53081

******************

National Community Development Institute Job Announcement

Senior Program Associate -- Organizational Services Team

LOCATION: Oakland

SALARY: $50-55K Plus Benefits

OVERVIEW

The National Community Development Institute (NCDI) is a technical assistance intermediary committed to providing customized capacity building services to promote community building and social transformation in low income communities of color nationwide. Our vision is to build strong, healthy, resilient communities with the leadership, infrastructure, and constituent base to effect social change, shape policy, and influence the political economy in an increasingly diverse society. The national spin-off of an East Palo Alto, California based community development intermediary, NCDI is built on twenty-two years of experience providing excellent service to hundreds of communities and organizations. Due to this strong track record and deep funder interest, NDCI is entering new phase of growth.

The Organizational Services Team is central to NCDI's provision of capacity-building services to our nation's communities. The OS team is responsible for locating, managing and evaluating technical assistance contracts to promote capacity-building in communities of color and low income environments. The primary markets for its services are community foundations, family/private foundations, public agencies and non-profit organizations. Additionally, OS is responsible for deploying and managing a large and diverse pool of consultants whose content and organizational development expertise is leveraged to meet community needs.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

NCDI is seeking an experienced, organized and dynamic person for the position of Senior Program Associate  Organizational Services. This position is instrumental in continuing the development of NCDI as a premier technical assistance intermediary. This position has four key activity areas:

* Direct provision of organizational development related technical assistance services to NCDI clientele

* Development of prospective clienteles for NCDI's services

* Program and product development

* Assistance in the development and management of NCDI's consultant pool

OPPORTUNITY

This position is an excellent opportunity for an individual who:

* Is eager to work with seasoned nonprofit technical assistance providers

* Is knowledgeable about the dynamics of organizational development

* Cares deeply about building the capacity of communities of color to identify and address their needs

* Has experience providing consulting services, particularly to organizations and communities of color

* Is skillful in facilitating meetings and promoting shared problem solving/decision making

* Is sensitive and responsive to cultural differences in order to serve economically and ethnically diverse community populations

* Is a motivated self-starter with a "can-do" attitude and commitment to high quality work

* Is interested in helping build an exemplary organization

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking candidates with at least 3-5 years of experience (as a consultant or nonprofit manager) in the nonprofit community-based sector. Specifically, we are searching for an individual who has:

* Experience with nonprofit services, organizational development, community development, and project management

* An understanding of and experience with organizational and community dynamics

* An ability to listen and respond to diverse views

* An ability to manage multiple projects efficiently to achieve results

* An ability to work with diverse stakeholders

* An ability to see the big picture and act strategically

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills

* Excellent facilitation, analytical, problem-solving, and planning skills

* Knowledge of media and communications desirable

* Sense of humor

COMPENSATION

* Salary Range: $50-55,000

* Benefits: Generous package that includes medical, dental, life insurance and vision

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please apply by sending or emailing a cover letter and resume to:

The National Community Development Institute

1814 Franklin Street, Suite 720

Oakland, California 94612

Attention: Samuel Gonzalez

Email: sgonalez@ncdinet.org

Position open until filled.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ncdinet.org

******************

For immediate release: January 14, 2004

For further information, contact: Kristine Minami (202) 223-1240

JACL and APPEAL Launch New Health Policy Fellowship

Exceptional leadership opportunity for 6 months in JACL Washington, DC office

Washington, DC -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), along with Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment and Leadership (APPEAL), are pleased to announce their new Health Policy Fellowship program, which provides a young professional with the opportunity to work for six months in the offices of the JACL, one of the pre-eminent Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) civil rights organizations, on issues of public health policy and civil rights.  Applications are now available through the JACL website at http://www.jacl.org/leadership.html and are due by February 27, 2004.

Funded through a grant from APPEAL, a national social justice network of organizations and individuals working towards a tobacco-free AAPI community, the Fellow will learn first-hand about policymaking in our nation’s capital by working on projects related healthcare access, tobacco-control and civil rights in health policy.  Intrinsic in the Fellowship is the opportunity to learn about and contribute to a national movement by advocating for and providing leadership on tobacco control and social justice for AAPI communities.

The successful candidate will serve his or her Fellowship in the JACL Washington, DC office, will be provided with training and mentorship opportunities and will be responsible for two or three major health-related projects over a six-month period, to be completed by December 31, 2004, for a stipend of $15,000 and roundtrip airfare from the Fellow’s home to Washington, DC.

Eligibility criteria for this program include: undergraduate degree required and work towards advanced degree in health policy or related field preferred; strong sense of self-motivation with maturity to complete independent projects with minor supervision.  As this Fellowship is specifically focused on national policy issues facing the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities – particularly those related to tobacco usage control and aging issues – interest and experience in these or other health-related fields is essential to the success of the Fellowship.  Aware ness of issues facing the AAPI community is preferred but not required.  The successful candidate must support the goals and missions of both APPEAL and JACL.

Interested persons should visit the JACL website at http://www.jacl.org/leadership.html for further information and an application or contact the Washington office of the JACL at (202) 223-1240; or by email: dc@jacl.org

******************

Other Internships

Don’t forget to visit these sites for internships and scholarships:

* www.apaics.org

* www.ocanatl.org (http://www.ocanatl.org/bin/htmlos/0019.3.2032717673200007641)

* www.hndlink.org

* www.leap.org

* http://www.fapac.info/conf2004/scholarships.htm

* http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/internprogram.htm

* www.capal.org

******************

Tips

Getting the Word Out

Part I. Crafting an Effective News Release

Good publicity is a powerful tool. If your organization has been involved in a newsworthy event, it would be a mistake to sit back, cross your fingers, and hope reporters come knocking on your door. Instead, you should send the news directly to the reporters. The proper way of doing this, of course, is through a news release.

It seems as though everybody is writing news releases these days, for all kinds of reasons. With the advent of e-mail, it has become dangerously easy for folks to throw together a hasty news release every time anything remotely interesting happens. Bad idea.

With so many news releases being written, it's more important than ever to make sure your organization's efforts stand out. The combination of strong writing and proper formatting will go a long way toward distinguishing your news release from the rest of the crowd.

Here are 10 basic tips for writing an effective news release:

  1. Include contact information.
    Make sure your contact information appears at either the top or the bottom of the release. Include your name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. A brief description of your organization can also be included at the end of the release.
  2. Be concise.
    Remember, reporters are busy people and don't have time to read through excessively wordy releases. Keep it short and keep it simple. Write clearly, stick to the facts, and avoid overly descriptive language and technical jargon.
  3. Timing is everything.
    If your news release concerns an event that will occur at a future date, make sure it is sent out well in advance. If your release concerns an event that has already occurred, don't wait too long to get the word out. Even the most interesting news has an expiration date.
  4. Invert your pyramid.
    If you don't know what the inverted pyramid style is, take a look at a few newspaper articles. The idea is to put the most relevant information at the start of the story, allowing editors with limited space simply to clip off last paragraphs when necessary, rather than rework the entire article. The first two paragraphs of your release should cover the five W's: who, what, where, when, and why.
  5. Use quotes.
    One good quote is worth a dozen expository sentences. Whenever possible, use a colorful quote from a representative of your organization, an expert in the field, or someone directly involved with the news event.
  6. Write in the third person.
    Using words such as I, we, or our will make your release look less like news and more like promotional material. Reporters generally write in the third person and so should you.
  7. Use the proper format.
    Begin with either "For Immediate Release" or the date the information may be released. The release itself should begin with a headline either bolded or in all capitals, followed by a sub-headline. The body of the release should begin with your location (city, state) followed by a dash. Align left, single space, and separate paragraphs with a space rather than indenting.
  8. Proofread!
    Always carefully proofread everything you write and whenever possible have at least one other person look it over. Misspellings, careless typos, and poor grammar will reflect poorly on your release.
  9. Craft a strong lead and catchy headline.
    The lead paragraph of your news release is the most important. It needs to catch your readers' attention and convince them to keep reading. Make it short and snappy, with enough information to give readers a good idea of what the release is about. The same advice holds true for your headline.
  10. Is it really news?
    Before you write a news release, take a long, objective look at the news event. Is it timely? Is it of interest to your intended audience? Does it contain new information or new ways of looking at old information? If not, reconsider.

Patrick Ferraro, 2003
© Philanthropic Research, Inc.

Patrick Ferraro is the Editor of the GuideStar Newsletter.

(http://www.guidestar.org/news/newsletter/word_out_part1.jsp)

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Getting the Word Out

Part II. Distributing Your News Release

Once a news release has been written, the next step is deciding how it will be distributed.

Many organizations have a targeted group of publications and reporters to whom they send their releases. If your news is of local interest only or if its appeal is limited to a narrow segment of the population (such as youth group leaders or coin collectors), you should be able to identify easily appropriate recipients for your release.

If, however, your news is national or regional in scope or if you simply wish to reach a broader audience beyond your established contacts, you may want to consider using a news release distribution service or a news wire. For a fee (although some organizations offer free services), you can ensure that your news release lands on the computer screens of all the appropriate people.

The following services are presented for informational purposes; their inclusion here is not intended as a nod of approval. Check them out, compare costs and features, and draw your own conclusions. Listed prices are as posted on their Web sites as of December 2003.

Ascribe Newswire—Ascribe Newswire specializes in the distribution of nonprofit and public-sector news releases. Annual membership is $125. Nonprofit members can choose from packages ranging from 5 releases for $425 to 100 releases for $5,000.

Business Wire—Business Wire is an international service that has been around since 1961. The cost of a single 400-word release ranges from $595 (national) to $120 (metro/city). Membership is $120 per year.

CSRwire—CSRwire features only news pertaining to corporate responsibility and sustainability. Releases are $200 apiece for nonprofit members. Membership is available for $100 a year.

Eworldwire—Eworldwire offers a distribution service to major newswires for $99 a release. Newswires include Associated Press and Reuters. A "philanthropy" industry-specific service is also available for $300 a release.

Imediafax—Imediafax is a fax and e-mail distribution service. For $0.25 per faxed page and $0.15 per e-mail, they'll format your release and send it to a targeted media list. There's a $50 minimum and a discount for projects over $200.

Major Newswire—Major Newswire offers industry-specific distribution. At the cost of $125 per release, you can choose the appropriate industry/trade, including "charities." A complimentary clippings report shows where your release was published.

PR Newswire—Established in 1954, PR Newswire distributes news releases to more than 22,000 media outlets worldwide. One-year membership is $100. You'll need to contact your local PR Newswire bureau for more information on rates.

PR Web—PR Web is a free service that has offered on-line distribution since 1997. Distribution takes place through four channels: a Web site, a syndicated news feed, e-mail distribution, and search engine submission. Basic tracking statistics are available for a minimum $10 contribution.

US Newswire—US Newswire is a wire service for public-interest news. A national release costs $395 for 400 words. Regional, state, and city services are also available.

WebWire—Along with a free forum and Web-clipping service, WebWire features the ability to post free press releases to their newswire as well as a fee-based Web distribution service.

So what do you do once your news release has been written and distributed? Why not post it to your on-line press room? A press room is a convenient place on your Web site for reporters to find all the information they need on your organization. Every release you send out should be posted in your press room, along with contact information for appropriate staff members.

Want an example? Take a look at GuideStar's new press room.

And don't forget, if your organization is a GuideStar participant, you can post your press releases to our site as well. Your organization's GuideStar Pages can serve as either a substitute or a supplement to a press room.

Patrick Ferraro, 2004
© Philanthropic Research, Inc.

Patrick Ferraro is the Editor of the GuideStar Newsletter.

(http://www.guidestar.org/news/newsletter/word_out_part2.jsp)

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Nonprofit Advocacy

There's a myth that nonprofits are barred from acting as advocates. Not true. Although some forms of advocacy—such as lobbying—are restricted, speaking out and acting for change are integral parts of the missions of many nonprofits. One site working to help nonprofits advocate wisely and effectively is NPAction, an online reference service hosted by OMB Watch.

"Nonprofits face a number of barriers to participation in policy matters, including a misunderstanding of what's permissible and awareness of what's possible," says NPAction project manager Ryan J. Turner. "Moreover, there's a wealth of experiences and valuable resources generated by organizations, which are either not available on-line, or presented in a issue-specific context without regards to its broader potential to inform the activities of other groups."

If your organization is involved in advocacy (or just thinking about getting involved), sites like NPAction and the Alliance for Justice's Nonprofit Advocacy Project can be invaluable sources of both information and inspiration.

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

(http://www.allianceforjustice.org/nonprofit/index.html)

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Strategic Planning: Cutting Through the Buzz

By Cheryl Gidley

Strategic planning, capacity planning, mission-based planning. Where does the buzz end and the value begin? How do you know if you're on the right track?

As in the for-profit world, nonprofit strategic planning can take many forms. It's increasingly key to receiving funding-so key that foundations are voicing their preference for agencies with succinct, vetted, and viable business plans that replicate best practices from the for-profit world.

And, according to the Aspen Institute, to survive in the future, nonprofits need to improve their business operating processes. That's one of the underpinnings of strategic planning.

This can be tense ground within nonprofits, where highly skilled service providers may not have business and finance backgrounds. Board members with business degrees frequently err on the side of profit and loss at the individual program level. "Founders syndrome" can mean that nonprofits forge forward with programs out of touch with changes in constituent needs because they are so insularly focused on the past. All agree there is no shortage of good works to be done.

These factors lead to the kind of tug-of-war that makes board chairs and executive directors/presidents stay up at night. Roles and responsibilities become obfuscated by conflicting beliefs and priorities-fueled by a common passion to make a difference that produces high-octane adrenaline. And while the battle rages on in a Catch-22, constituents suffer the loss of productivity, as development officers are left to raise more and more money to keep up.

Mission-Based Capacity Planning isn't about buzz. It's about borrowing successful business practices and linking them with a nonprofit organization's fundamental mission. It's about using tried and true corporate tools to ensure that nonprofit constituents receive the maximum possible value in areas of the greatest impact. It's a model for encompassing paid and nonpaid staff; for validating what matters most; and for prioritizing scarce resources so that what is done is done well and that what can't be done well—things that are great ideas but that don't get to the heart of what constituents need—doesn't siphon off money and time.

Here's an example. A local church (the name doesn't matter) has historically served a population that's changing. The former spiritual leader has been gone for more than 15 years, but there are constituents that still refer to him as the "real" leader and to the existing pastor as the "new guy." A congregational mix of people with a broad array of religious backgrounds is now roughly 35 percent from the original theological base and 35 percent from a mix of more than 15 other theological contexts.

A brief survey of all members—those attending regularly and those attending periodically—reveals that an overwhelming majority of the congregation attends first for the people, second for the pastor/sermons, and third for the music-a sophisticated choir that performs chorale-level music on a weekly basis without a director. Yet the church is distracted by political infighting around a handful of complaints by a handful of people. Incredibly, this congregation is very much on the same page but doesn't know it, because the squeaky wheels are making noise about things the bulk of the congregation doesn't value, diverting financial and human resources to things that don't contribute to the majority's spiritual fulfillment or to the missions most feel matter.

In this case, using Mission-Based Capacity Planning, the church's mission was revalidated, and activities were prioritized according to the entire congregation's survey responses. This information informed activities that have energized the members and enabled them to embrace change with spiritual impact to the majority. It has permitted prioritization of both volunteer (lay) energy and staff energy, and it has given the pastor valuable feedback that has informed his ability to reach people more effectively through his words.

A simple example, but imagine this same emphasis on the scale of an organization as large as the United Way-currently in transition here in Chicago. It's no different, it's just larger and more complex. But the larger size also means that the changes can be far more meaningful to a much larger constituent base. What if the United Way offered for-profit business training, teaching to fish instead of giving fish? What if the United Way took the lead in teaching the kinds of marketing skills corporations use to segment and serve their markets? What if foundations followed suit?

As is true in the for-profit world, starting with the end constituents, understanding what can be accomplished and then how and when to apply scarce resources against those goals, ensures that a higher percentage of resources are going toward mission-critical programs and services. Using for-profit business processes that have been modified for nonprofits is simply the most effective, data-driven mechanism for making a difference. Call it buzz or call it whatever you'd like, unless the nonprofit is using its resources cost effectively, it's wasting those resources—unconscionable when there is such great need.

So how do you know if you're on track? See if you can answer these questions:

  1. Can you definitively measure mission success in numeric terms other than profit and loss?
  2. Can every service and every staff member and volunteer communicate how his/her daily actions and decisions are driven by your strategic plan, which reinforces your mission?
  3. Are your board and senior staff able to plan capital expenditures and technology improvements easily and consistently with your short- and long-term mission?

If you can't answer yes to these three questions, your planning process can benefit from some improvements.

Cheryl Gidley is Managing Partner of Gidley Consulting, www.gidleyconsulting.com, a Chicago-area firm offering strategic planning counsel and training to nonprofits, professional services providers and entrepreneurs. She serves on strategic planning committees and as a director for several nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and welcomes your comments at cheryl.gidley@gidleyconsulting.com.

(http://www.guidestar.org/news/newsletter/strategic_planning.jsp)

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Legislation

January 14, 2004

STUDY, POLL COULD GIVE NEW PUSH TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR UNINSURED

Congressional Quarterly

The Institute of Medicine called on President Bush and Congress today to provide health care coverage to all Americans by 2010, while a poll released by the American Hospital Association found increased support among voters to help the more than 43 million Americans without health coverage get it.  Coverage should be universal, continuous, affordable to individuals and families, and affordable and sustainable for society, institute officials said. The IOM study said taxpayers bear the cost of caring for the uninsured. In 2001, for example, tax dollars paid for an estimated 85 percent of the $35 billion in unreimbursed medical care of the uninsured, the report found. Separately, a poll released by the American Hospital Association found that 69 percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay more federal taxes to assure that every American received health care coverage. AHA President Dick Davidson said that "the window is there for both parties to come together" on helping the uninsured. "The question is whether there is the political will to do that."

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News

January 1, 2004

Local community will celebrate Tet

Tina Soong
Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)

Tet, the lunar new year, falls on Jan. 22 this year, and will bring in the Year of the Monkey.

Vietnamese-American communities throughout the New Orleans area will mark Tet with several celebrations at different churches including:
-- St. Le Thi Thanh's Church, 6851 Saint Le Thi Thanh St., Marrero, 347-4725, Jan. 16-18
-- Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, 14001 Dwyer Blvd., New Orleans, 254-5660, Jan. 23-25
-- St. Joseph Mission Church, 6450 Kathy Court, Algiers, 392-3216, Jan.
30, 31 and Feb. 1.

Marking the eve of the lunar new year on Jan. 21 will be:
-- Bo De Buddhist Temple, 1701/2 Highway 996, 392-0327 New Orleans
-- Lien Hoa Temple, 1731 Stumpf Blvd., Gretna, 227-0781
-- Van Hanh Buddhist Center, 13152 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, 254-6031.

Tet is not just a time of cosmic renewal, but also of personal renewal. Parties are not just for family and friends but for deities and ancestors, said Margaret Xuan-Dung Nguyen, Vietnamese community liaison facilitator for the Orleans Parish public school system and second vice chairwoman of the Asian Pacific American Society, and Ms. APAS 2003.

Although American Tet festivities tend to be smaller, they are based on the same rituals as i n Asian motherlands, including China, Korea and Japan, as well as Vietnam. New Orleans celebrations feature traditional cuisine and cultural performances. Among other presentations, there will be folk dances, which may include the dragon dance, the lion dance and the unicorn dance; traditional Vietnamese music and songs; and passing out lee shi, or lucky money, crisp bills stuffed in red envelopes, usually to children and unmarried youngsters, as a way of sharing luck among loved ones.

One week before Tet, kitchen gods leave the hearth to report the year's household events to the Jade Emperor at the heaven court. They are sent off with a le tuo quan, or kitchen gods going-away feast, with delicacies and dishes. After the worship and farewell ceremony, families enjoy the feast.

Ancestor worship is also part of the Tet celebration. The spirits of ancestors are invited, with incense burning, prayers and offerings of food, to come and share the festivities and feasts.

Among other traditional food, the Tet celebration will serve banh day and banh chung. Banh day is a round cake made of glutinous rice which symbolizes gratitude to heaven for good fortune. Banh chung is a square cake, made of two layers of nep rice stuffed with bean paste and pieces of pork, which symbolizes gratitude to Earth for bountiful harvest. The New Year feasts also include fish, meats, lettuce, watermelon seeds, oranges, apples, canned fruits, fruit candies, spring rolls and other dishes that have the symbolic meaning of prosperity, health, safety and good fortune.

Tet, a friendly, festive, family holiday, also marks the beginning of spring and everybody's birthday. It is time for family reunions, exchanging gifts, good wishes, paying debts and resolving differences among family members and friends. In short, to start the new year with a clean slate.

It is believed that people born in the Year of the Monkey are intelligent and energetic and enjoy activities and people. Typically they have an upbeat personality. Monkeys are known to be very helpful to others in times of crisis.

"Tet not only is a day of colorful festivities but also a day of rituals, rich in symbolism and legends dating back thousands of years. It offers an opportunity to inform the Vietnamese children and youths born in the USA of the cultural heritage of their fatherland and introduce Vietnamese customs and traditions to the people of all ethnic backgrounds," Nguyen said.

*********
Members of the Asian/Pacific-American communities in the New Orleans area are invited to send news items to Tina Soong at tsoongtotherim@aol.com.

(http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/library-34/1073199897146180.xml?nola)

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January 8, 2004

OSU shelves Vietnamese flag

After complaints, college decides to take banner out of rotation

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY - Vietnam's flag will no longer fly at Oklahoma State University's International Mall after some students complained that it represents a repressive regime.

Lee Bird, vice president of student affairs, said Wednesday the flag has been taken out of the rotation of 118 flags flown on 19 flagpoles in front of the Noble Research Center. The flags represent the countries of international students.

"We don't feel like there are winners or losers," Bird said. "I want the big message to be we are trying, because of our discussions and the sensitivity to the issue, to find the common denominator."

The flags are rotated every two weeks. When the flag of Vietnam went up in August to represent the university's eight Vietnamese international students, a handful of the school's 300 Vietnamese-American students objected, saying their parents fled this regime after the Vietnam War.

They suggested the school replace it with the flag of the former Republic of South Vietnam, which was defeated in the war.

Bird convened meetings of Vietnamese international students and Vietnamese-American students and ultimately decided to continue flying the Vietnamese flag when its turn came up because it is the flag recognized by the United Nations.

Since then, she said she has been the target of hate mail and an electronic letter-writing campaign urging the university to change its position. Bird said there was so much misinformation in those letters that she decided it would be better to fly no Vietnamese flag.

"I can't ever promise that it's never going to fly again. But, it is our plan not to fly any flag for the foreseeable future," she said.

She announced that decision in early December in a letter to two outside parties that had become involved, Vinh Khac Nguyen, chairman of the Vietnamese-American Community of Oklahoma City, and state Rep. Debbie Blackburn, D-Oklahoma City, whose district includes many Asian-Americans.

Blackburn said she understands the university's reason for flying the communist flag.

"We have relations with communist Vietnam but that kind of falls on deaf ears. There's a sensitivity there that won't pass until this generation passes," she said.

Bird agreed, saying the flag is only a symbol of the real hurt.

"This is easy to remedy but the hurts - the losses, the death and destruction and loss of freedom and liberty - are much deeper issues," she said. "Those global issues are not solved."

(http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/010904dntexflag.9a6d2.html)

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January 11, 2004

New laws divide tenants, landlords
MANY MEASURES TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR IN CALIFORNIA
By Steve Johnson
Mercury News

Unscrupulous landlords can be slapped with stiffer penalties for threatening tenants or failing to keep units in good shape, and they'll have a tougher time withholding security deposits without cause, under new California laws this year.

But apartment owners say some of the new measures will create a paperwork mess and make them less willing to explain lease terms in the native tongues of non-English-speaking prospective tenants.

``Last year's Legislature introduced some of the most onerous bills that we have seen in a decade,'' said Debra Carlton, chief lobbyist for the California Apartment Association, during a briefing last week in Santa Clara to explain the laws. More than 100 local landlords or their representatives attended the session, put on by the Tri-County Apartment Association. The group represents Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.

While many of the bills Carlton referred to were defeated or watered down, considerable grumbling remains over some -- especially SB 90, by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Concord.

Landlords already must provide itemized statements to tenants who move out, explaining how much of their security deposit is being withheld for repairs. This measure, which took effect Jan. 1, requires landlords also to give tenants receipts for all work costing more than $125.

The receipts -- which have to be provided within 21 days of the tenant leaving -- must include the name, address and telephone number of the person or company that did the work.

If the work isn't done within 21 days, landlords are required to give detailed estimates of the material and labor costs. They, then, must give tenants the receipts within 14 days of the job's completion.

Tenant advocates said the measure was needed because some landlords withhold far more from security deposits than is justified to fix vacated units. In September 2001, for example, Attorney General Bill Lockyer settled a lawsuit against Arnel Management Company of Orange County, requiring the firm to pay $1.5 million because of such complaints.

And many other apartment owners are guilty of the same thing, said Christine Minnehan, a housing advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which helped pass the measure.

``Mischarging for cleaning where it's normal wear and tear -- or where it's inflated costs -- is a severe problem,'' she said, noting that the typical security deposit in the Bay Area is about $3,000. The problem is so widespread, she said, that the abuse even has a nickname: ``the 13th month of rent.''

Marjorie Murray, a legislative advocate for the Congress of California Seniors, agreed that the law was needed, especially because about 45 percent of the state's population are renters and many are poor.

``That's a very important piece of legislation,'' she said. ``Maybe it doesn't seem like a lot to get your security deposit returned. But it is if you are living on the margin.''

Nonetheless, Bob Hines, the Tri-County Apartment Association's chief executive officer, said the law will make life difficult for landlords.

``You've never seen a more upset group,'' he said. ``It's going to be a paperwork nightmare.''

Another bill hailed by tenants rights groups but derided by many landlords is AB 309, by Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park. When it takes effect July 1, it will require all business owners -- including landlords -- to provide written leases or other contracts in Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese or Korean, if the owner verbally negotiated with the customer in one of those languages. The state already had a similar law providing for Spanish-language contracts.

The intent of the bill is to prevent business operators from telling customers one thing during an initial sales pitch in a foreign language, and then handing the person a contract in English filled with previously undisclosed and unpleasant provisions.

Some landlords worry that it will be tough to provide foreign-language leases that suit the particular needs of apartments without considerable effort. And they fear they could be sued if the owner isn't fluent in the tenant's language and the lease isn't translated precisely.

``We're going to have to be really careful,'' said Fran Wagstaff, president of the Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition, which has about 5,200 low-rent units in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. ``It could lose something in translation.''

Tom Bannon, the California Apartment Association's chief executive officer, said many apartment owners may be so leery of violating the law that they'll refuse to have any discussions with prospective tenants in a language other than English. That way, he said, they'll only have to provide the lease in English.

``Because of the potential liability you have, there will be no effort to communicate in a foreign language,'' he said. ``The litigation threat is too great.''

Contact Steve Johnson at sjohnson@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5043.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7684607.htm)

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January 15, 2004

'Cold Mountain' to Open Berlin Festival

BERLIN (Associated Press) - "Cold Mountain," starring Nicole Kidman and Jude Law, will open next month's annual Berlin International Film Festival, which will feature 12 world premieres in a politically accented program, organizers announced Thursday.

Contenders for the Golden Bear top prize will include "Country of My Skull," director John Boorman's look at South Africa's national reconciliation efforts after apartheid; "Triple Agent," set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War by French veteran Eric Rohmer; and "Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow," an epic by Greek director Theo Angelopoulos about his homeland.

"Cold Mountain" isn't competing for a prize at the Feb. 5-15 Berlin festival, which traditionally opens the annual circuit of major European film fests.

Organizers said they have 18 competition entries and expect to announce four more soon.

Other contenders are Ken Loach's "Ae Fond Kiss," a love story that shows the cultural conflicts that arise when a Pakistani immigrant and a Catholic woman fall in love in Scotland, and "Intimate Strangers," French director Patrice Leconte's comedy about a woman who spills her marital problems to a tax consultant she has mistaken for a psychologist.

Nick Nolte, Tim Roth and Damien Nguyen star in Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland's "Beautiful Country," which documents a young Vietnamese man's efforts to find his American father.

"Before Sunset," starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, continues the story begun by director Richard Linklater in "Before Sunrise," which followed a romantic night in Vienna spent between two strangers who meet on a train. The 1994 film won the Silver Bear in Berlin.

"Monster," an account of the life of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, starring Charlize Theron, will make its international premiere in competition.

On the Net: (http://www.berlinale.de/en/f-main-einst.html)

(http://www.startribune.com/stories/675/4320779.html)

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January 16, 2004

Struggle during arrest leaves injury, questions

By John Ellement, Globe Staff and Christine MacDonald, Globe Correspondent

A 23-year-old mentally ill man was in critical condition yesterday after he went into cardiac arrest during a violent struggle with Boston police officers who attempted to arrest him in his East Boston apartment. He was wanted for an alleged assault and robbery of his mother, police said.

The Suffolk district attorney's office is investigating the circumstances of the arrest.

The scene of the struggle had been a place of tranquility for Vinh Q. Le, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, and his mother, Muoi Yhi Nguyen, who visited her son nearly every night to cook him dinner even though she had a restraining order preventing him from coming to her Charlestown nail salon.

Le showed up at that salon twice on Wednesday, assaulting his mother and stealing cash from her purse, police said. After the second time, Nguyen called police, telling officers that her son was mentally ill and not taking his antipsychotic medications. She told them where they could find him in East Boston.

Several hours later, at 8:13 p.m., two plainclothes Boston police officers from the East Boston district went to the Trenton Street apartment building -- owned by Le's family -- where Le lived in a basement apartment. He allowed police inside but when they tried to arrest him he began swinging a belt at them, according to a written statement from police spokeswoman Mariellen Burns. Le also punched and kicked the officers, she wrote.

The officers broadcast an ''officer in trouble'' call, which brought four or five other officers and supervisors to the scene. Le was eventually handcuffed but he continued to struggle, prompting officers to shackle his feet. Even then, according to the police statement, he continued to fight.

At some point during the episode, police said, a supervisor in the East Boston district who was familiar with Le's mental health issues summoned an ambulance to the apartment. Emergency Medical Services records show the call was for ''an emotionally-disturbed person.'' The supervisor was not present at Le's arrest, Burns said.

When the EMS crew arrived at 8:17 p.m., officers said Le had ''a cut on his head and some bruises from the struggle,'' according to police. EMS workers realized Le was in cardiac arrest and transported him to Massachusetts General Hospital, where EMS records show his ambulance arrived at 8:40 p.m.

Two officers were injured in the struggle and were treated and released from an undisclosed hospital. A third was hospitalized with cardiac problems.

Burns declined last night to say whether the officers followed proper procedures, saying, ''That's what an investigation is for.'' Asked why only two officers went to arrest Le and whether they knew about his mental health history, she said: ''I'm not going to second-guess any decisions.''

She couldn't answer whether officers used a choke hold to subdue Le. Boston homicide detectives were investigating. Burns also said that none of the officers who responded to the call have been placed on disciplinary leave in the wake of the events.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley promised a full investigation yesterday. His office was awaiting toxicology and medical reports. ''Just as we do in all investigations into life-threatening injuries or potential deaths, we will determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident,'' Conley said in a statement. ''My office will follow the facts where they lead and we will enforce the law.''

Doctors told Le's family yesterday that he suffered swelling of the brain because his heart had stopped for so long and he apparently took a blow to the back of the head. Le's injuries included severe lacerations to his face.

At their Melrose home yesterday, Le's family lamented how a quiet, scholarly young man with a promising career fell into deep mental illnes and now is in a hospital bed fighting for his life.

''He was always on the honor roll from first grade to twelfth,'' his mother said.

The family emigrated from Vietnam. Le graduated from Dominic Savio High School in East Boston, a short walk from his Bennington Street home.

He studied computers at Temple and Boston universities, his mother said. Shortly after he began working, Le didn't come home from work one night. Three days later, his mother said, she found him in a psychiatric ward at Massachusetts General Hospital.

As his illness became more apparent, Le stopped talking and didn't want to leave home, his family said. Once an avid reader, he gave up books, his family said.

When the family moved to Melrose, Le's father fixed up the basement apartment in the family's Trenton Street home for him. His family visited frequently and his mother cooked dinner for him nearly every night after closing her Charlestown shop.

''If I go, he is happy, he smiles, and he eats. But he does not talk,'' said Nguyen, who made her son Vietnamese style beef and noodles Tuesday night and stayed until early Wednesday morning.

Court documents show Le was prone to violence when off his medication and that he often directed that violence toward his family: His mother got a restraining order last October in East Boston District Court barring her son from the salon.

He ''scares me,'' she wrote.

Court records show that Le was arrested on Aug. 14, 2001, after he attacked his brother. In a letter to the court after Le's arrest, psychiatrist Dr. Nancy J. McDonnell wrote that Le was a chronic paranoid schizophrenic who often failed to take his antipsychotic medication.

Police said the latest conflict began around noon Wednesday, when Le stole $200 from his mother's purse at Glitters, then returned at around 4:20 p.m. He grabbed his mother by the wrist and took more money from her purse, prompting her to call police. Le's mother gave officers her son's address in East Boston and told them that he was mentally ill and not taking his medication.Doris Clara, Le's upstairs neighbor in East Boston, said she saw him come home at around 5 p.m. Wednesday. Later, she saw police arrive. ''We heard him yelling a lot,'' she said. ''It seemed like someone was hitting him, but we don't know what happened.'' In Spanish, Clara told a Globe reporter that Le ''was a little crazy, but never offensive. He never bothered us. Never violent.''

Le's family tried mightily to help him, Clara said. ''His family are good people,'' she said.

Michael S. Rosenwald of the Globe Staff contributed to this article.

(http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/016/metro/Struggle_during_arrest_leaves_injury_questions+.shtml)

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January 16, 2004

Ethnic diversity buck stops on Mayor Gonzales' desk

Governing one of the most diverse cities in America means making diversity a top priority -- starting with the city's leadership ranks.

Yet as Edwin Garcia reported in Wednesday's Mercury News, diversity is painfully thin among the city's top leadership ranks.

Only Mayor Ron Gonzales and his top lieutenants can change that.

In a city that was among the first in the nation to become majority-minority, where nearly 65 percent of its residents are either Asian, Latino, or African-American, where the second-largest concentration of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans now make their home, and where more than one-third of its county population is foreign-born -- diversity matters.

Indeed, race and ethnicity are not the sole factors. But ethnic diversity has been and will continue to be an important part of the city's future.

The diversity buck stops on the mayor's desk. That means making sure diversity is part of every hiring and training decision. And that includes developing the city's talent pool and cultivating the next generation of city managers, fire chiefs and more from within its own diversified ranks.

We don't need to look far to see how it works. Former mayor Susan Hammer made diversity a clear and undebatable part of her tenure, during which some of the city's most visible leaders included African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-Americans. Hammer also worked aggressively to diversify boards and commissions, and much of that legacy remains.

In fairness, City Manager Del Borgsdorf points out that the legal landscape regarding diversity is different today. The constraints of the Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 209 make incorporating diversity into hiring more challenging. Recruitment and training in San Jose, given its high cost of living, is also more difficult, he added. To help address that point, Borgsdorf said he'll launch a management training program, and that's a good start. But if city leaders agree that it is important to reflect the community they serve, then they need to do more.

It's time for the mayor and his team to realize that when it comes to diversity, effort doesn't matter. Results do.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/7725203.htm)

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January 16, 2004

`Little Saigon' in S.F. to offer symbolic home
By L.A. Chung
Mercury News

San Jose, with its huge Lunar New Year festivals and parade and thriving Vietnamese businesses, boasts the largest Vietnamese population -- 82,834 -- in the Bay Area.

But the city with the most Vietnamese people in California doesn't have a Little Saigon district. On Sunday, San Francisco, a city with a fraction of that population, will.

Red-and-yellow ``Little Saigon'' banners are going up on a two-block section of Larkin Street between Eddy and O'Farrell streets for Sunday's festivities celebrating the new year.

In the coming months, two marble columns will be placed at the ``entrance'' on Eddy Street. Colored directional signs, similar to the ones that point drivers to North Beach, Chinatown and Japantown, also will go up. Even the city trash cans there will have ``Little Saigon'' emblems. The city's supervisors passed the legislation; the mayor signed it; the community raised the money.

So, if they name it, will people come?

Who? Tourists? Vietnamese from around the Bay Area? The groups who worked on the Little Saigon district hope both.

``When people see it, they'll know they're entering a community,'' said Kim Nguyen, a former South Bay software engineer who steered the Little Saigon district project. ``It will raise the spirits of the community.''

In truth, the designation carves out a part of the city more colorfully known as the Tenderloin. Most think of the poor, the transient and down-and-out when they think of the area. But it is peppered with Vietnamese businesses and has been for more than two decades, after the 1975 communist takeover of Vietnam and the subsequent ``boat people'' exodus. 

The greater Tenderloin area known for drug dealing and prostitution has slowly transformed with waves of refugee resettlement and new immigrants. And it is also home to a small nexus of Indian and Pakistani restaurants that people have dubbed the ``Tandoorloin.''

The two-block stretch of Larkin Street is bookended by the hip Phoenix Hotel (known as the rock stars' lodge that boasts the much-hyped Bambuddha Lounge), and the New Century theater, which advertises acts like ``XXX Mega Star Janette Little Dove.''

Sure, it's no tourist destination like San Francisco's Japantown or Chinatown, with its gate over Grant Avenue flanked by stone lions.

But the point lies much deeper.

``It is a symbol of our existence,'' said Luong C. Tu, who is spearheading a new Vietnamese merchants association, another sign of vitality. ``Saigon is in every Vietnamese heart here. `Little Saigon' gives us a symbol . . . This is our place, our home.''

Tu is proud of the free Tet celebration that brings in top South Vietnamese singers, such as Truong Vu and Phi Nhung, and is emceed by personalities Yin Leung and Thuy Nga from Vietnamese TV. And of the sponsored booths and children's activities they put on from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Little Saigon designation, with the pictures of the famous Ben Thanh Market in old Saigon, will only add joy to a growing event, said Nguyen, executive director of the Vietnamese Elderly Mutual Assistance Association, who left tech for non-profit work six years ago.

Her father, Van Canh Nguyen, is a noted Hoover Institution scholar well-respected in the Vietnamese community.

There's room for more than one Little Saigon in the Bay Area, she said. San Jose is still the place to go.

``I wanted to get a Vietnamese dress cut for me,'' Nguyen said. ``When I asked, `Do you know where I can do that,' they said, `Go down to San Jose, go to Grand Century' mall. `There's no one here?' '' I asked.

``They said, `We used to have one, but that person moved to San Jose.' ''

For information on Little Saigon's Tet Festival and the new merchants association, see www.vietccsf.org or call (415) 351-1038. Contact L.A. Chung at lchung@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5280.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/la_chung/7725171.htm)

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