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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 REPORTER - December 7, 2004

In this NCVA Reporter:

Funding Opportunities

Jobs/Internships

Tips/Resources

News

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 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

FY 2005 OVW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS GRANT PROGRAM

Department of Justice, Headquarters, Office on Violence Against Women

The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is intended to increase the availability of legal assistance necessary to provide effective aid to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence.

The LAV Program awards grants to law school legal clinics, legal aid or legal services programs, domestic violence victims’ shelters, bar associations, sexual assault programs, private nonprofit entities, including faith-based and community-based organizations, and Indian tribal governments. These grants are for providing direct legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in matters arising from the abuse or violence and for providing enhanced training for lawyers representing these victims.  The goal of the LAV Program is to develop innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

(http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/docs/fy05lavgrant.pdf)

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PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVE FOR HOMELESS LAUNCHED

The nonprofits Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), in cooperation with seven funding partners, have formed the Partnership to End Long-Term Homelessness, a $37 million initiative aimed at ending homelessness in the U.S.

The partnership has implemented a ten-year plan to build 150,000 supportive housing projects nationwide, based in part on the results of a study by the Lewin Group, which found the day-to-day costs of supportive housing much less than the relative costs of a day in a jail, shelter, or psychiatric ward.

Along with the CSH and NAEH, the members of the partnership are Deutsche Bank, Fannie Mae, the Melville Charitable Trust, and the Conrad N. Hilton, Robert Wood Johnson, Rockefeller, and Fannie Mae foundations. Each has committed $1 million toward the project, with the intent to leverage $30 million more from other national foundations.

(http://www.lewin.com/Spotlights/Features/Spotlight_Feature_HomelessnessNov04.htm)

(http://rwjf.org/news/releaseDetail.jsp?id=1100260286199&contentGroup=rwj&font=11)

(http://www.endhomelessness.org/news/PR112304.pdf)

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SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS SEATTLE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM

Deadline: February 11, 2005 (Letters of Inquiry)

Social Venture Partners Seattle ( http://svpseattle.org/ )  seeks to develop philanthropy and volunteerism to achieve  positive social change in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. SVP is committed to giving time, money, and expertise to create partnerships with not-for-profit organizations.

Through its Out of School Time program, SVP seeks to partner with organizations which offer programs that engage youth in safe and constructive activities during out-of-school time, including before and after-school hours, evenings, and weekends. Programs should provide youth between the ages of 5 and 18 with one or more of the following: quality time with caring adults; activities designed to develop social, life, and leadership skills; academic enrichment; and opportunities to contribute to their communities.

The Out of School Time Grant Committee expects to award two grants of approximately $40,000 each. SVP will make initial single-year grants with the intent of establishing longer-term partnerships with its investees (typically three to five years). In addition to the cash grants, SVP will provide strategic consulting assistance (both volunteer and paid) to help build the organizational, management, and technology infrastructure of its investees.

To be eligible for the program, applicant organizations must be located in Washington State's King County and be classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity or as a public school or school district.

For complete program information and application procedures, see the SVP Web site.

(http://svpseattle.org/grant_guidelines/out_of_school_time.htm)

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YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA ANNOUNCES GRANT PROGRAMS SUPPORTING NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY

Deadline: December 31, 2004

Youth Service America ( http://ysa.org/ ) has announced the availability of a variety of grants to implement community service projects surrounding National Youth Service Day , April 15-17, 2005. Since its inception in 1987, NYSD has brought together more than twenty-eight million people in thousands of communities nationwide, mobilizing millions of America's youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through community service.

Organizations sponsoring grant programs for National Youth Service Day 2005 include:

* In celebration of NYSD, the Constitutional Rights Foundation and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago announce the availability of 150 grants for middle and high school classes across the U.S. to participate in peer-to-peer learning on fundamental ideas of American democracy through the "Second Annual CRF National Teach-In." Curricular units are devoted to core American issues such as security, liberty, justice, and equality.

(http://www.crfc.org/yfjteach-in2005.html)

* Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) "STOP the Violence" Program will award 125 mini-grants of $200 each to eligible local chapters to encourage innovative NYSD grassroots projects that help young people recognize, report, and reduce the potential for youth violence. Mini-grants are available to nationally affiliated FCCLA chapters.

(http://www.fcclainc.org/)(under the "STOP the Violence" resource section).

* The Phi Alpha Delta Public Service Center is offering pre-law and law school chapters 25 mini-grants for violence prevention-focused NYSD projects. The grants support the mission of the P.A.D.P.S.C. by teaching children and youth to resolve conflict without violence, and to prevent juvenile delinquency as a whole. Applications and guidelines for eligibility are available online at: http://www.pad.org/ (under "Public Service Center").

* The National Youth Court Center at the America Probation and Parole Association will award up to sixty mini-grants of $250 each for the purpose of providing youth court programs with funds to conduct a service project in support of NYSD. Fifteen of the mini-grants have been designated to fund projects that are related to traffic safety issues (including underage drinking). The remaining grants will be awarded for any project that meets a community need.

(http://www.youthcourt.net/NYSD/2005_NYSD_info.htm)


(http://ysa.org/awards/award_grant.cfm)

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DELAWARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR CAPITAL GRANTS PROGRAM

Deadline: January 31, 2005

 The Delaware Community Foundation ( http://www.delcf.org/ ), a nonprofit, philanthropic community organization created by and for the people of Delaware to build community, has announced the availability of application forms for its 2005 capital grants.

A minimum of $200,000 will be available for qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve Delawareans. The grants, which will be awarded in June 2005, are funded by the State of Delaware Fund and other charitable funds created by individuals and businesses to help meet the state's most pressing needs.

The DCF defines capital as "construction, major renovation, or repair of buildings and/or the purchase of land." Capital grants typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, with a maximum award of $25,000. Limited funding is allotted for the purchase of equipment. Grants generally range from $2,000 to $7,000, with a maximum award of $10,000.

Projects should have a lasting, positive impact on the population or region served by the organization. Priority will be given to organizations that have completed a significant portion of their fundraising or can demonstrate the ability to accomplish their project goals successfully. Former capital grant recipients must wait for the completion of two grant cycles before applying for another capital grant, and multi-year capital campaigns can be funded only once by the DCF. Agencies receiving DCF grants must serve the state of Delaware and its residents without discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Each grant request must be submitted on a DCF 2005 Capital Grant Application Form, which can be printed from the DCF Web site. See the Web site for complete program information and application guidelines.

(http://www.delcf.org/Apply_4_1.htm)

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NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR NATIONAL FAMILY VOLUNTEER AWARD

Deadline: March 4, 2005

Family Matters is a national program of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network ( http://pointsoflight.org/ ) that promotes family volunteering across America. The National Family Volunteer Awards are presented by Family Matters to recognize outstanding family volunteering activities performed at any time throughout the past year. These volunteer efforts may include, but are not limited to, National Family Volunteer Day activities.

Families, business/corporations, nonprofit agencies, and volunteer centers are all eligible to apply for the awards. National Family Volunteer Award honorees are selected based on project or program achievement, innovation, mobilization, ongoing involvement, and ability to meet community needs.

(http://pointsoflight.org/awards/nfva/nominate.cfm)

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GRANT FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES

As healthcare services continue the out-of-hospital transition to community-based programs and initiatives, funders are shifting their dollars and grants priorities to support these new initiatives.

Charitable foundations, company-sponsored foundations and government agencies are revising their funding and grants programs and directing millions of dollars to a range of community-based healthcare programs and services.

There are numerous funding opportunities available to healthcare organizations developing programs in their communities. Although not a comprehensive listing of all such funding programs, "Grant Funding for Community-Based Healthcare Services" can help your organization set a plan to attract new grants for your services.

"Grant Funding for Community-Based Healthcare Services" is organized in five sections:

* What's Being Funded in Community-Based Healthcare?
* Government Funding Targeting Healthcare in the Community
* Foundation Funds for Community Health Services
* Funding for Community-Based Eldercare
* Grants Focused on Community-Based HIV/AIDS Programs

Publication date: 2003

Source:
Health Resources Online
P.O. Box 456, Allenwood, NJ 08720
Phone 800-516-4343
Fax 732-292-1111

(http://www.healthresourcesonline.com/health_grants/gfcbhc.htm)

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AWARDS FOR DISTINGUISHED STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-6

National Association for Gifted Children: Nicholas Green Distinguished

The Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award Program, administered by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), honors students between grades 3 and 6 that have distinguished themselves in academic achievement, leadership, or the visual or performing arts. One student from each state will be selected to receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond, funded by the Nicholas Green Foundation and NAGC, and a Certificate of Excellence from the NAGC. Students may nominate themselves or be nominated by parents, teachers, students, or community/civic groups. Application deadlines vary by state.

(http://www.nagc.org/Awards/green/greenawd.html)

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GRANTS FOR TOLERANCE AND YOUTH ACTIVISM PROJECTS

Southern Poverty Law Center: Teaching Tolerance Grants

The Teaching Tolerance project of the Southern Poverty Law Center offers grants of up to $2,000 to K-12 classroom teachers for implementing tolerance and youth activism projects in their schools and communities. Grants are awarded for small-scale, resourceful, student-focused projects that promote acceptance of diversity, peacemaking, community service or any other aspect of tolerance education. K-12 classroom teachers throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. Applications from other educators, such as community organizations and churches, will be considered on the basis of direct student impact. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.tolerance.org/teach/expand/gra/guide.jsp)

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LOWE'S SUPPORTS LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation

The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation supports community-based, grassroots organizations in the local communities where Lowe's operates stores and distribution centers, including communities in all states except New Hampshire, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The Foundation supports K-12 public education including playground enhancements, landscaping and painting, and outdoor learning environments such as educational gardening programs; community improvement, including park and neighborhood beautification and clean-up and neighborhood revitalization; and vocational trade scholarships. The next application deadlines are January 15 and April 15, 2005.

(http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/Community#foundation)

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FUNDS FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERSHIP

Wells Fargo Housing Foundation

The mission of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation is to provide resources to nonprofit organizations and to Wells Fargo team members to meet the homeownership needs of low- to moderate-income people. Through the Homeownership Grant Program, the Foundation provides support for nonprofit housing organizations in communities nationwide where Wells Fargo provides products and services. Funding is provided for organizations working to increase low- to moderate-income homeownership through homebuyer education and counseling, affordable homeownership development, post-purchase counseling, foreclosure prevention and necessary repairs and upgrades. The next application deadline is February 1, 2005.

(http://www.wellsfargo.com/about/wfhf_oview.jhtml)

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FUNDS TO PRESERVE CULTURAL HERITAGE

National Park Service: Save America's Treasures Grants

Save America's Treasures Grants, administered by the National Park Service, provide support for preservation and conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and nationally significant historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects. Nonprofit organizations, selected federal agencies, state and local government units, and federally recognized Indian tribes throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. The application deadline is February 1, 2005.

(http://www2.cr.nps.gov/treasures/)

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DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS

National Center for Outreach: Connector Grants

The goal of the National Center for Outreach (NCO) is to assist public television stations to provide meaningful outreach to local communities, helping to foster and deepen existing community partnerships. NCO offers Connector Grants designed to help stations build a sustained outreach effort around a particular issue, theme or audience. The $12,000 grants enable stations to pursue year-long outreach initiatives that connect ideas, issues, and broadcasts while bridging multiple seasons. Projects should use three or more broadcasts, at least two of which are national. Public television stations across the country are eligible to apply. The next application deadline is February 22, 2005.

(http://www.nationaloutreach.org/BuildingOnBroadcast/Grants/Connector/Index.htm)

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 JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

2005 NATIONAL YOUNG COMMUNITY LEADERS RECOGNITION (NYCLR)

Brief History:
Since 1995, the National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies (NAVASA) holds the tradition of being the first independent and only national consortium of Vietnamese American service agencies that provides support and technical assistance to its affiliate members by strengthening its national advocacy capability and promoting the integration of the younger and older generations of the Vietnamese-American community into mainstream American society.

Purpose:
The purpose of this recognition is to nationally recognize young and upcoming professional Vietnamese leaders who have worked, and continue to work, endlessly in various sectors on behalf of the community in which they live.

Through this recognition, NAVASA will create the nation's first Leadership Institute specifically for young Vietnamese-Americans, who have strongly demonstrated an indefinite commitment, passion, and a clear vision toward building and bridging the Vietnamese-American communities across the country. NAVASA's Leadership Institute will mentor, network, and nurture the recipients throughout their public services careers and to ensure that they continue to contribute to the community in many different ways.

Recognition:
The Recipient(s) will have his/her travel and accommodation expenses paid by NAVASA to attend the 2005 National Recognition Ceremony to be held in Washington, DC. in late July, 2005 . Recognition will take place at the National Conference Reception. This includes free leadership training workshops and opportunities to meet and network with distinguished leaders from across the country.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCESS

You are eligible to apply to this Recognition if you are:
             1.        Between the age of 18-35.
             2.        Attended/Attending (private, public, or vocational) school. Please indicate highest level of education completion.
             3.        Contributing to the community through various past and present activities.

Application Process:
All applications must be postmarked by May 13, 2005. NAVASA will notify selected recipients no later than May 31, 2005.

Go here: http://www.navasa.org/nyclr.htm to download the 2005 application package.

If you have any questions please contact Karen Willard via email: karen.willard@navasa.org

Please distribute this announcement through out your organization and/or to those you know who might be interested in applying.

(www.navasa.org/nyclr.htm)
******************

 APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH AWARDS

Deadline: February 1, 2005

The Dirksen Congressional Center ( http://dirksencenter.org/ ), a private, non-partisan, nonprofit research and educational organization devoted to the study of Congress and its leaders, invites applications for grants to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress. A total of up to $35,000 will be available through the program in 2005.

 The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in studying Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers, scholars of public administration or American studies, and journalists are among those eligible to apply. The Dirksen Center encourages graduate students who have successfully defended their dissertation prospectus to apply and awards a significant portion of the funds for dissertation research. Research teams of two or more individuals also are eligible, while Organizations are not. The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study.

An award can cover almost any aspect of a qualified research project, such as travel to conduct research, duplication of research material, purchase of data sets, and costs of clerical, secretarial, research, or transcription assistance. Awards range from a few hundred dollars to $3,500. Stipends will be awarded to individuals (not organizations) on a competitive basis. Grants normally extend for up to a year.

(http://dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm#Resawards)

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COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY & TRAFFICKING (CAST) – CASE MANAGER

The Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST) is seeking a Bachelor-level case manager to provide intensive case management to survivors of human trafficking and slavery. The prospective candidate is expected to participate in program and organizational development at CAST.

CAST is the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to providing services for this vulnerable population of mostly women and girls.  CAST clients face multiple issues with their legal, health, mental health, housing, language and cultural needs.  Because of the nature of the target population, the organization must often forge new ground with community partners and law enforcement agencies in its work to assist its clients and advance their human rights.

Applicants must be able to work in a multicultural setting and be linguistically and culturally sensitive.  They must have excellent case management skills, including empathic communication, service planning, the ability to prioritize needs and advocacy.  Previous experience working in ethnic communities in Los Angeles, in grassroots or women's organizations, in immigrant rights or in trafficking would be helpful. Applicants must be self-directed and detail oriented, be able to multi-task and prioritize and work well in a team environment. Applicants must be committed to human rights and to grassroots coalition building.

Qualifications:
* Bachelors degree, BSW preferred
* 2+ years work experience in social services field
* Bilingual/Bicultural (English/SE Asian, S Asian, or Spanish language preferred)
* Experience in case management
* Knowledge of immigrants' rights, trafficking issues, and/or ethnic communities in LA, preferred
* Familiarity with social service delivery system in Los Angeles
* Cultural sensitivity
* CA driver's license with access to insured car

Duties:
* Counsel and aid trafficked individuals requiring social service assistance
* Assess client needs, implement case management plans
* Assist clients in obtaining social and other services
* Crisis management
* Drive and accompany clients to necessary appointments
* Work closely with other members of the social services team
* Other duties as needed

Position is open until filled.  Please email or send resume with cover letter to:

Bich Ngoc Do, MSW
Social Services Director
Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
5042 Wilshire Blvd. #586
Los Angeles, CA  90036
bichngoc@castla.org
213.365.1906 x 16
213.365.5257 fax

(www.castla.org)

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REGIONAL DIRECTOR - THE SOUTHEAST REGION BASED IN ATLANTA, GA

The Regional Director has primary responsibility for the leadership of the Southeast Region, which has program in: North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  AFSC is a Quaker based Peace and Justice Organization that does community organizing, peace education on international issues (Africa and the Middle East), immigrant rights, youth leadership development, economic justice, conflict resolution and material assistant and outreach.  The Director is responsible overall leadership of the region, facilitation of the work of the Executive Committee, implementation of their decisions and board policies, staff supervision, fundraising and interpretation, and budget management.  The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree, 4 years of demonstrated experience leading a multi-racial/ethnic workplace, and in program development, implementation and oversight.  S/he will have familiarity with Quaker principles and practices or a willingness to learn them.  We seek someone who has a strong commitment to non-violence as a means of social change.

Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.  To be considered for applications send resume and cover letter to the name and address below.

For more information visit our Web Page at www.afsc.org or call (215-241-7032)

Please send letter of interest and resume to:

Madeline Haggans
AFSC
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Fax (215-241-7248), e-mail: Jobs@afsc.org

(www.afsc.org)

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

GRANTS COORDINATOR – NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE U.S. (D.C.)

The National Trust for Historic Preservation seeks individual to coordinate its preservation-related grants-making program. Process grant payments & disburse funds, monitor monthly budget reports, prepare annual reports for program, respond to inquires & oversee production of promotional brochures and materials.

Qualifications:
Junior level position requiring 5 years experience, including administrative experience and some grants coordination experience. Accounting & database management skills a must. Some knowledge of historic preservation a plus.  Salary to low 30s.

Send resume w/ cover letter & salary history:
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Office of Human Resources
1785 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
FAX 202-588-6059
Email jobs@nthp.org  (please include job title in subject line)

(www.nthp.org)

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ASIA PROGRAM ASSOCIATE – GLOBAL RIGHTS

Headquartered in Washington DC, Global Rights (formerly the International Human Rights Law Group) is a human rights advocacy group that partners with local activists to challenge injustice and amplify voices within the global discourse. With offices in 10 countries around the world, we help local activists create just societies through proven strategies for effecting change. Our programs also enable local activists to have a voice in policy discussions and actions of the international human rights community, particularly at the United Nations.

Job description
Based in the Washington DC Office, the Asia Program Associate acts as primary contact for Global Rights field-based access to justice and advocacy projects in Afghanistan., India and Mongolia. The Asia Program Associate will work closely with our field staff and the Asia team in DC and support the implementation of our projects.

In Afghanistan, Global Rights supports a network of partners to use the law strategically to increase access to justice. We also work specifically with women's organization to increase reporting and advocacy skills on key women's rights questions in Afghanistan.

In India, in order to assist NGO's in developing in-house legal capacity on gender and law issues, Global Rights developed a programme for lawyers to work on legal and advocacy strategies for women's rights.

In Mongolia, we support local lawyers to network, engage the newly independent press, incorporate international human rights precedent into legal theories, and create innovative litigation strategies.

Duties include annual planning and monitoring of projects; conveying Global Rights' access to justice and advocacy models, and experiences to GR field staff; supporting field staff with technical assistance, mentoring, or skills-building for local partner organizations; preparation of budgets and financial monitoring; preparing web-based and other promotional materials. The Asia Program Associate will represent Global Rights within the broader human rights and policy community focused on Afghanistan, India and Mongolia, and serve as an institutional resource on the region; frequent work-related travel to Afghanistan, India, and Mongolia is required

Additional Qualifications:
Advanced university degree (in law, political sciences, international relations or other relevant field); fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of Dari or Pashtu, Hindi, Kanada, Mongolian or Russian would be an asset. Demonstrable interest and commitment to human rights and social justice issues, preferably in Asia, are required.

How to Apply:
Apply: No calls please. Send cover letter and resume by mail, fax or email to:

Asia Program Associate Search
Global Rights
1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 602
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 822-4606 - Fax
Jobs@GlobalRights.org

(www.globalrights.org)

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE – CHINATOWN SERVICE CENTER

Summary Statement: Founded in 1971, Chinatown Service Center is a non-profit, private, immigrant service organization.  The Center is currently a Los Angeles Region Collaborative partner in the CA Works for Better Health (CWBH) project – a statewide project funded by the CA Endowment and the Rockefeller foundation to produce better employment and health outcomes in low-income resident neighborhoods through policy, programming, and community engagement strategies.  Under the general supervision of the Project Coordinator and the technical assistance of the LA Region Collaborative, the Center seeks an individual to provide employment and health related advocacy and outreach to the Chinatown community.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
STAFF THE LA COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE
* Participate in the LA Collaborative in-service trainings on community engagement, including issue development, campaign strategy, power analysis, community education, and media advocacy
* Provide staff support to the Collaborative Community Engagement Committee
* Integrate the needs of the Chinatown community in the Collaborative policy issue campaign design and development
* Organize and mobilize residents around Collaborative policy issue campaigns

ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING CAPACITY IN CHINATOWN
* Identify community assets/resources, resident leaders, organizing networks, and opportunities for community involvement
* Engage in local community policy advocacy and issue campaigns
* Develop a strategic plan for resident empowerment and advocacy in order to meet the community needs

PROMOTE THE CWBH PROGRAM VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY
* Conduct outreach to the community on CWBH related activities, especially the Collaborative Targeted Industry Training, to recruit participants for the CWBH program
* Coordinate and facilitate the Collaborative outreach meetings and presentations to the community
* Track program participants and assist in the evaluation of program outcomes
* Assist in evaluating the community engagement project outcomes according to CWBH project evaluation guidelines and methods
* Use CWBH tracking methodologies and tools to track program participants

REQUIREMENTS
* Bachelors degree in public policy, political science, or human services related field
* Good written, oral English language skills and analytical skills
* Cultural fluency and language fluency in Chinese or Spanish
* Demonstrated commitment and experience with community advocacy, empowerment, and education
* Ability to utilize Microsoft Office software and navigate the Internet
* Ability to work independently, as well as a team player
* Valid CA Driver's License and Proof of Insurance

Applications: Please apply by sending email with your cover letter and resume to Samanthi Gamage at sgamage@cscla.org

(www.cscla.org)

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

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – CHHAYA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Chhaya Community Development Corporation (Chhaya CDC) is a four year old community-based organization based in Queens, NY dedicated to meeting the housing and community development needs of South Asian Americans.  Chhaya CDC (http://www.chhayacdc.org/) was established as an affiliate organization of Asian Americans for Equality, (http://www.aafe.org/).

Chhaya CDC, specifically, seeks to meet the urgent need for housing assistance and social services in the New York metropolitan area by means of strategic partnerships, legal assistance, tenant advocacy, education and outreach on housing rights and opportunities.  Currently, Chhaya programs are primarily focused in the areas of predatory lending, and lead poisoning awareness.

Having established a solid organizational foundation, Chhaya CDC now plans to separate from our affiliate organization, establish new offices, refine our programs and add additional staff in the next year.  We are seeking a new Executive Director with strong program, fundraising and interpersonal skills to grow the organization.  The position is available immediately.

Responsibilities include:
* Work with Board of Directors to raise funds through individual donors, foundations, public support, and corporate foundations
* Define organizational direction, policy agenda and program strategies in collaboration with board of directors and staff
* Act as spokesperson for the organization
* Generate community support through the building of relationships with community and religious leaders.
* Build relationships with community leaders and partner agencies throughout New York City.
* Raise awareness and support around community issues through organizing of conferences; bringing together community leaders, policy makers, elected officials, funding institutions, and mainstream and ethnic press.
* Develop and implement programs, prepare budget projections and supervise staff.

Qualifications:
* A minimum of 5 years of experience in community development or related field; Masters in Public Policy, Public Administration, or related area a plus
* Familiarity with issues related tenant rights, homeownership, predatory lending, and immigrant and South Asian Community
* Strong Management Skills
* Strong communication and fundraising skills
* Ability to work with diverse groups
* Ability to speak a South Asian Language a plus

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Please send inquiries, resume and cover letters to
chhaya_edsearch@yahoo.com.

Chhaya CDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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

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 TIPS/RESOURCES

DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

In-kind contributions are donations that do not involve cash. They are an excellent way for programs to meet their match requirements. However, program directors need to keep in mind that even though no money changes hands, the goods and services in this category must be carefully tracked and monitored.

It is very important to properly document, account for, and value these items. Keep in mind that donations must be necessary to accomplish the program’s goals and activities. Examples of allowable in-kind contributions include:

Physical items
* Books for tutoring programs
* Office supplies, computer discs
* Meeting and training materials
* Tools, paint, materials for projects
* Flyers/marketing materials

Use of equipment or space
* Office and meeting space
* Computers, phones, fax, and copy machine use
* Vehicle usage, construction equipment, scaffolding

An individual’s professional time
* Supervision of members
* Training or member development
* Providing technical assistance on a project
* Evaluation of the project
* Oversight of project quality

Valuation is an important component of in-kind contributions. Physical items contributed as in-kind are valued at the actual cost or the fair market value of the item. Space and equipment contributed as in-kind are valued at the actual rental cost or fair rental value for the geographic location. An individual’s time is valued at their actual, regular rate of pay, provided the work they are contributing is similar to their normal line of work. Note that members’ and volunteers’ time does not count as an in-kind contribution.

In-kind donations must be posted to the organization’s General Ledger to be considered as a match toward a Corporation grant. As is the case with all entries in the accounting system, proper documentation for the item must be on file. This includes a written and signed invoice from the donor stating the value of the donation. These records are retained with all financial records for three years from the date of submission of the final Financial Status Report. For more information on in-kind donations, please contact Kris Tecce at ktecce@walkerllp.com.

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MAXIMUM YOUTH INVOLVEMENT: THE COMPLETE GAMEPLAN FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE

This planning manual for youth/adult collaboration on advocacy projects compares various models to figure out what level of youth involvement makes sense for you and identifies essential organizational supports. It also has an extensive appendix of reproducible handouts and worksheets plus an action handbook.

Publication date: 2003

Source: Youth Activism Project
P.O. Box E, Kensington, MD 20895
Phone 1-800-KID-POWER

(http://www.youthactivism.com/myitoc.htm)

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STATE AND LOCAL DRUG INDICATOR PROFILES

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Clearinghouse has developed Drug Indicator Profiles as a resource for State/city policymakers, law enforcement officials, researchers, and the general public. Profiles have been developed for every State and more than 80 cities across the United States.

Source: ONDCP Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000
Phone 800-666-3332
Fax 301-519-5212

(http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/statelocal/index.html)

******************
 NEWS

November 27, 2004

VIETNAMESE HERE AND ABROAD APPLAUD SCHOLAR'S VIEW OF VIETNAM WAR

Annie Han Nguyen
VietWeekly, Interview

WASHINGTON — Author Larry Berman remembers the first time he visited Vietnam. A street vendor named Hiep approached him with a box filled with bootlegged books, illegally photocopied and sold for $10. When he peered down into the box, it wasn't just any other book he saw. The box was packed with illegal copies of Berman's own book, "No Peace No Honor: The Betrayal in Vietnam."

“I feel so fortunate to have friends in communities across borders," said the smiling Berman, a UC Davis political science professor and director of the University of California Washington Center in Washington, D.C. Amused by his books' popularity in Vietnam, Berman said he managed to negotiate $10 for two of his bootlegged books and proudly showed off his souvenir to a reporter.

"I believe that my scholarship on the war, especially on 'No Peace No Honor' has found audiences in Vietnam today because I document what the Vietnamese always said—that Nixon and Kissinger had no intention of honoring the accords and they planned to bomb again and encouraged [South Vietnamese] President Thieu not to release prisoners.”

"No Peace No Honor: The Betrayal in Vietnam," first published by Simon and Schuster in 2001, is the third book in a trilogy about the Vietnam War, normalization and bilateral relations between the U.S. and Vietnam. The first book, "Planning a Tragedy: The Americanization of the War in Vietnam," was followed by a second sequel, "Lyndon Johnson's War: The Road to Stalemate in Vietnam." Berman's third book is now available on paperback and in Vietnamese with an introduction by scholar Nguyen Manh Hung and Hoang Duc Nha.

Berman said his new project on 10 years of normalization has allowed him to meet new friends and colleagues in the Vietnamese community in the United States and Vietnam.

“It allows me to engage people here and Vietnam on the legacies of the war and their hopes for the future,” Berman said. “After all, this generation in Vietnam is the first to be free of war and can look to the future and here in this country the challenge, 30 years later, for the overseas community is to come to grips with their own history and their former country—but as Americans.”

When asked about a unique perspective he has learned from his research, Berman said that in the United States, “the war” is referred to as the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, it is known as the American War.

While citizens in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and ordinary Vietnamese Americans may not see eye to eye on political discourse, Berman said he remains a neutral link between the Vietnamese living abroad and those in Vietnam.

Berman's latest 273-page book details secret meetings Nixon and Kissinger had with officials in North Vietnam. It also explains how the two American political leaders failed to uphold the accords signed in Paris in exchange for boosting their popularity in the public eye in the states and internationally.

“It was a sham peace," Berman said. "That said, that is exactly why the overseas community also likes the book. I document how Nixon forced Thieu to sign onto a suicide pact and made secret promises of brutal retaliation once the accord was signed. It all sounded so noble, but it was a package of lies that resulted in the end of South Vietnam.”

Berman includes excerpts of these secret meetings and provides his own analysis of how Nixon and Kissinger ultimately betrayed the Vietnamese through their diplomatic relations.

Nixon’s plan of “Vietnamization,” which eventually meant the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam while the South Vietnamese administration remained under the impression the U.S. military forces would continue its support of the South Vietnamese military to help end and win the war.

Berman's work has helped him earn the respect of many Vietnamese Americans with many fan letters pouring in about how inspiring his books are to their lives.

Berman received a letter in May written in Vietnamese from a San Jose man. The letter reads, “I do not know much about the war in Vietnam. After reading your book, I was able to understand more about the role of American in Third World countries. ... This is a book with an extensive analysis of the war in Vietnam. Those who want to learn more about the truth must be grateful to you.”

Berman said he understands that his popularity within the Vietnamese communities in Vietnam and the U.S. is a unique one. He anticipates that as the younger Vietnamese generations get older, they will be more outspoken and involved with the delicate politics of Communism and open democratic discourse domestically and in their ancestors’ homeland.

“I think that the new generation, the 2.5 and the next will move towards engagement and cooperation and that much of the bitterness will dissipate,” Berman said.

After splitting his time between his home in Davis, Calif., and the nation’s capital, Berman will conclude his directorship at the UC Washington Center this year and teach at UC Davis full time.

 (http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=735fc7cbf977e74a2f9616e0a7f6797f)

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[NOTE:  As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, NCVA does not endorse any political parties domestically in the U.S. or internationally.  However, we do support democratic values and the right of people to freely determine their government – a government by the people and for the people.]

November 30, 2004

VIETNAMESE AMERICANS FIND COMMUNITY IN A GROUP FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE HOMELAND

Tommy Bruin
Viet Weekly, Commentary

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — I've made it my new project to find meaningful events that will provide history, cause and engagement to a new generation of young Vietnamese-Americans still trying to establish a sense of identity.

I attended the official coming out party of Viet Nam Canh Tan Cach Mang Dang (The Revolutionary Party to Reform Vietnam), or Viet Tan, for short. The event was held Nov. 21 at the Embassy Suites to a crowd of about 400 people.

It's the first time the Viet Tan organization has publicly introduced its mission and members to the overseas Vietnamese community here in California and abroad. Viet Tan's public unveiling was well-organized and informative. It included slide shows, video news clips, commentaries by the Viet Tan staff and supporters and a public question and answer segment.

Viet Tan was founded in 1982 by a group of Vietnamese revolutionary freedom fighters whose mission was to overthrow the Communist government and restore democracy to Vietnam. These were militia men who sought democracy for Vietnam through means of political dissidence and military force.

Viet Tan's first elected chairman was former South Vietnam Navy Adm. Hoang Co Minh, who died in action in 1987 while leading a militia into Vietnam. Despite his untimely death, Viet Tan has continued to operate in Vietnam and abroad with members numbering in the thousands. While Viet Tan has been recognized as a legitimate organization publicly, their operations remain in a shroud of absolute secrecy as to protect the mission and the members of Viet Tan inside and outside of Vietnam.

As I sat listening to the Viet Tan representatives speak about their party’s mission, beliefs and commitment to build a better and stronger Vietnam under democracy and freedom, I couldn’t help notice that in the entire room there were no more than 20 people under the age of 25 in the audience. Half of them were volunteers.

Once again, as I always do, I wondered how much of an effort was truly made to draw a stronger participation and attendance of young Vietnamese-Americans to this important event. After all, Viet Tan offered an opportunity to learn about the historic political struggles of the Vietnamese people, and how those struggles have continued to carry on despite the constant setbacks by Vietnamese Communists.

Viet Tan provided a cause –– something many young Vietnamese-Americans do not have or have tried to avoid.

When public clashes, such as that of "VAX" and SBTN, continue to get pushed to the forefront we are faced with the realization that our community is slowly deteriorating and we are dangerously divided. This is an issue that has long been ignored and not addressed — much like the language barriers and the generational gap that have reached a breaking point. (VAX is a trendy, fast-paced TV show for young Vietnamese; SBTN, or Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, caters to all generations in attempting to connect Vietnamese-Americans to their Vietnamese culture and identity.)

It is more imperative than ever for young Vietnamese-Americans to be more involved in political causes that play a vital role in establishing our identity. Many young Vietnamese-Americans tend to steer away from political issues regarding Vietnam, because we feel removed and detached from causes that are half a world away.

For many, it could be our American education that enables us to look down upon the staunch anti-Communist political views of older generations. We may be quick to discredit the personal experiences of our parents and grandparents just because it doesn't correlate with what we were taught in the textbooks by our teachers and professors.

Whatever the case and wherever the search for our identity leads us, there remains one simple and obvious fact. We are Vietnamese and we are human.

If the people of Vietnam suffer, we too share in that suffering. If the people in Vietnam are hungry, then we should help feed them. Not only is this the Vietnamese thing to do, but it is the human thing to do.

Hold up on wasting your time on frivolous things such as which celebrity has the best fashion sense and who parties the hardest. Find a cause that you can contribute to, and you can help make the world a better place.

(http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=7e3d6fa9dcc9a6d4f20546710b63b5ba)

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For Immediate Release

November 1, 2004

Contact: Vana Tran 202-223-5500

OCA ANNOUNCES 2004 OCA-SYSCO SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

 Washington, DC - The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), a national Asian Pacific American (APA) civil rights advocacy and educational organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates nationwide, is pleased to announce the 6 winners for the 2004 OCA-SYSCO Scholarship.  The OCA-SYSCO Scholarship awards $2000 each to APA high school students who will attend a higher education institution this fall.

"Education has always been a high priority in the Asian Pacific American community." noted Christine Chen, OCA Executive Director. "Although the average level of education for APAs is high, the statistics are misleading. Although there are many members of our community who have advanced degrees, there are countless APAs who are unable to attend college because of financial difficulties. Through our many scholarships - including the OCA-SYSCO Scholarship- OCA is committed to granting deserving APA students a chance they otherwise would not get."

Richard J. Schnieders, chairman and CEO of SYSCO, said "SYSCO has always held a strong belief in the value of education.  It is vital to our communities and our country that our future leaders have every educational advantage available.  We are very pleased to have the opportunity to be involved with the Organization of Chinese Americans and to support these outstanding students in reaching their educational objectives."

"College tuition and living expenses are mounting annually and OCA is very proud to be working with SYSCO to assist first year students," said Jean Wood Chang, VP of Education and Culture for OCA.  "We wish the OCA-SYSCO Scholars every success in their college careers and beyond."

SYSCO is the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in North America, providing food and related products and services to approximately 400,000 restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other foodservice customers.  The company generated sales of $29.3 billion for its fiscal year 2004 ending July 3, 2004.  SYSCO's operations are located throughout the United States and Canada and include broadline companies, specialty produce and custom-cut meat operations, Asian foodservice and hotel supply operations and SYGMA, the company's chain restaurant distribution subsidiary. 

SYSCO has received numerous awards and recognition for donations to food banks and other programs including the Second Harvest National Food Bank. In addition, each of SYSCO Corporation's operating companies serves its community independently, assisting charities and volunteer organizations, including homeless shelters, donating products to food banks and providing meals to volunteers. At the corporate office, the company also has enjoyed longstanding relationships with organizations such as the United Way and the March of Dimes. For more information about SYSCO visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.

OCA is pleased to announce the 6 winners of the OCA-SYSCO Scholarship:

Bopha Chhun (Long Beach, CA)
Bopha Chhun is currently a student at the University of California in San Diego. She has worked as a cashier at Cold Stone Creamery and J & B Market, both in her hometown of Long Beach, CA. In addition she was a Sales Associate at The Icing and interned at St. Mary Child Care Center. Some of her extracurricular activities include Red Cross, Vice President of the Bowling Club, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Senate, Heal the Harbor, and National Honor Society. Bopha has volunteered at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Bixby Knolls Street Fair and 30 Minutes Beach Clean Up.

Meagan Marie Hastings (Reserve, NM)
For barely having left high school, Meagan Marie Hastings has quite an impressive resume of work experiences at institutions such as the Catron County Youth Conservation Corps, Reserve Elementary School and Jake's General Merchandise. She is also certified in First Aid, CPR and in Basic Wildland Firefighting and Fire Behavior. In school, she has been on several honor rolls including the National Honor Society. Meagan has participated in the Student Council School Board, Jazz, Marching and Concert Band, Teen Health Council, Varsity Baskeball, Track and Volleyball, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Farmers of America and Business Professionals of America. Her awards include: Superior Rating Flute Quartet, Academic Athlete, Business Professionals National Competition, and District and State Science Fair Qualifier. This year, Meagan started her college career at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Connie La (San Jose, CA)
In her high school years, Connie La was Secretary of the Mt. Pleasant Red Cross Club, Life Member of the California Scholarship Federation, Member of Interact Club, Link Crew Leader of the Month, Tutor for the After School Homework Center and Prose Editor for the Literary Society. She also played for the school's Badminton Team. In the community, Connie has involved herself at Emmanuel Convalescent Hospital, Phap Vuong Temple and the Chinese Mutual Assistance Association. This year, Connie has started her first year at the University of California at Berkeley.

Kim-Thoa Thi Nguyen (Houston, TX)
Kim-Thoa Thi Nguyen begins her college career at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX with an astounding list of achievements. She has volunteered at Harris County Public Library, Hermann Memorial Hospital, Post and Frazier Elementary Schools, Key Club International, and Surfside Beach Clean-Up to name a few. At school, her extracurricular involvements include: Texas Association of Future Educators; Student Government; Key Club International; Interact Board of Directors; Junior Achievement; Spare Square Entertainment Editor; Service First; Operation Outreach; Every Child Has Opportunities; and Students Providing Assistance and Recreation to Kids in Special Ed.

Stephanie Malinda Nowak (Willow Creek, MT)
Stephanie Malinda Nowak, who is now attending the Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City, has spent her high school years receiving awards and honors - one after another after another. Some of these include: Honor Roll; Top 10% of Graduating Class; Top Biology Student; Girls State Delegate; Student Body President; Superior Rating District & State Music Festival (Piano Solo, Flute Duet and Vocal Solo); Speech/Debate Captain; and USAA National Mathematics Award. to name a few. In any of the spare time she has outside of the school's extracurricular activities, she still finds time to participate in the Church Youth Group, the Willow Creek Fireman's Breakfast as a volunteer, the Willow Creek Art Walk, the Americanism Program as a speaker, and she plays the piano. In addition to all this and her studies, she has worked all four years of her high school career.

Neela Wynn Sandal (Baldwin City, KS)
Neela Wynn Sandal's impressive list of extracurricular activities and work and volunteer experiences definitely played a role in boosting her toward a promising future. Some of her extracurricular activities include: Student Body Vice President; Scholar's Bowl Co-Captain; an 11-5 winning record on the Debate Team and the award of Outstanding Novice Debater of the Year; 3rd place at the Pittsburg Math Day 2004; National Honors Society in her junior and senior years; Russian Federation representative for the Model United Nations; and Rocket Club. She has worked as a Telephone Sales Representative for Global Communications. Her immense list of volunteer experiences include: Social Service League, Baldwin Senior Center Landscaping; Thomas the Tank Engine Festival; Unitarian Fellowship Youth Group; National Honors Society's Baldwin High School Blood Drive; and Environment Restorations. Neela proudly attends Cornell University in Ithaca, NY this year.

About OCA
The Organization of Chinese Americans, a national civil rights organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country, was founded in 1973 to ensure the civil rights of the Asian Pacific American community. It maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

(www.ocanatl.org)

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December 1, 2004

COLLINS: VIETNAMESE BROKE PROMISE TO SHARE POW/MIA RECORDS

By Jeffrey McMurray, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Rep. Mac Collins says he feels "betrayed" by Vietnamese officials who promised to let him browse through what he believes is a vast vault of records about American prisoners of war but never followed through.

As Collins prepares to leave Congress next month, it's a lingering frustration that the country appears to be no closer to revealing more about the nearly 2,000 American soldiers missing since the Vietnam War.

At one point a few months ago, it appeared he was on the cusp of getting some answers, but Collins said the promises proved to be empty ones.

"That's just Vietnam," said Collins, who was defeated in the Republican Senate primary against fellow Rep. Johnny Isakson, who won the election. "We pushed the issue hard."

During Collins' visit to Vietnam more than a year ago, the country's foreign minister, Nguyen Duc Hung, invited him to return to Hanoi and personally browse the records of prisoners to prove the country wasn't hiding anything.

Collins took him up on the offer earlier this year, bringing a document expert along on a follow-up visit to the country. But when they got there, he said, the Vietnamese officials told him that part of the deal was off.

"They were nervous with him going along," Collins said. "They felt like they could fool me, but they couldn't fool him. I did feel betrayed that they promised us things and didn't follow through."

They have also been generally unresponsive to most of the additional requests he has made since, including a face-to-face meeting with top Vietnamese officials over the summer in Washington.

Talks have been more promising, Collins said, about the possibility of allowing American military ships search for downed American aircraft off the coast of Vietnam.

Ann Mills Griffiths, executive director for the National League of POW/MIA Families, said she will miss Collins, who was one of the most active members of Congress is trying to get the Vietnamese government to open up its records.

However, she said he shouldn't feel disappointed that he wasn't able to do more. She said she would have been surprised if the country did keep its promises.

"Their record is to make promises, make commitments, get praise, pocket the praise, then go back on their commitment," said Griffiths, whose brother is among the missing. "I could paper my walls with commitments from the Vietnamese."

Collins said the United States has essentially given away its best leverage on the Vietnam records - establishing normal trade relations with the country, which has already largely been done.

Unless Congress and the Bush administration take a harder line on the topic, Collins says Vietnam will continue to release information on a piecemeal basis, motivated only by economics.

"We need to put our foot down that we want this information, and they do have it," he said. "They have these remains stored, and they dribble them out when someone raises an issue about it."

Although Collins said he doubts he'll have much leverage to pursue the issue when he leaves Congress, he doesn't intend to disappear permanently from the political scene.

He said he could try to return to Congress in two years if Republicans in the Georgia Legislature redraw the state's congressional map. In the meantime, he said he'd like to stay involved in government - possibly even pursuing a job in the administration, such as undersecretary of Transportation or Homeland Security.

On the Net:
Rep. Collins: http://www.house.gov/maccollins/

National League of POW-MIA Families: http://www.pow-miafamilies.org/

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December 1, 2004

CNN'S FIRST VIETNAMESE VOICE ATTRACTS ASIAN AUDIENCE

Anh Do
Nguoi-viet Online, Interview

It’s been an intense year for news, and Betty Nguyen, CNN’s first Vietnamese American anchor, has been intensely working to deliver that news.

Tune in, and you’ll see the woman who began appearing on the network in the spring, who seems to look directly at the viewers, her voice crisp, touched with warmth. She doesn’t stumble. She reaches out, sharing.

Immediately, audiences started to notice.

“I saw that there was this person who was very straightforward, with a lot of necessary information about things that I care about,” said Mark Hoang, a business analyst and a fan from Los Angeles. “She has chemistry.”

He and his buddies now follow Nguyen’s broadcast, as early as 5 a.m. Pacific time.

“I like the fact that there’s a familiar face, a Vietnamese face,” says Karen Lai, a college student from Denver. “I get up, I see her, finishing my homework, then continue with my classes, knowing a bit about what’s happening in the world.”

In 2004, viewers from across the United States watched as Nguyen anchored portions of CNN’s coverage of the handover of sovereignty to Iraq in June. Through the summer months, she continued monitoring events and issues, contributing to extensive footage of Florida hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan.

Nguyen is based in Atlanta, but before moving to Georgia, she worked at numerous television stations in Texas, including KTVT in Dallas, a six-year tenure that found her tracking breaking news from the Columbia space shuttle disaster to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

She started her career as a morning anchor and reporter at KWTX in Waco, a CBS affiliate, where she received many awards, among them a regional Emmy for “Outstanding Noon Newscast.”

Nguyen, raised in the Lone Star State, was on the trail during California’s 2003 madcap gubernatorial race — which got all of the Golden State talking — serving as a freelance correspondent for E! Entertainment Television.

Through her travels, she has not forgotten her roots, co-founding with her mother a nonprofit called Help the Hungry, which aids global hunger while providing humanitarian relief to the needy. Supporters return to Vietnam each year to bring medicine and supplies, visiting villages, learning and researching. Nguyen’s volunteer work earned her a spot in the Philanthropy in Texas Hall of Fame.

What keeps her going? What motivates her?

Nguoi Viet 2 caught up with the journalist during a rare break:

NV2: When did you first appear on air on CNN? Nguyen: It was a weekend program. May 1, 2004. It was one of those moments I’ll always have on tape and I’ll always remember.

NV2: Had you aspired to get there? Nguyen: You always want to be a network anchor because that’s the top tier. Did I specifically set out to be a CNN anchor? No, not necessarily. I wanted to be a good journalist, to tell stories. I know a lot of people say that, but I really mean it. I wanted to make a difference.

NV2: What exactly led you to journalism? Nguyen: I always thought I would be a lawyer. Being Asian American, you drift to that — something that is a wonderful career and something of prestige. I tried working in an attorney’s office in Arlington and I did not have a passion for it. I thought back and remembered that I really loved debate in high school, loved to write. And you know what, I went to the University of Texas and never looked back.

NV2: What about your parents’ reaction to your career choice? Nguyen: My family was so excited that I was going to become an attorney. I remember going to them and telling them that ‘I’m going to become a journalist,’ and they said, ‘You’re going to be what?’ They were skeptical... You don’t make much money at all, they thought, but I said: ‘I’ve got to give it a go. Hopefully, it will work out.’

NV2: And how have you changed as a journalist with each stint? Nguyen: I think in every new stage of your life, no matter how large or small that step may be, you grow with experience, and the people around you.

NV2: What’s been your favorite story, out of all the stories you’ve covered? Nguyen: One of my favorites was about a little boy who needed cornea implants. He was going blind. And because of that story, a doctor in Dallas did the procedure. For free. I was just very proud of that.

NV2: How about your stories from Vietnam? Nguyen: Well, the first time I went back, it had nothing to do with being a journalist. I left in 1975, I was just a child... I got to see where I was born. In succeeding times, (reporting on the deadly flooding along the Mekong Delta), what touched me was the fact that entire families were literally trapped inside their huts in waist-deep waters. Here in the U.S. there are organizations that can come and take you out by boat. In Vietnam because of the poverty, because of the lack of help, it’s helpless. And these are human beings. These are people who have dreams and hopes and children who they want a better life for. When I looked in the faces of people struggling, I thought that could have been me, had I not been able to come to America.

NV2: How do you get sources to open up who don’t like to talk to reporters? Nguyen: Having to talk to a family who has just lost someone, for example, I think that this was a person with a life, and all I want to do is try to honor that as best as possible. Get a real face behind the name.

NV2: Do you have a strategy for being in front of the camera? Nguyen: I would like to think that I’m a good storyteller, getting information from people who have wonderful stories to tell.

NV2: How does being Vietnamese add to the dimension of your stories? Nguyen: I like to think that while I’m a journalist, I’m a human, too. And I feel that with the loss of lives — with the tornadoes that hit the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex), with the shuttle disaster, with a church shooting — there was one that was the worst in Texas history. I was one of the first reporters on the scene, and seeing the mass chaos, families scrambling to find their relatives. You don’t forget that. I have faith in God, and that helps me a lot. That gives me the ‘get up and go’ despite the tragedy. There are stories that have a good ending, that make you smile. They can (also) make you cry a little, but it’s not all bad news.

NV2: Getting back to Vietnam, tell us about your charity. Nguyen: Help the Hungry is really a labor of love. My mother has always reminded me of where we come from, and we have a personal connection. We have family there. I can’t really take full credit for it. This is something that my mom really wanted. With the blessing that we have in our lives, this is our way of sharing it. I know that Vietnamese, when they go back to Vietnam, they personally pack items to bring. Instead of doing it on a personal level, we figured if we have more people joining us, we could do better. It’s essential.

(http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=922ada5cd5ff0af94be7cc53299fee70)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2004

For More Information:  Daphne Kwok 202-296-9200

THIRD NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN SCHOOL BOARD CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON CURRICULUM

Washington, DC - The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) in partnership with the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and the Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association (APISBMA) will host the third National Asian Pacific American School Board Conference in San Francisco December 2-4.  The conference is supported by State Farm ®.

The conference sessions will be focusing on how to get more Asian/Asian Pacific American content into school curriculum.

Sessions will include:

* "How Can School Board Members Affect Curriculum?"
* "Putting the World into World Class Education"
*  "Highlighting Content Resources"
* "How to Get the Content You Want into the Classroom"
* "California State Curriculum Update"
* "Networking with APIA Higher Education Leaders"
*  Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association Business Meeting

APAICS Executive Director Daphne Kwok stated, "Connecting APA school board members from California, Oregon, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Michigan is a service that we are pleased to be able to provide thanks to the generous support and commitment that

State Farm ® makes to education.  Introducing school board members with APA curriculum content and resources is another service that we are pleased to be able to provide.  School Board Members from Oregon, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Michigan and Connecticut."

T. Anthony Waller, Assistant Director, Corporate Communications and External Relations, at State Farm ® commented," State Farm R believes in supporting efforts that help assure that all children have access to an education that will allow them to achieve their greatest potential and prepare them to be active participants in a nation and economy that continues to be a global leader.  We are proud to support this conference because we believe that school board members play a key role in the education of our children."

Cynthia Chang, President of the Asian/Pacific Islander School Board Members Association (APISBMA) and a member of the Los Gatos-Saratoga High School Board, commented, "APISBMA has identified CURRICULUM and NETWORKING as our main goals for this year.  We have developed the conference program accordingly with excellent speakers and hands-on information. Working together, we hope to provide a broader perspective to all the students"

The conference is bringing together APA leaders in higher education for a dialogue conversation with APA school board members.  Addressing the group will be Michael Chang, former Mayor of Cupertino and current Executive Director of De Anza College's Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute of Silicon Valley, who commented, "APAs in higher education and school board members have much to offer each other through networking--in terms of research findings, best practices, and policy discussions."

(www.apaics.org)

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December 2, 2004

Their turn to learn
ASIAN IMMIGRANTS LINING UP FOR LOW-COST ENGLISH CLASSES, EVEN AS CUTBACKS LIMIT NUMBERS

By Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff

In a back room on the top floor at 1509 Hancock St. in Quincy, Lin Dong hovered over a wooden table and thumbed through his Webster's dictionary.

The 52-year-old immigrant from China had waited more than six months for this chance to sit with classmates and learn English. So he was not about to let some pesky adverbs and adjectives get him down. "I need to learn this for my business and for my life," he said.

Like Dong, several of his classmates had lengthy waits to enroll in the English as a second language program offered for free by Quincy Community Action Programs. The local nonprofit agency's wait list totals more than 200, and people who register today probably will not get into an English class for at least a year. The agency's four ongoing classes are kept small, with no more than 12 students in each.

Some say that Quincy, with its burgeoning Asian population, is facing a crisis: The demand for English language courses far outstrips the supply, while cuts in state funding have made it nearly impossible to expand the free classes.

In many cases, the lack of free or low-cost programs has thwarted new immigrants as they try to pick up basic English, and stalled the progress for others who are working but have limited English skills, said John Brothers, executive director of Quincy Asian Resources Inc.

This month, Quincy Asian Resources is teaming up with Quincy Community Action Programs to offer a low-cost English language class for advanced beginners and a computer literacy course. The English class has space for 15 students, and the computer course has room for 10. The resources center is hoping the pilot program will turn into a permanent service that will help new Asian-Americans gain a better grasp of the language and improve their job skills.

"The overwhelming need for English skills has been apparent for years," Brothers said.

Statewide, there are an estimated 29,000 people on formal wait lists for English as a second language courses. Asians make up a large percentage of these lists in Quincy, Boston, and other cities where significant populations of Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants have settled.

In Quincy, the Asian-American population jumped 144 percent between 1990 and 2000, from 5,554 to 13,546 residents. Asian-Americans now constitute 15.7 percent of the city's total population of 88,025.

According to a profile of Quincy released by the Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, 7 in 10 of its Asian-American residents over the age of 65 and 1 in 3 Asian-Americans between 18 and 64 are not proficient in English. Nearly three-quarters of the Chinese and half of the Vietnamese ages 65 and older in the city reported speaking English "not well or not at all."

"There is a crying need for English classes," said Paul Watanabe, director of the Institute for Asian American Studies. "There are long, long waiting lists, and there is a great deal of anxiety about getting into these programs."

Watanabe said Asians in general often do not take advantage of social services available to them, such as health care or food stamps, but would jump at education opportunities -- especially English training.

"The desire and indeed the perception of the need to learn English is amongst their highest priorities," Watanabe said.

For that reason, Asians have flooded waiting lists for English classes in Quincy and other communities. In some cases, people try "every trick in the book to get into these courses" -- even dumbing down their language skills to get into a beginner English course if that is the only one available, Watanabe said.

There are alternatives to waiting for the classes offered by Quincy Community Action, including courses at Quincy College, the South Shore YMCA, the Asian-American Civic Association in Boston, and local churches. However, many of these programs involve tuition fees, have limited capacity, or do not have formal programs run by instructors with an expertise in teaching English as a second language.

Dong, who grew up in Shenyang in China, says he is thrilled to be learning English after getting by on Mandarin for years in San Francisco's Chinatown. But Dong, who is starting a cleaning business, is even happier he does not have to pay.

His high praise for the course recently prompted his wife, Ying Li, to call and register for an English class. She was told it would probably be about seven to eight months.

So she will wait, too.

Jenn Abelson can be reached at abelson@globe.com.

(http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/12/02/their_turn_to_learn/)

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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 2, 2004

STATEMENT ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI

The United States continues strongly to support Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese people in their struggle for freedom in Burma.  As the President has said, "Aung San Suu Kyi is a courageous reformer and a remarkable woman who remains under house arrest for her efforts to bring democracy to her nation."  Thus we note with deep concern reports that the Burmese regime has extended her detention for an additional year.  If true, this represents a return to a pattern of unacceptable backtracking on commitments the regime itself has made to move toward democracy and national reconciliation.  We had hoped that some recent prisoner releases were a sign that the regime was beginning to move in the right direction, but the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi seems to indicate that this is not the case.

Some of Burma's neighbors have engaged the regime in an effort to encourage positive change, but these overtures have been consistently rebuffed.  The generals in Rangoon must come to understand that they cannot indefinitely suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Burmese people and resist the worldwide march to freedom and democracy.  Once again, the United States calls on the regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, and to begin taking other meaningful steps toward national reconciliation, democracy, and improved human rights.  Only then will Burma be able to rejoin the community of nations and ensure security and prosperity for its people.

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/12/20041202-14.html)

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December 3, 2004

FEDERAL, STATE LEGISLATURES PUSH NONPROFIT REGULATION REFORM

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Senate Finance Committee are seeking reforms of existing nonprofit regulations, pending the findings of an Independent Sector panel, the New York Times reported Nov. 15.

The Finance Committee is considering a number of possible reforms, including the revision of IRS Form 990, independent audits of financial statements for organizations with more than $250,000 in annual receipts, reviews of nonprofits' tax-exempt status, and the ability to "impose specific fiduciary duties on board members and give the IRS authority to seek the removal of board members or officers who violate the rules."

These considerations come on the heels of state legislation such as the Nonprofit Integrity Act, a Calif. bill that reforms the auditing and funding accountability of Calif. nonprofits, was signed into law in September.

Meanwhile, the IRS is focused on enforcing existing regulations, including new corporate legislation limiting deductions from the donation of intellectual property and vehicles.

The Independent Sector report will be submitted to the IRS early next year.

(http://www.independentsector.org/panel/main.htm)

(http://fdncenter.org/pnd/news/story_print.jhtml?id=88400019)

 (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/giving/15roundtable.html?ex=1102568400&en=9a19204ccd969d4d&ei=5070)

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December 3, 2004

CONGRESSWOMAN DENIED VISA

Associated Press

HANOI, Vietnam - Vietnam has prohibited an outspoken Southern California congresswoman from visiting the communist country, saying a trip "would not serve Vietnam-U.S. relations," officials said Friday.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, was told in a letter sent via the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi that her visa application was rejected because she "altogether lacks objectivity and goodwill toward Vietnam," according to a statement from her office.

"The Vietnamese National Assembly and Vietnamese public opinion share the view that a visit to Vietnam by Ms. Loretta Sanchez would not serve Vietnam-U.S. relations," according to a reprinted version of the letter accompanying the statement.

Sanchez, who represents the largest Vietnamese community in the United States, has been a vocal critic of Vietnam's human rights record and has backed House legislation calling on Vietnam to grant more political and religious freedom.

"I'm very saddened that they feel threatened by my desire to go to Vietnam," Sanchez told The Associated Press in an interview from Thailand. "My intent was once again to work on human rights issues within Vietnam and I'm sure that my constituents in the Vietnamese-American community would be somewhat annoyed that their congresswoman wasn't allowed to go to Vietnam to discuss the human rights violations that are ongoing within that country."

Vietnamese officials in Hanoi did not immediately comment.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi did not release any details but said it was the first time they were aware a member of U.S. Congress had been denied an entry visa to Vietnam.

This marks the second time Sanchez has been prohibited from visiting, the statement said. She has traveled to Vietnam before, however, and met with dissidents, including Thich Quang Do, deputy leader of a Buddhist church outlawed by the Vietnamese government.

International human rights groups and several countries have criticized Vietnam's human rights record. In September, the U.S. State Department listed Vietnam among the world's worst offenders of religious freedom, a designation that could result in economic sanctions.

Hanoi maintains that no one is persecuted for their religion and only lawbreakers are punished.

Sanchez said that dissidents who she visited before have been imprisoned.

"My request was put to the government to visit these prisoners at their prison sites. I basically wanted to talk with the dissidents to see what was going on," Sanchez said.

She said that she would host a human rights hearing in Congress most likely in February and will continue to make requests to go to Vietnam.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/10330781.htm)

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December 5, 2004

IT'S TIME TO PUT A FACE ON POVERTY – WITHOUT COLOR

Jerry Large / Times staff columnist

For most of my life, the poverty rate in the United States has been going down, but in the past few years it has nudged up. Some of that has to do with immigration or general economic funk, but part of it may be less commitment to aggressively addressing poverty.

We aren't feeling much kinship with poor people, probably because the face we put on poverty helps determine whether and how we want to help people affected by it. A lot of people don't see faces like theirs.

There are 36 million poor people in the United States, and the largest group of them, nearly 16 million people, are non-Hispanic whites. It's a good bet though, that when most people think of poverty, the faces they imagine are of darker shades.

Indians, Hispanics and black people do have more than their share of poverty. The poverty rate for black people is 24.4 percent, for Hispanics, 22.5 and for Native Americans, 23.2. Poverty rates for Cambodian, Vietnamese and Hmong Americans tend to be as high or higher than for black Americans. The white poverty rate is lower (8.2 percent), but because this country is about 70 percent non-Hispanic white and about 81 percent white if Hispanics are included, there are far more white poor people than any other kind.

(Japanese, East Indian and Filipino Americans have the lowest poverty rates among all groups of Americans, but there aren't so many of them.)

Maybe you are thinking race shouldn't make a difference. Well, it shouldn't, but it does.

I came across a policy brief from the Joint Center for Poverty Research, a collaboration between Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Using survey data and voting results, the study found that "support for welfare spending increases in step with the percentage of local welfare recipients belonging to one's own racial group."

There is a direct link between race and support for programs that address poverty.

"An additional African-American welfare recipient in an individual's census tract reduces support for welfare by non-African-American respondents, while having little effect on African-American respondents."

That is, the more people of a different race you see benefiting from welfare, the less likely you are to support it. Welfare is just one issue, of course. Yet feelings about it are an indicator of how people view helping the poor. This time of the year, we see lots of attention paid to poverty. And many of the people whose stories will be told will be from minority groups disproportionately affected by poverty.

It's done with good intentions, but that picture of poverty is a distortion. Media stories about poverty were mostly about white people until the '70s, when news organizations, in the wake of the '60s social turmoil, began to pay more attention to people who were not white and to highlight the greater impact poverty has on communities of color.

Again, that attention comes from good intentions, but it carries some bad side effects. Having the majority of the population turn away doesn't help poor people of any color. Even poor people themselves judge one another, but whether they are rural or urban, white or black, poor people have a lot in common, particularly root causes of their poverty.

Poor education, the absence of well-paying jobs or work of any kind plague people in isolated rural and city communities. The poverty rate in city centers is about 17.5 percent. In the suburbs it is 9.1 percent. Outside metropolitan areas in small towns and rural areas, the poverty rate last year was 14.2 percent.

Last year, according to the Census Bureau, 12.5 percent of Americans were poor.

Forty-five million Americans lack health coverage.

We need to see ourselves in the faces of poor people and make their poverty our issue. Empty stomachs and stolen dreams don't have a color.

Jerry Large: 206-464-3346 or jlarge@seattletimes.com. His column runs Thursdays and Sundays and is found at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.

(http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2002108404_jdl05.html)

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 December 7, 2004

PANEL TO PROBE CONTESTED RACES
Challenge by Heflin is one of three statewide before committee

By Clay Robison
Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - State Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, a former prosecutor and Travis County sheriff, will chair a nine-member committee charged with investigating three contested elections for the Texas House, including one from Harris County.

Speaker Tom Craddick appointed the panel of five Republicans and four Democrats on Monday and named state Rep. Will Hartnett, R-Dallas, a lawyer, as the "master of discovery," who will gather evidence in the proceedings.

The Select Committee on Election Contests will hear challenges filed by state Rep. Talmadge Heflin, R-Houston, and two other Republicans who lost to Democratic opponents on Nov. 2.

The committee will make recommendations to the full House, which will decide the contests sometime after the Legislature convenes Jan. 11.

Heflin, a veteran lawmaker and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, lost to Houston businessman Hubert Vo by 33 votes in House District 149, according to a recount completed in Houston.

Heflin contends illegal votes were cast in the election, including by people living outside Harris County. Vo denies the allegations.

The Republican-dominated House could uphold Vo's election, seat Heflin or require Gov. Rick Perry to order a special election in the disputed district.

State Rep. Jack Stick, R-Austin, also has filed an election contest against Democrat Mark Strama, who defeated Stick by 569 votes. And Republican Eric Opiela is contesting the election of Democrat Yvonne Gonzalez, who won an open House seat in South Texas by 835 votes.

State Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, will be vice chairman of the panel.

Other members are Republican Reps. Mary Denny of Aubrey, Suzanna Gratia Hupp of Lampasas, Phil King of Weatherford and Larry Phillips of Sherman and Democrats Helen Giddings of Dallas, Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City and Allan Ritter of Nederland.

clay.robison@chron.com

(http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2934965)

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December 7, 2004

SADLY FULFILLING MARINE’S DREAM
Funeral to Bring Parents to U.S.

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 7, 2004; Page B03

Binh N. Le had not been back to the land of his birth since he came to the United States with an aunt and uncle at age 4, leaving his parents behind.

So, after he graduated from Edison High School in Fairfax County in 2002 and before he joined the Marine Corps later that year, Le made a joyous pilgrimage to Vietnam to visit his mother and father. Recently, he told one of his aunts in the United States that when he returned from his second tour in Iraq in April, they would make the trip together.

But Le, a 20-year-old corporal from Alexandria, was killed last week in Iraq. The Pentagon said he died of injuries suffered in enemy action in Anbar province; the Associated Press said a car bomb killed him and a fellow Marine, Cpl. Matthew A. Wyatt, 21, of Millstadt, Ill., as they patrolled near the Jordanian border.

Now, instead of awaiting his return visit, Le's parents will be making their way to this country to attend his funeral when it is scheduled at Arlington National Cemetery.

Le was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. He was trained as a field artillery cannoneer and belonged to the unit's Sierra battery. He was proud to be a Marine, said an uncle, Luong La of Dale City.

La said the military was a natural choice for his nephew, a member of his high school's Junior ROTC program. His father had served in the Vietnamese army, and Le had "that kind of blood."

Le was proud, too, of his adopted country, his uncle said. He became a U.S. citizen while serving his first tour in Iraq, and he hoped to sponsor his parents to join him in this country. "That was his dream," La said.

In the meantime, he wanted to make a career of the Marine Corps. When Le told relatives that he would be returning to Iraq, La remembers saying he was a "little bit scared for him." But Le responded that he had a duty.

"He said if he don't do it, no one do it. He do whatever his job," La said. "That was his attitude in being a Marine."

Le was small and slender, quick and energetic, recalled Lynn Hall, his pastor at Lorton's Gunston Bible Church. Le and Hall's son Joe had been close friends since Le joined the church as a boy, Hall said. He said Le was the kind of kid who never stopped moving and always liked to be at the center of things, the kind who would declare that he planned to throw a birthday party -- for himself.

When he visited on leave, Le sometimes stayed at Hall's house. The pastor fondly recalled waking up in the morning to find the young man asleep on the sofa after staying out until 3 a.m. to cram in visits with friends.

Hall said Le told him he joined the Marine Corps because it was the "best fighting force in the world."

"I would sometimes use the term 'soldier' with him, and he hated to be called 'soldier' because he was a Marine, not a soldier," Hall said.

Le told church members that he helped secure a bridge south of Baghdad during the initial invasion of the country in 2003 and was greeted kindly by the people there. "He said the Iraqi people were so glad they were there it just about put him in tears," Hall recalled.

Le was known as a talented musician. He played drums, and in junior high school he formed a band with a cousin and Joe Hall. After the band broke up, he picked up keyboards and played both instruments for the church, Lynn Hall said.

"He was an excellent drummer, but his music teachers would always get mad at him 'cause he'd play them loud," he said. "He'd really bang them."

Le called home often to speak with his American family -- Thanh Le and Hau Luu, the aunt and uncle who brought him to this country and legally adopted him, and La and his wife, Tuc-cuc Thi Tran, with whom he often stayed while on leave.

In one recent conversation, he told La that he was tiring of military food and wanted to try to make Vietnamese-style meatballs. La promised to ship the seasonings overseas soon.

The last time they spoke, just two weeks ago, La said he advised his nephew to "keep his head down."

"Yeah," the young man responded. "We'll do that."

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41576-2004Dec6.html)

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