Welcome to VAYA's Official Blog. This exciting new blog provides an opportunity for VAYA to engage in a dialogue with our members, the community, and those interested in our organization. This blog will feature commentary and observations from VAYA Executive Board Members, contributions by VAYA Staff and members, as well as approved guest bloggers from outside of VAYA. This blog will only be a true community if you participate, so please send your thoughts to eboard@vayasd.org. Please be respectful and considerate when posting comments and thoughts. All comments will be reviewed and approved prior to publication. Thank you for visiting this blog!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Dear VAYA Members and Supporters,

Please find the latest updates from VAYA in the following categories:

I. VAYA General Updates
II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
III: Community Relations Updates
IV: VAYA & other Organizations Updates
V: Vietnamese Americans for the Cure
VI: Other Announcements & Information

I. VAYA General Updates
A. Upcoming VAYA Events
As the summer dwindles down, we are seeking leaders to take on some projects, including the: 6th Annual Street Clean Up Event, Mid-Autumn (Tet Trung Thu) Festival, and many others. If you have an interest in being more involved in VAYA by taking on a leadership role, please email us for more information at eboard@vayasd.org. The Mid-Autumn (Tet Trung Thu) Festival will take place on Saturday October 3, 2009 at the City Heights Recreational Center (4380 Landis St. San Diego, CA) from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. The 6th Annual Street Clean Up Event will take place on Saturday October 17, 2009 with further details TBA.
B. 2010 Asian/Pacific Islander American Youth Conference (APIAYC)
VAYA is in the process of forming the committee for our 2010 Asian/Pacific Islander American Youth Conference (APIAYC), aimed for July 2010. Please visit our official website (http://www.vayasd.org/) for further information and "Conference Coordinator" applications if you want to be a part of the organizing committee. Please email eboard@vayasd.org if you have immediate questions or concerns.
II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
A. VAYA's Miss Vietnam of San Diego™ 2010 Pageant Mixer
The date for the MVSD 2010 Pageant Mixer is set for Saturday October 10, 2010 at the Santa Fe Room in Balboa Park from 5:00 - 9:00 PM. Come to find out more about our 5th Annual Miss Vietnam of San Diego™ hosted by the Vietnamese American Youth Alliance (VAYA). If you are interested, please fill out an application @ http://www.sdtet.com/. All applications received before Thursday October 8, 2009 11:59 PM will guarantee an interview time during mixer, otherwise it will based on time available. "The Miss Vietnam San Diego™ is established with the primary focus of elevating the Vietnamese-American female as a national symbol of beauty and pride captured internally and externally through her poise, grace, intellectual strength, and individuality. For more information, please visit http://www.sdtet.com/.
B. General Tet News & Information
Don't forget that VAYA is actively recruiting new general VAYA staff and Tet 2010 Committee staff to add to our team. Please visit our official website (http://www.vayasd.org/) to download the application along with a document detailing the duties and responsibilities for each of the position. All applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis. While the majority of the Tet 2010 positions have been filled, we are looking for a few more candidates to head the Sponsorship, Golden Voice (Singing Contest), and Ticketing Committee. If interested, please email the Tet Co-Chairs at: chair@sdtet.com. Congratulations to those selected to be a staff for the VAYA 2010 Tet Festival.
Cuong Pham (Co-Chair), Sydney Tran (Co-Chair), Tim Ho (Co-Vice Chair), Nikki Lam (Co-Vice Chair), Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen (Secretary), Tracey Pham (Budgeting), Bich-Tuyen Tran (Cultural Village), Alexander Nguyen (Cultural Village), Jenni Nguyen (Entertainment), Kenny Dinh (Entertainment), Huyen Pham (Golden Voice), Nalene Nguyen (Kids Spotlight), Thuy T. Bui (Kids Spotlight), Kari Lam (Miss Vietnam SD), Tien Ngo (Miss Vietnam SD), Van Vu (Operations), Dennis Duong (Operations), Kevin Nguyen (Public Relations - English), Henry Tran (Public Relations - Vietnamese, Publicity), Luynh Pham (Sponsorship), Bao Nguyen (Technical A/V), Atkinson Tran (Technical A/V), Lan Tran (Ticketing), Linh-Phuong Pham (Vendor), Khoi Tran (Vendor), Tina Khieu (Volunteer), June Nguyen (Volunteer), Dang Tran (Webmaster), Olivier Nguyen (Webmaster), Duy Yin (Creative Design)

For more information about VAYA Vietnamese Lunar Year Tet Festival, please visit: http://www.sdtet.com/

III: Community Relations Updates
A. California Endowment Updates
The California Endowment has selected City Heights as one of 14 communities to invest significant resources over the next 10 years as part of its state-wide initiative on Building Healthy Communities. Tri Nguyen, along with members Calix Vu-Bui and Huong Nguyen currently work with Mid-City CAN (Community Advocacy Network) to educate our community about this invaluable opportunity to shape policies that will have significant impact on City Heights in the next 10 years. They are interested in hearing from residents, service providers, and community leaders in City Heights on what they think this community needs most. You can attend a "house meeting" to learn more about this initiative and tell CA Endowment what you personally think will help improve this community. For more information about House Meetings (and other related meetings), email Tri Nguyen at tringuyen11@gmail.com or Calix Vu-Bui at calixvubui@gmail.com.
Upcoming Important Meetings
  • Access to Healthcare Momentum Team: Tuesday, August 25 from 1-3 pm at the City Heights Center office
  • Food Justice Momentum Team: Wed, August 26 from 5:30-7 pm at the Wellness Center
  • School Attendance Momentum Team: TBD
  • Community Peace Promotion Momentum Team: Wed, Sept 9 from 4-6 pm at the City Heights Center office
  • Built Environment Momentum Team: Mon, Aug 31 from 1-3 pm, location TBD.
For more information on the CA Endowment Initiatives, please visit http://www.calendow.org/.
For more information on the Mid-City CAN, please visit http://www.midcitycan.org/.
IV: VAYA & other Organizations Updates
A. Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT)
VAYA's very own Community Relations Coordinator II (Non-Vietnamese Community), Calix Vu-Bui, is currently in Taiwan as the latest VietACT Intern (http://www.vietact.org/). Calix will be in Taiwan until late January working on issues of human trafficking at the Vietnamese Migrant Workers and Brides Office (http://www.taiwanact.net/). VietACT & Calix Vu-Bui would like to thank all those who took a stand against human trafficking and participated in the Art Drive. Connect with her experiences in Taiwan and check out the Artwork YOU made possible by linking to her Blog @ http://vietactintern.blogspot.com/.

V: Vietnamese Americans for the Cure
The Vietnamese American Youth Alliance (VAYA), in working collaboration with Gach Noi UCSD Vietnamese Student Magazine, the Vietnamese Student Associations of SDSU and UCSD and Meeshie.com, is teaming up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation through Komen San Diego in order to tackle one of the most overlooked but one of the most high risk diseases amongst Vietnamese women: breast cancer.
One of the ways to help and spread breast cancer awareness amongst Vietnamese women and the rest of the community is to come together as a single Vietnamese entity and partake in Komen San Diego’s largest fundraiser and awareness event: the 2009 Komen San Diego Race for the Cure on Sunday, November 1st in Balboa Park (Application Attached). Komen San Diego for the Cure is a 5K (3.1 miles) fundraiser and awareness event at Balboa Park and it is critical to have major Vietnamese involvement so we can provide much more breast cancer resources for our Vietnamese women. We will be putting together a team for this event - "Vietnamese Americans for the Cure" and everyone is encouraged to take part of this event.

We will have weekly fun runs every Sunday at 2:30 PM at different locations announced in advance as well as information sessions. Komen San Diego has also tasked us in finding a Vietnamese woman to sing the National Anthem at the 2009 Komen San Diego Race for the Cure, in which the person would sing in front of 15,000 people. VAYA will have auditions for this. We are also looking for Vietnamese spokeswomen to discuss breast cancer awareness live on the major news channels on the day of the event. Komen San Diego will provide training.

For more information about the race, please go to http://www.komensandiego.org/komen-race-for-the-cure.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us:

Nick Tran: (703) 626-1553
Tracey Nguyen: (714) 867-8395

VI: Other Announcements & Information
In 2010, the U.S. Census will define who we are as a nation. Taken every 10 years, the census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding. As a 2010 Census partner, you can educate your community about the importance of participating in this historic event and help ensure no one is left uncounted. You can help your community receive the fiscal and social benefits to which it is entitled. Achieving a complete and accurate 2010 Census is in our hands.
For more information about the U.S. Bureau of Census, please visit: http://www.census.gov/.
For a complete listing of VAYA's upcoming events/meetings, please visit our official calendar at: http://www.vayasd.org/calendar/. Please direct any questions or concerns to VAYA Secretary, Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen, at secretary@vayasd.org.

On behalf of VAYA's Executive Board and Staff, thank you for your continual support.

About the Author: Anthony (Vinh) T. Nguyen serves as Secretary for VAYA.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Dear VAYA Members and Supporters,

Please find the latest updates from VAYA in the following categories:

I. VAYA General Updates
II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
III: Community Relations Updates
IV: VAYA & other Organizations Updates
V: "Shout-Outs" from VAYA

I. VAYA General Updates
VAYA is in the process of forming the committee for our 2010 Asian/Pacific Islander American Youth Conference (APIAYC), aimed for July 2010. Please visit our official website (http://www.vayasd.org/) for further information and "Conference Coordinator" applications if you want to be a part of the organizing committee. Please email eboard@vayasd.org if you have immediate questions or concerns.

As the summer dwindles down, we are seeking leaders to take on some projects, including the: Annual Street Clean Up Event, Mid-Autumn (Tet Trung Thu) Festival, and many others. If you have an interest in being more involved in VAYA by taking on a leadership role, please email us for more information at eboard@vayasd.org.

II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
Don't forget that VAYA is actively recruiting new general VAYA staff and Tet 2010 Committee staff to add to our team. Please visit our official website (http://www.vayasd.org/) to download the application along with a document detailing the duties and responsibilities for each of the position. All applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis. While the majority of the Tet 2010 positions have been filled, we are looking for a few more applicants to head the Budget and Sponsorship Committee. If interested, please email the Tet Co-Chairs at: chair@sdtet.com. Congratulations to those selected to be a staff for the VAYA 2010 Tet Festival.

III: Community Relations Updates
The California Endowment has selected City Heights as one of 14 communities to invest significant resources over the next 10 years as part of its state-wide initiative on Building Healthy Communities. Tri Nguyen, along with members Calix Vu-Bui and Huong Nguyen currently work with Mid-City CAN (Community Advocacy Network) to educate our community about this invaluable opportunity to shape policies that will have significant impact on City Heights in the next 10 years. They are interested in hearing from residents, service providers, and community leaders in City Heights on what they think this community needs most. You can attend one of the following meetings to learn more about this initiative and tell CA Endowment what you personally think will help improve this community. ** Refreshments, childcare, and interpretation in Vietnamese will be provided. (Credit: Tri Nguyen, former VAYA President 2006-2008).
  • Thursday, 8/13/09 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Location: 3037 44th St. San Diego, CA 92115. (Lead by: Tri Nguyen & Huong Nguyen: tringuyen11@gmail.com).
  • Thursday, 8/13/09 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM Location: City Heights Wellness Center 4440 Wightman St. # 200 San Diego, CA 92105. (Lead by: Calix Vu-Bui, calixvubui@gmail.com).
  • Saturday, 8/15/09 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: 4635 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA 92115. (Lead by: Tri Nguyen & Huong Nguyen: tringuyen11@gmail.com).

IV: VAYA & other Organizations Updates
As the newest VietACT (Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking) Intern (http://www.vietact.org/), Calix Vu-Bui will be teaching an Art Class to the victims at the shelter in Taiwan. VAYA would like to support her and VietACT, so we are having an "Art Supplies Drive" from August 1st to the 23rd. Come to ANY VAYA meetings and/or events during that period to drop off your donations. Please visit http://vietactintern.blogspot.com/ for details on how to donate your art supplies.

V: "Shout-Outs" from VAYA
The end of summer marks the beginning of a new journey for some of our members. Our very own Calix Vu-Bui (Community Relations Coordinator II) will be departing for Taiwan for her internship at a human trafficking shelter and members Duc Hoang and Sheila Khanh Nguyen will be departing for Pharmacy School in Chicago. Safe travels to everyone and best of luck with your new adventures.



VAYA would like to thank Hội Hải Quân Hàng Hải Việt Nam Cộng Hoà San Diego for organizing a community gathering this past weekend (see photo above). Additional photos of the event can be found at: http://picasaweb.google.com/Hai.Tran18/CaunguyenTamtoa?authkey=Gv1sRgCNmKu7fpy5-5AQ#.

For a complete listing of VAYA's upcoming events/meetings, please visit our official calendar at: http://www.vayasd.org/calendar/. Please direct any questions or concerns to VAYA Secretary, Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen, at secretary@vayasd.org.

On behalf of VAYA's Executive Board and Staff, thank you for your continual support.

About the Author: Anthony (Vinh) T. Nguyen serves as Secretary for VAYA.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

VAYA to Support VietACT's: ART SUPPLIES DRIVE!!!

ART SUPPLIES DRIVE!!!

Hello VAYA Members, Supporters, and Friends,

The VietACT Art Supplies Drive is in full swing!
We're collecting donations of items for the survivors so that they can have materials for the Art class I'll be teaching. (see previous blog for details). Last day to donate is Sun 8/23, the day before my departure to Taiwan. Come to ANY VAYA meeting in the next 3 weeks to drop off your donations. Monetary donations are welcome too! Please visit http://www.vayasd.org/calendar/ for info on meeting dates, times, locations. If you can't swing by one of these, please contact me directly at calixvubui@gmail.com or (858) 736-4773 to make a personal arrangement. We sincerely thank you for your support of VietACT's work to stop human trafficking! We couldn't do all that we do without you. A wish list is included below for your convenience. Warmly, Calix :)
  • Colored Paper (8.5x11 and 11x17)
  • Multi-Colored tissue paper
  • Origami paper
  • Paint Brushes (100-150)
  • Water-based Paint (big bottles are fine. H2O-based ONLY!)
  • Liquid Starch economy-sized to thin paint (2)
  • Pie tins (hard kind, not flimsy to use as palletes) (30-40)
  • Plastic disposable 8-12 oz drinking cups
  • Colored pencils
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Markers
  • Glitter/Stickers/Miscellaneous Craft Items
  • Oil Pastels
  • Hairspray cans to treat pastels (e.g. Aquanet)
  • Model Magic by Crayola (white)
  • Spools of string (3)
  • Hole Punchers (4+)
  • Scissors (20-30) special craft kind and regular
  • Multi-Colored Yarn/Ribbon (thin kind)
  • Scotch tape and tape strong enough to hang up artwork
  • Glue (liquid and stick)
About the Author: Calix Vu-Bui serves as Community Relations Coordinator II (Non-Vietnamese) for VAYA.