Volume VI: Issue 21 - Thursday February 25, 2010

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: VAYA & the Community
IV: Other Announcements & Information

I. VAYA General Updates
A. Upcoming VAYA Meeting(s)
Sunday March 7: VAYA Meeting @ Tea N' More (7380 Clairemont Mesa Blvd - Ste 120, next to 99 Ranch Supermarket). (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM).

B. Ways to get MORE involved with VAYA
At VAYA, we work to promote youth leadership, cultural awareness, social activism, and community development. Therefore, we make every effort to provide our members the opportunity to lead and make a difference. To get involved, please visit our web site for more information. Please direct any questions or concerns to VAYA Secretary, Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen, at secretary@vayasd.org.

*** Access Application(s) @ http://www.vayasd.org/downloads/

II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
A. General Tet News & Information
Thank you EVERYONE for your support in the 5th Annual VAYA Lunar New Year Tet Festival 2010. Below are the results of winners from our various competitions. For more information about the 2010 VAYA Vietnamese Lunar Year Tet Festival, please visit: www.sdtet.com.

Miss Vietnam of San Diego
http://www.sdtet.com/pageant/2010-contestants/.
MVSD 2010 - Pageant Queen: Lan La
1st Runner Up: Tammy Nguyen
2nd Runner Up: Kim Hong Duong
3rd Runner Up: Mimi Bui
4th Runner Up: Thien Y Nguyen
Miss Ao Dai: Thien Y Nguyen
Miss Photogenic: Chloe Mai
Miss Congeniality: Jenny Lam

Mr. Vietnam of San Diego
http://www.sdtet.com/pageant/mr-vn-2010-contestants/.
Mr. VNSD 2010 & Audience Choice Winner: Jerry Luong
1st Runner Up: Andy Huynh
2nd Runner Up: Anthony Pham

Golden Voice Giọng Ca Vàng
http://www.sdtet.com/program/golden-voice-contestants-2010/
Golden Voice Winner 2010 & Audience Choice Award: Bich-Nguyen Le
2nd Place: Charlien Uyen Nguyen
3rd Place: Amy Hoang
4th Place: Kenny Tran
5th Place: Kim-Ngan Tran

Kids Spotlight
http://www.sdtet.com/program/kids-spotlight/
Results TBA on www.sdtet.com

III: VAYA & the Community
A. International Rescue Committee
Free citizenship services for seniors over 65---
Did you know that 23% of the total San Diego population is foreign born?

Elderly refugees and immigrants represent a significant part of this population, and often face various cultural, linguistic, or educational barriers that make it difficult to pass the US Citizenship interview. The International Rescue Committee is reaching out to this often marginalized population to ensure they are able to become US Citizens in a timely manner.

Through its new Golden Door Program funded by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the IRC will help refugee and immigrant seniors over age 65 by providing:
• Free citizenship classes exclusively for seniors
• Free home tutoring for home bound seniors
• Free application preparation services
• Free case management services

How can you help?
• Volunteer as a Home Tutor to help seniors prepare for their citizenship exam and interview.
• Invite an IRC staff member to speak at your local organization to raise awareness about immigration and citizenship.
• If you know of a senior citizen who is striving to become a US Citizen, have him or her contact the IRC.

For more information, contact Laura Lopez at laura.lopez@theIRC.org or 619 641-7510 x254

For more information, call the IRC at 619-641-7510 Ext. 250
International Rescue Committee
5348 University Ave. Suite 205A
San Diego, CA 92105
www.RefugeeInfo.org www.theIRC.org/SanDiego

B. Mid-City CAN (Community Advocacy Network) The CA Endowment
BHC Youth Initiative Kick Off Event
(Building Health Communities Initiative)

February 27, 2010 10:00AM -2:00PM
East African Community & Cultural Center
4061 Fairmount Ave, City Heights

-4 Hours of Community Service is Available
-Meet and Greet other City Heights Teens
-Limited Space! Call (619) 415 -5660 to RSVP!

Entertainment, Food, and Prizes provided!

IV: Other Announcements & Information
A. ETA4 (English Through Academics, Athletics, and the Arts Abroad)
TA4 is a 501(c)3 non profit dedicated to the advancement of English education for underprivileged children abroad, and provides no-cost, rewarding, and successful English instruction to achieve that goal. For more information, please visit: http://www.eta4.org/.

B. Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT)
VAYA's very own Community Relations Coordinator II (English), Calix Vu-Bui, is currently in Taiwan as the latest VietACT Intern (www.VietACT.org). Follow her experience in Taiwan @ http://vietactintern.blogspot.com/.

C. Vietnamese Americans for the Cure
For more information about "Vietnamese Americans for the Cure", please go to www.viet4cure.org or contact: Nick Tran OR Tracey Nguyen @ info@viet4cure.org.

D. California Endowment /Mid-City CAN (Community Advocacy Network)
For more information on the CA Endowment Initiatives, please visit www.calendow.org. For more information on the Mid-City CAN, please visit www.midcitycan.org.

E. Census 2010
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. For more information about the U.S. Bureau of Census, please visit: 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.