Many people make the mistake of seeing Asians and Pacific Islanders as all the same, when in fact we have a broad diversity of cultures, languages, religions and immigration experiences.  While some in our community have done remarkably well in achieving “the American dream” of getting a good education and working at a good family-wage job, the reality is we still experience serious disparities.  We know that social achievements are not shared equally in our community, for example with Southeast Asians including Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Khmer, Mien and Hmong who have a college degree attainment rate of less than 20%, half the rate for other API groups.  We also know that much of our community continue to face job discrimination, voter suppression, racial resentment, hate crimes, school achievement gaps, and health disparities.

APANO works to understand the realities faced by all Asian and Pacific Islanders in Oregon, and to develop culturally specific ways to improve civic participation in order for the issues faced by our communities to be appropriately addressed.  APANO also works in concert with other communities of color, as we recognize that many of our concerns are shared and we strive to build coalitions.  Join APANO today!

His proposition was simple: in order to effectively care for Asian or African or Slavic families you have to deliver services that work for Asians, Africans, or Slavs.  His proposition was also pioneering.  Things change.

And how Thach Van Nguyen changed us

Only change is permanent, that’s what our elders say and say and say.  And, who can say whether this change or that one, a change in somebody or a change in something, is good or bad.

All along Indonesia’s 17,508-island archipelago — blessed morning until our whistling bats crowd your night, you can hear prayers in all five of our little blue planet’s major religious traditions. And if you listen carefully, their whispering is about getting humbler in the mysterious face of God, not about bigger pay from the new boss or a better bike for your birthday. In our Old World, asking for change has always been a risky business.  Because better or not, change happens. Sure it does.

But sometimes, take these times, change has been good for our newcomer families.

Take last year’s Spirit of Portland presentation to Sokhom Tauch, Executive Director of the Immigrant & Refugee Community of Oregon (IRCO). Now, that was a change.

Or take this year’s Multnomah County Sy Kornbrodt Award, handed to Thach Van Nguyen, Asian and islander community muscleman. Another big change.

Changing River City

Portland hasn’t always been so open-hearted. Not long ago, we recognized our contributions to our separate communities, separately. Indeed, before US President George HW Bush and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski declared May: Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month, we celebrated a smaller sense of ourselves, separately.

Before Asian Reporter Foundation’s annual banquet became the place to be seen smiling among River City’s most elegant Asian and islander elders and our most earnest scholars — we were back-smacking a bit less grandly. We called it Thanks for Giving Day. We did it over the Turkey Day weekend. And we did it without the big headless bird.

Those humbler banquets we did during President Reagan’s gloomy era. Back then downtown Portland was pretty desperate. But back then Little Saigon hummed. With us.

We were not so linked to the mainstream. Our newcomer communities were a lot less dependent on America’s mood-swings and much more wary of change. Indeed, many of today’s commonplace crossovers, like karaoke, Thai cuisine, Tibetan accoutrement, like all those sweaty North Portland hipsters streaming out of early morning yoga shops — were not yet part of normal. Not yet Pacific Northwest cool. Not back then.

What we had back then, was our little Thanks for Giving dinner in the back of gentle Dr. Tri’s tiny Yen Ha Café. At our table’s head sat community-builder Jaime Lim and Portland Public Schools desegregater Professor Phyllis Lee; across from them smiled Lao Buddha Temple organizer Hongsa Chantovong and Southeast Asian Vicariate lay leader “The Colonel” Nguyen Quoc Hung, and the smartest Hmong on earth, Dr. Bruce Thaopaow Bliatout. Those bigger-than-life guys raised Courvoisier toast after toast to their eager protégé: Cowboy “VK” Khamsouk, blues brothers Tou Neng and Lee Po Cha, Thach Van Nguyen and the irrepressible Kim Phuong Nguyen; our own Iu Mien equivalent of The Supremes: Sengfo Chao, Kao Chiem Saechao, and David Lee; and of course my cuz’ David Tagaloa Ah Soon and me.

We had, back then, an unstated understanding among our newcomer core crew that any nurturing, and all rewarding, had to begin among us. And end with us. Better than asking America’s mainstream for change is self-sufficiency. Best is trusting familia.

“Thanks for Giving” we told each other across Dr. Tri’s odd assortment of pulled-together café tables.

Mr. T’s big moves

Now look where all that’s gone. And where we’ve come.

Last month, Thach Van Nguyen took the Kennedy School stage to receive praise from Multnomah County’s Citizen Involvement Committee. Then he was handed the 2010 Sy Award. A very different room likened him to local legend Sy Kornbrodt, and thanked him for his commitment to societal equity. That’s respect from a county numbering just over three-quarters of a million. Not a lot of them Asians or islanders.

That’s pretty cool. And so is Mr. Thach.

Mr. T has been earning this big bite of respect for 25 years — from 9 to 5 at Multnomah County’s Juvenile Services Division, then after-hours among our ethnic enclave heavy lifters.

At the office, he’s worked his way up from correcting wayward teens to designing kid services and managing youth counselors unimaginable for their color and their cultural efficacy back when his social justice calling aaall began. Before the changes.

Evenings and weekends, it’s Mt. T educating, explaining, and exhorting at raucous Apano kitchen tables as well around Portland Public School’s conference tables. It’s him in front of candidate forums and before committees of Oregon’s Legislative Assembly. And it’s all business. He’s all business. He expects our homework done.

It is a social equity standard and a community-advocacy standard Thach Nguyen impressed on IRCO management and staff, on granters and on competitors for contracts IRCO jumped on, when he was President of IRCO’s Board of Directors.

His proposition was simple: in order to effectively care for Asian or African or Slavic families you have to deliver services that work for Asians, Africans, or Slavs. His proposition was also pioneering. It required change in policies, of practices and mis-practices so much a part of America’s hard history long-long before our resettlement on this chaotic continent.

Mr. Thach’s insistence on this matter, as a matter of financial efficiency, to say nothing of Constitutional necessity, was initially taken as trouble by granters and competitors not so long ago. Then things changed.

Now culturally-specific services, that is: public services conceived and configured then delivered to meet the real socio-cultural needs of client-families, are accepted as simply good social work. As just right. The new Normal.

Thach Van Nguyen’s leadership made IRCO a national model of refugee resettlement, and urged us all into a bigger Us.

Our shifts

Our thinking has changed. And by all indications, our shifts are good.

The gathering consensus is that good and sustainable social change is most likely when we more equitably share both the benefits and the burdens of American dreaming. Our mainstream must share their material wealth, and we will share our cultural wealth. Respect, everyone will spread all around. Parties will be bigger.

Of course our elders, our culturally conservative anchors, will be a bit reluctant to characterize these big changes, as good or bad. Naturally, the social movements nurtured by Thach Van Nguyen (or Nguyen Van Thach, as our traditionalists will insist he be) will need continuing care. Sure they do.

But change is happening. Change always is. Heaven knows, some bad old American habits and many of ancient Asian ones may be best left behind.

And that’s the lesson — above his thoughtful analysis and his careful preparation for all those super-executed campaigns — Mr. Thach Van Nguyen should be noted for. Treasured for.

Cites drawn from (not for publication):

Indonesia extends 5,271 km (3,275 mi) E – W and 2,210 km (1,373 mi) N – S .  http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Ican ndonesia-LOCATION-SIZE-AND-EXTENT.html

Number of islands: 17508 according to the Indonesian Naval Hydro-Oceanographic office.   http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/indonesia/pro-geography.htm

This summer series event provides a chance for API communities to come together and build a shared understanding of what causes poor health and how can we work towards better health outcomes. HEART will be showing the episodes at various locations across the Portland area, followed by a facilitated discussion by Asian and Pacific Islander community activists.

Friday, July 23, 2010
6:00-8:00 pm
Beaverton Resource Center
12500 SW Allen Blvd
Beaverton, OR 97008 [RSVP here]

Friday, August 6, 2010
6:00-8:00 pm
Asian Reporter Conference Room
922 N Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR 97217 [RSVP here]

**Free Dinner

Questions? Accomodations? Contact John at (503) 512-0274 or jjoo@apano.org

Oregon and Portland have very unique and diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities.  How have things changed over the last decade, and where is it going in the future?  What is the identity of Oregon’s API community, how is it unique, and how can we leverage that to create the best possible community?   Join former Oregonian reporter and American University Professor of Journalism Angie Chuang and APANO Coordinator Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons for a sharing of perspectives on how the Asian Pacific Islander community came to be, what we can learn from that, and where it might be going.   Panelists include Ronault LS Catalani, Office of New Portlanders, Bill Chin, Lewis & Clark Law School and Jane Mauk, NW Korean Culture Society.

Co-Sponsored by the Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs, Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Asian American Journalists Association, Friends of Portland Chinatown and Thymos Asian American Activism

apanojuly5panel PDF

Got Rights?  All that and Dim Sum: APANO Youth Advocacy Institute
Friday July 2 5pm-9pm | Eastrose UU Fellowship 1133 NE 181st Ave, Portland

Asians and Pacific Islanders are breaking out of the passive, invisible stereotype and speaking up and speaking out for equal rights.  APANO’s new summer institute for emerging leaders is an intensive 2-day community building and leadership training program for Oregon young Asian and Pacific Islanders.  We seek to bridge the gap between the younger and older generations, deepen our understanding of a Pan-Asian/Pacific Islander culture, and learn new skills to help unify and advocate for our community needs.

Invitation Only – The summer institute will bring together an intentionally diverse group representing as many of the 30+ Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Oregon.  If you, or someone you know, is interested in long-term community leadership and is between the age of 16-23, we invite you to contact our registrar Ketsmaly for information on applying to participate.

Keynote Speaker – Professor Angie Chuang is professor of journalism at the American University specializing in race and ethnicity in the media.  A former Oregonian reporter, Ms. Chuang is widely known for her humor, anti-racism and great dim sum eating skills.

Interactive Program – Workshops, theater game, small group discussions, excellent food and a chance to share your story.

For application form, click HERE.  For general information please contact ketsamaly@gmail.com or call 503-512-0274.

APANO believes that API youth can make a difference given the right tools and opportunities to succeed.   Asians and Pacific Islanders continue to be the 2^nd fastest growing communities of color here in Oregon.   We bring with us our rich cultural histories, traditions, and most importantly our stories of successes and trials. As youth, we face new discoveries and yet real challenges in today’s society.

Co-Sponsored by the Asian American Journalists Association, Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance and the Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs.

Key questions we’ll be addressing:

• How will the federal and state health care reform impact Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Oregon?
• How is our environment making us sick?

What: Understanding Health Equity workshop & Health Reform Panel
When: Thursday, June 10, 2010, 6-9 PM
Where: Asian Health & Service Center, 3430 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202
This is a free event with dinner provided. RSVP, Questions, Accommodations?

RSVP Online or contact John at jjoo@apano.org or (503) 512-0274.

Health Reform Panel:

• Moderator: Carmen Madrid, APANO HEART Chair
• Carol Cheney, Office of Multicultural Health & Services
• Liz Baxter, The Archimedes Movement

Thanks to our cosponsors: Asian Health & Service Center and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

APANO’s Health Equity and Reform Team (HEART) provides public education, community-based advocacy and organizing in order to improve health outcomes for Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Oregon. For more information, visit us at www.apano.org under “Health Equity.”

API Shoes Off! Symposium

WORKSHOP TOPICS:

Got Bok Choy?: Do our communities have access to good, safe, nutritious, and affordable food? We are looking for local food resources or information on growing our own food. How do our communities create access to good safe healthy food?

API Communities on the Move: Asian Pacific Islander communities in Portland often live in suburbs and/or outlying communities, and have limited access to public transportation and limited opportunity for walking and biking.

Invisible Death: We live in cities. There are many challenges to having so many people living in a concentrated area. Our communities are heavily polluted, the air we breathe and the water we drink is not safe and is leading to health problems like asthma and cancer.

Culture and Sustainability: A common thread to the survival of our families is often that success in education, business, or trades can bring stability and financial prosperity.What impact does this make on our environment?

APANO Membership Meeting
12:00 PM Lunch & Ceremony for APANO’s new Sign
1:00 PM Membership Meeting & Policy Bash!
RSVP by clicking here

DisOrient: Asian American Social Justice Film Festival.  Friday, April 23rd to Sunday April 25th, Bijou Theater Eugene, times vary and May 1st in Portland.

Asian Reporter Foundation Scholarship Dinner.  Friday, April 23rd at Legin 8001 SE Division, Portland 5:30 PM.  $35.00.

Portland Taiko Benefit Banquet.  Wednesday, May 5th at Wong’s King 8733 SE Division, Portland 6:00 PM.  $50.00.

IRCO Asian Family Center Benefit.  Saturday, May 15th at Legin 8001 SE Division, Portland 6:00 PM.  $25.00.

PPS is proposing to eliminate 33% of the bilingual workforce in the form of 23 educational assistants.  PPS is pitting bilingual assistants vs ELL teachers, who may not be bilingual/bicultural.  APANO is calling our community and allies to turn out on Monday April 12th for a Portland Public Schools (PPS) Budget Hearing at Madison High School to support bilingual/bicultural PPS Staff.  We oppose these cuts.

Will you join us Monday?  RSVP by clicking here.

Madison High School, 2735 NE 82nd (South of Fremont, North of I-84)
Trimet #72 (82nd Ave MAX & #24)
6:00 PM Pre-Meeting / 7:00 PM Budget Forum with Public Comment

1. Bilingual/Bicultural Educational Assistants, Parent Liaisons, and Community Engagement staff make critical connections for ELL students that furthers their academic achievement.
   
2. This decision will disproportionately impact our Asian and Pacific Islander families.
   
3. PPS has failed to communicate in a timely fashion with our communities, and we demand an audit the needs of ELL students.
4. We support the increase of 12 ELL teachers, and believe these should be paid for through an across the board staff cut instead of a targeted group of staff of color, immigrants and refugees.
5. This is an issue of racial equity, and APANO is willing to work with PPS to develop evidence-based, accountable solutions.
6. 4,700 ELL (English Language Learner) students generate approximately $42 Million for PPS whereas only $14 million is allocated for ELL services and teaching.  We demand accountability and equity through a funding allocation similar to Special Education where funds generated from student enrollment are invested 100% in those student services and teaching.
7. A more equitable and flexible student to teacher ratio formula that will allocate appropriate resources to each school in order to close achievement gaps, not short change schools.
   

Please let us know if you could attend part or all of this important PPS Budget Forum Monday April 12th after 5pm, until 8pm.  We encourage you to wear your APANO shirt or button, we’ll have extras.  We also are looking for people to testify.  If you are interested, please let us know. Please RSVP by clicking here.

Sincerely,

Thach Nguyen, APANO Board and the Coalition for Educational Excellence
Joseph Santos-Lyons, APANO Coordinator
(503)512-0490 / jsantoslyons@apano.org

From the Willamette Week:

“Portland Public Schools’ department for teaching English to immigrant and refugee students, already under state scrutiny for its performance, faces a new controversy. The department wants to shift about $1 million to pay for 12 new English-as-a-second-language teachers. To do so, however, 23 positions must be cut for bilingual educational assistants. The timing of that move is awkward. PPS will hold a budget hearing April 12 to discuss the change, which won’t be finalized until May. But on April 13, the educational assistants were supposed to help out at a meeting to discuss high-school redesign with non-English-speaking parents. After calls from educational assistants to boycott that meeting, it has been postponed. A PPS spokesman says the postponement is unrelated to budget concerns. ” – WW April 7th, 2010

April 5, 2010 Letter from Superintendent Carole Smith: