Saturday, March 21, 2009

Kundra down in the Tundra


Pres. Obama had asked Vivek Kundra to run government technology and now... he's being asked to go on leave.... for now. Why? Because Yusuf Acar, a technology manager in the D.C. government who previously worked for Kundra, was arrested on bribery charges. Dun Dun DUN!

It's been a rough week for politics, especially with everyone out-outraging each other on AIG bailout money. This is just another D'OH moment to add onto the others. And an Asian American [AsAm], no doubt.

Source

Friday, March 20, 2009

Filipino Community Health Volunteer Opportunity - Mtg Mar 23

Maligayang Bagong Taon! We hope this email finds you well. The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area. The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities, to engage the community in relevant research, and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community.

FACHIC is currently recruiting dynamic, compassionate and dedicated individuals of all backgrounds who would like to contribute to efforts to improve the health of the Chicago area Filipino and Filipino American community. Individuals with expertise and experience in medicine, nursing, public health, social work, education and translation are a plus but anyone interested in contributing to the Filipino community is highly encouraged to attend.

FACHIC will be hosting its second 2009 Volunteer Interest Meeting on Monday, March 23, 2009 at Bucktown-Wicker Park Chicago Public Library, located at 1701 N. Milwaukee Ave, from 7 PM to 8 PM. The Bucktown-Wicker Park Chicago Public Library is accessible by the Damen stop of the blue line; the public library has a small free parking lot.

At the meeting, FACHIC Steering and Advisory Board Members will discuss the mission and vision of the organization and ways you can contribute your skills and talents to improve the health of the Filipino community.

RSVP to the meeting is recommended by email to filamcommunityhealth@gmail.com. Light refreshments will be served.

If you are interested in getting involved with FACHIC but are unable to attend the meeting, please contact us at filamcommunityhealth@gmail.com to be added to our volunteer listserv and to get more details. FACHIC is also on Facebook! Search under "FACHIC" and join "FACHIC: Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago" to join our group!

Please pass on the word and we hope to see you there! Be involved, be active, empower your community!

Eric Tang Lecture, March 31, 2009

Asian American Studies, African American Studies & the Honors College at
the University of Illinois at Chicago

Present

ERIC TANG
Assistant Professor
Department of African American Studies and Asian American Studies Program
University of Illinois at Chicago

Lecture: Southeast Asian Refugees and the Struggle for a Just Resettlement

Tuesday March 31, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Institute for the Humanities, Lower Level, Stevenson Hall

Nearly 30 years have passed since the first wave of Cambodian refugees
were resettled to the United States in the wake of Khmer Rouge
atrocities. And though they escaped war, their lives in US cities have
been anything but peaceful and just. How have Cambodian Americans
continued to experience a low-intensity warfare marked by urban poverty,
environmental racism, and immigration detention and deportation? How do
they, thirty years later, define justice?

This lecture is free and open to the public.
A reception will follow this event.

This event is sponsored by the Asian American Studies Program, the
Department of African American Studies, and Honors College.

For further information, contact:

Surbhi Malik
Graduate Research Assistant
Asian American Studies
University of Illinois at Chicago
smalik3@uic.edu

OR

Catherine Griffiths
Graduate Assistant
Department of African American Studies
Office Ph: 996-2950
cgriff3@uic.edu

Human Trafficking Community Briefing - 3/21

In recognition of International Women’s Month

Please join

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and

State Senator Lou Correa

At a Human Trafficking Community Briefing

Saturday
March 21, 2009
10:00a.m - 11:00a.m

Viet Bao Daily News
14841 Moran St.
Westminster, CA 92683

INFORMATION PANEL:

• Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force

• Westminster P.D., Chief Andrew Hall

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent

• Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking

Program to include updates on local, state and federal efforts to combat human trafficking

To RSVP, please call 714-621-0102 or 714-558-4400

Event sponsored by Viet Bao Daily News

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Georgetown TASA Lobbying Workshop

Congressional Lobbying Workshop
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Location: Georgetown University

No matter what your political persuasion, we can all agree on one important fact: lobbying matters.
Interested in international affairs? Or influencing the political decision making process?

Join us to learn how to advocate effectively for Taiwan, or issues in general, on Capitol Hill!!! We'll discuss talking points, strategies, and how to arrange successful meetings with members of Congress and their staff. It's easier than you think to bring change.

---
Facilitator Julia Famularo currently serves as the FAPA Young Professionals Group Lobbying Co-Chair. She is a doctoral student in Modern East Asian political history at Georgetown University. She received her M.A. from Columbia University and B.A. from Haverford College in East Asian Studies. Julia recently completed her Fulbright Fellowship in Taiwan, where she studied the rise of ethno-nationalism in Taiwan and its impact on electoral politics. Last summer, she was a participant in the Formosa Foundation Ambassadors Program.

Please RSVP through this Facebook event or email Georgetown TASA, gtown.tasa@gmail.com.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=69112448133

SLANTIES: COMPLETE. UTTER. EPIC. FAILURE.


What the hell is this CRAP?! After the whole Miley Cyrus slanty eye business, there's seriously no need to make wooden eyewear in some "TRIBUTE" to the Inuit people! As quoted on their website:

"slanties are based on ancient Inuit eyewear. Each pair of slanties is handcrafted. Our light, durable finish shows off the natural wood grain. slanties are engineered to be sturdy and reliable, and each pair is reinforced with a layer of fiberglass. If cared for correctly, your slanties will last for 800 years. Wear slanties on the beach as functional sunglasses. Wear Slanties to the club. Wear slanties to visit your grandparents, they’ll love them too. We hope that each pair will bring you great happiness."

Uh, bullsh*t. Enough with this hipster shiet.


COMPLETE. UTTER. EPIC. FAILURE.

Application Deadline Approaching: 3.31 / Recognition Awards

1st Annual 2009 Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy
Recognition Awards

For Students & Young Professionals

The Asian Pacific Community Fund will be recognizing a young generation of community leaders this spring. We want to recognize young leaders and high school, college and young professional organizations that are making a difference in the Asian Pacific Islander community through their leadership and volunteer service. We will be highlighting their successes in hopes of encouraging others to get involved in the Asian Pacific Islander community.

Click below for the Info Sheet
http://www.4shared.com/file/91335124/2ab1a60a/2009_APCF_Awards_Info_Sheet.html

Click below for the Awards Nomination Form
http://www.4shared.com/file/91335445/d27f3f1/2009_APCF_Awards_Nomination_App.html

Applications are due MARCH 31, 2009

Awardees must be present at the celebration event in order to receive their awards. Please forward this to someone who is making a difference today or make a nomination yourself. If you have any questions, please contact Debra at (213) 624-6400 ext. 2 or dfong@apcf.org.

Event:
1st Annual Asian Pacific Community Fund
Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy
Recognition Awards Reception

Date:
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Time:
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location:
Elevate Lounge
Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant
811 Wilshire Blvd, 21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 236-9600
www.takamisushi.com

Tickets: $25.00

To purchase tickets, please contact Christine at cvasquez@apcf.org or (213) 624-6400 ext.4.

Help us recognize those who are positively impacting the Asian Pacific Islander community and deserve to be honored.

Thank you!

--
Christine Vasquez
Asian Pacific Community Fund
cvasquez@apcf.org

Angels & Kings present Island Def Jam r&b star Utada--open bar Monday, March 23 at 6pm



ARGH! I'd LOVE to go to this!! Utadaaaa!!! Come to Chicago!!!

-----------------------------------------------

Utada (Island Def Jam) Album Release Party
Monday, March 23, 2009 (6 pm - 9 pm)

Angels & Kings
500 East 11th Street, at Avenue A, New York, NY 10003
Subways: L to First Avenue, 6 to Astor Place

Presented by Angels & Kings with proceeds benefiting Asian American Arts Alliance, Japanese American pop/R&B singer Utada, a multiplatinum seller in Japan, will be on-hand for the release of her new English-language album. Available digitally Tuesday, March 24, the album, which includes her new hit, “Come Back to Me,” features the work of producers Stargate (Ne-Yo, Rihanna) and Tricky (Britney Spears).

Utada fans, here is your chance to get free promos items and win an advance copy of the album!

Open bar sponsored by Ciroc from 6 pm - 7 pm.

Tickets:
$10 Donation at the Door, benefiting the Asian American Arts Alliance. To find out more about the Alliance, visit our website at http://www.aaartsalliance.org.

Contact:
Angels & Kings
http://www.angelsandkings.com

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Part-time bi-lingual interviewer (UCI Campus - Irvine, CA)

Position Title: NCS Household Interviewer

Department: Pediatrics

Req No.: 2009-0076

Location: UCI Campus - Irvine

Job Summary:

The National Children's Study (NCS) Household Interviewers will be
responsible for walking through 15 pre-selected small neighborhoods in
Orange County to knock on the doors of all dwelling units, speak with
persons in the households to identify the women who are in the eligible
age range for the study and conduct a household screening questionnaire
with those women. The Household Interviewers will explain and answer
questions about the NCS, attempt to gain the cooperation of the
household members to complete the interview, enroll eligible women in
the study, and administer study consents to individuals interested in
enrolling in the study.

The NCS is a long-term research project that will examine the
environmental influences on children's health and development. The goal
is to identify the causes and potential prevention strategies for a
variety of child health conditions including birth defects, asthma,
obesity, diabetes, injuries and learning and developmental disabilities.
Researchers will follow 100,000 children nationally (1,250 in Orange
County) from before birth to age 21 in order to evaluate how
environmental influences interact and determine which aspects of the
environment are harmful and which are helpful to children's health and
development. The Orange County Vanguard Center is led by the Department
of Pediatrics, of UC Irvine and is one of seven national centers
selected to lead the implementation of the NCS.

Salary: Range $15.56 to 18.47

Work Schedule: M-F, Evenings, Weekends

Limited Appt Positions, 49%

The part-time work schedule will include early evenings and weekends in
order to complete the project. There will be paid one to two weeks of
required training for the work in Irvine during March and April, 2009.
The work is expected to be 6-7 months in duration.

Final candidate subject to background check.

Please attach your resume.

To apply for this NCS Household Interviewer position, please go to this
site:

https://staffing2.hr.uci.edu/CSS_External/CSSPage_Welcome.asp

The job is listed in the Dept. section under Pediatrics and the New Jobs
This Week section, or under : Req No.: 2009-0071, 2009-0073, 2009-0074,
2009-0075, or 2009-0076.

Obama Fingers: FAIL


I love food, but... fail. Germany doesn't get it. I think Obama sushi has been the best food thing so far....

Source

Two positions avaiable at SAALT - starting in May 2009

Fundraising and Development Fellow (May - December 2009)

The Fundraising and Development Fellow position provides an 8-month intensive internship for individuals interested in gaining a thorough understanding of the non-profit sector, fundraising and development initiatives, and organizational capacity building. We encourage candidates for Masters in Public Administration or Public Policy; MBA students; and college graduates seeking a career in the non-profit sector to apply.



Responsibilities include:

Research, Identification and Maintenance of Potential Funding Opportunities

· Research and identify potential grant opportunities

· Research corporate and major donor prospects

· Manage and update donor database

· Draft grant reports

· Compile and send out funding opportunities e-newsletter to local community groups

Implementation of Fundraising Strategies

· Write, produce, and acknowledge donor appeals

· Develop letters of inquiry and funding proposals

· Organize local fundraising activities

· Develop and implement strategy to increase SAALT's base of individual donors

· Recruit and maintain new SAALT members

Develop and Implement Communications Strategies

· Work with SAALT staff to develop annual print newsletter

· Develop content for website and listserv communications

· Coordinate mailing of annual newsletter to members, funders, and potential donors

Qualifications and Skills

· Applicants should be reliable, responsible, self-starters

· Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills

· Ability to set and meet deadlines

· Strong planning and big picture thinking skills

· One-on-one communications and speaking skills

· Interest in South Asian community a plus

· Demonstrated interest in the non-profit sector a plus

· Comfortable with using range of software programs including Access, Excel, Photoshop and others

Further Information
This is a paid fellowship position, beginning in May and continuing through December. Expected number of hours will range from 25 to 35 hours per week, and fellow may set his or her own schedule. Fellow will be expected to be in SAALT office in Takoma Park, MD for at least half of the hours allocated for each week. Fellow to be supervised by Executive Director. Stipend provided. Applicants are also encouraged to seek academic credit and academic scholarships for fellowship duration.

Please send resume and cover letter to saalt@saalt.org by April 1st, 2009

Be the Change 2009 National Coordinator (Summer 2009/Fall 2009)

Be the Change is an annual event sponsored by SAALT, which fosters leadership and community engagement through volunteerism and service. Also known as the National Gandhi Day of Service, this event draws individuals who believe in the values espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and civic leaders who have devoted their lives to public service and engagement in their communities. Occurring each year in October to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, Be the Change empowers participants to engage in collective public service and civic action. In 2008, over 2,000 volunteers participated in 35 cities and campuses across the country. This year, Be the Change will occur on Saturday, October 3rd in cities and campuses around the country.

SAALT is seeking a dynamic individual to spearhead Be the Change efforts in 2009. The BTC National Coordinator will coordinate logistics, materials, correspondence, trainings, and implementation of the Be the Change program. The BTC National Coordinator will receive assistance and supervision from SAALT staff and board members.

Responsibilities include:

· Recruiting and assisting city coordinators around the country

· Creating materials for Be the Change 2009

· Raising awareness about Be the Change in various cities and campus around the country

· Identifying community service sites

· Coordinating and supporting efforts around the country with city coordinators

· Fostering relationships with organizational partners nationally and locally

· Encouraging South Asians and others around the country to collectively engage in community service

· Developing and maintaining the Be the Change 2009 webpage on SAALT’s website

Qualifications:

In order to develop leadership among young people, SAALT typically selects a college student (a rising junior or senior) for this position. We encourage college students who are looking for a leadership position that will help enhance communications, organization, and outreach skills to apply.

· Can be a college or graduate student in the Washington DC Area (seniors in college are encouraged to apply)

· Applicants should be reliable, responsible, self-starters

· Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills

· Comfortable with using Microsoft Office programs

· Ability to multitask, set and meet deadlines

· Strong team player; familiar with team dynamics

· Availability for conference calls and meetings during weekday and weekend evenings

Compensation: This is a paid temporary position that will last between April and October 2009 and a modest stipend is provided. The National BTC Coordinator will work between 15 hours per week in April and May; full-time during the summer (June-August); and 20 hours per week in September and October.

PIHCP Community Forums - 3/21 & 3/28

TALOFA!, HAFA DAI!, ALOHA!, MALO E LELEI!, BULA!, IA ORA NA!, YOKWE YUK!

Greetings,

You are formally invited to attend a community forum brought to you by The Pacific Islander Health Careers Pipeline (PIHCP) of Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA). The PIHCP is hosting community forums in San Diego and Long Beach. We hope that these community forums are central and easily accessible for the community at large. We plan to disseminate information and inform community members, key stakeholders, and decision makers of both the progress and future plans of the PIHCP program.

Our specific objectives for the community forums are the following:

1. Share key activities and accomplishments over the past year in planning a health careers pipeline program for Pacific Islander youth,

2. Share key findings, results and recommendations from the needs assessment that was conducted to assess the barriers for Pacific Islander youth from going into higher education (focus groups, and key informant interviews),

3. Solicit feedback from the community with regard to future direction of the PIHCP program, and

4. Provide opportunities and resources for partnership, involvement, and support of continued PIHCP efforts.

A community perspective is essential in informing the implementation phase of PIHCP. Please forward this to those in your networks that are interested in impacting the lives of Pacific Islanders through education and health promotion. Thank you for your time. If you have any further inquiries, please feel free to contact me.

TOFA SOIFUA, ESTA AGUPA, ALOHA, NOFO A, NI SA MOCE, E NOHO RA, YOKWE,


Joseph G. Fa’avae

We welcome you, OUR COMMUNITY, to attend one of the Pacific Islander Health Careers Pipeline community forums below…



Saturday, March 21st 2009
SAN DIEGO
Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation
404 Euclid Avenue, Room 401
San Diego, CA 92114
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
*Light refreshments will be available

Saturday, March 28th 2009
LONG BEACH
California State University, Long Beach
College of Business, Room 140
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
12:00-3:00 p.m.
(Park in LOT 17)
*Light refreshments will be available

National CAPACD accepting proposals for workshop presentations


National CAPACD is now accepting proposals for workshop presentations for our 10th Annual National Convention, Celebrating a Decade of Unity: A Time of Change. With the recent transition in the federal government and the current downturn in the economy, the needs of AND the opportunities for the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has never been greater! Join us to engage in shaping initiatives not only for the AAPI community but also for the country! Click here for a workshop proposal form.

National CAPACD's Convention provides a platform for hundreds of community organizers, housing and economic development organizations and social service providers that work with Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian and other minority and immigrant communities to gather and share ideas for comprehensive solutions to community empowerment, development and planning. Visit our website for more information about our convention!

We invite presentations from service providers, educators, researchers, policymakers, youth, business representatives, government officials, media representatives, technical assistance providers and others. We encourage innovative workshop formats as well as workshops that explore actions and projects at different levels (from local, statewide, regional to national). We seek diversity in topics, formats, and presenters. WORKSHOP PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009. Click here for a workshop proposal form.

Do not hesitate to contact Hieu Truong, Program Cooridnator at hieu@nationalcapacd.org or (202) 223-2442 with any questions you may have regarding workshop proposals.

Remy Bumppo Presents a Workshop with Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai


Join Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based HBO Def Poet Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai (www.yellowgurl.com) in an interactive spoken word and hip hop theater performance workshop exploring how to use word, voice, body, and movement towards personal and community change. Exercises will spark the creation of solo and collective spoken word pieces and focus on exploring from negative freedom ("freedom from") to positive freedom ("freedom"). We'll also be focusing on how to use tools like Boal's Theater of the Oppressed Techniques and Liz Lerman's choreographic toolbox to use writing and performance as a forum for social dialogue and community problem-solving. No experience necessary. Come ready to write, move, and speak your truth!

INFO:
DATE: MONDAY, March 30, 2009
TIME: 6:30-9:30
PRICE: FREE
PLACE: Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
3717 N. Ravenswood Ave. Ste. 245
RSVP: Only 20 spaces available, reserve your space at info@remybumppo.org

Monday, March 16, 2009

APABA 2009 Summer Fellowship - $5,000 - Due March 21, 2009

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
$5,000 FELLOWSHIP
Summer 2009

APABA is pleased to announce its 2009 Fellowship Award in the amount of $5,000 to a deserving law student. This is a great opportunity for a law student planning to take a position in a nonprofit organization or governmental organization and work substantially in a unit that serves the Asian Pacific American community in Los Angeles County for at least a 10 week period during the summer (please note that working for a public defender, district attorney, or a judge does not qualify).

In order to apply for and be eligible for the APABA Fellowship, potential applicants must be enrolled and in good standing at an ABA accredited law school during the 2008-2009 academic year. Applicants must secure a position with a non-profit organization of their choice in the greater Los Angeles area with an emphasis on assisting the Asian Pacific American community at the submission of their application. All applicants must complete and return the APABA Fellowship Application Form to:

APABA of Los Angeles County
Attn: Edmond Sung or Derek Ishikawa
1145 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017

All materials must be postmarked by March 21, 2009 for consideration. Finalists may be interviewed by one or more members of the APABA Fellowship Committee (if determined to be necessary). The Fellowship award will be announced in April of 2009. Please send all inquiries to edmond.sung@gmail.com or derek.ishikawa@gmail.com.

Anoop Desai is Awesome


Anoop Desai is really cool. He can sing pretty well and did so well that the judges even stuck him in the top 13 for American Idol! And if you want to hear him sing Beat It by MJ, then here you go...

ABC's Going Twitter Crazy


Apparently ABC is going to host a twitterview via George Stephanopoulos with Sen. McCain. I have no idea what Twitter draws out of people. Is it because it's so A.D.D.-like? The whole 140 character limit? I may eventually become a Twitter-er, but until then, I'm intrigued as to how this will go.

Source

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Photo Ops with my Representatives!


Me and Sen. Durbin! Yesss! Props to Eric, for helping me snag this photo!!


Myself, co-worker, and Heather Steans! State Rep for my area!


Myself, co-worker and Jan Schakowsky!!

Hope you enjoyed the photos! And yes, I covered faces. :)