Our festival will feature live music, food, community education, art-making, and small business vendors. We need your help with event set-up and breakdown, stage management, and activities to make this celebration unforgettable!

There will be three volunteer shifts: Pre-Festival (8am-12pm), Afternoon (12-4:30pm), and Evening (4:30-9pm). Meals and other festival goodies will be provided for volunteers! We will also sign volunteer service logs.

Location: Rosita Park (706 N Newhope St, Santa Ana, CA 92703)
Volunteer expectations: Volunteers have the option to help with outreach and art-making leading up to the festival, volunteering day-of, or both. All volunteers must attend a mandatory 1-hour onboarding orientation and our All-Team Dinner on Thursday, September 19.

How to Participate:

1. Create your best paper lantern based on the theme: “What is your vision for the future of Little Saigon?”
2. Submit your entry by filling out this form: bit.ly/lscflantern [contest criteria are also listed here!]
3. Drop off the lantern at the VietRISE office by September 18, 2024

What you can win:

• A festival poster signed by all our amazing performers! 
• A gift card to Bake & Chè!
• A gift card to Paderia Bakehouse!

Winners will be announced at the Little Saigon Community Festival on Saturday, September 21 before the headliner performance at 7:00 PM! If you have any questions, please contact info@vietrise.org.

Join us for an evening of vibrant discussion about the upcoming ballot measures for California and Santa Ana. Our programming will include a presentation about each ballot measure, as well as key updates about our SAFFE and Rent Control Campaigns! Young voters are encouraged to attend! Bring your friends and family! Location will be at the VietRISE office in Garden Grove. Food and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by Tuesday, Oct 1. If you have any questions, please contact lisa@vietrise.org or dwight@vietrise.org.

In collaboration with the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO), VietRISE is excited to be the host site for CTWO’s Community Action Training (CAT) this Fall! CAT is a two-day introductory training where participants can learn about key strategies for social change, mobilize around the current political moment, and connect with organizers, activists, and community leaders. Workshop topics include outreach, campaign strategy, member retention strategy, grassroots fundraising, and the history of organizing. Masks are required for this in-person event. Training will take place at the VietRISE Office.

Registration is on a sliding scale from $50-$125.

VietRISE is offering scholarships to cover the full cost of this training series. You can apply for the scholarship here: bit.ly/vrfcat

Sign up to attend one of our monthly Digital Empowerment Workshops aimed to equip community members in Orange County with essential digital skills for staying informed, staying safe online, and finding employment. Whether you’re sending emails, ensuring your online safety, or building a professional network, our workshops are here to help you feel confident navigating the internet.

Workshops are held monthly in both English and Vietnamese, with Vietnamese workshops on Tuesdays and English workshops on Wednesdays. Location will be shared after you register.

September Workshop Dates

• September 4: Intro to Digital Literacy
• September 11: How to Browse the Internet
• September 18:  How to Use Email & Zoom
• September 25:  Digital Tools for Employment

To register:

• RSVP here: http://vrdlw24.eventbrite.com
• Call or text (714) 589-5496
• Email techlibrary@vietrise.org

In August, the Tự Lực School for Organizing cohort hosted a fun and beautiful open mic event. As a part of the program, youth participants started planning this event in early June, figuring out the programming, food, decorations, and outreach to make everything come to life. Community members showcased their photography, poetry, and even stand-up comedy. We’re so proud of our Tự Lực youth cohort for organizing this event! Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their art with us.

Congratulations to our 13 amazing youth leaders for completing the 2024 Tự Lực School for Organizing program! This month, we celebrated all their hard work with community icebreakers, a presentation on our program, a gallery of their art, and food. Each cohort member shared their reflections on what they learned and how they grew throughout the past 12 weeks.

From learning Vietnamese American history to coordinating an open mic event, our youth participants demonstrated their drive and resilience in creating positive social change, starting in Little Saigon. We are so proud of them and look forward to witnessing the leadership they will continue to provide in our communities.

During the last week of August, we kick-started our canvassing program for this upcoming General Election! Our team went door-to-door to speak to residents in Westminster about rent control. They also spoke to residents about issues of Extreme Heat and Saving Water. Our team will begin to canvass the city of Santa Ana to talk to residents to get out the vote among young Vietnamese and immigrant voters. Be on the lookout for action shots of our incredible canvassing team!

We’re so proud to share news of our 18 Vietnamese senior residents who completed all four workshops in our Digital Empowerment series! The workshops consisted of an introduction to digital literacy, browsing the internet, how to use email and Zoom, and digital tools to find employment.

Also, the community members gave certificates to several members of our team, including “Best Instructor” certificates for Indigo and Nhien. 🥹❤️‍🔥

#DoMustGo – In mid-August, Orange County officials sued nonprofit Viet America Society (VAS) and its associates for misusing millions in Covid relief dollars, directed to it by Supervisor Andrew Do. Instead of following contracts to provide hot meals to local seniors, the organization and its associates, including Do’s 23-year-old daughter, have allegedly pocketed the money to purchase 5 homes and converted the rest to cash. In light of FBI raids on the OC Supervisor’s family home, VietRISE and the Harbor Institute reaffirmed our call for his resignation.  Various elected officials have also called for his immediate resignation.

“While innocent until proven guilty, Supervisor Do has lost the trust of our community and should not retain power over a $9.3 billion budget” – Santa Ana City Councilmember Thai Viet Phan. Read the full article here.