August Highlights: VietRISE’s Youth Organizing Coordinator, Allison, Receives TCE Voices for Change Award, & More Little Saigon News

Written by VietRISE

August 17, 2022

Dear Community,

We are so excited to share that Allison Võ, our Youth Organizing Coordinator, was awarded the 2022 Voices for Change Award by The California Endowment for the Southern California region! One young person per region is awarded the Voices for Change award for their work in and dedication to achieving racial and health equity through people power. Scroll down below to read more about this award and Allison’s incredible work!

Mark Your Calendar & Get Involved

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Wednesday, 8/17 @ 5PM: General Election Civic Engagement Team Application Due

This fall, VietRISE aims to knock on over 7,000 doors across Little Saigon to connect with Vietnamese voters, inform our community about what’s going to be on the ballot, and encourage them to vote.

Apply to join our civic engagement team to help make this happen! This is a short-term paid contractor position ($20/hr) for 8 weeks starting Monday, September 19th through November 8th. Prior canvassing experience is preferred but not required. Training and lunches will be provided. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, so apply early!

Campaign News

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Tự Lực Social Justice Academy: Conclusion and Ceremony

Last month, we wrapped up our Tự Lực Social Justice Academy program! Congratulations to our 6 high school youth leaders for completing this program. Twice a week for 6 weeks, these youth leaders participated in social justice workshops and learned about the history of Little Saigon and past and present activism in the Vietnamese community. At the end of the program, they channeled this knowledge into leading a Political Tour of Little Saigon for other youth and residents from El Centro Cultural de Mexico and OC Justice Fund!

Like and view our Instagram post here.

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Over 200 Calls Made During VISION Act Power Hours to #StopICETransfers in CA

On Tuesday, August 9th, 10 community and legal organizations joined us in co-hosting a day-long phone bank for the VISION Act. Over 200 calls were made to OC Senators Umberg, Min, Newman, and Governor Newsom to stop ICE transfers in California. Thank you everyone who joined our event and made calls for the VISION Act!

Check out our thread on the event here.

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19 Elected Officials Send Letter Urging OC State Senators to Pass the VISION Act

On Tuesday, August 16th, 19 Orange County elected officials, including the Mayors of Santa Ana, Irvine, and Buena Park, sent a monumental letter to State Senators Tom Umberg, Josh Newman, and Dave Min urging them to vote yes on the VISION Act.

Help us by re-tweeting and re-sharing the letter on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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After Community Mobilization, Westminster City Council Backtracks Vote to Bankrupt the City

Westminster voters will now be able to vote in the November election “on an extension of the current 1% transaction rate that voters approved in 2016, and it would last for 20 more years” if it passes (Voice of OC). Mayor Tri Ta and Councilmember Charlie Nguyen reversed their non-votes to yes’s, Councilmembers Carlos Manzo and Kimberly Ho maintained their yes’s, and Councilmember Tai Do maintained a non-vote during the Friday, August 12th special public meeting.

The reversal of the original decision that would’ve bankrupted the city transpired because of a multigenerational community mobilization. Residents and advocates, from seniors from mobile home parks to young people from immigrant backgrounds, all rallied to fight for the community’s needs.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our call to action and sent an email to hold Westminster elected officials accountable and those who gave a public comment in person during the meeting!

Features

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Allison Võ Receives the 2022 Voices for Change Award by The California Endowment

If you have met Allison, you know that their love for the community knows no bounds and it is reflected in every aspect of their community building and organizing in Little Saigon and beyond. Over the past four years at VietRISE, Allison has led and created alongside community members a bold immigrant justice movement in Orange County; and has cultivated brave spaces for young people to explore their histories and identities and channel these reflections into healing, generative, and powerful forces for racial justice.

Community Spotlight

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Highlighting Our Youth 4 VISION Act Committee

This month, we’re highlighting the incredible youth who lead our OC Youth 4 VISION Act Committee: Nyomi C., Martin M., Melissa N., and Chloe V., as well as all the youth attendees!

This group of young leaders believe in and are building toward a world where every person is treated with dignity, are not double punished by the state’s criminal legal system, and have their human rights respected. They have been mobilizing their peers to support the VISION Act and played an integral role in organizing the VISION Act march and rally in Little Saigon in June. They exemplify leadership and community care. Thank you all!

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OUR MISSION

VietRISE advances social justice and builds power with working-class Vietnamese and immigrant communities in Orange County. We build leadership and create systemic change through organizing, narrative change, cultural empowerment, and civic engagement.

VietRISE is fiscally sponsored by Tides Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

CONTACT US

general@vietrise.org

(714) 589-5496

14351 Euclid St. #1M, Garden Grove, CA 92843