Happy Pride Month! For the past three weeks, our Civic Engagement Team has been out canvassing in Little Saigon, speaking with residents about housing, immigration, and their views on local government. We’ve already collected over 180 survey responses. Shoutout to our amazing canvassers for their hard work and dedication to ensuring that community members have a voice in decision-making processes.
We’ve been doing plenty! Before spring comes to an end, read our latest newsletter and find out what we’ve been up to.
Mark Your Calendar & Get Involved
Saturday, June 28 @ 11 AM - 3 PM: Volunteer with Our Civic Engagement Team!
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Come volunteer with VietRISE on June 28th! We are canvassing our Little Saigon neighborhoods to gather responses for our Community Assessment Survey, which will help us understand the concerns and issue priorities of local residents. This survey will inform our future civic engagement and research projects, and we need your help to get the word out!
Join us at the VietRISE office from 11 am to 3 pm for training and lunch, and we’ll hit the streets shortly after. Questions? Email Tim, our Civic Engagement Manager, at tim@vietrise.org.
Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13: Sabaidee Fest
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This summer, VietRISE will be tabling at the 3rd Annual Sabaidee Fest – the largest Southeast Asian Music and Cultural Festival in the United States! The lineup features 20 international artists, including Hanoi-based rappers tlinh and Low G. Come out to enjoy a mix of art, music, food, and fashion that celebrates the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia!
WHERE: Gloria Molina Grand Park (200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Questions? Email info@sabaideefest.com
Resources
Support for Vietnamese Community Members in the Immigration System
This online guide is for Vietnamese community members in OC facing deportation or supporting loved ones through the process. It includes info on legal resources, record requests, and advocacy efforts.
Our staff have been working with and providing accompaniment to community members facing detention and deportation, as Vietnamese community members across the country have reached out with questions about their case as immigration enforcement increases nationally. We share information about the history of deportations to Viet Nam from the US, review potential pathways for community members to defend against deportation, and connect people directly to pro bono attorneys.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
Campaign & Program News
Digital Empowerment Workshops
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Last month, we wrapped up our Digital Empowerment Workshops held in collaboration with the Family Resource Centers in the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD)!
Thank you to GGUSD staff for collaborating with us to provide these workshops to over 138 community members in the district.
Westminster High School Cultural Tour of Little Saigon
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On May 29th, VietRISE hosted our annual Cultural Tour of Little Saigon for Westminster High School (WHS) students in the Vietnamese 1 class! This was our second year where WHS students who attended the tour previously were able to lead their own tours, sharing with their peers the origins of Little Saigon and the people who fought and continue to fight to shape our community for the better. We are excited and inspired by the students’ thoughtful reflections and passion to learn more about their community’s past, culture, and future!
Features
Voice of OC - Santa Ana Officials to Assess Risks of Publicly Disclosing ICE Activity in the City
From January 22 to April 26, the Santa Ana Police Department received 42 notifications from federal officials about ICE activity in the city. However, it concealed this data from the community until a public records request made by the Inadvertent. At a press conference on May 20, Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vazquez and Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez called for an ordinance requiring public disclosure of all ICE courtesy notifications received by the SAPD within 48 hours. City staff are now moving to research what an effective disclosure policy could look like.
“The increase in ICE enforcement activity in the local community has increased anxiety and fear of family separation among our community and knowing when ICE plans to show up in their neighborhoods helps mitigate these concerns” – Indigo Vu, our Operations and Programs Manager
In Santa Ana, Orange County’s only sanctuary city, we are fighting to ensure residents’ right to transparency and safety!
SHOUT OUTS & THANK YOUS!
Class of 2025 Graduates
Congratulations to our Program Intern Vy on graduating high school, and to Sarah, Julie, Dat, Cheryl, Jorge, Thanh, Naomi, and May from our Tự Lực School for Organizing who are now graduates in the class of 2025!
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