This Spring, we partnered with artist Tiffany Le to host weekly art workshops for 15 participants to learn different artistic mediums to express their lived experiences and vision for the future. As a culmination of our workshop series, please join us on June 15 for a mural unveiling & closing ceremony. This event will be held at our office.

Join us for a summer afternoon of celebrating and building community, taking action on campaigns to defend the dignity and rights of our community members, and eating delicious food! This will be a potluck, so please RSVP and bring something tasty to share with others. If you have any questions, please reach out to Lisa (lisa@vietrise.org)! Please RSVP by noon on Thursday, June 20.

We are launching Digital Literacy Workshops in both English and Vietnamese to equip our community members with crucial digital skills to stay engaged with current events and find employment! Workshops will cover computer and digital literacy basics such as: how to use email and Zoom, how to browse the web, and how to create a LinkedIn account. Sign up today or stay tuned for additional rounds of workshops in the future.

This report recently published by the Harbor Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice provides a landscape analysis of the pressing challenges affecting immigrant and refugee communities. Additionally, it highlights areas of opportunity for advancing immigrant and economic justice in Orange County, CA.

On Tuesday, May 28, we hosted our 3rd annual cultural tour of Little Saigon for over 100 students from Westminster High School! During this tour, the students learned about the formation of Little Saigon in Orange County, CA and how they can take part in envisioning a better future for their communities. Thank you to the students, teachers, and tour guides for an enriching experience!

Thursday, May 30th marked the launch of our Tự Lực School for Organizing youth program, where our 15 youth participants gathered at the VietRISE office to kick off 12 weeks of learning and growth! This cohort will explore Vietnamese American identity, discussing local Little Saigon history, and growing skills for community organizing. Stay tuned because in a few weeks, they will be hosting a community art event!

On Wednesday, May 15th, police in riot gear cleared the pro-Palestinian encampment set up by UCI students two weeks prior. They arrested nearly 50 people. As the school administration continues to threaten and suspend student protestors, UCI students remain steadfast in demanding the university to divest and disclose investments with Israel. Read the full article here.

#AllEyesOnRafah – On Sunday, May 26th, Israel launched air strikes on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Tal as-Sultan, a designated safe zone northwest of Rafah. Burning the camp to the ground, Israeli forces killed at least 45 people and wounded many others, including children. As Israel persists in its genocide against Palestinians, we must continue to call on the U.S. government to stop funding such violence and hatred. Read the full article here.