Vietnamese Friendship Association

Vietnamese Immigrant and Refugee Job Readiness Program

Background: The Vietnamese Friendship Association (VFA) is a nonprofit located in Southeast Seattle. Our mission is to empower the Vietnamese community to succeed while bridging cultures. We serve youth and families, Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese, through academic programs, leadership programs, and community engagement programs. For more information, please visit vfaseattle.org.

Opportunity: We are currently seeking a full-time Program Coordinator to manage an integrated job readiness program and provide case management to Vietnamese immigrant and refugee youth and their parents.

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On May 18, 2012, youth from the CARE Project will share a draft of the Vietnamese Community Plan with the public. Members of the community are invited to review the Plan before it is finalized. Their ideas will help improve the lives of community members and residents across a number of important issues.

Friday, May 18, 2012
6:00 pm
New Holly Gathering Hall
7054 32nd Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118

The Vietnamese Community Plan will address six important issues including civic engagement, youth and education, economy and jobs, health and social services, housing, and community safety. Vision and strategies for improving the community was created for each of the issues.

“There isn’t a more crucial time for our community to come together and create a shared vision for the future. We need everyone’s input. Every opinion matters.” said Vu Le, Executive Director of the Vietnamese Friendship Association (VFA).

The Community Plan is an important part of the Community Action Research and Empowerment (CARE) Project. The VFA began the CARE Project in 2009. It is designed to bring the community together to identify needs and strength and to create a shared vision and plan for the community’s future.

Over the past year and a half, VFA has trained young Vietnamese leaders to reach out to community members about issues, needs, strengths, hopes, and vision for the community. To date, hundreds of people have been reached through interviews, surveys, and group conversations.

VFA is a non-profit organization with the mission to strengthen the Vietnamese community in Seattle through academic, leadership, and family engagement programs. Learn more at vfaseattle.org.

We had 36 people donate a total of $1600! Although we didn’t reach our goal of 50 people, we far exceeded the amount of money (50 people x $23.00 = $1150) we set out for ourselves! Now we wait and see how much more we’ll get matched. Great job, friends! You guys rock!

Help VFA open up a Youth Cafe! Donate this Wednesday, May 2. Our goal is to get at least 50 people to donate $23 (or more!). The Youth Cafe will provide job training for high school students, create a local youth hang out, and support the local economy!

MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW

The Need to Provide Affordable Housing to Vietnamese Elders
By Chi Hoang

originally printed in Nguoi Viet Tay Bac (NW Vietnamese News) April 13, 2012

For many Vietnamese families, having access to affordable and safe housing is critical. According to data from the CARE project established by the Vietnamese Friendship Association, it is a top concern within the Vietnamese community, along with jobs, health care, and education. One-fourth of respondents expressed some difficulty paying their monthly mortgage or rent.  Twenty-five percent receive some form of low-income housing assistance.

One particular need that is on the rise is housing for Vietnamese elders. The 2010 Census data reveal that within Southeast Seattle alone, 27% of the Vietnamese population are 50 years and older. This means that over one quarter of the community will be in or approaching the retirement age within the next 10 years creating a real concern to address. Senior services, including transportation and housing, are among the top 10 desired visions for individuals as shown by data from the CARE Project.

The elderly are often first-generation immigrants who have helped their families thrive through difficult times. One way to show our respect for them is to invest in community where safe and affordable housing is possible for all Vietnamese elders. It is especially important for community organizations, social services, city departments, and members of the broader Vietnamese community to help our elders navigate these challenges.

“Overall, it’s having the information translated into a language I can understand that will help my process of finding a good place to live,” says Minh Nguyen, a resident of West Seattle who is looking for housing assistance for his three young children and his elderly parents. “I can understand some things, but I want to know as much information as possible and not knowing the language well enough to understand has been difficult.”

Investing in senior housing can make our community stronger by preserving our language and cultural heritage through our elders.

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Chi Hoang is a member of the Youth Action Team with the CARE Project, a part of the Vietnamese Friendship Association. The CARE Project was designed to bring the community together to identify needs and strengths, and to create a shared vision and plan for the community’s future.

VFA is a non-profit organization with the mission to strengthen the Vietnamese community in Seattle through academic, leadership, and family engagement programs. Learn more at vfaseattle.org