Engaging our Community

Voter Registration: Engaging our Community

With the 2012 General Elections coming near, The Cambodian Family is working hard to engage our community members to register to vote and we’re not doing it alone. Our partnerships include organizations such as Delhi Center and the Khmerican Media Group and participation in the National Voter Registration Day on September 25, 2012.

The following quote comes from Khmerican, our official media partner:

“According to recent census figures, there are over 200,000 Cambodian Americans. The largest populations are in California, New England, and the Pacific Northwest. Voter engagement by Cambodians and other Asian Americans has trailed that of other minority groups, with only 47 percent of eligible Asian Americans voting in the previous presidential election. In particular, our community has struggled not only with political awareness, but access, as ballots were not available in Khmer and some members of the older generation are not naturalized citizens. One notable exception to this poor record was a voter turnout movement aimed at Cambodians in Lowell, Massachusetts, which was initiated in 2005. Just this year, election materials in Khmer were made available in Los Angeles County, a historic first. In this spirit of progress, Khmerican urges everyone to make 2012 count even more by showing our emerging clout and getting out the vote.

Your vote is your voice. In the 2012 election, minority communities can’t afford to be silent-issues such as the economy, immigration policy, and education are at stake. If you think one vote doesn’t matter, consider that just 12 years ago, the presidential race was decided by a margin of about 500 votes in just one state, or less than one thousandth of one percent of the total popular vote. Informed voting not only makes a difference, it pays tribute to those service members who have lost their lives fighting for our rights and freedoms. Voting is fundamental to democracy.”

Our Executive Director, Sundaram Rama, stresses the importance of registering to vote:

“It’s a final act to becoming an American, to engage in choosing who should represent you and what kind of policy you want to see happening that would benefit you, your family, you community, and your country. Voting is a right and a privilege that all Americans have.  We must exercise our power to choose by voting.  If you don’t vote than you have given up your right and you let others choose for you. People all over the world would die for the opportunity to choose their leaders and their country destiny, in fact many did and many more are still fighting for it.”

Everyone can play a part in making a difference. Register to vote now! October 22, 2012 is the last day you can register to vote, if you want to vote in the 2012 General Elections.

View pictures from National Voter Registration Day 2012

Register Online | Learn about the Khmer-I-Can Campaign | Read an article on the OC Register

Thank you to our Supporters!

Thank you for your Support!

The Cambodian Family would like to thank Union Bank and Shutterspeed Photobooth & Photography for their generous donation to our 2nd Annual Fundraising Event “Continuing our Tradition of Service to the Community.” Your support is crucial to our mission of providing services and promoting social health to the refugee and immigrant families in Orange County and allows us to help these families develop the knowledge, skills, and desires for creating health and well-being in their lives.

It is not too late to support our cause and you can do so by checking out our website at http://cambodianfamily.org/. Learn more about our event here.

Our Generous Supporters

Gold Sponsor: Wells Fargo

Silver Sponsor: Union Bank

Bronze Sponsor: Capital Group Companies, Green Maple Law Firm

Table Sponsor: TCF Board President John Benner, SAUSD, Project Angkor

Donors: Sim Heng, William Lyle, John Benner

Silent Auction Donors: Sophin Zoe Pruong McCreery (Shutterspeed Photobooth & Photography), Linda Sok, Phanith Rama Sovann,  Regal, AMC, Kha and Meme Sok-Chhith, Jade Kira (Rabbit Candy Apparel), Nathyn Keang (RawPixel Media), Knotts Berry Farm, InNout Burger, Legoland, Aquarium of the Pacific, Santa Ana Zoo, Bowers Museum, Costco Tustin, Ed Stewart (Capital Chem)

Auction Items

• 60 min Deep Tissue massage at Urban Bliss Day Spa
• AMC Movie tickets
• Regal Movie tickets
• Knott’s Berry Farm tickets
• Rabbit Candy T-shirts
• 1-Day Carpet Cleaning Service
• In n Out Dinner tickets
• Legoland tickets
• Aquarium of the Pacific tickets
• Coscto gift card
• Wine baskets
• Queen of the Universe Pageant 2013 tickets

Raffle Item

• iPad 2

Our 2nd Annual Fundraising Dinner – “Continuing our Tradition of Service to the Community.”

The Cambodian Family would like to invite you to attend our Second Annual Fundraising Dinner. Please join us as we “Continue our Tradition of Service to the Community.”

Thursday, September 27, 2012
6:00p – 7:00p Registration and Silent Auction
7:00p – 9:00p Program and Dinner

Business attire
Tickets $75 each
Please RSVP by September 13, 2012
Contact: Armen Bazikian at 714-571-1966 ext. 104
Email: armenb@cambodianfamily.orgFor invitation click here: http://tinyurl.com/TCF2012fundraisingevent
To purchase a ticket or sponsor click here: www.cambodianfamily.org

If you are unable to attend the event, you can still support us by purchasing a raffle ticket for $1! You do not have to be present to win the prize. Raffle prize: iPad 2 (value $399)
Purchase a ticket here or from any TCF staff member: www.cambodianfamily.org

Two Shadows Movie Screening

Two Shadows Movie Screening at The Cambodian Family

On Saturday, July 28, 2012, the director and cast from the movie Two Shadows made a visit to The Cambodian Family for a free movie screening. Two Shadows, winner of the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, is the story of Sovanna, a Cambodian-American girl who travels back to Cambodia in search of her long-lost brother and sister. Purchase the DVD

The movie screening is the first of its kind at The Cambodian Family. Although it was something very different and very new for our community, it made a lasting impact for those who attended. One of The Cambodian Family’s goal is to open our doors to opportunities that are culturally sensitive for the community. To learn more, contact us at 714-571-1966 ext. 118.

Taking action against Violence in the Community – July 4 Fireworks War

In collaboration with the Bishop Manor Task Force, Jamboree Housing, and Bishop Manor Management, The Cambodian Family played a key role in ensuring that the Minnie Street and Bishop Manor community members had a safe and secure Fourth of July. In response to a heartfelt letter (see below) from a resident in the community regarding a “fireworks war”  on Sunday, July 1, 2012, members and volunteers from The Cambodian Family, Lives Worth Saving Gang Intervention, OCAPICA, and Santa Ana Police Department met and took immediate action to ensure the safety of the community members. On both the 3rd and 4th of July, instead of sounds of bottle bombs and fireworks getting thrown at people, community residents had the opportunity to play with fireworks in a  “safe and sane” manner. There were at least two dozen volunteers, patrols, and police officers walking the community at one point and almost always 10 patrols and officers throughout the night. This is a huge success for our community and we are proud to be working in a collaboration like this.

Letter from SABHC Zone 5 resident

Sunday, July 1, 2012

“It has come to my attention that the Minnie St/Bishop Manor “Fourth of July” street war has returned this year. For those of you who do not know what this is, you can get an idea of what it is here: http://goo.gl/urMzJ

As a Minnie Street resident most of my life, I have seen the “Minnie Street War” come and go year after year for over 20 years (with the exception of the past two years thanks to the help of Pastor Kevin Brown, the Lives Worth Saving Crew, and SAPD for their hard work). July 4 was never about celebrating Independence for me, but instead, it became a night where I was a spectator of a real live war on the very street I played and grew up on. The Minnie Street war always happened around July 4 for as long as I could remember. Growing up, I could always expect flaring fireworks and loud bottle bombs go off in the night as people threw them at each other.

As depicted in the footage, the word “war” is not used lightly. Each year around this time, adults AND kids from in and out of the neighborhood engage in an all out fireworks battle where illegal fireworks and homemade bottle bombs that produce a loud boom are commonly used. This war is usually between the Cambodians from the Bishop area and the Latinos from the Minnie Street area. 

Safety is NEVER a concern. In years past, I recall people, both active participants and bystanders, getting seriously injured. In addition, this war is oftentimes a green light for local gang members (and sometimes from afar i.e. Long Beach) to come and participate. I remember numerous incidents when people would get shot and rushed to the emergency room. 

I wanted to bring to your attention that for the past few nights, the war has resumed and will most likely continue each night until the finale on the Fourth of July. I write to you now feeling frustrated, hopeless, scared, and concerned about the safety of my family and of the kids running around the street at this late hour. SAPD has come many times but as soon as they’re gone, the flares and bottle bomb continues. 

I write to you all literally begging for a solution and wishing for a way to stop this cycle of violence. This war has become such a norm that parents and their kids are sitting out on the walkway watching as if the streets were their TV. People are posting footage online and openly commenting on it, with many of them taking pride in their participation. It’s so ridiculous that people will not even call to report the firework war because they think it’s a waste of time to tell the police.”

New Media Partnership!

The Cambodian Family is happy to announce our new media partnership with The Khmerican. Quoted from their website:

“KHMERICAN is a noun; a person or organization striving to improve the quality and well-being of Khmer America.”

Our missions align in that we strive to help people develop the knowledge, skills, and desires for creating health and well-being in their lives. With this partnership, we hope to build upon a mutual vision to raise awareness about opportunities for the community. To learn more check out their Website, Blog, Twitter, Youtube or Facebook.

Youth Program Director Phalen Lim Speaks at CBP-LAX for API Heritage Month

*All credit goes to CBP-LAX

CBP-LAX Celebrates Asian-Pacific American Heritage (06/14/2012)

“On May 31, CBP staff at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) commemorated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with guest speaker, Ms. Phalen Lim, Youth Director of The Cambodian Family and 2009 recipient of the California Peace Prize sponsored by the California Wellness Foundation.

CBP-LAX Diversity & Inclusion Committee (DIC) with guest speaker:
(L-R) Section Chief Anthony Owens, Ms. Phalen Lim, CBPOs Mary Gonzalez, Debbie Fifer, and Ivan Eustaquio.

LAX Port Director Todd Hoffman welcomed attendees and thanked the LAX Diversity & Inclusion Committee. The Honor Guard presented the American flag, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, followed by the reading, by CBPO Ivan Eustaquio, of the Proclamation from President Barack Obama acknowledging the myriad contributions made by Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.

Ms. Lim shared poignant facts about her life journey. She spoke of her family’s hardships during the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, vividly portrayed in the book and motion picture, “The Killing Field.” Between 1975 and 1979, Cambodians were terrorized by their tyrannical rule, with the most highly educated executed first, followed by professionals and teachers. Her husband’s father was among those who went “missing” permanently; presumed dead. Others were moved from the capital, Phnom Penh to the country, where they were forced to work in the fields 10 hours each day.

When the cruel regime was crushed by the Vietnamese army, Ms. Lim’s family decided to make their way to the U.S., a year and a half odyssey through refugee camps in Thailand and Singapore. Her entire family’s survival was an anomaly. She immigrated as an eight-year-old Cambodian refugee and was assisted by The Cambodian Family where she later volunteered, and then became Youth Director, after graduating college.

For the past 20 years, Ms. Lim has worked as a teacher and youth counselor for at-risk children of Cambodian immigrants, attempting to recruit them into positive programs before gangs get a chance. She described her “background and experience” as her “driving force and strength.” She believes in leading by example, and said she accepted the Peace Prize “for all those I serve.”

The Cambodian Family agency aims to help immigrant families adjust and assimilate. While Ms. Lim exclaims “the U.S. is heaven for us,” many refugees feel out of place. She said children immigrants have embraced the American culture; they have different goals and values than their parents’, some of whom remain uncomfortable with the differences and have never adapted.

She tries to convince the kids who struggle with identity issues that they are not poor and that they have enormous opportunities if they stay in school and away from the gangs. The Cambodian Family offers career counseling and health instruction as well.

Ms. Lim credits her years of service in the non-profit Cambodian-American community organization, as following her “passion,” instead of seeking a more lucrative career. Her closing advice: “Let your passion lead you.””

Job Hunters Boot Camp

A FREE public event hosted by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Sanchez’ Asian Pacific Islander American Advisory Council to provide resources for your employment search.

Please BRING a copy of your resume & cover letter for an one-on-one critique session.

DATE: Friday, June 22, 2012
TIME: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Cal State Fullerton – Garden Grove Center, Room 160 12901 Euclid Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840
ATTIRE: Casual Business Attire
PROGRAM:

• Cover Letter & Resume Writing Critique
• Interviewing Skills
• Job Seeking Information
• Resource Tables

FEATURING REPRESENTATIVES FROM:

• Rep. Sanchez’s Asian Pacific Islander American Advisory Committee
• Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (VACOC)
• OCAPICA
• The Cambodian Family
• Korean Community Services
• California State University – Fullerton

*Interpreters will be available. To RSVP or for more information, please contact 714-621-0304 or email your contact information to ca47rsvp@mail.house.gov

Walk for Peace

Several acts of violence involving teens have shaken up Santa Ana residents who have organized the peace walk along with several community entities including SABHC to highlight the need to come together to build a safer and peaceful Santa Ana.

On Friday, June 1, 2012, approximately 250-500 youth, residents, and community organizations walked in solidarity for peace in our neighborhoods. During the same time of the walk, a shooting occurred a few blocks away. In response to this, a Vigil was scheduled for Saturday, June 2.

With summer at our doors, it is sad to say that violence will continue to rise. That is why the staff at The Cambodian Family is working hard to continue to provide positive and engaging activities for the youth of Santa Ana.

To support our cause or to learn more, check out our website at www.cambodianfamily.org.

API Community Forum for Mental Health

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 The Cambodian Family participated in a Community Forum on Mental Health with other organizations and members from the Korean and Vietnamese Community in Orange County to learn about the report Pacific Clinics has gathered 2-years of data through focus groups, interviews, surveys, and meetings conducted statewide. The project is funded by CDRP (California Reducing Disparities Project).

After reviewing the API Report from Dr. Rocco Cheng and Dixie Galapon, the groups broke out and discussed the accuracy of the findings by sharing their personal experiences. For the Cambodian break out group, there was a diverse group of students, elders, residents, and community leaders. Together, we echoed some of the following barriers that the Cambodian community experience when seeking mental health related services:

• language and culture barrier
• losing face
• lack of transportation
• financial difficulties

Afterwards, the three break out groups regrouped and presented their findings. These are some common themes we saw across all three groups:

• lack of bilingual and bicultural professionals, trained professionals, clergys, monks, family members, and all other key stakeholders
• not enough services for all of the community needs
• having transportation
• employment services
• saving face
• comprehensive programs
• community center to come and relax

Finally, Pacific Clinics provided closing remarks by mentioning that this is 1 of 8 community forums they will conduct throughout California. Pacific Clinics will present their findings and feedback to the State of CA in hopes to raise awareness about the needed resources and obtain grant money to support the various CBOs working on Mental Health.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.