Camping during Memorial Day weekend amid a backdrop of pine trees, camp fire sing-alongs, and making new friends is nothing short of fun. But adding in debates about cultural identity among 300 other campers and a keynote address by former NFL player Dat Nguyen (the first Vietnamese American in the league) makes the 2012 Camp Len Duong stand out from the rest. This dual goal of … [Read more...] about Camp Len Duong: A Cultural Lens on Leadership and Team Building
The Len Duong Experience: A Perspective
Camp Len Duong is a program that cultivates leadership, diversity and tolerance for young Vietnamese who are curious and passionate about bettering our community, our world. That was the impression I left the retreat with in 2010, the first time I attended Len Duong as a panelist. I wish I had known or been exposed to Len Duong, or other similar programs with leadership … [Read more...] about The Len Duong Experience: A Perspective
When Did Immigrants Become the Enemy?
SAN FRANCISCO—Recently, in front a packed crowd at Duke University, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice regretted the failure of passing the comprehensive immigration reform act and the shift in Americans’ attitude toward immigrants. Accepting and welcoming immigrants “has been at the core of our strength,” she said. “I don’t know when immigrants became the … [Read more...] about When Did Immigrants Become the Enemy?
Camp Len Duong: A Personal Experience
Got pride? This question is aimed towards all my belowed fellow Vietnamese brothers and sisters. My name is Minh-Bao Pham. The name can't get any more Vietnamese than that. Right? And the fact of the matter is, I love my name, I carry it with much cultural pride. Why? Because it reflects my culture, my origin, my ethnicity. It's who I am. I am Viet Nam and Viet Nam is I. I was … [Read more...] about Camp Len Duong: A Personal Experience
The Tongue-tied Misfit and the Language of Violence
NAM editor's note: Andrew Lam wrote a slightly different version of this piece in 2009 after Jiverly Wong shot and killed 13 people in a community center in Binghamton, N.Y., where immigrants had gathered to learn English, before killing himself. We felt the piece bears repeating in light of Monday’s shootings in Oakland, Calif., by a Korean immigrant that left seven dead. One … [Read more...] about The Tongue-tied Misfit and the Language of Violence