Cambodians for Peace Solidarity Rally

Ongoing violence in the Oakland Cambodian Community has impacted the lives of many as friends, families, neighbors, and businesses have been victims of community violence. In response to this, a Cambodian Community 4 Peace March was held on Saturday March 31st at the  Saint Anthony Church. The march for peace symbolized unity for community members who came together and spoke with one voice to express their concerns regarding the outbreaks of violence in their communities. The event brought together community members to unite and send a message to the mayor, city council members, and local and state policy makers to show the importance of wanting to be safe in the community. 

People came out despite the rain and inclement weather to show their support and solidarity to stop community violence. Below are photos capturing this powerful and emotional event.

'Pledge for Peace" banner signed by community member and supporters

Signs for the march

CHAA's pledge for peace

march participants fill the auditorium

Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI)'s Chandra Pech takes the stage 

Photo by  Pysay Phinith

Making sure their voices are heard
Photo by Pysay Pinith ((photo courtesy of CERI)

Additional coverage regarding the march can be found here.

Cambodian Community Garden Opening in Oakland, CA

women from the Cambodian community picking Chinese cabbage

Farming, harvesting and growing food has been a tradition for many Southeast Asian communities for generations. Yet in urban areas like Oakland, farming and harvesting has often been a challenge for many Cambodians who were forced to leave their country in the 70's and 80's.  In the past few years, however, CHAA, along with other community partners have worked with the Cambodian community to develop small plots of land to grow produce and utilize their gardening and farming skills.

Sotheavy Tan, CHAA's Cambodian outreach staff ,showing off the garden

On March 30, the Cambodian community, CHAA advocates and community allies came together to celebrate the opening of a community garden at Lakeside Park in Oakland.  The lush green garden was full of vegetables as Cambodian women who had worked on the plot for weeks were able to collect their bounty and share the vegetables with guests.

homegrown produce

Though the garden is a small plot, community members were grateful for what the the garden provides. It gives members of  the Cambodian community the opportunity to utilize traditional gardening methods and skills, as well as connect to each other and to younger generations.

Stony, the daughter of one of the women who has been active in the garden related to the positive outcomes of having space to garden "It brings everyone together, they're helping each other, supporting each other, having fun and having conversations."

CHAA staff and friends enjoying the garden

The garden brings together older and younger generations as well, as mothers and grandmother teach younger people about farming and cultivating crops that they have grown themselves. It is a special bonding experience and though this may be a small plot of land, it symbolizes a bigger connection and experience for a community maintaing their  heritage and cultural connections.

Choun, above, proudly shows the beautiful vegetables she helped grow

Photographs taken and edited by S. Nadia Hussain

"Everywhere I Go, My Body Follows"

Loa presenting her storytelling workshop

Everyone has a story. Everyone can be a storyteller. But how do we express our personal stories to others? What are our stories about?

On Saturday March 18th, CHAA advocate Loa Nieumetolu hosted a workshop at the 22nd annual Asian Pacific Islander Issues conference at UC Berkeley. The workshop worked on this idea, the idea of the personal story and how we can all express our tales, visions, identities and backgrounds.

The room of the session was packed with young people, many of them Cal students, but there were also others who ranged in age from grade school students to older adults. Loa engaged everyone in the storytelling process by asking them to think of the meaning of the quote mentioned above "Everywhere I Go, My Body Follows". Some participants felt unsure about the meaning, while others offered up deeply spiritual and philosophical views. The quote was meant to invoke different emotions, ideas and even confusion, but it showed some of the gist of storytelling, the feeling that experience and ideas can be subjective as we make stories and ideas our own.

The session continued to open people up as participants were asked about what it means to be a Pacific Islander. Questions opened up about who exemplifies a pacific islander, Samoans? Tongans? what about Filipinos? There were no answers, but self identification was seen as the most important aspect of this exercise.

As young people moved from their own identity to the meaning behind their names, to the story of their journeys or the journeys of their parents and ancestors, the room filled with the richness of the complex tapestries of immigration, relocation and assimilation. Almost every participant was an immigrant or a child of immigrant parents. Almost all had American names that they used in place of the cultural name they had at home. It was interesting to hear everyone open up about their backgrounds. The diversity and history within these young people was a poignant experience.

Vicky sharing her rhymes

In the relatively short time of 2 hours, there was an abundant amount of sharing. Vicky, who co-hosted with Loa, offered up her spoken word poetry, which conjured up the histories and struggles of her people, as well as her and her families experiences in the United States. When the session ended, there was a feeling that  everyone was a storyteller, this skill was not just relegated to a select few. Stories are the communication of experiences, both real and imagined, and our lives are filled with them. The workshop helped to tap into the surface of our stories and reveal that there is so much to share underneath.

Photographs taken and edited by S. Nadia Hussain

Into the Current: Burma's Political prisoners and Burma Human Rights Day

Burmese leader Nyunt Than, Ko Bo Kyi and Director Jeanne Marie Hallacy

The film Into the Current: Burma's Political prisoners has been making the festival rounds and has recently gone on tour within the US. The film covers the stories of Burmese political prisoners and the constant political upheaval in the country, a country that currently has the longest running civil war in the world.

cultural dancers

Ko Bo Kyi, a Burmese activist, former political prisoner and founder of the first non profit to help Burmese political prisoners and their families, figures prominently in the film. He in fact was a big part of the film, which showed the plight of prisoners and ethnic peoples who faced severe persecution from the Burmese military government.

Many of the refugees from Burma have lived the fear, uncertainty and oppression shown in the film. On March 10, the Burmese American Democratic Association, along with members of the Burmese community held a film screening of Into The Current for their Burma Human Rights Day.  The local Burmese community came out to commemorate human rights in Burma. The day featured speakers, including Ko Bo Kyi, Director Jeanne Hallacy and local Burmese leaders.

CHAA staff New Oo and Sean Kirkpatrick join the event along with community members

Though the situation in Burma is slowly moving forward with visits with the government by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and the recent releases of political prisoners, including some featured in the movie.

There are still over 800 political prisoners in Burmese prisons, and continuos civil wars in different states in Burma. Efforts put forth by films such as Into the Current are helping to push the envelope forward to hope for a free Burma. 

To find out more about the film, go to http://www.intothecurrent.org/

Photos by Ko Ko Ly

CHAA advocate recognized by Consulate of Mongolia in San Francisco

On Tuesday, January 10th, CHAA's Mongolian Community Wellness Advocate was recognized for her community service by the Mongolian Consulate on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Mongolian independence.

The new Mongolian Consulate in San Francisco got in touch with Elma through the Bay Area Mongolian Association, which named her due to the health and wellness work she has done with the community. At her award ceremony, Elma informed the consulate about her personal experiences dealing with health issues within the community. Getting in touch with advocates such as Elma gives the Mongolian consulate and government some ideas as to what the needs of Mongolian diaspora  are so that they may possibly assist and help with community efforts.

Mongolian Independence 90th Anniversary Honor Medal given to Elma for her service 

CHAA is very proud of Elma for her reward, we know our advocates are great and it is always wonderful to see them get the recognition they deserve!

Photographs taken and edited by S. Nadia Hussain

My One Year Anniversary at CHAA by Roxanne Wong

I never thought that I would be working this hard…this late in my life. I’m at the age where I should be traveling the world, scaling back my work hours and enjoying my “golden years.”  Instead, as a Realtor in the midst of the real estate market downturn of foreclosures and short sales, I answered a Craigslist Ad for Office Manager at Community Health for Asian Americans…and fell in love. CHAA is a mental health non-profit organization that helps the underserved Asian and Pacific Islander community with therapy, outreach, drug & alcohol rehabilitation, domestic violence…the list is endless. Programs extend to mental health for children and youth, AOD treatment and prevention, cultural, job and family support. I have never encountered this many caring and dedicated people under one organization and I am so proud to be associated with CHAA. There are the Therapists, Psychiatrists, Support Counselors, Interns, Outreach workers and Volunteers who speak a myriad of languages to support Oakland’s extremely diverse and immigrant population. These talented individuals hold sessions that literally transform a client walking through the front door from dazed confusion to a smile and a wave as they exit the front door.

My admiration for CHAA staff and therapists is immense in their ability to listen, calm, understand, guide and uplift….consequently, keeping all of the problems, traumas and events in utmost confidence.

There is an unspoken unity at CHAA of strength, bond, commitment and strife for betterment of the community, of the people and the underdog. I am completely and thoroughly impressed with the way they handle trauma, upset, threats and horrific events our clients face. I am constantly blown away by the obvious distress on the clients faces as they enter CHAA doors, anxious to speak and unburden their hardships to very willing, apt, professional ears as their woes are soothed.

There are heartwarming and profound moments when groups join to discuss violence and safety in the neighborhood, learn how to write a resume, or practice beautiful Burmese dances for the New Year celebration. The Women’s Gardening project produces smiles, cohesiveness and teamwork from Cambodian, Bhutanese and Burmese women cultivating pride and enjoyment along with organic vegetables and fruit. The Women’s Arts and Crafts group convenes weekly at CHAA and the large conference room is converted into a sewing extravaganza of fabric and sewing machines and/or the clicking of knitting needles as women find common ground while working together.  I am brought to tears when a CHAA Outreach Worker holds an event for Earthquake Preparedness with the Red Cross and Cambodian Immigrants from the Community, only to find that the supplies they put away for disaster are eaten because the children are so hungry.  A CHAA employee experiences domestic violence first hand and becomes a National spokesperson for all Women and a 2011 Vagina Warrior winner.  Seminars and discussions around domestic violence and safe havens for women and children are advocated and CHAA employees attend evening meetings after a full day at work to help facilitate.  

The outreach programs are continuous; flu shot vaccines for immigrants to Himalayan Youth Leadership summits, “A Safe Place” walkathon, Pacific Islander Health Fairs, World Refugee Day, Himalayan Fair, Tibetan, Thai, Cambodian & Khmer New Year celebrations, Peace Cranes for Japan, Thingyan Festival are just some of the events. To describe each event is to delve into history, tradition and culture for poignant and significant meaning reaching hearts, bringing familiarity and the essence of “home.”

Our Executive Director and leader Beatrice Lee is beautiful as she is hard working and dedicated managing four offices, always in search of that grant, funding and/or donations to keep our doors open and our services available to many who need us. Our waitlist is now 2 years long and our clients are willing to wait. Assistant Director Sean Kirkpatrick and Clinical Operations Directors Kenneth Kim are the epitome of commitment to the successes of CHAA in every endeavor and every project. I could go on and on about every CHAA worker, Therapist,  Intern and volunteer as weekends, evenings and long work hours are the norm for this establishment and the dedication is profoundly felt by each individual. Today marks my one year anniversary with CHAA and I am so proud, happy and grateful for the opportunity to work with so many giving and caring people in the quest for wellness, productivity and happiness and yes, love for our Community.

-Roxanne

Photograph by Sean Kirkpatrick

Karen Fundraising Concert

Hackett,  a popular Karen singer and teen heartthrob, serenades the crowd

The Karen people have faced and are still facing severe persecution in Burma for decades. In recent years, many have found their way to Oakland as refugees. The Karen community in Oakland is active, holding concerts, cultural events and celebrations. Oftentimes these events present a great fundraising opportunity as money raised often goes back into the community, a community that has faced many barriers and struggles in Oakland.

Karen teens enjoying the concert

On Saturday,  January 7, 2012, the Karen Community hosted a concert in Daly City, CA showcasing the Klo & Kweh music team, a well known group of rock/pop Karen singers from Burma. The crowd was ecstatic to see them, as enthusiastic audience members went on stage individually to bestow flower wreaths upon the artists during performances. The artists donned a mix of traditional garments with modern twists and sang alongside their Karen band.

flower wreaths to honor to the performers

Nwe, Oo, CHAA's Burmese Wellness Advocate attended the event and expressed the joy that the local Karen community experiences when they are able to enjoy these types of performances. It is an escape oftentimes from a difficult life in Oakland, a way to lose themselves in music and song.


Photographs taken and edited by S. Nadia Hussain