The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans will hold its 25th National Convention from September 24-26, 2010 at the Best Western, 6633 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042. NCVA Executive President Nguyen Ngoc Bich, said this 25-year landmark is an opportunity to celebrate all that NCVA has accomplished since it was founded on the main campus of George Mason University in August 1986.

“Although it has had its ups and downs, NCVA’s presence and achievements have had a powerful impact on the life of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans in this great country of ours, the United States of America,” said Nguyen.

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Washington, D.C. (July 30, 2010) – One hundred days after the Gulf Coast oil spill disaster on April 20, Vietnamese American youth descended on Washington, DC to highlight community needs still lingering in the Gulf Coast. The purpose was to share their concerns at a community briefing on Capitol Hill Friday that was hosted by the Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO) and the Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations (uNAVSA).

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Washington, D.C. (July 30, 2010) – One hundred days after the Gulf Coast oil spill disaster on April 20, Vietnamese American youth descended on Washington, DC to highlight community needs still lingering in the Gulf Coast. The purpose was to share their concerns at a community briefing on Capitol Hill Friday that was hosted by the Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO) and the Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations (uNAVSA).

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Santa Ana, Calif. (June 14, 2010) – The Latino and the Vietnamese National Republican Coalitions are co-hosting a “Support Van Tran for Congress and Advance Republican Victory in the Blue State of California Fundraiser Reception” on July 28, 2010 at the home of Khai Nguyen in Fairfax, VA.

Van Tran is the Republican Candidate for the 47th California Congressional District. He has served as the 68th District State Assemblyman since 2004 – the first Vietnamese-American in any state legislature. He represents Orange County, including the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Stanton, and Westminster.

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Thao Nguyen, lead singer of Thao With The Get Down Stay Down. (Photos by Trang Do)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

MINNEAPOLIS (July 1, 2010) – This wasn’t the first visit to the Twin Cities for Thao Nguyen, and her popularity filled the Cedar Cultural Center early this month for a performance that may mark a transition in her career.

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U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) in the Bolikhamxay province village of PhoneKham in central Laos. (Contributed photos)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

Hanoi, Vietnam (July 6, 2010) – U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) held a phone conference Tuesday with Minnesota media to update his investigation into the issues of the forcefully repatriated Hmong in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Hmong repatriation issues have resonated locally with relatives and concerned caommunity in Minnesota since December 2009, when approximately 4,500 Hmong were forcefully repatriated from Thailand. Despite assurances of the Lao government, relatives in the U.S. complain of an inability to contact or obtain official news about their loved ones.

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By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

MINNEAPOLIS (June 21, 2010) – When Diana Nguyen started her first Tea Garden in the Uptown neighborhood of Hennepin Avenue in 2002, they wanted to offer a popular destination alternative to coffee shops as a bubble tea café that also offers more than 60 organic, fair-trade teas from around the world.

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By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

MINNEAPOLIS (June 11, 2010) – Tuyet Huong wanted to chase her dream while also keeping your feet firmly on the ground. Tuyet, like many other young women, grew up watching professional and amateur singers on television talent shows and at Vietnamese cultural performances. She enjoyed singing but hadn’t given actual performing much thought – until about five years ago when a promoter overheard her sing at the urging of her friends.

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The City of Saint Paul announced on June 14, 2010 the formation of a new joint Saint Paul – Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission. The Commission is designed to be a forum for public and private stakeholders to assess the operation of local food systems. They will suggest policies, share information and develop strategies to increase access to affordable and nutritious foods.  The Commission will create an action plan for a sustainable system that increases production, distribution and consumption of healthy, local food.

The Commission will discuss topics such as hunger, nutrition, food-related illness, community and backyard gardening, farmers markets, culturally-specific food availability, transportation for distributing and obtaining food, food access and security and environmental concerns related to food systems.

According to Saint Paul City Councilmember Russ Stark, “The Food and Nutrition Commission will be a great way to elevate the level of discussion and planning for a strong local food system in the City. Non-profits and community members are doing lots of good work already to improve access to local food and the Commission will help identify ways for the City to support this work.”

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U.S. Navy Reservist Hai Nguyen, of Minneapolis, was recently selected for promotion to the rank of commander. He is assigned to the Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA. His parents, Khap and Dinh Nguyen, also live in Minneapolis.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. (June 12, 2010) – Minneapolis resident and Navy reservist Hai T. Nguyen has been selected for promotion to the rank of commander. A Navy supply corps officer, he is assigned as a reservist to the Defense Reutilization Team-Salt Lake City, Utah, as the executive officer. The unit is part of the Defense Logistics Agency’s Joint Reserve Force, at Fort Belvoir, Va.

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