lao family 30th anniversary program
DESCRIPTION
Event program from 30th Anniversary Event, includes information and clippings on Lao Family's history, current programs, client and staff profiles, staff and donor listings, and sponsor advertisementsTRANSCRIPT
June 22, 2010
30th Anniversary Festival & Community Resource Fair
Proudly sponsored by: Citi Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Earthquake and Structures, Inc. (ESI) The San Francisco Foundation
Lao Family Community Development, Inc.
Lao Family Community Development, Inc. 2325 East 12th Street, Oakland CA 94601 t: 510.533.8850 f: 510.533.1516 www.lfcd.org
Dear Friend of Lao Family,
Welcome! We are excited that you have joined us today as we commemorate Lao Family’s three decades of helping refugees, asylees, immigrants and other groups leave behind war, violence, poverty, and injustice in exchange for vibrant communities, strong families, and healthy and prosperous lives. Born from the Struggles of One Group, Growing to Provide Hope to Many Lao Family began when a small group of diverse tribal refugee families from Laos established regular meetings in a small apartment in Richmond, CA to help each other make the difficult shift to life in America during the late 1970’s. Early on, Lao Family learned that community action, civic participation, and strong partnerships based on shared values were crucial to realizing permanent transformation. As the world’s conflicts affected other nations, we opened our hearts, minds, and arms to communities such as the Vietnamese and Cambodian in the 1980’s, followed by Afghani, Bosnian, Russian and Ukrainian in the 1990’s, and expanding to include Latinos from Mexico, Central and South America, Africans and African-Americans and other diverse US nationals in the 2000’s, and today the Burmese and Bhutanese. During the last two years, we have experienced tremendous growth and diversity in service demand, growing from 10,000 to 15,000 clients annually. We have diversified our programming, funding, and management capacity to meet the challenges of the new service demands ranging from foreclosure assistance, provision of community meeting space, and job assistance unlike anytime before. We have truly become a diverse family speaking as many as 28 languages and reflecting the faces of the world right here in Northern California. Strong Partnerships Addressing Diverse Community Needs We have collaborated across sectors with government officials, public agencies, corporate and philanthropic partners, non-profit organizations and businesses, and a network of grassroots Mutual Assistance Associations (MAA’s) to build a full range of activities to address the multiple barriers that our clients face. With our partners’ investment and collaboration, we have grown to meet each new challenge as it arises, whether it is health scares, gang violence, welfare reform, new influxes of unexpected refugees, or economic crisis that threaten the well-being of our communities. Building a Brighter Future for the Next Generation We know we have made progress in positively impacting the lives of our community members. We witness it in former clients who have attained higher education, a fulfilling career, a safe and affordable home, a happy family, and a solid nest egg. Refugees, immigrants, and other disadvantaged groups are achieving high social goals and becoming naturalized citizens and active voters. Throughout the Bay Area and California they are becoming successful business owners and have begun to create jobs. We still believe in the American Dream because we have seen our clients improve their lives by seizing opportunities through hard work and good citizenship. We are ready to work together to plan and build a brighter future for our children. From our distinguished guests here today, we ask for your support and assistance in our efforts. Together we can become a vocal and visible force for progress in our communities while preserving the richness of our culture and identity. Your presence here today demonstrates that together we have the will and the way. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Chaosarn S. Chao Kathy C. Rothberg Koy S. Jay Nai H. Phan President/ CEO and Co-founder Executive Director Board Co-Chair Board Co-Chair Lao Family Community Development, Inc. June 22, 2010
Welcome!
3:00pm Opening Remarks
Lion Dance National Anthem by Trevor Arceneaux Kathy Chao Rothberg, LFCD Executive Director Koy Jay, LFCD Board Co-Chair Kouichoy Saechao, President of IMANC/Board Chair LIMCA Dr. Shur Vang Vangyi, Former Executive Director, Lao Family Community, Inc. of Santa Anna
3:30pm Elected Officials
Iu Mien Blessing Ignacio De La Fuente, Oakland City Council Member Jean Quan, Oakland City Council Member Pat Kernighan, Oakland City Council Member Don Perata, Former California State Senator Wilma Chan, former Board Supervisor and CA Assemblywoman
4:00pm Lao Family Clients
East Bay Academy Children’s Dragon Dance Lao Family Clients’ Personal Stories
4:30pm Community Leaders
East Bay Academy Children’s Billy Jean John Tran, AC Social Service Agency and Refugee Forum David T. Lee, Chairman, IMANC, Portland, OR Roman Ramaso, Slavic Assistance Center-Sacramento Ananta Gurung, Bhutanese American Community Center Emilia Otero, Rising Sun Entrepreneurs
5:00pm County Perspective
Dance-A-Vision Entertainment, LLC., a hip-hop/jazz/afro performance Grupo Azteca Dance Performance Yolanda Baldovinos, Agency Director, Social Service Agency
5:30pm State and National
Refugee Leadership
Milton Yee, CA Refugee Program Bureau Eskinder Negash, Director of US Office of Refugee Resettlement
5:45pm Burmese Karen Cultural Dance, Bhutanese Cultural Dance, Vietnamese Dance Awards Presentation, Nai Phan, LFCD Board Co-chair
6:00pm Dinner Served/Raffle/Other Entertainment,
Lao Family Community Development’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Program
Eskinder Negash is the Director of Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ORR provides people in need, including refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, victims of human trafficking, unaccompanied alien children, and survivors of torture, with critical resources to assist them in becoming integrated members of American society. Since the formation of the Office of Refugee Resettlement in 1980, ORR has provided benefits and services to many of the 3 million refugees who have resettled in the U.S.
Mr. Negash brings nearly 30 years of experience working on behalf of refugees and immigrants, and managing non-profit social service agencies. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Negash served as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the US Committee on Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization dedicated to addressing the needs and rights of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide. USCRI aims to advance fair and humane public policy, facilitate and provide direct professional services, and promote the full participation of migrants in community life with a network of through 35 social service agencies across the U.S. and overseas.
Before joining USCRI, Mr. Negash served as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the International Institute of Los Angeles for 15 years. Founded in 1914, the International Institute is a non-profit, public benefit organization whose mission is to help immigrants and refugees adapt to a new culture and become self sufficient. The International Institute’s programs include immigration, legal assistance, refugee resettlement and employment, pre-employment training, CALWORKs employment program, childcare, early childhood education, senior citizens’ services, and child nutrition programs.
Mr. Negash served as a board member with several non-profit organizations, including two years as chair of the Joint Voluntary Agencies Committee of California, chair of the California State Refugee Advisory Council, board member of Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), and chair of the Finance Committee.
Mr. Negash is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
Keynote Speaker- Eskinder Negash
Greeting Letter from Oakland’s Mayor
Resolution from Sacramento Mayor and City Council
Resolution from Sacramento Board of Supervisors
Greeting Letter from Assemblymember Swanson
Resolution from CA Legislature Assembly
Greeting Letter from Congresswoman Lee
Proclamation from Alameda County
Lao Family Community Development, Inc. is a
nonprofit community development agency founded in
1980 by a diverse group of tribal refugees from Laos. It
began as a Mutual Assistance Association (MAA) with
the goal of helping fellow community members rebuild
their lives in the Bay Area after escaping the political
and social upheaval that ravaged their homeland.
Today, 30 years later, we have grown from the three-
bedroom apartment in Richmond, CA, where we were
founded to a 30,000 square foot headquarter in the
San Antonio/Fruitvale district in Oakland and two
satellite offices where we serve Sacramento and
Contra Costa Counties. We are a diverse 50-person
organization serving over 15,000 clients each year in
28 languages. We offer assistance with economic
development, employment, housing, ESL classes,
financial and homeownership education, foreclosure
intervention, small business assistance, tax
preparation assistance, youth and senior programs,
Overview of Lao Family
special crime victim assistance, and cultural and
social adjustment for new immigrants and refugees.
We deliver our services in an integrated manner,
addressing clients’ needs from a comprehensive and
multi-angle service approach, partnering with many
in house programs and third party organizations.
Over the past three decades, our programs and
services have expanded and diversified to meet the
needs of the broader community, but our mission
remains true to the spirit of our founding:
We build healthy communities by helping
individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency.
Guatemala
Eritrea
Bosnia
Romania
United States
Columbia
Ukraine
1997 LFCD builds brand new 5,000 square foot com-munity and small business center in San Pablo.
1993 LFCD buys 2.5 acres of land in San Pablo, CA to build a 32 unit affordable housing devel-opment.
1996 US passes Welfare Reform requiring all immigrants and refugees to be-come citizens in order to receive public benefits.
1996 Lao Family operates 20 ongoing Citizenship ESL classes for immi-grants and refugees.
1992 LFCD receives first youth grant from City of Oakland and helps 1500 youth find summer employment.
1997-2004 LFCD leads a coali-tion of 13 agencies to provide ESL and Citizenship educa-tion and naturaliza-tion services across California.
1997-2009 LFCD serves as lead agency for CalWORKs in Alameda Coun-ty.
1977-1978 Lao Refugees meet in a 3 bedroom apart-ment in Rich-mond, CA to help each other find jobs, hous-ing, etc.
1980 Lao Family Com-munity of Bay Area (LFCBA) is formed under the umbrella of Lao Family Commu-nity Inc.
1982 LFCBA leads 500 people to Sacramento to ask lawmakers to include grass-roots groups in resettlement efforts.
1980 The Refu-gee Act was passed to systemati-cally resettle refugees in the United States.
1970-1975 Vietnam War escalates throughout Southeast Asia. The first Lao refu-gees arrive in the Bay Area.
1968 Two provinces in northern Laos are invaded by Com-munist forces, and tens of thousands flee through the jungle to Mekong River area.
1958 The “Secret War” begins in Laos between Communist forces from Vietnam and the Lao army with support from the US.
Eritrea
Bosnia
Romania
Russia
China
Burma
Vietnam
Laos
Iraq Bhutan
Cambodia
Afghanistan
Armenia Ukraine
1985 Lao Family Opens Oakland Office and receives grants from California and Ala-meda County for ESL and Social Ad-justment
1986 Lao Family starts to provide Employ-ment, ESL, and So-cial Adjustment ser-vices to new Afghan refugees in South Alameda County.
1990 State transfers management of resources to counties. LFCD gets contracts for Employment, OJT, and ESL.
1992 LFCD buys old church on 23rd Ave and Foothill Blvd in Oakland. Creates new of-fice and class-rooms.
1990 Lao Family Com-munity of the Bay Area (LFCBA) branches off to form new non-profit, Lao Family Community Development, Inc. (LFCD)
1983 LFCBA establishes first office in Rich-mond with a $5 tele-phone and a $25 typewriter from the Alameda flea mar-ket. Volunteers take turns to open office.
2000 LFCD leads CA Refugee Healthy Marriage Coalition with Sacra-mento Lao Family, Cambodian Assoc. of America in Long Beach, and Slavic Assistance Center and Vietnamese Community Develop-ment Inc. in Oakland.
2005 LFCD Open satellite office in Sacramento to serve Hmong, Rus-sian and Mien refugees.
2007-2008 LFCD buys dilapidated property in San Pablo to build new communi-ty center. Purchases 30,000 sqft former warehouse to expand main office in Oak-land.
2010 LFCD celebrates our 30th Anniversary.
2000 LFCD partners with EBALDC (and later EARN) to launch IDA matched sav-ings program.
2009 LFCD launches Building Bridges project to help newly arrived Burmese/ Bhu-tanese refugee population.
Comprehensive Services
Lao Family offers a comprehensive menu of workforce
development services that helps individuals secure and
retain employment and achieve self-sufficiency quickly.
Our Affiliate One-Stop Business & Career Centers in
Oakland and San Pablo provide an extensive range of
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Employment
Development Department (EDD) services for those
seeking employment. Since our founding in 1980, we've
worked with, EASTBAY Works, CalWORKS, WIA Adult
Title I, Refugee Cash Assistance and General Assistance
Recipients. We also provide tax credit application
assistance to small and medium size businesses.
Job Training and Placement
Multi-lingual employment counselors evaluate and
provide customized support to job seekers with
language/cultural obstacles, limited education/job skills,
and experience. Support includes job-readiness skills,
coaching and problem solving around job-related and
family issues.
Job Readiness Training
We offer individualized job readiness training to help
clients gain an understanding of the soft and hard skills
necessary to successfully obtain and keep a job. Topics
include: work culture and ethics, interview techniques,
dressing for success, and basic computer skills. Clients
also learn how to create resumes, and seek and apply for
job openings, and are linked to Vocational and ESL
classes and the community college system, if needed.
Adult Employment
Financial Coaching
The Financial Coaching Program has expanded Lao
Family’s asset-building program by providing free one-on-
one coaching and counseling to assist low-income
families build assets and wealth. Through one-on-one
meetings with a financial coach, clients self-identify
financial goals such as establishing credit, reducing debt,
and saving for retirement and homeownership.
The financial coach works with clients to develop a
written action plan and supports them as they work
towards reaching their goals. The Financial Coaching
program seeks to:
Empower low-income clients to define financial goals for themselves and attain those goals
Change clients’ financial behaviors
Increase clients’ financial literacy
Improve clients’ financial condition
Build clients’ assets and wealth
Provide resources and referrals to clients
Act as a support to clients as they work to achieve their financial goals
Financial Education
Lao Family’s Asset Development Department provides
financial education through financial literacy workshops
and one-on-one financial counseling. The financial
education curriculum includes budgeting, money
management, building and repairing credit.
Financial Education
Multilingual Homeownership Center
Lao Family’s housing counseling services provide group
and one-on-one rental and first time homeownership
counseling. We work closely with non-profit developers,
city and county agencies, and select for-profit developers
to help our clients access affordable housing, mortgages
and financial products that are appropriate and
affordable for low-income individuals and families. Our
housing counselors provide pre-purchase workshops in
Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Spanish, and English.
Foreclosure Intervention Services
The housing and credit crisis has brought a marked
increase in demand for foreclosure counseling and
intervention services. We follow Neighborworks’
National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program
guidelines. Our highly individualized, language-
appropriate services range from exploring realistic
solutions with borrowers to reviewing and revising
household budgets to negotiating with lenders to modify
loans. Our foreclosure services provide homeowners
with unbiased, honest information about their options to
address their mortgage difficulties. Participants also
learn how to work with their bank or servicer, what the
foreclosure timeline is, and how to avoid scam artists
who promise to help homeowners in distress.
Housing Services
Lao Family’s Individual Development Account (IDA)
program enables refugees and asylees to establish
matched savings accounts and build assets which can be
used toward education and job training, first-time home
ownership, a car purchase, or small business
development. IDA participants learn about the US
banking and financial system and make monthly deposits
and attend financial education and asset specific
trainings,
In 2008 we launched a new partnership with the City of
Oakland to also serve low-income adults in Oakland.
Individual Development Accounts
Lao Family offers a variety of multilingual Social
Adjustment and Cultural Services that help new arrivals
with extremely limited English-speaking abilities
transition in their new lives in the United States.
These services include interpretation, translation,
immigration, and administrative support to help families
write letters or fill out forms to access low-cost utilities
and other crucial services such as:
Providing information about U.S. systems—from
public transit to paying bills to accessing financial
institutions
Enrolling children into the local school district
Helping individuals secure low cost or free healthcare
and a full-range of social services
Social Adjustment and Cultural Education
Learning English is the single most important step an
immigrant or refugee can take towards social and
economic self-sufficiency in the United States. It is
fundamental to finding, keeping, and excelling at a job,
daily functioning, and joining mainstream civic life.
Lao Family has provided survival level, basic, and
Citizenship ESL classes since the early 1990’s. At the peak
of our program, we filled 20 ESL Civics classes per week,
with each class containing a minimum of 30 students.
We partner with other experienced ESL providers to offer
courses customized to meet today’s situations and
clients’ needs including meeting the specific educational,
career, practical and cultural needs of students, and
deliver them in a supportive environment where
students also have access to a comprehensive set of
educational and self-sufficiency services that will help
them meet their responsibilities as new US citizens.
Many of our clients come from very rural agricultural
backgrounds with oral traditions and cannot read or
write in their own language, or are literate in languages
that do not share the Roman alphabet, so ESL education
is tailored to the needs of these clients starting with oral
learning techniques while simultaneously teaching
beginning ESL literacy, and moving through to more
advanced conversation-based program.
At a time when adult ESL programs across the state are
experiencing budget cuts, Lao Family is exploring new
ways to grow our program to meet the needs of our
clients.
English as a Second Language & Vocational ESL
Since 1996, LFCD has offered Citizenship Education and
Naturalization Application Services. From 1994 to 2005
when state funding expired, LFCD provided these services
to 600 to 850 individuals on an annual basis, and worked
with subcontractors to serve thousands of others. We
estimate our program directly assisted over 10,000
individuals in California. Even after funding expired, LFCD
continues to provide ESL education and naturalization
application assistance to 250 - 300 people a year.
Citizenship & Naturalization
The "Hand-to-Hand” Collaborative Home Visit Program
funded by First 5 Contra Costa County (CCC) partners
Lao Family with Aspiranet/Welcome Home Baby, Bay
Area Community Resources, and Neighborhood House
of North Richmond. Hand to Hand offers a
comprehensive home-visit program to help hard-to-
reach-and-underserved low-income Asian and African-
American expectant parents, families, and newborns
from West Contra Costa County (zip codes 94806,
94804, 94801) and helps them to raise healthy children
in a caring, loving, and safe home. Hand to Hand works
to engage and establishes connections built on trust in
order to:
Effect a positive, healthy pregnancy and birth
outcome
ntroduce parenting education through one-on-one
and peer support
Help shape nurturing relationships between parents
and children
Promote and transmit literacy in the family’s home
Create successful linkages to other family-
strengthening services and community referrals.
Hand to Hand Home Visit Program
The California Refugee Healthy Marriage Project is a
statewide collaborative project led by Lao Family and
involves three refugee community-based organizations
including Cambodian Association of America, Slavic
Assistance Center, and Vietnamese Community
Development, Inc. Previously a fourth organization was
also involved that served Sacramento’s Hmong
community. With a goal of promoting the maintenance
and preservation of stable marriages and family units in
the refugee community, the California Refugee Healthy
Marriage Project uses the Power of Two curriculum to
deliver culturally-sensitive education workshops and
activities to families struggling with the unique challenges
of integration and acculturation.
The California Refugee Healthy Marriage Project offers
assistance to couples (including pre-marriage) and families
that focuses on:
Developing, building, and maintaining strong and
satisfying marriages
Developing effective communication skills for anger
management, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
Marriage- and family-strengthening activities
Family financial literacy, management and budgeting,
and asset development
Effective parenting techniques and raising children in a
positive environment
California Refugee Healthy Marriage Coalition
Community estimates identify at least 450-500 Mien
seniors in Oakland who arrived with their families in the
early 1980’s as the last wave of post-Vietnam War
refugees. All with little or no English-speaking skills and
struggling with acculturation, these seniors are socially
isolated with only their immediate family and other Mien
community members available for support.
The Southeast Asian Seniors Program offers support and
resources to Lao, Mien and Vietnamese seniors to
promote their mental and physical health and address
the need for a social and emotional network to help
them feel connected to their communities as well as to
their increasingly Americanized families. Services
include:
Structured activities and local field trips
Educational workshops such as on how to open a
bank account, use public transit, register to vote, or
crime prevention
Celebrating special events such as Lao and
Vietnamese New Year
Intergenerational activities such as a luncheons with
their grandchildren
Social adjustment and translation/interpretation
services
Brown-Bag Program with the partnership of the
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Individual counseling and referral services.
Seniors
For 25 years, Lao Family’s Asian American Special Victim
Assistance Program, in partnership with the Governor’s
Office of Emergency Management Service, has been
providing responsive support to limited English-speaking
Southeast Asian crime victims in Alameda and Contra
Costa Counties. Helping new arrivals to rebuild their lives,
we expanded these services to Sacramento County in
2008. Bi-lingual counselors work closely with victims to
file crime reports and witness statements, process
paperwork with law agencies, and ensure the immediate
needs of the children and families of victims are
addressed. We have operating agreements with Contra
Costa, Alameda, and Sacramento County District Attorney
Offices and other community based organizations.
Specific services include:
Court-related support
Crisis prevention and intervention
Emergency services
Translation and interpretation
Assistance securing State compensation for victim’s family
Counseling services
Criminal justice support and advocacy
Community outreach and crime prevention education
Resource Referrals
Victim Assistance
Each year during the tax season, hundreds of individuals
and families come to Lao Family’s three offices for help
filing their taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program (VITA). As partners with United Way
of the Bay Area and the Earn It! Keep It! $ave It!
program, our IRS-certified tax preparers assist low-
income families in several ways:
Help families identify and file tax credit claims, such
as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for those
earning low-to-moderate incomes, and the Child and
Dependent Care Tax Credits for those paying others
to look after their children or other dependents.
Help tax clients and new savers open a savings
account using their income tax and EITC refunds as
their initial deposit. This also provides an
opportunity to help guide positive money
management habits for the future.
Help tax clients access asset-building programs and resources available on-site such as the Individual Development Account (IDA) and Financial Education programs as well as through referral partners.
This program helps families save their hard-earned
dollars by identifying all they credits they qualify for and
avoid excessive tax prep fees and predatory tax return
advance loans with high interest rates. As well, it offers a
great opportunity for families to jumpstart their IDA and
other savings goals.
Tax Preparation Assistance
Lao Family has successfully served at-risk youth since 1982. In Oakland, we manage a year-round Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Program, which delivers one-on-one employment and educational services for low-income youth. In 2009, we expanded the Year-Round Program to Sacramento. Our Summer Youth Employment Program serves 14-24 year olds in Oakland & Sacramento. Services include life skills training, occupational training, academic tutoring, college preparation, and real-world work experiences, all with a goal towards:
Increasing the likelihood youth graduate from high school or obtain a GED
Encouraging youth to pursue post-secondary education, either through vocational training programs, community or four-year colleges
Increasing the likelihood for sustained employment by building job readiness skills and financial literacy
Building leadership and civic participation, and increasing confidence
Since 1995, WIA Youth Program participants and youth program staff have coordinated the Annual Southeast Asian Youth Leadership Empowerment Conference each summer. Attended by over 100 youth of all ethnic backgrounds each year, the conference helps participants develop and put into practice leadership skills, identify academic and career goals, and access resources to direct them towards a successful future after high school. The conference offers an exceptional opportunity for a large, cross-cultural group to participate in open-minded exchanges of issues that can impact them today and tomorrow.
Youth Employment
My name is Toccara Grubbs. I’m 28 years old with a 4
year old son named James. I’m originally from San Fran-
cisco, but have been house hopping around the Bay
Area. I attended college at CSU, Sacramento. I dropped
out of school for financial reasons and moved back to
Richmond, CA to help out a family member.
Before I came to Lao Family, I was having problems
finding a job. I lost my previous job as a cake decorator
because it was beginning to be too physically demand-
ing for me and was taking a toll on my body. So I decid-
ed to seek employment in another field I had skills in,
the office. I had all the skills needed to obtain an entry
level office position, however no work experience.
I was in the CalWORKS Welfare-to-Work program. I
couldn’t find a job in the two week time span required
by the program so I was referred to Lao Family’s office
in San Pablo, because I had the skills but not the experi-
ence. There was no reason for me to take classes on
skills I already had.
I was placed into the CalWEX program and introduced
to Ms. Oleta Cook. I sat down with Ms. Cook and ex-
plained my situation. She explained the process of the
program, requested a copy of my resume and told me
TOCCARA GRUBBS
Client Profile
she would contact me when she is able to find a com-
pany for me to volunteer with. The next day I received
a call from Ms. Cook about an interview for an office
position in San Pablo.
After the interview I became a volunteer for Aspiranet’s
Hand-to-Hand program to help organize and assist in
the office in any way. After volunteering for about 2
months I was asked to be a temporary Admin Assistant
until their Admin Assistant returned from maternity
leave in 2 months. After the 2 months, Asprianet decid-
ed to extend my temp position. Then they extended it
again, then again, until finally towards the end of the
year I was asked to be a Part-time Admin. Assistant for
Aspiranet’s Hand-to-Hand program.
My life has gotten better. I was able to get out of the
CalWORKS program, pay off some of my debt and buy a
used car to help me run errands and transport my son
to preschool and child care. I have a flexible schedule
that allows me to go back to school and continue my
education. For the future I hope to have a Full-time
position as an Executive Admin Assistant or Office Man-
ager. I would also like to be able to afford my own
apartment and enjoy the time that I have with my son.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to show the skills that I
had and to prove that I could do the job and exceed
their expectations when given the chance.
I appreciate that there is an organization like Lao Family
that allows people who have the skills to shine and
show companies that they are overlooking hard-
working and determined people just because there
resumes don’t show specific work experience. I am also
very thankful that Aspiranet was willing to take a
chance with me. I hope I have opened the door for peo-
ple with similar situations.
Toccara at a Hand to Hand parent and child engagement event
how to greet people in an American way and talk in the
American style, and use different office equipment.
Finally when I graduated from the English center, I was
required to leave that Office Assistant position, and I
needed to find another job. I must have tried finding a
job by myself for three months before coming back to
Lao Family to seek help. When I came back, I met Yamu-
na, who was responsible for the refugee program.
When I talked to her, I found out that Lao Family was
hiring for a social adjustment or employment counselor
from the Bhutanese community. Per her suggestion, I
applied and was called for the interview, and I got it!
Now, I am hoping to go back to college, but I never want
to leave the job I have now! My goal since I was a child
was to serve the community. At Lao Family I can serve
my people and other people. Before I came, I didn’t
know anything. But now I am getting very much famil-
iar. I know how to talk to people and work with every-
thing that is given to me. With this knowledge I can give
orientation workshops to the people, and develop case
notes, and help them make a resume and get a job.
I feel very lucky when I see my seniors, brothers and
other relatives. There are at least 30,000 Bhutanese ref-
ugees who came to the USA, none of them have a job
like mine. My hope for those people is that they can
improve their lives and get a job that they want. I am
lucky because my job is to help them find it!
BHIM TIMISINA
Staff Profile
I was born in the southern Bhutan, a small country lo-
cated between India and China. Most southern Bhu-
tanese are Nepali speakers, and in 1990 the govern-
ment of Bhutan started evicting Nepali speaking Lhot-
shampa people out of the country because of fear of
upraising against the monarchy and rising concerns and
awareness of human rights among the illiterate people.
They tried to expel the Nepalese speakers to try to cre-
ate one nation with only one people. The Bhutan army
came to many southern Nepalese families’ houses and
made them sign papers and leave the country forceful-
ly. Our parents, along with approximately 100,000
Nepalese-speaking Bhutanese needed to flee the coun-
try. I was 7 years old. We camped at a refugee camp in
Eastern Nepal.
We spent about 18 years in the refugee camp. What
can I say? Life in the camp was totally sad- I mean mis-
erable! People in slums have a better life than people in
the camp. At least they have the right to move around.
Refugee people have to depend on someone else for
food, clothing, and shelter. It’s like life in prison. In
2007 when the US government decided to bring in
about 60,000 Bhutanese refugees, my family agreed
and accepted the option and we agreed to resettle in
America, because I learned that America is the land of
opportunity.
It wasn’t easy. During the time when we arrived, the
USA was greatly affected by the economic crisis. We
were supposed to be helped by *another agency+ to
find a job, and emergency shelter and food, but the
organization was greatly affected by the economic cri-
sis, they could not help us find employment.
I started walking around to find another career center
in my residential area. In January 2009 I heard about
Lao Family from my friend, and that they could help us
find job and had computers we could use. They helped
me develop my resume, and took me to some inter-
views..., but during the interview, I couldn’t really un-
derstand what they were saying, so I realized I needed
to study a little more English. *Lao Family staff+ suggest-
ed I go the English Center (a partner of Lao Family’s). I
completed 8 months English course at the English Cen-
ter. During that time, I got the opportunity to work
there as an office assistant through which I learned
Bhim teaches refugees how to prepare for employment.
Ph
oto
by Ju
dy G
iou
1980’s The Early Days
First Crim
inal Justi
ce worksho
p
1982 demonstration in Sacramento
Community Meeting
1980’s The Early Days
1990s– Building Leadership
Greeting wit
h the Cambod
ian Prime
Minister
Greeting Cam
bodia’s Prim
e Minister
New San Pabl
o Office
National con
vening of Mu
tual Assista
nce Associat
ions serving
refugees. Fu
nded by US O
ffice of Ref
ugee Resettl
ement.
Receiving Ap
preciation f
rom State
Refugee Prog
ram Bureau
National con
vening of Mu
tual Assista
nce Associat
ions serving
refugees. Fu
nded by US O
ffice of Ref
ugee Resettl
ement.
2000s– Serving New Communities
Tribun
e Arti
cle
25th Anniversary
2001– Yo
uth Conf
erence
IDA Program founde
d in 2000
Making Connections Oakland
2000s– Serving New Communities
2001– Yo
uth Conf
erence
Making Connections Oakland
Hand t
o Hand
2004 Senior Open
House
SANRC– Before the clean up
Architectural plans for new Oakland
Community Center Youth Center
Design Char
rette
2010– Community Input Meeting
2010’s– A Vision for
Neighborhood Community Building
San Pablo Community Center before
renovations
Lao Family continues to move forward
finding new and innovative ways to
transform blighted neighborhoods into
vibrant communities where families and
individuals can connect, learn and grow.
Join us in envisioning a brighter, healthier
future for our children.
Youth Center
Design Char
rette
(Since 2002)
Amy Lieu
Alejandra Guillen
Alexander Banh
Alfonso R. Murillo
Alison E. Young
Alzata Henderson
Andrey Pryadko
Anh Hong Lam
Anh Le Phan (Lyndi)
Anhtram Nguyen Tran
Aye Aye Thaw
Azer Tankovic
Ballav Poudyel
Bhim R. Timsina
Brian Adkins
Bryan S. Kirkpatrick
Bunreth Ou
Candra Harvey
Carolina Aguyo
Caroline D. Hong
Cha S Xiong
Chan F. Saechao
Chan T. Tern
Chanorn Lee
Chaosarn S. Chao
Chau M. Cao
Cheng S. Saechao
Cheo F Lee
Chery Cheung
Chinh M. Cao
Chio S. Saephan
Chouan Sengsiri
Christina H. Luu
Claudia Lepe De Rosales
Dana L. Ecelberger
Dene D. Souvannasane
Don W. Curtis
Dorely Bernardez
Dorothy Paul
Dung K. Nguyen
Dung L. Ly
Edvin Vehabovic
Evelyn M. Pena
Fahm S. Saechao
Fatima H. Bailey
Francoise G. Chao
Frank Binder
Genella T. Lintao
George So
Gloria E. Vargas
Grana Haidari
Hieu T. Nguyen
Irma D. Beltrain
Jacqueline Rickman
Jasmine R. Edwards
Jennie Mollica
Jennifer R. Mayman
Jianping Yi
Jin Hua Su
Joanna Arhon
John C. Chao
John Sooksampan
Jorge Ramirez
Joyce Pisnanont
Juana E Tang
Judy N. Chan
Kao C. Saephanh
Kao W Saevang
Karen K. Lee
Kate Saechao
Katherine F. Foley
Kathy Chao
Kedija Abdu
Ken Wu
Kent Kinh Trinh
Kentra S. Fuqua
Kevin Khoa Nguyen
Khamdaeng Ounniyom
Khanmalee Rattanasith
Kiersten A. Figurski
Kim T. Ly
Ky Sundara
La Thongvanh
Lai C. Saechao
Lai Hinh Saelee
Larisa Samoylovich
Latonya L. Young
Laura Godinez Avalos
Laura J. Mcnair
Laura Lepe
Le T. Duong
Linda N. Chao
Luis I Del Muro
Mai N. Tu
Mai T. Quach
Maichew Chao
Marcos S. Uribe
Maria D. Campos
Mariatu A. Sesay
Martha Rodriguez
Mary A. Fuller
Marzia Mujaddide
Meemee Khine
Meghana S. Kamdar
Meuy C. Saelee
Meuy J. Saechao
Meuy Phan
Meuy Y. Saephan
Michael J. Goldberg
Mina H Tonnu
Mounghinh Saechao
Muang C Saephan
Muang L Saechao
Muang S. Saechao
My M. Tran
Nagwa K Salih
Nai H. Saelee
Naiyian Saelee
Nancy E. Yamamoto
Naomi P. Wood
Napaporn Limopasmanee
Narine Avagyan
Nga T. Dang
Oleta Cook
Oun Khamvanhthong
Pheakthra K. Yim
Phi C. Le
Phillip Hong
Phung T. Le
Pilar Beccar Varela
Qu Santikham
Quinetta D. Lewis
Rajendra K. Lama
Ratt Chanthavong
Ray T. Soungpanya
Rita Jones
Salai Tluang Vellian
Samantha B. Miller
Samuel V. Mora Sr
Sary Tatpaporn
Sarah A. Benjamin
Sean P. Coffey
Sharhonda T. King
Sinian X. Keramati
Sitha Sim
Su G. Dung
Susan E. Smith
Sylvia Kong
Tafoo Saechao
Tanya Voqui
Teresa Nguyen
Thai Vue
Thanh L. Ahlfenger
Thao H. Pham
Thao T. Tran
Thong Ly
Thuan T. Nguyen
Tien X. Vo
Tikillah T. Reynolds
Tom T. Doan
Tori E Barnes
Tracie N. Wilson
Tracy M. Vo
Vanna Khamvanthong
Vanphone Anlavan
Vern Choy Phan
Vilai Phuthama
Waverley C. Lee
Wern Z. Phongsirikul
Wilfredo E. Briones
Xiomara Abdellatif
Xue E. Liang
Yamuna P. Poudyal
Yao F. Saephan
Zabihalla Sidiqi
Zhanna Marchak
Thanks to all Lao Family Staff, Past and Present
Thanks to all Board Members and Advisors, Past and Present
Current Members:
Nai Hang Phan, Co-Chair
Koy S. Jay, Co-Chair
Seng Lor Saelee , Secretary
Sharon Chao, Treasurer
Fou One Phan
Federal Agencies Federal HHS/ACF/Children's Bureau Federal HHS/ACF/ORR Federal-HHS/OCS/Economic Development Federal HHS/URCED/OCS Federal Housing and Urban Development Dept. State Agencies CA State Department of Community Service CA State-Governor's Office-Cal EMA CA State-Department of Education CA State Department of Health CA-State Department of Labor-EDD CA State-Department of Social Services County Agencies Alameda County Community Food Bank Alameda County Public Health Dept. Alameda County Social Service Agency Alameda County Waste Management Authority Contra Costa County Employment and Human Service Dept. Contra Costa County CDBG First Five Alameda County First Five Contra Costa County Sacramento Employment Training Agency City Agencies City of Richmond City of Oakland Oakland Private Industry Council City Of San Pablo Oakland Housing Authority Private/Corporate/Family Foundations/Others Alba Witkin Trust Funds Annie E. Casey Foundation Aspiranet, Inc. The Asian Foundation The Asian Pacific Fund California School Age Consortium CANFIT
The California Endowment The California Reinvestment Coalition Chevron Corporation Citigroup Foundation Consumer Action Community Health for Asian Americans (formerly APPS) East Bay Community Foundation East Bay Asian Local Development, Inc. Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Foundation Fannie Mae Foundation Freddie Mac Friedman Family Foundation Fruitvale Elementary School Individual Donors Janus Foundation JP Morgan Chase Lease Purchase Solutions Foundation LISC Bay Area National Congress for Community Economic Development National Council of La Raza NCDI Making Connection Oakland Oakland Association of Realtors Oakland Ready to Learn Oakland Unified School District Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance SH Cowell Foundation San Francisco Foundation Sierra Health Foundation State Street Foundation STAND! Against Domestic Violence Thomas J. Long Foundation U.S. Bank Foundation United Way of Bay Area Urban Strategies Youth Uprising Van LobenSels/RembeRock Foundation Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation Walter & Elise Haas Foundation Washington Mutual Bank Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation
Thanks to Donors and Partners, Past and Present
Government $ 2,325,745
Foundations 575,167
Individual Donors 22,606
Rent, Interest, Misc, and In-kind 157,798
Total $3,081,316
Income Expenses Program $2,568,420
Management and General $309,719
Total $2,878,139
Net Surplus $203,177
For information regarding Lao Family Community Development, Inc.'s completed financial statements for Year Ending December 31, 2009 audited by Keller and Associates, LLP and Form 990, please contact Lao Family's Executive Director.
Statement of Financial Position (Year ending Dec 31, 2009)
New York Life Is Hiring
Managers and Agents
New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 Company
and the largest mutual life insurance and financial services
company in the United States, is hiring partners and agents.
The Company provides comprehensive, continued training,
competitive compensation and benefit, and strong support
to the sales force. Candidates should be fluent in English,
have strong interpersonal skills and be able to furnish us with
proof of their ability to lawfully work in the U.S.
If you are interested, please contact: Cindy Ngai
Address: 1300 S El Camino Real #400
San Mateo, CA 94402
Tel: 650-278-2889 (c)
650-513-3206 (o)
Fax: 650-358-9808
E-mail: [email protected]
EOE M/F/D/V
Congratulations on the 30th Anniversary of
Lao Family Community Development!
It is a great source of pleasure and pride for you to
have reached this milestone in your long history.
We wish LFCD continued prosperity for another 30
years and are extremely proud to be a supporter of
your mission which impacts lives on a daily basis.
Dallas Hewett
Non-Profit & Private Practice Leader
Snapp & Associates Insurance Services
Stride Center
Reliatech
Special Thanks to our Generous Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Anonymous
Gold Sponsor
Community Leaders
Community Sponsors
Aerotek OneCalifornia Bank
Sou Lee at New York Life
Community Supporters East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)
The Stride Center / ReliaTech Snapp & Associates
The team at www.psprint.com for customer services that goes above and beyond. Judy Guiao and Breck Sargent for their beautiful photographs of our clients
All today’s speakers and performers for their kind support. All Lao Family Staff and Volunteers who worked so hard on this event
All our individual donors who make our work possible!
Additional Thanks