Lao Family Community Development, Inc.
30th Anniversary Festival & Community Resource Fair June 22, 2010
Proudly sponsored by: Citi Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Earthquake and Structures, Inc. (ESI) The San Francisco Foundation Lao Family Community Development, Inc. 2325 East 12th Street, Oakland CA 94601 t: 510.533.8850 f: 510.533.1516 www.lfcd.org
Welcome! 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 President/ CEO and Co-founder
Kathy C. Rothberg Executive Director
Lao Family Community Development, Inc. June 22, 2010
Koy S. Jay Board Co-Chair
Nai H. Phan Board Co-Chair
Lao Family Community Development’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Program 3:00pm Lion Dance Opening Remarks 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 Iu Mien Blessing Elected Officials 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 East Bay Academy Children’s Dragon Dance Lao Family Clients Lao Family Clients’ Personal Stories 4:30pm East Bay Academy Children’s Billy Jean Community Leaders 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 Dance-A-Vision Entertainment, LLC., a hip-hop/jazz/afro performance County Perspective Grupo Azteca Dance Performance Yolanda Baldovinos, Agency Director, Social Service Agency
5:30pm Milton Yee, CA Refugee Program Bureau State and National Eskinder Negash, Director of US Office of Refugee Resettlement Refugee Leadership 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,
Keynote Speaker- Eskinder Negash
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 nonprofit 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.
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
Overview of Lao Family 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 threebedroom 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,
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.
1958 The “Secret War� begins in Laos between Communist forces from Vietnam and the Lao army with support from the US.
1968 Two provinces in northern Laos are invaded by Communist forces, and tens of thousands flee through the jungle to Mekong River area.
1970-1975 Vietnam War escalates throughout Southeast Asia. The first Lao refugees arrive in the Bay Area.
1977-1978 Lao Refugees meet in a 3 bedroom apartment in Richmond, CA to help each other find jobs, housing, etc.
1980 The Refugee Act was passed to systematically resettle refugees in the United States.
1982 LFCBA leads 500 people to Sacramento to ask lawmakers to include grassroots groups in resettlement efforts.
1980 Lao Family Community of Bay Area (LFCBA) is formed under the umbrella of Lao Family Community Inc.
Ukraine
Romania
United States Bosnia
Columbia Eritrea
Guatemala
1992 LFCD receives first youth grant from City of Oakland and helps 1500 youth find summer employment.
1993 LFCD buys 2.5 acres of land in San Pablo, CA to build a 32 unit affordable housing development.
1996 US passes Welfare Reform requiring all immigrants and refugees to become citizens in order to receive public benefits.
1996 Lao Family operates 20 ongoing Citizenship ESL classes for immigrants and refugees.
1997-2004 LFCD leads a coalition of 13 agencies to provide ESL and Citizenship education and naturalization services across California.
1997 LFCD builds brand new 5,000 square foot community and small business center in San Pablo.
1997-2009 LFCD serves as lead agency for CalWORKs in Alameda County.
1983 LFCBA establishes first office in Richmond with a $5 telephone and a $25 typewriter from the Alameda flea market. Volunteers take turns to open office.
1985 Lao Family Opens Oakland Office and receives grants from California and Alameda County for ESL and Social Adjustment
1986 Lao Family starts to provide Employment, ESL, and Social Adjustment services to new Afghan refugees in South Alameda County.
1990 Lao Family Community of the Bay Area (LFCBA) branches off to form new non-profit, Lao Family Community Development, Inc. (LFCD)
Armenia
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 office and classrooms.
Russia
China
Vietnam Laos
Afghanistan Cambodia Burma
Iraq
2000 LFCD partners with EBALDC (and later EARN) to launch IDA matched savings program.
Bhutan
2000 LFCD leads CA Refugee Healthy Marriage Coalition with Sacramento Lao Family, Cambodian Assoc. of America in Long Beach, and Slavic Assistance Center and Vietnamese Community Development Inc. in Oakland.
2005 LFCD Open satellite office in Sacramento to serve Hmong, Russian and Mien refugees.
2007-2008 LFCD buys dilapidated property in San Pablo to build new community center. Purchases 30,000 sqft former warehouse to expand main office in Oakland.
2009 LFCD launches Building Bridges project to help newly arrived Burmese/ Bhutanese refugee population.
2010 LFCD celebrates our 30th Anniversary.
Adult Employment
Financial Education
Comprehensive Services
Financial Coaching
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.
The Financial Coaching Program has expanded Lao Family’s asset-building program by providing free one-onone 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.
Job Training and Placement
Empower low-income clients to define financial goals
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.
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: 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.
Individual Development Accounts
Housing Services Multilingual Homeownership Center
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,
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.
In 2008 we launched a new partnership with the City of Oakland to also serve low-income adults in Oakland.
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, languageappropriate 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.
Social Adjustment and Cultural Education 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
Citizenship & Naturalization 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.
English as a Second Language & Vocational ESL 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.
California Refugee Healthy Marriage Coalition
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 "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-toreach-and-underserved low-income Asian and AfricanAmerican 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:
The California Refugee Healthy Marriage Project offers assistance to couples (including pre-marriage) and families that focuses on:
Effect a positive, healthy pregnancy and birth outcome
ntroduce parenting education through one-on-one
and peer support
Developing, building, and maintaining strong and satisfying marriages
Help shape nurturing relationships between parents and children
Developing effective communication skills for anger management, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
Promote and transmit literacy in the family’s home
Marriage- and family-strengthening activities
Create successful linkages to other familystrengthening services and community referrals.
Family financial literacy, management and budgeting, and asset development
Effective parenting techniques and raising children in a positive environment
Victim Assistance
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:
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
Translation and interpretation
Assistance securing State compensation for victim’s family
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
Court-related support
Crisis prevention and intervention
Emergency services
Counseling services
Criminal justice support and advocacy
Community outreach and crime prevention education
Brown-Bag Program with the partnership of the Alameda County Community Food Bank
Resource Referrals
Individual counseling and referral services.
Youth Employment
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 oneon-one employment and educational services for lowincome 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:
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 lowincome families in several ways:
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.
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.
she would contact me when she is able to find a company 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 decided 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.
Client Profile TOCCARA GRUBBS My name is Toccara Grubbs. I’m 28 years old with a 4 year old son named James. I’m originally from San Francisco, 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 demanding for me and was taking a toll on my body. So I decided 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.
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 Manager. 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 hardworking 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 people with similar situations.
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 experience. 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 explained my situation. She explained the process of the program, requested a copy of my resume and told me
Toccara at a Hand to Hand parent and child engagement event
Photo by Judy Giou
Staff Profile BHIM TIMISINA I was born in the southern Bhutan, a small country located between India and China. Most southern Bhutanese are Nepali speakers, and in 1990 the government of Bhutan started evicting Nepali speaking Lhotshampa 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 create 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 forcefully. Our parents, along with approximately 100,000 Nepalese-speaking Bhutanese needed to flee the country. 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 miserable! 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 crisis, 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 interviews..., but during the interview, I couldn’t really understand what they were saying, so I realized I needed to study a little more English. *Lao Family staff+ suggested I go the English Center (a partner of Lao Family’s). I completed 8 months English course at the English Center. 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.
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 Yamuna, 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 familiar. I know how to talk to people and work with everything 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 refugees 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!
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2010’s– A Vision for Neighborhood Community Building 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.
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Thanks to all Lao Family Staff, Past and Present (Since 2002)
Dene D. Souvannasane
Kathy Chao
Meuy Y. Saephan
Sharhonda T. King
Amy Lieu
Don W. Curtis
Kedija Abdu
Michael J. Goldberg
Sinian X. Keramati
Alejandra Guillen
Dorely Bernardez
Ken Wu
Mina H Tonnu
Sitha Sim
Alexander Banh
Dorothy Paul
Kent Kinh Trinh
Mounghinh Saechao
Su G. Dung
Alfonso R. Murillo
Dung K. Nguyen
Kentra S. Fuqua
Muang C Saephan
Susan E. Smith
Alison E. Young
Dung L. Ly
Kevin Khoa Nguyen
Muang L Saechao
Sylvia Kong
Alzata Henderson
Edvin Vehabovic
Khamdaeng Ounniyom
Muang S. Saechao
Tafoo Saechao
Andrey Pryadko
Evelyn M. Pena
Khanmalee Rattanasith
My M. Tran
Tanya Voqui
Anh Hong Lam
Fahm S. Saechao
Kiersten A. Figurski
Nagwa K Salih
Teresa Nguyen
Anh Le Phan (Lyndi)
Fatima H. Bailey
Kim T. Ly
Nai H. Saelee
Thai Vue
Anhtram Nguyen Tran
Francoise G. Chao
Ky Sundara
Naiyian Saelee
Thanh L. Ahlfenger
Aye Aye Thaw
Frank Binder
La Thongvanh
Nancy E. Yamamoto
Thao H. Pham
Azer Tankovic
Genella T. Lintao
Lai C. Saechao
Naomi P. Wood
Thao T. Tran
Ballav Poudyel
George So
Lai Hinh Saelee
Bhim R. Timsina
Larisa Samoylovich
Napaporn Limopasmanee
Thong Ly
Gloria E. Vargas
Brian Adkins
Grana Haidari
Latonya L. Young
Narine Avagyan
Tien X. Vo
Laura Godinez Avalos
Nga T. Dang
Tikillah T. Reynolds
Laura J. Mcnair
Oleta Cook
Tom T. Doan Tori E Barnes
Bryan S. Kirkpatrick Bunreth Ou
Hieu T. Nguyen Irma D. Beltrain
Thuan T. Nguyen
Candra Harvey
Jacqueline Rickman
Laura Lepe
Oun Khamvanhthong
Carolina Aguyo
Jasmine R. Edwards
Le T. Duong
Pheakthra K. Yim
Tracie N. Wilson
Caroline D. Hong
Jennie Mollica
Linda N. Chao
Phi C. Le
Tracy M. Vo
Luis I Del Muro
Phillip Hong
Vanna Khamvanthong
Mai N. Tu
Phung T. Le
Vanphone Anlavan Vern Choy Phan
Cha S Xiong Chan F. Saechao
Jennifer R. Mayman Jianping Yi
Chan T. Tern
Jin Hua Su
Mai T. Quach
Pilar Beccar Varela
Chanorn Lee
Joanna Arhon
Maichew Chao
Qu Santikham
Vilai Phuthama
Chaosarn S. Chao
John C. Chao
Marcos S. Uribe
Quinetta D. Lewis
Waverley C. Lee
Maria D. Campos
Rajendra K. Lama
Wern Z. Phongsirikul
Mariatu A. Sesay
Ratt Chanthavong
Wilfredo E. Briones Xiomara Abdellatif
Chau M. Cao Cheng S. Saechao
John Sooksampan Jorge Ramirez
Cheo F Lee
Joyce Pisnanont
Martha Rodriguez
Ray T. Soungpanya
Chery Cheung
Juana E Tang
Mary A. Fuller
Rita Jones
Xue E. Liang
Chinh M. Cao
Judy N. Chan
Marzia Mujaddide
Salai Tluang Vellian
Yamuna P. Poudyal
Meemee Khine
Samantha B. Miller
Yao F. Saephan
Meghana S. Kamdar
Samuel V. Mora Sr
Zabihalla Sidiqi
Meuy C. Saelee
Sary Tatpaporn
Zhanna Marchak
Meuy J. Saechao
Sarah A. Benjamin
Meuy Phan
Sean P. Coffey
Chio S. Saephan Chouan Sengsiri Christina H. Luu
Kao C. Saephanh Kao W Saevang Karen K. Lee
Claudia Lepe De Rosales Kate Saechao Katherine F. Foley Dana L. Ecelberger
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
Thanks to Donors and Partners, Past and Present 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
Statement of Financial Position (Year ending Dec 31, 2009)
Expenses
Income Government Foundations Individual Donors Rent, Interest, Misc, and In-kind Total
$ 2,325,745 575,167 22,606 157,798 $3,081,316
Program Management and General
$2,568,420 $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.
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: ccngai@ft.newyorklife.com EOE M/F/D/V
Reliatech
Congratulations on the 30th Anniversary of
Lao Family Community Development!
Stride Center
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
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
Additional Thanks 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!