In a New Orleans neighborhood called Versailles, a tight-knit group of Vietnamese Americans overcame obstacles to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, only to have their homes threatened by a new government-imposed toxic landfill. A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES is the empowering story of how the Versailles people, who have already suffered so much in their lifetime, turn a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance for a better future. Click here for a 5 Years Since Katrina Fact Sheet from MQVN-CDC.
Latest News
New Behind the Scenes Video!
Monday, June 28th, 2010
A new short film shows how the youth in Versailles stepped up to lead after Hurricane Katrina. The video includes Minh Nguyen of VAYLA (Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans) and Mary Tran of MQVN-CDC (Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation):
Pro-bono Vietnamese language legal clinics for oil spill victims this weekend
Friday, June 25th, 2010
This is a press release of the pro-bono law clinics for the Vietnamese American fisherfolk impacted by the oil spill. Please note and support the organizations doing this important work at this time of need.
VABA-DC Joins Coalition of Non-Profits To Establish Volunteer Law Corps and Hold Pro-Bono Vietnamese-Language Legal Clinics For Oil Spill Disaster Victims in the Gulf Coast.
In response to the urgent legal needs of the Vietnamese American community affected by the BP Oil Spill Disaster, VABA-DC has joined forces with various national and local community organizations and bar associations to hold two bilingual legal aid clinics for Vietnamese American fishermen in the Gulf Coast on June 25-26, 2010.
“VABA-DC is committed to serving the legal needs of the Vietnamese American community,” said Mai T. Pham, VABA-DC President. “It is critical for us to be part of this important effort to protect the rights and interests of the Vietnamese American community along the Gulf Coast and their way of life.”
The legal clinics will provide language access, information, and legal assistance to approximately one thousand Vietnamese American fishermen regarding BP claims policy and procedures. The clinics will be staffed by a team of 26 Vietnamese American attorney and law student volunteers from various bar associations and community organizations across the U.S. Of those, five are VABA-DC members.
“The outpouring of support from individuals and organizations across the country has been extraordinary,” said Mai Phan, a former Biloxi native, former president of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California and the project’s lead organizer. “During this time of crisis, Vietnamese-American attorneys and law students across the country have answered the call of service, dedicating their time and efforts to protect the rights and interests of thousands of community members.”
The large-scale legal clinics project highlights the tradition of service established by community advocates and organizations in bringing professionals of various backgrounds to the region to serve those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The project is supported by Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao, who is scheduled to stop by the New Orleans clinic on Saturday.
VABA-DC is the only Vietnamese American Bar Association on the East Coast, representing over 100 Vietnamese American attorneys and law students in the area. Its mission is to promote the professional growth and advancement of Vietnamese American attorneys, encourage and facilitate the entry of Vietnamese American students into the legal profession, contribute to the public interest by serving as a voice for the local Vietnamese American community and assist community members with legal concerns.
Clinics Schedule:
Biloxi, Mississippi
When: Friday, June 25th 1-5pm
Where: Biloxi Community Development Department Auditorium
676 Martin Luther King Blvd, Biloxi. MS
New Orleans, Louisiana
When: Saturday, June 26th: 9am-5pm Where: Mary Queen of Viet Nam School
14001 Dwyer Blvd, New Orleans, LA
CNN.com article details the oil spill’s impact on the Viet Am fisherfolk
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
A Versailles fisherman shucking oysters.
Did you know that between 30-50% of the fishermen along the Gulf Coast are South East Asians, especially ethnic Vietnamese? A comprehensive article on CNN.com today delves into the impact of the oil spill on the Vietnamese American fisherfolks & families on the Gulf Coast, many of whom are from Versailles. Read about how the community is responding from Father Vien, Tuan Nguyen from Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corp (MQVN-CDC), and Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao. Community activist Celine Tran speaks about the impact on the Biloxi Vietnamese American families. The article also has a nice shout out to A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES.
Mimi Nguyen, subject of A Village Called Versailles, recently participated in a great Community Cinema screening in Rochester, and shared some photos and a note to let us know how it went:
“About 30-40 people showed up at the Community Cinema night at WXXI Studio in Rochester, NY to see A Village Called Versailles on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The Q&A session following the film included speakers Laura Garrison, Assistant Vice President/Producer, Bob Smith, Host/Producer, as well as myself.
There were about 5 Vietnamese people in the crowd. Two of my childhood friends, who also stayed in the same refugee camp with me back in the day, were really touched by the documentary. They, too, were inspired and proud of the strength and determination of the Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans. It was an honor and a humble opportunity for me to be back in Rochester, NY. Thank you WXXI team for bringing me back home.”
Lots to tell you in this email about A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, including our big PBS premiere on Tue, May 25th… that’s a week from now!
First, some important news. The BP oil spill has hugely impacted the Southeast Asian/Vietnamese American fishermen, who make up 35-45% of the fishing industry along the Gulf Coast (here is a LA Times article about this). Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corp. (MQVN-CDC) in Versailles hosted a community meeting this month to address the issue. Read about it here, and please contact MQVN-CDC directly to find out how you can help.
Don’t forget, our national PBS broadcast premiere on Independent Lens is only a week away on May 25th. To see when A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES will be playing on your local PBS station, click here.
Finally, Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corp. (MQVN-CDC) put together a “5 Years Post-Katrina” update about how the Versailles community is doing. Folks at MQVN-CDC are responsible for all the amazing community projects mentioned in the film (health clinics, charter school, urban farm, etc). You can download the PDF here and find out more about MQVN-CDC here.
So here are this week’s events featuring special guests from the film:
ROCHESTER, NY Tues. May 18 @ 7pm, WXXI Studios, Mimi Nguyen will attend more details HOUSTON, TX Tues. May 18 @7pm, Rice Cinema, Father Vien will attend more details SAN FRANCISCO, CA Tues. May 18 @5:45pm, San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend OAKLAND, CA Wed. May 19 @ 6:30pm, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend BILOXI, MS Fri. May 21 @ 6pm, Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, Father Vien, Minh Nguyen, and Christina Wadhwani (MQVN-CDC) will attend more details PHILADELPHIA, PA Sat. May 22 @7pm, Asian Arts Initiative, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend more details
ARIZONA Tucson, Fri. May 21 @4pm, Miller-Golf Links Branch Library more details
CALIFORNIA Oakland Wed. May 19 @ 6:30pm, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend San Francisco Tues. May 18 @5:45pm, San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend West Hollywood, Tues. May 25 @730pm, Blue Conference Room in the Pacific Design Center more details
COLORADO Denver, May 25 @ 7pm, Starz FilmCenter more details Fruita, May 26 @ 630pm, Dinosaur Journey Museum more details Montrose, May 18 @ 730pm, Montrose District Library more details
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington, D.C., Sun. May 23 @5pm, Busboys and Poets more details Washington, D.C., Sun. May 30 @3pm, Washington DC Jewish Community Center more details
INDIANA Evansville, Wed. May 19 @ 7pm, WNIN Studios more details Indianapolis, Sun. May 23 @ 4pm, The K.I. EcoCenter more details
LOUISIANA New Orleans, Sat. May 22 @ 6pm, Dillard University, Samuel DuBois Cook Fine Arts Center more details
MINNESOTA Blaine, Sat. June 11 @ 10:30am, Northtown Library more details Brooklyn Center, Mon June 14 @ 7pm, Brookdale Library more details
MISSISSIPPI Biloxi, Fri. May 21 @ 6pm, Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, Father Vien, Minh Nguyen, and Christina Wadhwani (MQVN-CDC) will attend more details
NEW YORK
Ithaca, Fri. May 21 @7pm, Henry St. John Building more details Manhattan, Tues. May 18 @730pm, East 54th Street Recreation Center more details Queens, Tues. May 18 @6pm, Al Oerter Recreation Center more details Rochester, Tues. May 18 @ 7pm, WXXI Studios, Mimi Nguyen will attend more details
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia, Sat. May 22 @7pm, Asian Arts Initiative, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend more details
SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston, Th. May 27 @6pm, Charleston County Public Library more details
TEXAS Houston, Tues. May 18 @7pm, Rice Cinema, Father Vien will attend more details
Community Cinema is a a free monthly screening series of Independent Lens films, offered in over 50 cities throughout the U.S.
A few Community Cinema events will feature special guests from the film:
ROCHESTER, NY Tues. May 18 @ 7pm, WXXI Studios, Mimi Nguyen will attend more details HOUSTON, TX Tues. May 18 @7pm, Rice Cinema, Father Vien will attendmore details PHILADELPHIA, PA Sat. May 22 @7pm, Asian Arts Initiative, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend more details OAKLAND, CA Wed. May 19 @ 630pm, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend SAN FRANCISCO, CA Tues. May 18 @545pm, San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium, Director S. Leo Chiang will attend
All other Community Cinema Screenings will include a free screening and panel discussion. For complete information, visit Independent Lens.
ARIZONA Tucson, Sun. May 16,@2pm, Valencia Branch Library more details Tucson, Fri. May 21 @4pm, Miller-Golf Links Branch Library more details Tucson, Th. May 13 @9am, Quincie Douglas Branch Library more details
CALIFORNIA Aliso Viejo Th. May 6 @7pm, Soka University more details Hayward Tues. May 11 @6pm, Hayward Main Library more details San Diego, Wed. May 5 @630pm, San Diego Public Library, 3rd Floor Auditorium more details West Hollywood, Tues. May 25 @730pm, Blue Conference Room in the Pacific Design Center more details
COLORADO Colorado Springs, May 6 @ 6pm,Colorado College more details Denver, May 25 @ 7pm, Starz FilmCenter more details Fruita, May 26 @ 630pm, Dinosaur Journey Museum more details Grand Junction, May 11 @ 6pm, Mesa County Central Library more details Montrose, May 18 @ 730pm, Montrose District Library more details Palisade, May 15 @ 10am, Palisade Library more details Pueblo, May 12 @ 7pm, Rawlings Public Library Infozone more details
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington, D.C., Sun. May 23 @5pm, Busboys and Poets more details Washington, D.C., Sun. May 30 @3pm, Washington DC Jewish Community Center more details
GEORGIA Athens, Th. May 6 @7pm, Athens-Clarke County Library more details
ILLINOIS Chicago, Sat. May 15 @2pm, The Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater more details
INDIANA Evansville, Wed. May 19 @ 7pm, WNIN Studios more details Indianapolis, Sun. May 23 @4pm, The K.I. EcoCenter more details
LOUISIANA New Orleans, Sat. May 22 @6pm, Dillard University, Samuel DuBois Cook Fine Arts Center more details
MICHIGAN Grand Rapids, Tues. May 4 @7pm, The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
MISSOURI Kansas City, Sat. May 8, @2pm, Plaza Library
NEW YORK
Bronx, Tues. May 4 @ 6pm, Owen Dolen Golden Age Center more details Brooklyn, Mon. May 3 @ 1pm, Von King Recreation Center more details Brooklyn, Mon. May 3 @7pm, Von King Recreation Center more details Ithaca, Fri. May 21 @7pm, Henry St. John Building more details Manhattan, Tues. May 18 @730pm, East 54th Street Recreation Center more details Queens, Fri. May 7 @630pm, Vic Hanson Recreation Center more details Queens, Th. May 13 @630pm, DKW Recreation Center more details Queens, Tues. May 18 @6pm, Al Oerter Recreation Center more details Saratoga Springs, Sat. May 1 @3pm, Saratoga Spring Public Library more details
SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston, Th. May 27 @6pm, Charleston County Public Library more details
TENNESSEE Nashville, Sat. May 15 @230pm, Nashville Public Library more details
VERMONT Brattleboro, Th. May 13 @730pm, Brattleboro Museum and Art Center more details
WISCONSIN Sheboygan, Tues. May 11 @7pm, John Michael Kohler Arts Center more details Sheboygan, Wed. May 12 @1230pm, John Michael Kohler Arts Center more details
Take a look at where we’re going this month. Pack your bags, we’re hitting the road!
We are also excited to announce our free Community Cinema screenings and panel discussions (presented by ITVS and Independent Lens) begin April 19th in St. Louis, MO and go through May 30th in Washington, DC. Community Cinema is offered in over 50 cities across the United States. To see if the film will be playing in your city, click here.
WHAT:FREE Community Cinema Screening WHEN: Mon 4/19 @ 7pm WHERE:Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112 INFO:More Info
SAN FRANCISCO, CA:
WHAT: San Francisco State University WHEN:Tuesday, 4/20 @ 1pm. Film starts at 1:20pm WHERE:San Francisco, CA, College of Creative Arts, McKenna Theater FACEBOOK EVENT:http://tinyurl.com/sfsuvcv
We are one of just two films to receive the Henry Hampton Award at the Council on Foundations Video and Film Festival this year! Please visit the their webpage for more information. Dir. S. Leo Chiang will be in attendance.
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