There will be a brief reception, the film screening, and then a Q&A with filmmaker S. Leo Chiang. Hope you can join us.

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.

MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT DATE: JUNE 26-27, 2010

Contact:           Shandon Phan, shandonphan@gmail.com or (202) 415-3366

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

Coalition Members:

Asian American Bar Association of Louisiana
Asian Americans for Change
Boat People SOS (BPSOS)
Mary Queen of Viet Nam CDC
Mississippi Center for Justice
National Association of Vietnamese American Service Agencies (NAVASA)
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California (VABANC)
Vietnamese American Bar Association of the Greater Washington DC (VABA-DC)
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA)

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.

WHAT: 2010 Globians Documentary Film Festival
WHEN: Sunday 15/8 @ 8pm
WHERE: Weisse See, Atonplatz 6 Berlin, Germany
INFO: Globians Documentary Film Festival Program
FACEBOOK EVENT: http://tinyurl.com/vcvglobiansfest

WHAT: OCA National Convention
WHEN: Friday 6/18 @ 2pm
WHERE: The Westin Galleria, 5060 West Alabama, Houston, TX
INFO: OCA National Convention
FACEBOOK EVENT: http://tinyurl.com/AVCVOCA

Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang will be in attendance.

Blaine, MN Sat. June 12 @ 10:30am, Northtown Library, Anoka County. more details

Brooklyn Center, MN Mon. June 14 @ 7pm, Brookdale Library. more details

San Jose, CA Tues. June 22 @ 5:30pm, Evergreen Branch Library. more details

“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.”