I was able to complete a performative element for the larger project, The Jungle Book, an examination of fact and fiction in the Mekong subregion, at Asiatopia 2008 held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. The performance draws from literature, popular media, and traditions in art installation, performance and typography. The next components planned include photography and academic presentation. Images of the performance can be viewed on flickr.
From Bangkok, I traveled to Yangon, Myanmar in connection with our research for the upcoming Asia Pacific Triennale (APT6). This time, my research was very compact and focused, and I was able to meet with all of the artists I needed to. I'm happy to see that the contemporary arts community in Burma is doing well. Images of the research trip can be viewed on flickr.
You have to appreciate the inspiration that Obama gives to artists. Although, it can get a little bit repetitive, sometimes I like repetition. But only in mosaics like these.
Really need help to look for actresses. [link] Tìm Các Diễn Viên Phim kịch ngắn 20 phút. Khoảng 2/3 phần đối thoại của phim là tiếng Việt với phụ đề Anh Ngữ. Phần đối thọai còn lại sẽ là tiếng Anh với phụ đề Việt Ngữ.
In March 2006, I wrote my vision of a Vietnamese youth network in Northern California. Let me see how I have done in the 2.5 years since then. The four objectives I have outlined is Infrastructure, Cultural Development, Community Development, Leadership Development.
Infrastructure
UVSA Northern California is now a formal organization, with elected officers and affiliates from 7 schools. We have survived our first elections and second summit, although I will feel more comfortable once we pass the 5-year mark. What it currently lacks is nonprofit status, which as of this writing is currently in the works. The staff application process is being hammered out for the first time since I've stepped down from being a Board Member and am reapplying to be on Staff. Many of the other regional VSA coalitions have died, collegiate and high school, and a new youth group one has started, VAYO. It is my duty to ensure that no more organizations die.
Although the organization is structured differently than I originally imagined, it is a starting point nevertheless. I am going to lead by example and implement the Commission structure by starting out the first branch: Arts Commission. We have picked up a lot of unaffiliated individuals, so this is the first step to absorbing them into Staff.
Cultural Development
Personally I have started a t-shirt business targeting the Vietlish Generation to start bridging the linguistic disconnect. My Brainstorm process helped UVSA produce its second Roadmap, which includes a revamp of both the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Black April Commemoration. These will be two very important projects to get done right in order to educate the younger students the importance of their Vietnamese identity, and were outlined as part of my original suggestion list. I actually want the youths to be able to organize all of the other suggestions, but that will take some time as we build leadership capacity.
Community Development
Serving the (external) community is a relatively neglected aspect of UVSA at the moment. Although we have educated ourselves on a host of issues confronting the community, everything from Deportation, to the Paracel/Spratley Territorial Conflict, there has yet to be regularity in addressing any of the issues. I suspect Standing Committees should be included into the Infrastructure to handle the numerous Areas of Concerns.
Internal community development is coming along nice and slowly. People like going Camping, and the Olympics was a huge success this past year. We will continue to capitalize on these events, but I am thinking the Commission structure will mirror a kind of Family System employed by many VSAs.
Leadership Development
Currently the President of UVSA, Tam Phan, is grooming his Executive Board to be better leaders. But we need some sort of program to train and mentor them, and I'd rather leverage existing programs if possible. Although I have a lot of notes and people liked the Summit workshops, I think leadership development covers these areas: understanding issues, creating a vision and strategy, arming yourself with skills, knowing your resources, creating a proposal, execution of the plan, and going through a feedback cycle. I may be the one who has to create this program in this fashion.
Conclusion
There is still a lot of foundation work to do. Oh so little time. But I'm moving in the right direction at least!
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