SEARAC Snapshot

February 17, 2012

Kompha Seth, Board Chair of Cambodian Association of Illinois, and other leaders of Chicago ethnic community-based organizations gathered on Wednesday, February 15 for the "Forming a Refugee Research Agenda" meeting to develop strategies for creating community-based research.

February 3, 2012

Happy Lunar New Year! Some of our staff celebrated Lunar New Year by visiting their families and participating in celebrations at Bhuddist temples. This photo is courtesy of Phuong Do, SEARAC's director of training and techinical assistance, from a new year celebration in Denver, CO.

January 12, 2012

The SEARAC policy team took some time out before the holidays for a team retreat to rejuvenate and plan for 2012. Pictured here from L-R are Jonathan Tran, CA Policy and Programs Manager; Ivy Ngo, Aging Policy Advocate; Doua Thor, Executive Director; Kao Phetchareun, Research and Special Projects Manager; Helly Lee, Director of Policy; and Quyen Dinh, Education Policy Advocate.

December 19

The National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) celebrated its 15th anniversary in Washington, DC with a dim sum brunch and awards ceremony. Pictured here are SEARAC staff at the brunch on December 4.

December 1

Jonathan Tran, SEARAC California Policy Advocate, trains community organizations in the Hmong Health Collaborative and SEARAC's Ensuring Our Healthy Future (EOHF) Campaign on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Fresno, California.

November 18

Members of Khmer Girls in Action and friends at their hearing on the state of Cambodian American youth in Long Beach, California pose after presenting their report, Step Into Long Beach.

November 3

Executive Director Doua Thor and Education Policy Advocate Quyen Dinh with Assemblymember Mike Eng, sponsor of AB 1088 at the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders research event at the Center for American Progress.

October 20

Executive Director Doua Thor opened up the panel for speakers and encouraged the community to speak up and ask questions at the White House Initiative on AAPI Town Hall on Jobs and Housing in Nevada which took place on October 14. Speakers included Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu, Senior Policy Advisor for Mobility and Opportunity Policy Portia Wu, and Region XI Administrator Elizabeth Echols.

October 6

Last week, executive director, Doua Thor, participated in NBC's Education Nation Summit in New York City. The conference was NBC's initiative to engage in conversation about education in America. Pictured here is the governor's forum where each governor talked about his state's approach to making sure every child receives a quality education.

September 22

SEARAC received the "Standing Up for Justice Award" for its work with refugee and immigrant communities from the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC). Pictured here are Christine Plautz, SEARAC board member, and Doua Thor, executive director, at NAKASEC's anniversary and awards dinner in Chicago on September 17, 2011.

August 26

Community partners from Stone Soup Fresno, Hmong Women's Heritage Association, and the Hmong Health Collaborative during the "Ensuring Our Healthy Future" campaign training in Sacramento, CA on August 22-23 which focused on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Tran.)

August 11

Karen, Chin, and Bhutanese leaders gather together for a photo during a SEARAC training in Dallas, TX. Photo is courtesy of Phuong Do, SEARAC's Director of Training and Technical Assistance.

July 28

2011 DC Leadership and Advocacy Training participants and SEARAC staff pose in front of the Capitol Building before their legislative visits.

July 14

SEARAC co-hosted the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) Education Committee Meeting which focused on the current political climate for education reform. Thanks to everyone who attended!

June 30

SEARAC Interns (from L-R), Cherry Lim, Casey Tran, and Koua Xiong, at the Asian Pacific Islander Americans Scholarship Fund (APIASF) Higher Education Summit Reception, co-hosted by SEARAC and OCA, in honor of the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders.

June 16

Sarun Chan and Soky Chhe (L-R) from our partner organization, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP), on a legislative visit during the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE) Summit.

June 6

SEARAC traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana on May 22-24 for our first annual Leadership and Advocacy Training in the South! Pictured here are staff, facilitators, and participants from the training.

May 6

SEARAC staff were invited by our friend, Mr. Vilay Chaleunrath of Newcomers Service Center, to celebrate Lao New Year in Falls Church, Virginia. Pictured here from left to right are Research and Special Projects Manager, Kao Phetchareun; Communications Director, Pang Houa Moua; and Executive Director, Doua Thor.

April 8

On April 2, Doua received the "Love" Award from the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) which was celebrating its tenth year of organizing Southeast Asian American youth in Providence, RI. Pictured here with Doua (from L-R) are executive director of Khmer Girls in Action, Suely Ngouy; former SEARAC board chair, Professor Phitsamay Uy; and executive director of Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association-New Orleans, Minh Nguyen. (Photo courtesy of Pitu Sim.)

March 24

These participants of SEARAC’s Bhutanese and Burmese Capacity Building Project attended the 2011 Annual Workshop for Ethnic Community Self-Help and  Supplemental Services in San Diego. The Bhutanese and Burmese Capacity Building Project is run by SEARAC's Director of Technical Assistance and Training, Phuong Do.

March 11

SEARAC brought 4 amazing Southeast Asian American youth to DC for the "Voices in Action: National Youth Summit" sponsored by the Department of Education. Check out the SEARAC Blog for their story!