November 27, 2023 IN: Community Stories, Our Voices

SEARAC is cultivating Southeast Asian American leadership

Dear SEARAC community,

I had the joy of attending SEARAC’s Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) in 2019. I joined more than 50 other rising Southeast Asian American leaders and allies to tap into our power and understand how to use our stories to make lasting change. On the final day of LAT, when we put all of our training into practice in meetings with our elected officials, I remember feeling so proud seeing all those Southeast Asian American participants walking through the halls of the Capitol. To see our community members navigating that space was so empowering. We’d always stop when we saw our small groups making their way from meeting to meeting to acknowledge this moment and its power.

 

When I attended LAT, I was working as a schoolteacher, and I didn’t have a ton of resources to spare. SEARAC offered scholarships for participants, and it was through that program I was able to have my flight and lodging covered. I donate to SEARAC now because I want to be able to give back to future LAT participants, who may be in the same boat that I was. 

A generous SEARAC donor has offered to MATCH ALL DONATIONS TODAY up to $3,000. Won’t you join me in making a gift to support rising Southeast Asian American leaders?

I was thrilled to see that SEARAC returned to in-person programming for LAT 2023, because that experience of being in a room full of Southeast Asian Americans who are all working to make the world a better place for themselves and future generations is an irreplaceable experience. My hope is to see more Southeast Asian Americans influencing policy, advocating for their communities, and being more visible. Whether it’s on the Hill or in state government, whether it’s at national or grassroots organizations – seeing that number rise is really inspiring. 

Please make a gift today to bolster SEARAC’s work to cultivate Southeast Asian American leaders. Your support is essential to creating the country and the world that we want to see.

Sincerely,

Chingcha Vang, SEARAC LAT 2019 participant

 

For more blogs in our series for SEARAC’s 2023 Annual Fundraiser, see:

• “My ten year anniversary – donate to build Southeast Asian power” by Quyên Đinh
• “Uplifting the power of the largest SEAA community in the US” by Thuy Do
• “SEARAC is building community power for generations to come” by Alexis Friedman
• “Crafting groundbreaking national policy to improve the lives of Southeast Asian Americans” by Kham Moua
• “Change starts internally before it can be advocated externally” by Elaine Sanchez Wilson