We brings together industry professionals for a day of immersive, hands-on learning. Join us to gain practical skills, connects with professionals, and dive into dynamic sessions tailored to help you grow and succeed.
Gain practical insights and skills in various topics from Performing Art, Education, Leadership, and so on.
Network with your presenters and industry professionals.
Participate in workshops that focus on real-world application.
Session 1: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM, 11/23/2024
Growing up, you were probably asked this question at some point as you were navigating your educational journey. Whether you had dreams of becoming a doctor, engineer, teacher, artist or even opening up your own boba shop, there are countless factors that influenced what we aspire to be. As Asian/Asian Americans, we may be expected to become doctors, lawyers, or engineers that even the possibility of a career that aligns with our passions may not be possible. Through this workshop, I hope to offer a space of reflection and empowerment to those listening to acknowledge what factors greatly influence someone's decisions, not just within their future career but also their daily life. I hope attendees leave with a greater sense of security in what they want to personally achieve as someone who transitioned from premed to education during my undergrad.
In this workshop, attendees will get out of their comfort zone by participating in various team/community building activities to engage their teamwork, communication, collaboration, leadership, and problem solving skills. These activities will encourage attendees to get to know one another in the workshop and help attendees practice skills that are necessary for class, work, and organizations. By the end of the workshop, attendees will improve their skills and take away ideas and experiences to bring back to their own communities, further building on and growing their communities.
Con ơi, con ăn cơm chưa? Presented by the Vietnamese American Roundtable, this workshop will explore the historical and sociohistorical roots of Vietnamese American food through storytelling. As we reach our community’s 50th anniversary after the Fall of Saigon and half a century of place-making in diaspora, how will we shape our legacy for the next 50 years and beyond? How will you make sure that your family’s stories aren’t lost in what author Viet Thanh Nguyen refers to as the “war in memory”?
This workshop will focus on fan dancing. I will teach a previously choreographed dance, helping participants become familiar with the fan as a prop while providing tips to enhance their skills. After the demonstration, attendees will be divided into groups of inexperienced and experienced dancers to create their own 30-second choreography.
We will be learning about active listening! Active listening is an important skill in the workplace as it helps create connection and foster a healthier workplace. Active listening requires a lot of practice as it is not simply to listen carefully to someone's story, it is about listening to understand. To be understood and to be seen are two important factors in making team members become more productive and involved in an organization.
Workshop Overview: Join us for an engaging presentation as we introduce the exciting programs and events planned for our MAYS 2025 (Mid-Autumn Youth Summit). This year’s summit will feature a dynamic mix of a Cultural Show, showcasing the rich traditions of the Vietnamese community, and a spirited Olympics-style competition, promoting teamwork and leadership through sports and games. What to Expect: Presentation on MAYS 2025: Learn about the various activities, including the cultural showcase and youth Olympics.
Volunteer Opportunities: Discover how you can get involved in the success of the event by signing up as a volunteer or even stepping up to lead a program. We need passionate individuals to help with organizing, logistics, coordinating activities, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Leadership Roles: Interested in taking a more active role? We are looking for program leaders to guide specific activities such as the cultural performances, sports teams, or other events.
Hailing from the Midwest region and recently relocated to San Jose, CA, David Phan (he/him/his) is a proud first generation double graduate, obtaining a M.S.Ed in Higher Education and Student Affairs and a Bachelor’s Degree in Development and Family Studies. He leverages his degrees to support students in various university spaces, all t
Hailing from the Midwest region and recently relocated to San Jose, CA, David Phan (he/him/his) is a proud first generation double graduate, obtaining a M.S.Ed in Higher Education and Student Affairs and a Bachelor’s Degree in Development and Family Studies. He leverages his degrees to support students in various university spaces, all the way from admissions to residential life to student involvement. He has been involved with VSA on a local, regional and national level for 6 years (and counting) and hopes to continue empowering the next generation to grow in their identity in personal and professional capacities. In his free time, David enjoys thrifting, traveling and trying new restaurants with his new role at San Jose State University.
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Jennifer graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Secondary Math Education and is currently in her third year working as a middle school math teacher. During her time in VSA, she has held multiple roles at the local, regional, and national level such as family leader, conferen
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Jennifer graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Secondary Math Education and is currently in her third year working as a middle school math teacher. During her time in VSA, she has held multiple roles at the local, regional, and national level such as family leader, conference staff and director for various committees, Nebraska State Representative, camp director, and Internal Vice President.
Philip Nguyễn is the Executive Director of the Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR), a nonprofit organization committed to educating, mobilizing, and advocating for the Vietnamese American community toward a better quality of life for all. After graduating from UC Berkeley with B.A. degrees in Ethnic Studies and Asian American and Asian
Philip Nguyễn is the Executive Director of the Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR), a nonprofit organization committed to educating, mobilizing, and advocating for the Vietnamese American community toward a better quality of life for all. After graduating from UC Berkeley with B.A. degrees in Ethnic Studies and Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, he earned his M.A. degree in Asian American Studies from the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University, where he currently teaches courses on Vietnamese American Literature and Asian American culture. Based in the Bay Area, born and raised in Southern California with Vietnamese refugee roots, he is dedicated to amplifying and uplifting multigenerational Asian American, Southeast Asian American, and Vietnamese American voices. He is the co-host of ÁCCENTED: Dialogues in Diaspora produced by the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN), an organizer with PIVOT - the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization, and the former President of the Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations (UNAVSA). Philip is also the host of HBO’s The Sympathizer official companion podcast, based on the Pulitzer-prize-winning novel of the same name.
Tammy Tran is an alumna of University of the Pacific, where she served on Eboard for three years. During those years, she participated and choreographed multiple dances for UOP VSA's culture show. She loves traditional Vietnamese dancing, especially with fans, and loves to share her passion for dancing with NorCal constituents. In her free time, she loves to crochet, knit, and watch movies.
Thao is an alumni of San Francisco State University. Go Gators! Rawrr. She graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She is highly interested in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, the study of human behaviors in the workplace. Currently, she is working a 50+ years nonprofit in San Francisco called Community Youth Cente
Thao is an alumni of San Francisco State University. Go Gators! Rawrr. She graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She is highly interested in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, the study of human behaviors in the workplace. Currently, she is working a 50+ years nonprofit in San Francisco called Community Youth Center as a Program Coordinator. In her role, Thao deliver job-readiness skill trainings to underserved high schoolers who faced barriers to employments in the effort of improving the diversity of the workforce. In her free time, Thao enjoys exploring city views and going to events, and she is especially passionate about food! You can always come up to her and ask for a good restaurant in SF as she will never gatekeep good food.
Thuy Le is currently an HR Generalist at Rockwood Capital, a real estate investment firm. She studied Health Science with a concentration in Health Services Administration at San Jose State University (SJSU), where she also served as President of the Vietnamese Student Association during the 2012-2013 school year. Beyond her professional
Thuy Le is currently an HR Generalist at Rockwood Capital, a real estate investment firm. She studied Health Science with a concentration in Health Services Administration at San Jose State University (SJSU), where she also served as President of the Vietnamese Student Association during the 2012-2013 school year. Beyond her professional career, Thuy is the President of the Viet-American Youth Association, a role she has held for the past decade. Her long-standing involvement in the organization stems from her dedication to supporting programs that empower Vietnamese youth.
Session 2: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, 11/23/2024
Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, the three stereotypical jobs that make up a "good" Asian. In this workshop, we will discuss what it means to chase a career outside of STEM. Entertainment and liberal arts are for Asians too. Pursuing these careers along with balancing them with the pressure of Asian American culture is a fickle one. Through this workshop, we will discover how to develop confidence in chasing your dreams, how to realistically achieve those dreams, and how to make the parents happy while doing so.
In this space, we often acknowledge the leadership pipeline, from VSA, to UVSA, to UNAVSA. However, the pipeline becomes difficult to pursue when we each have our own individual needs and responsibilities, that only naturally take precedent over our involvement. So what can VSA do for you?
This workshop is designed to help you leverage your involvement with your VSA, UVSA, UNAVSA as a powerful asset in your career journey. With reflective activities, collaborative discussions, and practical exercises aimed at transforming your VSA experiences into compelling resume entries and interview talking points, participants will explore how to effectively showcase transferable skills gained from VSA, build a shared resource database for future leaders, and foster a supportive community. Whether you're a current student or recent graduate, this workshop will empower you to confidently articulate your unique contributions and aspirations. Let's clear the path to your future together!
Showing attendees how to utilize their network in any space no matter if it's professional or personal! They never know who they're talking to & how willing one is to help another in any capacity.
Conflict Resolution is a muscle, and like your muscles the more you exercise and practice them over time the better they will become. Join this workshop to learn the different stages of conflict, the different roles we play, and crowdsource solutions for some of the most common problems you face in VSA. You will leave this workshop with a better understanding of how to effectively address and end conflict, before it starts and after it's occurred.
This workshop will teach attendees the basics of what goes into a lion dance performance. This will include basic music rhythms and the corresponding dance. The musical instruments include a drum, gong, and cymbals in which attendees will learn the basics of playing the cymbals. As for dancing, attendees will learn the stances and martial arts foundations that go into dancing in the head and tail of a lion.
This is a great workshop to get participants to become vulnerable and share details about their lives, and talk about the values that have shaped them into who they are today (the good and the bad). It’s easy to forget about these values in our busy everyday lives. Through this reflective exercise, participants will rediscover the importance of these values, how they can lead with their values, and also become more empathetic to the people around them who may share different values.
As young Vietnamese Americans, what is your vision for the society you want to live in and how do you build community to actualize that vision? Learn from trailblazers who not only were “first” in their professions but also created programs and initiatives that helped build communities.
Speakers:
Honorable Jacqueline Duong
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara.
Honorable Thang Nguyen Barrett , Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
Thuy Thi Nguyen, J.D., Partner at Garcia, Hernandez, and Sawhney LLP
Justin Ocean is a fourth-year student at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he is studying Media Communications. Entering his third year with VSA, Justin has served on the logistics staff for Summit XV, UNAVSA-19, and Camp Horizon 19. Outside of VSA, Justin has a background in live entertainment, having worked on and organized even
Justin Ocean is a fourth-year student at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he is studying Media Communications. Entering his third year with VSA, Justin has served on the logistics staff for Summit XV, UNAVSA-19, and Camp Horizon 19. Outside of VSA, Justin has a background in live entertainment, having worked on and organized events for organizations such as OpTic Gaming, Blizzard Entertainment, and the Professional Fighters League. He hopes to share his experiences in the live entertainment industry and highlight how it can be an inclusive space for Asian Americans.
Katie (she/they) is lecturer of Asian American Studies at SDSU, SBVC, and Saddleback Community College, with an MA in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University, and a BA in Asian American Studies and a BS in Psychological & Brain Science from UC Santa Barbara. When her mind isn’t occupied with Asian American Studies, she
Katie (she/they) is lecturer of Asian American Studies at SDSU, SBVC, and Saddleback Community College, with an MA in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University, and a BA in Asian American Studies and a BS in Psychological & Brain Science from UC Santa Barbara. When her mind isn’t occupied with Asian American Studies, she splits her time between various nonprofit organizations, research projects, and personal interests. A creative at heart, if she’s not community-building, she’s on some new creative outlet that’ll last about 2 weeks before it gets shuffled out in favor of something new. But hey, now she knows how to bake bread and crochet a sweater.
Kent Tong (he/him) is the Manager of Programs at OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, a 501(c)(3) national membership-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In his role, Kent oversees OCA’s youth programs, including high
Kent Tong (he/him) is the Manager of Programs at OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, a 501(c)(3) national membership-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In his role, Kent oversees OCA’s youth programs, including high school and college leadership and advocacy trainings, scholarships, and internships. Kent was born and raised in the Greater New Orleans Area to Vietnamese refugee parents. An alumnus from Loyola University New Orleans, majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Film Studies, Kent dedicated his time outside the classroom to various Vietnamese-interest organizations. It's through his experiences as President of the Loyola Asian Student Organization, Executive Director of Camp Delta, and President of the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations Gulf Coast where Kent developed a passion in youth development and programming. Prior to joining OCA, Kent was an Office Admin at Hidrate, Inc., a startup tech company; volunteer staff member of The 2020 Project, a voter engagement nonprofit; Fellow at the Jubilee Project, creating short documentaries; and Disney College Program Cast Member. In his free time he enjoys watching movies in theatres, usually one or two every weekend, and writing reviews on his blog.
Raised in Houston, TX, Leslie is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources. Currently, Leslie serves as the Administration Director for The Weekend Warriors, an event promotion company known for curating vibrant exper
Raised in Houston, TX, Leslie is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources. Currently, Leslie serves as the Administration Director for The Weekend Warriors, an event promotion company known for curating vibrant experiences that connect artists and fans alike. In this role, she enjoys planning and executing large-scale events, collaborating with artists from across the nation. Her role allows her to engage her organizational and interpersonal skills, which she uses to build smooth logistical processes and foster memorable engagements for guests and performers alike. Leslie has been involved in her local region, UVSA South, since 2021 and is currently on the region's cabinet as Alumni Relations Chair for the 2024 - 2025 term.
Lillian Trinh (she/her) is a Vietnamese & Taiwanese American alumna of UNAVSA & UVSA South. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, and served in key VSA roles such as President of UVSA South and most recently Executive Director of UNAVSA-18. Lillian is an avid creative with a passion for creating anything and everything. She currently lives in the Bay and works for HP Inc.
Phillip Tran, a dedicated third-year Electrical Engineering major at San José State University, stands out as a passionate advocate for cultural preservation and community building. As a vibrant member of the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Phillip plays a pivotal role in coordinating the SJSU VSA Lion Dance Team, a group known for
Phillip Tran, a dedicated third-year Electrical Engineering major at San José State University, stands out as a passionate advocate for cultural preservation and community building. As a vibrant member of the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Phillip plays a pivotal role in coordinating the SJSU VSA Lion Dance Team, a group known for its dynamic performances and cultural significance. His involvement extends beyond SJSU, as he collaborates with lion dance teams across Northern California colleges, fostering a network of shared traditions and camaraderie. Phillip’s commitment to Vietnamese culture is evident in his tireless efforts to celebrate and promote diversity. He believes in the power of community to honor cultural heritage and bring people together. His leadership in the lion dance team not only showcases his dedication to Vietnamese traditions but also highlights his broader vision of creating inclusive spaces where diverse cultures are appreciated and expressed. For Phillip, the Lion Dance is more than just a performance; it’s a way to connect with his roots and share the richness of Vietnamese culture with others. As he continues to navigate his academic and extracurricular pursuits, Phillip remains steadfast in his mission to foster a community that values and celebrates diversity. His journey is a testament to the impact one individual can make in bridging cultural gaps and nurturing a sense of belonging among people from all walks of life.
Thuy Thi Nguyen is a Partner in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Alameda Office, specializing in Education Law and Equity Leadership. She previously served as General Counsel and Acting Vice Chancellor for the Peralta Community College District and was President of Foothill College, the first Vietnamese American to hold such a position in
Thuy Thi Nguyen is a Partner in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Alameda Office, specializing in Education Law and Equity Leadership. She previously served as General Counsel and Acting Vice Chancellor for the Peralta Community College District and was President of Foothill College, the first Vietnamese American to hold such a position in the U.S. Thuy is a Yale and UCLA Law alumna and a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow, with a distinguished career recognized by honors like the State Bar of California's Diversity Award and the Carnegie Corporation’s "Great Immigrants" tribute.
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