Group Offers Help for Depressed Hmong Women
June 8, 2000
By Associated Press
Paoze Thao of St. Paul, Minnesota was once so depressed that she forgot how to walk. She had no energy or appetite. Her face was frozen in sadness as she grieved her separation from her husband, whom she had to leave behind in Laos when she escaped years ago.
But since she started coming to the Hmong Women’s Depression Support Group each week, she has improved.
“This program taught me to learn how to talk and share my emotions,” Thao, 43, said through an interpreter. “I know how to go out and come back by myself. I know how to eat again. I know how to taste food again.”
Clinical depression like Thao’s is one of the country’s most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 19 million Americans of all ages, races and ethnic groups annually, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
For Hmong women, getting help is a particular challenge since the Hmong culture doesn’t often include mental health concepts like clinical depression.
“I think now people are starting to pick it up, [but] very slowly,” said Ly Vang, executive director of the Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in Minnesota.
Traditional Hmong religious beliefs attribute the cause of illnesses to the spirits that inhabit people and nature.
Vang said getting Hmong women to recognize depression is difficult. But some are making progress with the help of programs like the support group run for the past five years by the Wilder Social Adjustment Program for Southeast Asians.
One of the group’s tangible achievements is an 8-foot by 8-foot quilt with individual patches sewn by group members, each showing what they consider the most important aspect of their past.
The quilt vibrates with warm, cheery colors. Some patches depict scenes that are meticulously hand-stitched.
In one, a Vietnam War airplane strafes a thatched hut village in Laos with bright magenta machine gun fire. In another, festive green-, black- and pink-vested Hmong flee rifle-carrying communist soldiers through mountain fields of tiny hot pink flowers. In yet another, Hmong clutch sharp green reeds in each hand to help them float across the Mekong River to safety in Thailand.
Therapists in the program suggested the quilt idea three years ago because they couldn’t get anyone to talk.
“I was like a baby,” Phoua Thao said, recalling the depths of her depression. “I didn’t know how to eat and drink and walk.
“The program was very helpful to us to grow spiritually and emotionally,” said the 38-year-old single mother of five whose husband was killed in Laos before he could escape.
Some dream of taking a trip back to Laos to revisit the places where family members were killed. Fleeing their enemies, they never got a chance to give their relatives a proper farewell.
They can’t afford the trip, but that doesn’t stop some from dreaming.
“During the day they are here,” said Emily Hollidge, clinical supervisor for another mental health program at Lao Family Community Inc. “But at night, they are not—they are back in Laos with their families.”
Making the World a Bit Nicer
June 8, 2000
By Tom Lee
Remember the good old days when proper manners were the norm, a firm handshake was unquestionably anticipated, and “rudeness” was but a foreign word? It seems today’s increasingly cynical society suffers terminally from a demise of social graces. But one woman is single-handedly trying to reverse this trend. Syndi Seid, founder and director of San Francisco-based Advanced Etiquette, offers consulting and training services to help business executives and virtually anyone gain a competitive edge in sophistication and social etiquette.
Seid believes that etiquette is “the missing link to a person’s professional education.” Schools and companies can provide books, computers, and an education of academic matters but they leave out the underestimated component of people skills, she says. “The interaction skills are what sells, not the price or product. It’s how well you can get along with [clients].”
Taking on the role of a modern “Ms. Manners,” however, is not something Seid had anticipated. The birth of her interest in etiquette stemmed from a stint working in the hospitality industry. Through her experience working with Hyatt Hotel Corporations, she realized the significance of proper etiquette. “Being a Chinese American, I didn’t know anything about etiquette. I didn’t know which fork to use, but I found [the concept of etiquette] fascinating,” she says. “I recognized how important these skills are to people.”
At the urging of her husband, Seid harnessed her knowledge into a business. Launched in 1992, Advanced Etiquette now serves customers ranging from major corporations such as Hewlett-Packard to private groups and individuals. Seid’s client roster even includes children, sent by parents who want them to develop polite and proper manners. What makes Advanced Etiquette unique is its teaching style, says Seid. “We pride ourselves on being able to custom design and tailor our courses to meet each client’s goals and subjectives for such training.”
Along the years, Seid has expanded her services to include international business consulting. American business executives going overseas to Asia often need to be educated on the delicate etiquette standards of specific Asian cultures to avoid making offensive faux pas. This process could also work in reverse with foreign clients wishing to learn American civilities. Seid says she teaches an increasing number of classes for visiting delegates from Asia, informing them the proper way of shaking hands, making eye contact, and dining in the United States.
But proper etiquette is not something just for the corporate world. It should be incorporated into everyday life, says Seid. “We’re not going to make anyone into Emily Post, it’s more to empower ordinary people to be more self-confident and less insecure in any social situation.”
With a book coming out next year, a web site launching in late summer, and services to the hospitality and hotel industry being developed, Seid is well on her way to making the world a nicer place.
Fishing for Fortune
June 8, 2000
By Janet Dang
There is “Victor,” the narcissistic guppy, “Noir,” the shy, (brooding) platy fish, “Earnie,” the lazy blowfish, “Nishikigoi” the Japanese carp—and everyone’s favorite, “Sparkie,” the happy-go-lucky Clownfish. These are just some of the creatures in Keiko M. Randolph’s collection, which originate from all corners of the world, with their own traits, tricks and quirks.
“These fish have a mind of their own,” Randolph says. “They interact with you. You can stroke the body. Most of the fish look at you, and wag their tail, sort of with a doggie attitude.”
Sounds far-fetched, until you consider these are a new breed of virtual pets.
Eight years ago, when Randolph contemplated having these not-so-real fish as pets, it was virtually impossible. At that time, Randolph says she was working as an intellectual-property licensing agent for a Russian software company. (She is tight-lipped about the particulars of the company including its name.)
However, she does say the company was creating fish animation. When Randolph first laid eyes on these computer-generated creatures, she thought, “It would be nice to have a personal pet on my computer to work with.”
But in the early years (pre-Windows 95) computers were based on text and the graphics were crude. What she had envisioned—free flowing fish that while serenely swimming across computer screens would calm the jagged-nerves of the world’s workforce—couldn’t be done. It wasn’t until around 1996, with the advent of Windows 95 and Internet technology, that she founded PetFish Company, and began working on her pet project.
By 1999, Randolph launched the company’s Web site, www.petfish.com, where these virtual aquatic vertebrates, along with virtual food and other accessories (algae, rocks, etc.) can be downloaded onto a personal computer, to create a virtual aquarium containing swimming pets, which take on a life of their own.
Randolph says her fish are more than just pets, they’re friends. Rather than the flat, one-dimensional screensaver-types of animation where fish float aimlessly, Randolph explains her fish are sophisticated, three-dimensional “pets,” with unique personalities, thanks to the technology developed by the Russian engineers, with whom she partnered. And like real fish, they need to be fed, played with and most of all, loved.
“With PetFish, you are not launching an application. You are adopting and enjoying the company of a pet,” Randolph says.
PetFish fish-owners have to feed their swimming pals, “pet” them using both the mouse and written commands. They in turn will offer hours of “genuine companionship,” she says. For example, some play hide-and-seek, while others stare at their masters with doggie-like devotion, “wagging” their tail. And still another breed explores the computer workspace, swimming over, around and under the window, prodding icons, and text. What’s truly cute about these fish is that they know when not to bother their owners. The little guys “sense” this by gauging typing speed. If it’s fast, they go to a corner of the screen and hang out.
Fish enthusiasts can download any one of 30 fish for free, including new “catch of the month” varieties. But the food—which is the essential ingredient for bringing out the animation and personality in the fish—is $5.95 for a one year’s supply.
In the first three months since the site launched, the company claims over 2 million hits. According to company statistics, 65 percent of visitors were from the United States, while 35 percent came from international regions ranging from Japan to Zimbabwe. In its first year, PetFish reported over 300,000 downloads. Though Randolph was evasive about how much in sales her company has generated, she did say it has plans to expand its services to corporate logo packages, consumer CD-ROM publishing and hardware bundling.
“At this point, a lot of Internet companies are not making any money yet. We are trying very hard to bring in revenue from many sources,” she says.
Randolph, who studied art theory and iconography in Japan, pays special attention to color scheme, shape and sizes, she designs her creatures so that she can have a school of “beautiful fish.”
But why fish? Randolph says she isn’t necessarily partial to them. Rather it was technological constraints that limited her to create animals that move in three dimensions—fish, butterflies, birds.
“When you have four-legged animals, you have to define where the ground is,” she says.
Randolph says that most people in the computer animation scene would laud the sophisticated technology and the realistic animation of her virtual pets. But the common folk, they’re just interested in a companion for work. And soon enough, she says, they’ll become “attached to the fish, and they start talking to the computer and then weird things start to happen.”
‘Tweaking’ Feng Shui to Her Way
June 8, 2000
By Janet Dang
Before feng shui became the hottest trend for everyone from Silicon Valley millionaires to Hollywood celebs, Angi Ma Wong was on her way to becoming an authority on the ancient practice of the Chinese environmental art.
Wong, 53, owns and runs her one-woman feng shui and intercultural consulting company and has close to a dozen books on business relations with Asian and Asian Americans worldwide.
As Wong continues to go on her book tours, she has been bombarded with interview requests, demanding her expertise. Already, she has appeared in USA Today, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times, to name a few. But perhaps her biggest claim to fame is her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show.
“My life is great right now!” she exclaims.
Wong’s life hasn’t always been so great, however. Eleven years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. But while undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and a lumpectomy, Wong also had a life-altering epiphany.
“I was redirecting my life, reevaluating my life,” she remembers. “Life is too short not to do what you really want to do. I kind of sat and meditated and thought about my life, my education and my upbringing, and decided that I could be a cultural bridge.” That was in1989.
Today, her mantra is: bridging cultures for better business.
Wong puts major corporate players in the know when it comes to marketing to the Asian and Asian American markets. With 8 million Asian Americans in the United States, their purchasing power alone is estimated to be in excess of $225 billion.
Wong lectures about the blunders commonly committed by well-intentioned but clearly uninformed decision makers who market to Asian Americans—things as simple as, “calling someone Japanese when they’re not,” or “putting Korean characters on a brochure upside down.”
How Wong became an “authority in intercultural training” was serendipity.
In the late ’80s and early ’90s during California’s economic slump, she says, the real estate developers “discovered that no body except Asians were buying [homes] and they were buying with cash.” But, she says, many prospective buyers “didn’t like the homes that were being built.”
She knew why: they weren’t feng shui compliant.
Around that time, Wong accepted an invitation to speak at a homebuilder’s conference, lecturing to a largely white crowd of real estate developers and investors on how to appeal to Asian and Asian American homebuyers. Included in her speech was information on feng shui influences.
“After the talk,” Wong remembers, “this man came up to me and said, ‘All I want to know is how much do you charge an hour and when can you come over?’ and he was the VP of Lewis Homes, a major builder in California,” she says. Wong’s success took off from there.
Through word of mouth, she soon secured speaking engagements and training seminars for real estate development firms. She’s trained over 90 major development firms to date.
Her expertise soon expanded to cover cultural sensitivity issues.
Instead of competing with giant PR and marketing firms that also tackle cultural barriers within business relations, Wong says she focuses on direct marketing and sales training to corporate employees. Her commercial clients have included Universal Studios, Motorola, Nordstrom, Ford Motor Company, AT & T, Bank of America, New York Life Insurance, to name a few. And every year her list of clients, continues to grow.
With the explosion of feng shui’s popularity, especially among the rich and famous, her list of celebrity clients has also expanded, though Wong explains that client confidentiality prevents her from divulging who’s doing feng shui.
Having grown up in Taiwan and Hong Kong as a daughter of a diplomat, Wong says feng shui was a natural part of her upbringing.
“I think I have a wonderful gift for it,” she says. “It seems to come easily for me.
Feng shui is very hot right now. [It] is just now beginning to form, it can get bigger. I’m in great demand right now, as a speaker, a trainer. Isn’t that everyone’s dream? I guess I tweaked the feng shui.”
Gel Bras or Bust
June 8, 2000
By Tom Lee
Sometimes a little extra padding can make all the difference in the business world. Alice Chang would know—she took that idea to heart and ran with it to stake out her own claim in the highly lucrative $2.2 billion padded bra industry. Now, with more than 10 years of experience, Bragel International, Inc.—the company run by Chang and her husband Jasper—is the foremost authority on silicone-filled bra inserts.
Thanks to Chang’s innovative designs, women can now breathe a sigh of relief. Gone are the days of painful underwires, uncomfortable foam and rubber pads, and leaky water-filled inserts. With Chang’s breast enhancer, women (and some men) can finally achieve that natural lift without that expensive trip to the surgeon.
The gels, made out of silicone enclosed by polyurethane film, can be inserted into bras to create the illusion and feel of a fuller bust. According to Chang, the inserts jiggle so much like real breast tissue, that even if they are felt through clothing, one would not be able to detect the deception.
Chang had never imagined going into the breast enhancement business until, back in 1989, her husband, and engineer brought home some gel samples from a work project. While examining the silicone gels, Chang made a unexpected discovery: “We were laughing about it, playing with it, and then I said, ‘It feels like breast tissue,’” she says.
Upon that revelation, a business was born. Without money or business experience, Chang launched her company in 1989 in a tiny warehouse. Two years later she began to market her product in Taiwan, Japan, Korea and China. However, interest in the silicone enhancers was modest at best.
“Asia is not as good as the U.S. market. People in Asia are more conservative. Even though they know they can be more beautiful, they are content with what they have,” explains Chang.
Undaunted, Chang shifted focus to the United States and sold her breast amplifiers through private labels such as Curves. With infomercials and outlets, such as QVC home shopping channel, Chang’s product was introduced to millions of Americans. Soon the fashion industry took notice and the silicone insert became a favorite accessory to give models and actresses a boost. According to reliable sources in Hollywood, Julia Roberts wore the Bragel enhancers to accentuate her low-cut dresses in the film, Erin Brockovich, Chang says.
Explaining why she didn’t target the U.S. market in the beginning, Chang says: “We thought American women didn’t need [breast enhancement]. Later on we realized we were wrong. They’re more breast conscious and much more open to talking about breast size. We have a much bigger market in the U.S. than anywhere else.”
Even women in the once hesitant Asian market are becoming increasingly interested in accentuating their bustline. “Asian women had some reservations and were resistant in the beginning. They thought it was funny and too weird. Now they are more accepting,” says Chang.
In fact, the Asian market now makes up approximately 20 percent of the Bragel clientele, while the United States and Europe comprise 70 percent of the market.
Even with the Asian market’s acceptance, Chang still sees various trends among the different markets, with Asian women opting for a more conservative look. “Asians tend to like the smaller size [inserts]. They don’t want people to see that they have a dramatic change. But 90 percent of the U.S. sales is for the larger sizes, increasing one and a half to two cup sizes.”
The popularity of Bragel’s products is due to the emerging casualness of sexuality, says Chang. “Women are more concerned about their figure. They’re very open about it. They want to be pretty and sexy but in a more natural way,” she says. “They have no problem showing off their cleavage to get more attention.”
Of course with any product’s success, imitators naturally follow. In 1998 a flood of imitations hit store shelves but that didn’t worry Chang. She is confident her products are superior in quality. Bragel is one of only four manufacturers in the world, which own the patent to the difficult process of encasing silicone into polyurethane film—a technique in which imitators have no access. As a result, Chang says “the knock-offs don’t last because their quality is inferior. The look and the feel is different and the film separates easily. Once it’s delaminated, it looks very saggy and ugly.” And no one wants ugly breasts.
To top the tremendous success of the silicone inserts, Chang expanded her product line to include the Gel Bra, a bra with soft gel pads permanently sewn in. The material used in the Gel Bra is 30 percent lighter than the silicone gel. Available for over a year, the Gel Bra has been a sell-out, with major retail chains such as Felina Lingerie, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue carrying the intimate apparel. Chang, always abreast of the latest trends, will next create a line of gel pad-enhanced swimwear to capitalize on the upcoming summer days.
Eventually Chang hopes the Gel Bra would make the traditional padded bra obsolete. That goal does not seem too far off as revenues for Bragel are expected to hit $5 million in 2000, an almost 70 percent increase from the $3 million Bragel pulled in last year.
But not everyone is benefiting from the gel technology. Chang’s success is also a plastic surgeon’s loss. More and more women are looking toward Bragel’s products as a safe and natural alternative to going under the knife. “We get a lot of mail from women saying because of our products,” she said, “they will not consider surgery anymore.”
Added Chang: “It’s helped a lot of women.”
Arts & Entertainment Calendar
June 8, 2000
A regional roundup of events of special interest to Asian Americans
Regions: Northern Calif., Southern Calif., Rest of the West, East Coast
Arts
Asian Explorations Robert Apte, developer of the genre Photo-Icon-Ographs, will show his works on images of Japan, Korea, Bhutan from June 13-July 23. Apte focuses on hidden aspects of photographs enhanced with a computer. (Triton Museum of Art, 1505 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara. 408-247-3754.)
Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy The San Francisco Arts Commission Chinatown Community Arts Program, and the Oriental Arts Association, presents an exhibition of Chinese artwork from June 3-July 1 at the Chinatown Community Arts Gallery. Gallery hours are Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. (Holiday Inn, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco. 415-252-2590.)
Deep Memory Washington Square Gallery presents the works of John Yoyogi Fortes in a solo show that begins June 3. Fortes is an example of an Asian American artist whose work has evolved from American art to Asian American art. Born in Japan, he has lived most of his life in the Central Valley. His new works incorporate Filipino symbols. (Washington Square Gallery, 1821 Powell St., San Francisco. Open Monday and Tuesday by appointment; Wednesday-Thursday, noon-7 p.m.; and Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 415-291-9255.)
Dreams of San Francisco: Paintings by Zhao Zhunwang The Chinese Cultural Center presents a collection of Chinese ink and brush paintings by local artist Zhao Zhunwang, to be held through July 2, featuring unique renderings of familiar San Francisco and Bay Area surroundings. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For information call 415-986-1822 or visit www.c-c-c.org online. (Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., Holiday Inn, 3rd floor, San Francisco.)
Etchings by Yoko Hara The Ren Brown collection will present the debut exhibit of Tokyo-based artist Hara. The gallery is open everyday, except Tuesdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (1781 Highway One, Bodega Bay. 707-875-2922.)
Experimentation Through Color Bucheon Gallery will present two outstanding painters, San Francisco-based artist Ken Kirsch and Brooklyn painter Hiroshi Kimura. The exhibition runs through June 28. (Bucheon Gallery, 540 Hayes St., San Francisco.)
Fan Ho The Mill & Short Gallery present a one-man show of photography and film by award-winning artist Fan Ho from May 19-July 1. Special events include a showing of The Miserable Girl, a film based on Dostoyevsky’s The Insulted and the Injured on June 6 at 7 p.m. (The Mill & Short Gallery, 555 Sutter St., 4th Fl., San Francisco. 415-398-3630.)
Himalayan Galleries The Asian Art Museum presents new audio-enhanced docent-led tours of the museum’s Himalayan galleries, which house its rich and varied collection of artwork from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. These free tours are accompanied by music and chants from the region. Tuesdays through Sundays, 12:30 p.m. (Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 415-668-8928.)
Lewis Suzuki Known for his range of colors, Suzuki’s works will be on display on June 3, 4, 10 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (2240 Grant St., Berkeley. 510-849-1427.)
MIX Exhibition The San Francisco Art Institute with Francisco Middle School and Gateway High School will present works from a project that brought students from various backgrounds together to create collaborative works. The show will continue until July 21, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Mills Building, 220 Bush St., San Francisco. 415-551-7990.)
Printed Convictions The Mexican Museum will present a retrospective of the work of Juan Sanchez through Sept. 17. The solo exhibition will highlight 48 pieces that address the challenge Puerto Ricans face in examining their identities in the United States. (The Mexican Museum, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, San Francisco. 415-202-9700.)
Sasha Yungju Lee An exhibition of Lee’s work, which focuses on how women’s roles are portrayed by the mass media, will be on display through June 7. (Triton Museum of Art, 1505 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara. 408-247-3754.)
Small Wonders Chinese snuff bottles from Bay Area collectors will be on display at the Chinese Cultural Center of San Francisco from July 15-Oct. 8. Admission is free. Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Holiday Inn, 750 Kearny St., 3rd floor, San Francisco. 415-986-1822.)
Structure and Surface Contemporary Japanese textiles will be exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art through June 20. It features 75 works of astonishing complexity by the most influential textile artists, designers and manufacturers in Japan today. (SFMOMA, 151 3rd St., San Francisco. 415-357-4000.)
The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco offers visitors a rare glimpse of nearly 240 startling discoveries unearthed in China, including an array of jades, bronze sculptures and ornate silver and gold vessels. The exhibition runs from June 17-Sept. 11. (Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 415-668-8928.)
Visons of Home d.p. Fong Galleries presents the works of Zhang Shipei through June 10. (383 S. First St., San Jose. 408-298-8877.)
Wayne Thiebaud The California Palace of the Legion of Honor presents the a retrospective of works by Thiebaud in celebration of the artist’s 80th birthday. From June 10-September 3. (California Palace of the Legion of Honor. Golden Gate Park, 75 Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco. 415-750-3614.)
Works on Industrial Graphite Don Soker Contemporary Art exhibits the works by Japanese artist Shoichi Seino from June 1-July 1. Using photographs of the river delta printed on industrial graphite, these elegant minimal works are traditional in approach and contemporary in concept. (Don Soker Contemporary Art, 49 Geary St., San Francisco. 415-291-0966.)
Dance
Butoh In conjunction with the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center’s United States of Asian America Festival 2000, The Ballad of Machiko, a butoh solo performance will be featured on June 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. (Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco) A workshop Butoh: The Silent Voice of Our Ancestors will be held in conjunction on June 3 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Japanese Cultural & Community Center, 1840 Sutter St., San Francisco) For more information and reservation, call JCCCNC at 415-567-5505 or e-mail at aimajk@yahoo.com.
Ethnic Dance Festival San Francisco will turn into the world’s dance capital from June 9-25 with three weekends of the finest ethnic dance companies in Northern California. (For information, log on to www.worldartswest.org. For tickets, call 415-392-4400.)
Shan-Yee Poon Ballet A dance extravaganza that includes excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia will be performed on June 18 at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children. For more information, call 415-387-2695. (Carol Channing Theater, Lowell High School, 1101 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco.)
Smuin Ballet/SF This contemporary ballet company presents its spring repertory season throughout May. Included in the program are company premieres Medea and Shinju, as well as a world premiere performance of The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Tickets are $30-35. (Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St., San Francisco. 415-978-2787.)
Events
Dinosaurs 2000 Lawrence Hall of Science presents this exhibition featuring 16 lifelike robotic dinosaurs through June 4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $2-6, free for children under 3. (Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. 510-642-5132.)
Fiesta Filipina 2000 The Bay Area, home to the largest Filipino community in the United States, will host a celebration on June 11-12 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Produced by Asian Pacific Exhibits and Conferences, the 7th annual event will commemorate the 102nd anniversary of Philippine independence from Spain, featuring Filipino, Asian and Hispanic musicians and dancers, including Jocelyn Enriquez, Richard Gomez and Back Draft. Tickets are $7. (Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. 650-757-4803.)
Floricanto Festival and Conference More than two dozen spoken word artist and performers will gather in San Jose for this three-day conference held June 9-11 that aims to unite artists and address issues related to art form, its impact on audiences and its development. Performances and workshops are open to the public. For tickets, call 408-938-3402.
Japanese Cultural Fair The traditions of Japan will illuminate Santa Cruz Mission Plaza on June 24 for the 14th Annual Japanese Cultural Fair. Highlighting this year’s events will be performances by the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, the Okinawa Dance Academy and storyteller, Megumi Fleming. Admission is free. For information, call 831-475-2115. (Mission Plaza, between Highway 1 and the Town Clock, Santa Cruz.)
Made in the USA, Angel Island Shhh The Kearny Street Workshop and California State Parks, in association with the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and Angel Island Association present this exhibit exploring the identity secrets of Chinese immigrants detained and interrogated in the United States. On display from June 17-Sept. 23. (Angel Island Immigration Station, Angel Island. 415-543-0520.)
Thai Cultural Fair Wat Buddhapradeep of San Francisco and Thailand’s National Culture Commission will present two days of traditional dance and music on June 3-4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $4. (Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 650-615-9528.)
Music
Four Season Gay Asian Pacific Alliance will present an evening of song, dance and theater on June 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 415-282-GAPA. (SOMARTS Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St.)
Irving M. Klein String Competition Twelve young musicians from around the world have been selected as semifinalists competing for a $10,000 first prize in this 15th annual string competition. The semifinals will be held on June 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The finals will be held on June 11 from 2-5:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for both days. For more information, call 415-278-5780 or 888-782-7755. (McKenna Theater, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco. )
Jon Jang & James Newton Paul Robeson and Mei Lanfang, two heroes who fought racial discrimination with art, inspired Jang and Newton’s new work When Sorrow Turns to Joy. Jang and Newton will perform the world premier of the piece June 1-3 at 8 p.m. (Zellerbach Hall, U.C. Berkeley, Berkeley. 510-642-0212.)
Music in a Movement The Oakland Asian Cultural Center will present Charlie Chin and Colette Ikemi on June 3 at noon as part of an exhibit that documents musicians who created and recorded music with a pan-Asian sense. The expression, challenges negative stereotypes and created an API consciousness. The exhibit runs through September. The center is open on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 510-208-6080. (Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St., Suite 290, Oakland.)
Pan Pacific Stern Grove Festival will kick off its 63rd season with a performance featuring the Asian American fusion ensemble Hiroshima on June 11 at 2 p.m. For more information, call 415-252-6252. (Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Ave. & Sloat Blvd., San Francisco.)
Readings & Lectures
Helen Zia The Japan Society of Northern California along with the Asian Business League will present an evening with award-winning journalist Helen Zia, who will discuss the rise of Asian Americans as a politically and socially influential racial group and her new book Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People. The lecture will take place on June 22 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10. For reservations, call 415-986-986-5772. (SPUR, World Affairs Center, 312 Sutter St., 5th Floor, San Francisco.)
Him Mark Lai The Chinese Historical Society of America will present Lai, who will lecture on the Chinese of Hawaii in a lecture on June 16 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. (644 Broadway, Suite 403, San Francisco. 415-391-1188.)
Poets Against Rape Women poets who invoke the language of courage, community and defiant resistance, will read on June 2 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5-25. For more information, call 415-861-2024. (Russian Center of San Francisco, 2460 Sutter St., San Francisco.)
Theater
Five Modern Noh Play Theater Rhubarb presents five Noh plays that have been updated to modern times by Japanese author Yukio Mishima. The show will run from June 9-10, 15-17 and 22-24 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, call Theater Rhubarb at 415-751-0439. (Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa, San Francisco.)
Women Behind Walls Developed by the Braz-Valentine theater workshop at Chowchilla Women’s State Prison, this drama illustrates the experiences of five multi-cultural inmates, featuring the Tabia African American Theatre Ensemble, Teatro Familia Aztlan and Maiko Women’s Drum & Poetry Ensemble. The show runs June 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at 8 p.m. and June 18 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15. (Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose. 1-800-642-8482.)
Arts
Gods and Goblins Paintings of foolish monkeys, wrestling gods, playful goblins and humorous caricatures make up this first major West Coast exhibit of folk art from Otsu, Japan. Ongoing. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)
Migration of Faith Tibetan Buddhist art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s permanent collection, featuring 23 rare manuscripts and paintings, will be on display through Sept. 4. Admission is $7. (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-857-6000.)
Mingei of Japan An exhibition of objects of daily use from Japan made from a variety of material is on display including indigo-dyed textiles, brushes and cabinets. Also on display are works from Keisuke Serizawa, among other artists. Through June 2. For more information call 619-239-0003. (Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, Plaza de Panama, La Jolla.)
More Than a Game The Japanese American National Museum presents this ongoing exhibit that tells the story of an immigrant group’s journey in America through the universal theme of sport using artifacts such as team uniforms, photographs, news clippings, interactive kiosks and videos. (Japanese American National Museum, 369 East First St., Los Angeles. 213-625-0414.)
The Four Seasons: Visual Haiku The symbolic collages of mixed media artist Julie Smith are inspired by the shapes, colors and textures of Japanese kimonos as well as the simplicity and depth of haiku poetry, on display through June 11. For more information call 626-449-2742. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Robles Ave, Pasadena.)
Finding Common Ground in L.A. The Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles and the Mexican Cultural Institute bring together the works of Kyu Sam Lim and Sergio Ladron de Guevara through June 1. (Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-936-7141.)
Events
Go for Broke On June 3 at 10 a.m., join Noriyuki “Pat” Morita for an anniversary celebration of the Go for Broke monument and the honoring of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. For more information, call 310-327-4193 or e-mail goforbroke2@worldnett.att.net.
Theater
Follies East West Players will present the Broadway musical Follies for its final production of its 34th anniversary season through June 11. Tickets are $35; For more information call, 213-625-7000. (David Henry Hwang Theatre, 120 North Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles.)
Tofu Goes Hollywood Cold Tofu, the nation’s first Asian American improvisational theater company presents this new work with special guests Brian Lohmann and Tracy Burns from June 9-18, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 213-739-4142. (Theatre-Theatre, Pacific Theatre Building, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., 4th Floor, Los Angeles.)
Arts
Asian Art Now The Las Vegas Art Museum will present a new exhibition of contemporary Asian art through July 9. The show will include works from Japan, Korea and Taiwan. (9600 West Sahara Ave., Las Vegas. 702-360-8000.)
Mountain Patterns: Survival of Nuosu Culture in China Patterned clothing, silver jewelry and lacquered wood utensils will be on display at this exhibit featuring the handiwork of the mountain-dwelling Nuosu people of Southwestern China. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4; admission is $2.50-5.50. (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, NE 45th St. and 17th Ave., University of Washington, Seattle. 206-543-7907.)
Paul Horiuchi Honored An exhibition celebrating the art of the late Paul Horiuchi will be on view through June 11. (Seattle Art Museum. 1400 E. Prospect St., Volunteer Park, Seattle. Visit their Web site at www.SeattleArtMuseum.org.)
Arts
Beauty in Snuff Bottles The Taipei Gallery and Chang Foundation present a special selection of snuff bottles on display through June 2. For information, call 212-373-1854 or visit www.taipei.org. (Taipei Gallery, McGraw-Hill Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York.)
Chinese Cloisonne The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum’s collection of this art form is one of the largest outside of China. An exhibit of the works will be on display from June 14-December 31. Hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $4. For more information, call 413-263-6800. (The Springfield Museums, 220 State St., Springfield, Ma.)
Paintings and Prints by Roger Shimomura The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History presents an installation of paintings that illustrates entries from Shimomura’s grandmother’s diaries remembering her Japanese American camp internment experiences. The exhibit will be on display from June 10-Sept. 4. For more information, visit the museum’s Web site at http://americanhistory.si.edu or call 202-357-2700. (14th St. and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.)
Dance
Bian Dan La MaMa Experimental Theater Club will present this work by H.T. Chen and Dancers from June 1-11, Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. (74A E. Fourth St., New York City. 212-475-7710.)
Theater
High SLANT, a three-man ensemble, creates this performance art work set in the New York City subways, which looks at a multi-ethnic crossroads of characters through the eyes of young Asian men. The show runs from June 8-25, Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. (La MaMa E.T.C., 74A East Fourth St., New York City. 212-475-7710.)
Judge Walker to Rule on Examiner sale
June 8, 2000
By Lenora Chu
This week’s issue of Time magazine barks “A major newspaper owner suffers an embarrassing trial when it tries to sell the monarch of the dailies.” Take a wild guess at the identity of the players. That’s right—the Hearst Corporation’s impending sale of the San Francisco Examiner to Ted Fang and family is still making headlines.
The “major owner” is the Hearst Corporation, the “monarch of the dailies” is the term William Randolph Hearst once bestowed upon the Examiner, and the “trial” is Clint Reilly’s antitrust suit to block the sale.
The battle waged in two-newspaper San Francisco has been making headlines across the United States, and this latest treatment is no different from the usual press approach—one of disdain.
When Ted Fang was tapped for the winning bid for the Examiner’s purchase in March, the Examiner whipped out editorials calling the heavily-subsidized sale a “sweetheart deal” and gave a Fang-operated Examiner a prognosis of doom.
Of course, the long-standing rivalry between the Hearsts and the Fangs is well-known, and of course Fang’s San Francisco Independent spared no jab in its rally with the enemy.
But as the fate of the Examiner has risen to national media prominence, the story has played out like a bad soap opera, with the indiscretions to match. It has been publicized that the paper’s publisher, Timothy White printed favorable editorials in exchange for San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown’s support in pushing the sale through.
And the mere existence of a joint operating agreement—which has called for profit-sharing between the city’s two dailies for 35 years—has been criticized for stifling innovation and growth. And according to the latest hype, Judge Vaughn Walker, who must rule on the sale shoulders a burden no less than the fate of JOA-run newspapers and by extension, all of American journalism.
In released statements, Judge Walker has expressed his doubt that the Examiner would indeed provide competition to the San Francisco Chronicle, citing Ted Fang’s declaration that the new Examiner would not compete beyond San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. And if the judge finds that Hearst Corporation set up this subsidized deal to clear the way for its Chronicle purchase, thereby creating an illegal monopoly, he will rule against the sale.
Indeed, it’s not over yet. Judge Walker is expected to announce his decision within two weeks.
Six Asian Americans Honored with Excellence 2000 awards
Last month the national nonprofit U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce honored six distinguished API business leaders at their 12th anniversary Excellence 2000 awards banquet in Washington, D.C. What started as a scholarship program 12 years ago evolved into an award series that honors the “best and brightest” Asian Americans—those who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for all Americans.
The Honorees:
Helen Young Hayes, co-manager and manager of the Janus Worldwide Fund and the Janus Overseas Fund, is one of the top five mutual fund managers in the United States. She was named Morningstar’s 1997 International Fund Manager of the year and now manages $60 billion in assets.
Naveen Jain, Chairman and CEO of InfoSpace, Inc., founded the company in 1996 with the intent “to deliver real world content on the Internet—anytime, anywhere and on any device.” Infospace is now a leading infrastructure services provider for consumers, merchants and wireless providers that reaches 86% of Internet users in some form. Jain was named one of Upside’s “Elite 100,” recognizing prominent leaders in the digital economy, and Fortune’s “40 Richest Under 40.”
Yvonne Lo, president of Vitasoy USA Inc. began selling soy milk products store-to-store in San Francisco’s Chinatown. She formed Vitasoy USA in 1979 to market, sell and distribute soymilk from the parent holding company in Hong Kong. Her company is now North America’s largest producer and marketer of soy products, which are widely touted for its health and disease-fighting benefits.
Chan Suh, co-founder of Agency.com, started with the mission of “empowering people and organizations to gain competitive advantage through interactive relationships.” Today Agency.com helps people conduct business online in creative new ways. Suh grew the company into a 1,000-employee operation with 10 U.S. locations and 5 offices throughout Europe and Asia in four short years. Like Jain, Suh was named one of Upside’s Elite 100.
Jagdeep Singh founded OnFiber Communications in 1999, a next-generation optical broadband telecommunications services carrier. An influential player in communications and technology, he held top management positions at a number of companies including Shiva Corp. He once served as president and General Manager of Ciena Corporation’s Core Switching Division, as well as president and CEO of Lightera Networks.
Zan Ng has come a long way from his homeland of Fujian, China. One of his first jobs in American was washing dishes—but the keen sense of nature he developed as a youngster catapulted him to success as a New York photographer. He founded Admerasia in 1993, now the largest privately-held Asian American advertising agency, and as president he continues to serve the multicultural market in promotions, telemarketing and media, database and interactive marketing management.
AnTran—A Husband and Wife Team
June 8, 2000
By Kathy Nguyen
Although the two did not meet until high school, Hannah An and Danny Vu have journeyed down similar paths in life. At the ages of 10 and 11, An and Vu fled Vietnam with their families after the war ended in 1975. Starting over in the United States with nothing in their pockets, their families quickly learned that developing entrepreneurial skills was vital to survival.
An and Vu learned that lesson well; today the husband and wife team run the AnTran Business Corporation, the parent company of a multi-million dollar restaurant business founded by An’s family. “We had business in our blood,” said Vu.
Under their stewardship, the company has enjoyed phenomenal growth, expanding to include three restaurants—Thanh Long in San Francisco’s Sunset District and Crustacean in both San Francisco and Beverly Hills—and a burgeoning import-export enterprise.
Humble Beginnings
After coming to the United States, the Ans settled into a one-bedroom apartment in the outer Sunset. The apartment was located across the street from a deli that An’s grandmother had purchased during a trip to San Francisco in 1971. An’s grandmother and mother transformed the tiny deli into a popular neighborhood restaurant named Thanh Long—which means “green dragon,” symbolizing good luck and prosperity—known for its roast crabs and garlic noodles made from secret family recipes.
The inspiration for the An family’s culinary tastes date back to Hannah’s childhood home in Vietnam. Helene An—Hannah’s mother and executive chef at Thanh Long—is a descendant of the ruling Tran family in the northern province of Tuyen Quang. According to tradition the family employed a Vietnamese, Chinese and French cook. The Ans later drew from these three culinary influences when creating a signature cuisine for their restaurant business.
Everyone from grandparents to grandkids put in long hours at the Thanh Long, doing dishes, taking orders and prepping in the kitchen. “We have a strong sense of family unity and because we came from difficult circumstances, [we knew] it was our duty to help out the family,” said 35 year-old An, the eldest of five daughters.
Vu’s family ties also nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit—Vu started his own seafood business at the age of 16. One of nine children, Vu first came to San Francisco with his uncle and two brothers, while his parents and the rest of his siblings joined them five years later.
“I knew it would be difficult for my family to find jobs because they didn’t speak English, so I started a business to help them get work,” said Vu, 36. The business started out with a small crate of fish, eventually graduating to a “broken-down minivan.”
Vu later bought a space at Pier 28 and the minivan eventually grew to the $10 million company it is today, complete with a fleet of 30 fishing boats. But Vu turned his efforts toward other business ventures after the Loma Prieta quake in 1989 slowed his seafood business.
Vu became involved in multiple operations, including mortgage lending and an import-export business for women’s high fashion. The growth of the clothing company spawned another commercial enterprise, and within two years, Vu developed the business to annual revenues of $2 million.
The Beginning of a Partnership
Vu and An first met at Lowell High School in San Francisco and began dating at UC Davis, where Vu earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and An a B.S. in electrical engineering. After graduation, they decided to acquire the skills to work and help support their families rather than pursue medial careers. The couple went on to obtain MBA degrees from Golden Gate University.
An worked at Bell Northern Laboratories where she conducted research on ISDN for developing phone systems. Utilizing her skills in computer science, she designed a software system for the restaurant industry to expedite kitchen operations and control employee theft. After putting in eight-hour days, she worked at Thanh Long in the evenings.
Vu began helping out at Thanh Long in order to see An more often, and in 1988 the couple combined their diverse skills and began devising plans to expand the business. They restructured the business into a corporation, carefully analyzed the restaurant market in the Bay Area and developed strategies and concepts that would take the restaurant to the next level.
Challenges to Expanding
“Going from a mom-and-pop restaurant to a corporate structure was very challenging because we were used to working as a family where everyone is involved in making decisions.” In order to expand, An and Vu had to follow certain procedures and implement solid business principles, which meant that each person had to take control of specific areas of the business. “We had to reorganize everything structurally and that was very difficult internally,” explained An.
Breaking into the mainstream proved to be another formidable challenge. “The restaurant business in San Francisco is very high-risk, especially for Asian enterprises,” said Vu. Although Chinese restaurants had a strong presence in the Bay Area, “few Asian establishments emphasized service and atmosphere,” he continued.
“In a sense, we had to retrain people’s way of thinking, taking into consideration not only how the American mainstream would receive us as Asians, but also as Vietnamese. At that time, Vietnam was not a popular country and we were not perceived in a positive light,” he continued. “Even now there is some negativity that exists from the stigma of the Vietnam War.”
The Right Marketing Approach
Yet An and Vu felt that they could overcome any barriers with the right marketing strategies. They focused on two main factors in developing the concept for a new restaurant that would appeal to the mainstream: the restaurant name and a downtown San Francisco location.
“Thanh Long was doing very well but we wanted to create a new image that was more universal,” explained Vu. “We knew that some people would perceive Thanh Long as ‘too ethnic’ so we decided on the name Crustacean. This way, people could come in and judge the food on its own.”
In 1991, Crustacean opened in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood on the corner of Polk and California Streets, and the couple married shortly afterward. The honeymoon did not last long; the couple faced their biggest challenge yet when the new restaurant received a bad review in the San Francisco Chronicle. “It basically said that we were better off as a mom-and-pop restaurant out in the Sunset and that we weren’t ready for the mainstream,” said An.
Their angel came several weeks later in the form of food critic David Becks, who gave Crustacean a glowing review in the San Jose Mercury News, calling a signature dish “garlic noodles worth marrying for.”
But the owners still had the negative effects of the Chronicle review to deal with. “I decided that if we were going to fail, we might as well do something crazy,” she continued. “We, [the Ans and Vus] had lost two fortunes in our lifetime, so what was another restaurant?”
An took out a full-page ad in the Chronicle’s Datebook section, placing the negative review next to the positive write-up with the statement “Come and decide for yourself.” The couple rallied support from loyal Thanh Long customers, and along with the ad’s publicity, business soon picked up at Crustacean.
The Company’s Growing Success
In 1995, four years after Crustacean first opened its doors, the AnTran Business Corp. was officially formed with An as president and CFO and Vu as chairman and CEO. Together, the couple is responsible for the company’s financial health, strategic planning, market research and developmental concepts.
Within six months, operations manager Harlan Joseph—who began as a bartender at Crustacean that year—began supervising renovations at the restaurant, which was expanding to accommodate the increasing volume of business. “I’ve had an opportunity to grow with this company that I haven’t had with other restaurants,” said Joseph, who has been in the restaurant business for 15 years. “I feel very lucky to be able to work with people who are so dynamic.”
In 1996 the company opened a flagship restaurant in Beverly Hills. The multi-level restaurant—which features a French Colonial theme inspired by the Ans’ ancestral estate in Vietnam—quickly became the toast of Hollywood, drawing celebrities like Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett.
Esquire magazine’s food critic John Mariani raved about the “whole roasted Dungeness crab and garlic noodles [that] could make you cry,” and the magazine named Crustacean one of 1997’s 10 Best New Restaurants. The Beverly Hills’ Crustacean was also recognized by Wine Spectator magazine for its wine list. The Ans have since been featured in publications like the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and People, and various television programs including CNN and Entertainment Tonight.
Publicist Elaine Sense described the “buzz on the Beverly Hills restaurant as deafening.” She added, “in my entire public relations and marketing career spanning 15 years, I have never seen an entity in such a privileged position.”
Since 1995, the company has grown a phenomenal 30 percent every year, reaching annual revenues of $18 million.
Paying Homage
In 1997 An and Vu renovated Thanh Long and added a banquet room which doubled the restaurant’s capacity. An sees the renovation as a way of revitalizing the birthplace of her family’s culinary success. “It’s a wonderful chance to do homage to where it all started 29 years ago,” she said.
1n 1998 An and Vu received Asian Enterprise magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Fernando Nepomuceno, a business officer at Bank of America and longtime restaurant customer nominated the couple for the award. In his recommendation to the board committee he said, “Danny and Hannah have faced the challenges of operating a high-risk business and have overcome many of the obstacles that an Asian entrepreneur faces…they make each and every Asian proud of their past and hopeful for their future.”
AnTran now ranks as one of the top 250 women-owned businesses in the U.S. In recognition of their accomplishments, Hannah and her sister Elizabeth An—the company’s creative director—received the 1999 Asian Business League Award as well as the Jacqueline Kennedy Women of Achievement Award.
New Projects
Current expansion projects are well underway. In November, AnTran will open a entertainment supper club in Las Vegas with the desert passage theme “Prana”—a Hindu term for “first breath of life.” An and Vu are also working on plans to open a new flagship restaurant on Sutter Street in San Francisco’s Union Square in 2001. The 30,000 square-feet, multi-level establishment would serve as a showcase to launch new product lines.
“The restaurant will combine Old World and New World concepts with technological twists for the new millennium. We will introduce new food products including sauces and imported Asian beer, a home-design line and art from Vietnam,” said An. “All of the items on display will be available through the Internet.”
An and Vu are also working on developing more efficient ways to run their restaurants. “We’re also developing a software system for the industry called SOS (Smart Operating System) that will function as a complete management tool for restaurant and hospitality operations. In addition to keeping track of business transactions, it will help managers and owners make intelligent decisions to improve their business,” An continued.
They’ve come a long way from their days of bussing tables for the family business at Thanh Long. When asked if they ever thought they would be heading a huge conglomerate back in those days, Vu responded, “[President and CEO] are just our official titles but we basically do everything. Sometimes we’re the dishwashers too.”
Viet-Am Youth to Be Tried as Adult
June 8, 2000
By Janet Dang
A 16-year-old Vietnamese American from San Jose has been charged with murder and is scheduled to be tried as an adult under Proposition 21, which California voters last March to allow prosecutors the discretion to try minors as adults in violent or gang-related cases. If convicted, Tran could receive 25 years to life in prison.
Canh V. Tran is accused of beating to death 44-year old Hiep Hoa Nguyen with a metal bar, according to investigators. Nguyen, a San Jose resident, was found May 23 by a passing motorist on San Felipe Road near Heartland Way in San Jose. With numerous blunt injuries to his head, he was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
Deputy District Attorney Joyce Ferris-Metcalf said that just before the violence broke out, both Tran and Nguyen, acquaintances of each other, were passengers in a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old.
Both teenage boys were arrested May 30. Tran is being detained in Juvenile Hall. Ferris-Metcalf said there is a possibility the second youth would be tried as an adult as well.
In trying Tran as an adult, the Ferris-Metcalf said, “This is just a quicker way of doing it. It saves both time and money.” She added that even without the new law, it’s likely that the juvenile-court judge would have granted a petition to try Tran as an adult.
“It was a very vicious beating. And he’s over the age of 16,” she said.
According to Ferris-Metcalf, Tran and the victim were involved in a sexual relationship. Tran had arranged with the other juvenile to meet with Nguyen. They had planned to drive to a coffee shop together but they instead drove to San Felipe road. In the vehicle, Tran began to beat Nguyen over the head with a metal bar. Nguyen escaped from the car but was later caught and beaten again. The two teens drove off, while Nguyen was left to die.
S.F. Youth Push for Tobacco Exclusion in China Trade Bill
June 8, 2000
Free flow of cigarettes may threaten health of women and teens, they say
By Janet Dang
Chinese American youth rallied against the current Permanent Normalized Trade Agreement China bill, declaring that open trade would allow tobacco companies free reign to market smoking to Chinese women and children.
Some 30 young people—most from the Chinese Progressive Association—demonstrated before the Federal Building, urging their representatives to oppose the bill, passed by the House on May 31, with a vote of 237-to-197, and now headed for the Senate, where it’s expected to pass.
While the president, Republican leaders, and business professionals have lauded the bill, saying that normalized trade would promote economic prosperity for both the United States and China, the youth say free trade of tobacco would harm the health of Chinese citizens. The young activists have drafted a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, urging them to support the exclusion of tobacco products and cigarettes from open-market trade agreements with China and other countries.
They cited statistics that show habitual smoking rose among women and children in other Asian countries after they opened their markets to transnational tobacco corporations. Currently in China, an estimated 67 percent of men, 5 percent of women and 10 percent of youth smoke.
“Many of my relatives and friends still in China are my age or younger,” Wilson Chan, a youth activist, said. “They’ve made it this far without smoking, and I’d hate to see fancy American advertising tempt them to start.”
Director Gordon Mar said the group’s campaign to eliminate tobacco marketing started five years ago as an effort by youth participants to make local changes. They have been successful in convincing city officials to prohibit tobacco ads from Chinatown and nearby school campuses in their neighborhoods.
“Tobacco products are not televisions—they must be regulated differently,” said Sarah He, community organizer. Chinese youth, she said, are already at risk for becoming smokers. Current statistics show that for all people under the age of 20 in China, “200 million will become smokers and at least 50 million of them will die prematurely because of tobacco use. If American tobacco corporations are allowed into China without restriction, Chinese smoking rates and death could increase by10 percent or more,” said He.
AP Classes for California High School Students
June 8, 2000
Education bill to provide grants for AP classes passes the state Senate; Assembly votes next
By Tom Lee
If the state Assembly passes a bill just approved by the Senate, soon every high school student in California will have access to Advanced Placement (AP) classes, an option previously not available to many lower-income schools.
Last week the state Senate voted in favor of one of six education reform bills in Governor Gray Davis’ 2000-2001 reform package. Authored by Martha Escutia (D-Montebello), Senate Bill 1504 would extend the AP program to California high schools, providing all students with a chance to take challenging courses.
AP courses are advanced honors classes designed for high school students who want to do college level work. At the completion of the course, students can choose to take an AP exam covering the subject of the course. If they pass the test with a satisfactory mark, the students can earn college-credit units, enabling them to opt out of introductory courses in college.
Currently 253 high schools in California offer three or fewer AP courses. It is Davis’ intent that by fall 2000, all high schools in California will have one AP course and by fall 2001, every student in California will have access to at least four AP courses.
“The Governor feels very strongly that every student who wants to take advanced courses should have the opportunity. It will raise expectations of California high schools and students,” said Ann Bancroft, spokesperson for the interim Secretary for Education Susan K. Burr. “The Governor does not want any child to be left behind.”
Davis allotted $29.5 million in the 2000-2001 budget for the bill. Of that money, $16.5 million would be used as grants for 550 high schools to start and maintain AP programs. The cost would include professional development, training teachers, tutorial services for students, as well as books, equipment, and instructional materials required of AP courses. The grants would be distributed over a four-year period in decreasing amounts with each high school receiving $30,000 the first year and $7,500 the fourth year.
According to Bancroft, the grants would be given to high schools on a need-based system, with first priority going to schools without any AP programs. Second priority would go to schools without math and science AP courses and then to campuses with low college participation rates. Next in line for the grants would be schools in which the majority of students are on reduced or subsidized lunch programs.
Schools with an already established AP program could benefit by having their curriculum expanded. “It gives a broader spectrum of classes students could take, maybe even expanding into foreign languages,” said Kamille Morishige, principal of San Francisco’s Washington High School, which offers some 20 AP courses, one of the largest AP programs in the Bay Area. At Washington High School, the AP program is largely externally funded by other sources because the AP curriculum and books differ from the ones adopted by the district. But the Senate bill would make it a little bit easier to obtain funding.
“In some extent it would be the same kids taking more AP courses but it would also prepare other students so that they can have the opportunity to take an AP course senior or junior year,” Morishige said.
The bill would also provide $5 million to the Advancement Via Individualism Determination (AVID) program to mentor and prepare students from middle school on. The funding would help develop pre-Advanced Placement programs in junior highs to prepare students for AP courses.
The remaining $8 million of the budget would go to the University of California for the development of AP courses online. These classes, most of which will be math and science courses, will aid students living in rural areas.
“Small schools have no capacity to offer a whole menu of enriched courses for their students. Online courses give more opportunities for students, especially in rural areas or schools with low numbers of students,” said Bancroft.
While the bill is not a reaction to the ban on affirmative action in the University of California system’s admissions process, it does offer underrepresented minorities from more disadvantaged schools a chance to gain access to some of the privileges afforded better-funded schools. “It would benefit students from low social-economic backgrounds who would otherwise not necessarily be pushed to that level,” said Bancroft. “It would prepare students from low-income schools who have the capacity but not the opportunity to participate in AP classes.”
Morishige agreed: “It would in some ways level the playing field for students in low-income neighborhoods.”
Clinton Praises APIs at Summit Meeting
June 1, 2000
By Sam Chu Lin
Close to seven hundred people attended this year’s Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) conference in Washington, D.C. The highlight came on May 25 at the Capitol Hilton Hotel, where President Clinton renewed his call for “One America” and complimented the API community for its many contributions.
Clinton acknowledged their patriotism and pointed out that next month, he will honor 21 API World War II veterans, including U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, with the Medal of Honor. He also noted that he has set up a new advisory commission, chaired by former congressman Norman Mineta, to advise him on ways the federal government can improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
“I think the reason why so many people were so pleased to see Clinton here was because it brought some closure to some of the disappointments that occurred during his administration with regards as to how Asian Pacific Americans were targeted during the time of the campaign fund-raising scandal,” said Maeley Tom, a delegate from Sacramento.
Vice President Al Gore also spoke to leaders attending the conference. During a meeting at the National Democratic Club, Gore welcomed everyone by telephone. The Vice President was supposed to address the group in person, but because the vote for WTO (World Trade Organization) status for China was still pending, the President instructed him to remain on Capitol Hill. According to delegates, Gore promised that if elected president, he would to work to get more APIs appointed to federal positions.
Also at the conference was a two-day political seminar for elected officials, including Paul Tanaka, Gardena’s mayor pro tem; Joe Bee Xiong, a Hmong American city councilperson from Eau Claire, Wisc.; and Rithy Uong, a Cambodian American city councilperson from Lowell, Mass.
“Whether you are Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or any other member of the Asian Pacific American community, just remember one thing: You’re all in the same tank together,” said Mineta to the attendees. “If we realize that, and we work with that thought in mind, then we will be successful.”