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Yen Le

“As a Dấn Thân Fellow, I was given many responsibilities that I would not otherwise have at another entry-level job. MVMA board and staff have given me numerous opportunities to grow professionally in a bicultural working environment, to develop patience in an intergenerational workforce, and, equally important, to speak in my native tongue at work.”

A recent graduate of Smith College, Yen Le currently works at the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA) in Silver Spring, MD. After accessing the needs of the Vietnamese American community in Maryland, Yen has decided to focus her work plan to serve and empower the Vietnamese cosmetologists in Maryland. As a result, Yen, MVMA and along with some pioneer Vietnamese cosmetologists, nail technicians, and Vietnamese beauty suppliers are in the process of forming the Association of Vietnamese American Cosmetologists (AVAC). This organization will serve to protect, educate, and be the representative voice of the Vietnamese Cosmetologists community in Maryland.

Tram Anh Nguyen

“Eventhough it’s challenging work, the more I go out, the more knowledge I learn from others, I come to understand the needs of our Vietnamese community, and why it is necessary to have a community based organization as well as good leaders to help our community to develop stronger and better in the future.”

Graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration Degree at the Seattle University, Anh Nguyen is also a member of NAVASA Dấn Thân fellowship program. Placed at the Vietnamese Friendship Association in Seattle, WA, Anh’s goals at the organization is to help Vietnamese high school and middle school students develop leadership skills, community knowledge, and cultural appreciation to succeed in school as well as in life. In addition, Anh is also dedicated to assist Vietnamese low-income seniors access benefits programs as well as provide cultural and social support so that they have a healthy life in the United States.

Kim Nguyen

“The conceptual and practical leaps from programming for middle school and high school students are significant. The reason I target young students through an after school program is because they have no place to go, nothing to do, and no one to help them do homework while their parents are working late.”

Kim have been an active member of her community for the past 7 years. Currently working as a Dấn Thân fellow at the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA) in Houston, TX, Kim coordinates and leads an after school program that assist middle school and high school students with their homework as well as teach them the Vietnamese language. With her charisma and genuine personality, Kim was able to recruit more than 10 volunteers within her community to help run the after school program. As a mother of 2 young children, Kim understands how important it is to create a safe and educational environment for the youth. She hopes to be able to make a difference in these young lives and in turn for her children in the future.

Thu-Thao Nguyen

“Through this fellowship I am excited for the opportunity to work intimately with the Vietnamese community...I am especially interested in working with the youth population, for there lies the greatest potential for the Vietnamese community, but also there exists a real need for help and guidance.”

Graduated from the University of Pittsburg in Politics and Philosophy, Thu-Thao Nguyen is currently dedicating her time as a Dấn Thân fellow at Springfield Vietnamese American Civil Association in Springfield, MA. With a strong interest in youth development, Thu-Thao organized an after school program for elementary to high school Vietnamese immigrant students. She seeks to fill the gap between the two different cultures, Vietnamese & American, for her students and assist them integrate successfully into the American culture while retaining their Vietnamese heritage.

Khoi Vo

“For the past couple of months I can’t say that I changed the world, but I could say that I put a touch on someone’s life from the work, and services we provided.”

Graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A. in Sociology - Criminal Justice, Khoi hopes to work toward the betterment of the community. Leaving friends, families, and a job offer of $30k a year in his hometown of Springfield, MA, Khoi Vo is currently working as a Dấn Thân fellow at the Vietnam’s Hue
Association of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. Khoi’s work at Vietnam’s Hue Association of Central Florida includes assisting Vietnamese immigrants and refugees achieve greater economic security through homeownership and increased equity, facilitating community access to public benefits programs, providing Vietnamese translation and interpretation, and generating financial resource for the organization.

CLICK HERE to learn how you could become a 2005-2006 fellow!