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Salishan peace walk • OCT. 24, 2021

10/24/2021

(Use the arrow keys to navigate through photos or activate the arrow buttons by hovering the cursor on the left or right side of the photos. Swipe if you're on mobile)

A few days after a devastating tragedy that shook our community and took away four beloved community members, Tacoma came together to stand with one another in solidarity to call an end to senseless violence. We are stronger together, and while we mourn with our neighbors - we remain hopeful.

Please visit, donate and share this GoFundMe link to help the Lese family through their loss.

Salishan Strong.

Click here to download the photos.

Artists Among Us: Janelle Quibuyen finds her passion in graphic design

12/24/2020

I had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with artist extraordinaire and Hood Famous Bakeshop's (Ube cheesecake anyone?) creative director Janelle Quibuyen for KNKX's "Artist Among Us" series. We discuss imposter syndrome, what it means to be an artist, and why choosing this career path is an uphill battle within immigrant communities.

"Anyone can call themselves a Creative Director, but it takes history with a team to honor and trust you with that title. So here we are: an experienced and enthusiastic Creative Director named Janelle Quibuyen." -- janellequibuyen.com

Read the full article here: Janelle Quibuyen finds her passion in graphic design

Adika bell | Artist from Tacoma's Eastside

9/12/2020

A huge honor to be part of this project. Not only is Adika Bell, a fantastic artist - his art has impacted those from all over the country. Thank you for this portrait, Adika.

"This portrait I painted of Silong Chhun is part of a series of portraits I'm creating for a City of #Tacoma project acknowledging individual efforts making a positive impact in our city and communities. "🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #thankyou

Get to know Adika: https://www.adikabellart.com/www.adikabellart.com/

#adikabellart #tacomaart #cityofdestiny #tacomastandup

NO ROLE MODELS with Christopher Scott

6/9/2020

Christopher Scott, MSW, CSWA, is a social worker from Portland taking a journey to further his career and making an effort to change the platform of social work.

Visit hiphopsocialworker.com to learn more about Christopher's work in serving the community.

Join the community of clinicians of color:
• Go to C4pdx.com for more information.
• Follow C4 on Instagram: @c4pdx

Amid the demand for police accountability and justice for Black lives, Christopher Scott, the Hip Hop Social worker, allowed me on his platform to tell my story.

At first, I was conflicted and unsure if it was appropriate to center my story on his podcast considering the country's current political climate. Then I realized that this is an opportunity to connect in conversation as a moment in solidarity, and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

We talked about Mental health in the Cambodian community, my life growing up, what influenced me to leave corporate America to work in social services, how I used hip hop to bridge cultures, and my platform Red Scarf Revolution.

Tune in at No Role Models feat. Silong Chhun

Black Americans urge admission of the Indochinese refugees

5/31/2020

Repost: Sarath S. Suong

Image credit: Sokunthary Svay

My Khmer and Southeast Asian folks. Please take a few minutes and read this letter from a coalition of Black leadership published in the New York Times on March 19th, 1978.

Read every single word.

Read it and think about how you are responding right now when Black folks are saying they are facing genocide. And then let's have a real conversation and let's make plans for how we can join the fight for Black lives.

#BlackLivesMatter #Khmers4BlackLives #SoutheastAsians4BlackLives #RefugeeResistance4BlackPower

New York Times, March 19th, 1978

Black Americans urge admission of the Indochinese refugees

Throughout non-Communist Asia, thousands of unfortunate refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia languish in make-shift camps. For most, the future offer frightening prospects: social ostracism in the countries to which they fled, end unemployment, and - even worse - deportation to their homelands resulting in almost certain death.

As concerned citizens of the black community - a community which itself continues to endure widespread economic deprivation- we sympathize with our Asian brothers and sisters in the refugee camps. But our concern must transcend the safe boundaries of mere sympathy. We must move toward action.

Many well-meaning Americans have argued that action on this pressing problem is unworkable in economic terms and potentially explosive. We recognize the scandalous state of America's economy - especially its devastating manifestation in the black community - and we realize that any program to assist these refugees will entail modest economic costs. Yet, we oppose the dehumanizing tendency of placing price tags on the heads of Indochinese refugees.

In the past, America has displayed an uncanny ability to adapt to unusual and seemingly impossible situations. We believe that America can once again reach out to an embattled minority - these refugees - and offer safe haven and hope.

Thus, we call upon President Carter and the United States Congress to facilitate the entrance of these refugees into the United States in the same spirit that we have urged our country to accept the victims of South Africa's apartheid.

Through our arduous struggle for civil, political and economic rights in America, we have learned a fundamental lesson: the battle against human misery is indivisible. Our continuing struggle for economic and political freedom is inextricably linked to the struggles of Indochinese refugees who also seek freedom. If our government lacks compassion for these dispossessed human beings, it is difficult to believe that the same government can have much compassion for America's black minority, or for America's poor.

We are as strong as our most vulnerable | TCH Online Fundraising Campaign

4/8/2020

Tacoma Community House Online Fundraiser

TOTAL RAISED: $107,580
GOAL: $100,000

In response to protecting our clients, volunteers, and staff members during the COVID-19 pandemic, TCH made the difficult decision of canceling our 110th Annual Luncheon before we learned of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order from Governor Jay Inslee.

Uncertain of our next steps, we decided to launch the online campaign, "We are strong as our most vulnerable" to engage our supporters without putting our community at risk.

With the extraordinary support, compassion, and generosity of our community, we're pleased to announce that we exceeded our $100,000 goal with a total of $107,580!

As the Communications Associate for TCH, I was responsible for all of the graphics, videos, social media and website marketing.

I'm very proud to be part of the team that came together and executed this successful campaign with such a tight timeline.

Visit the campaign page to watch the videos: TCH | We are strong as our most vulnerable

Below are the various graphic updates for social media and our e-mail communication throughout the three-day campaign.

Cambodia

4/15/2019

Phnom Penh by Night

Phnom Penh, unusually quiet but expected during this time. Locals travel home to visit family during the new year holiday leaving the city almost like a ghost town.

Anticipation

Just like the first couple of times, I didn't know what to expect. Cambodia's ever changing landscape is full of surprises.

For my third trip, I travel with my wife Pa, her sister Pep, her boyfriend Sam, Thao, Savong, and Matt, who's never been to Cambodia before. We shared the same excitement and overwhelming feeling of anticipation. Returning to a place our parents called home, a country we're not accustomed to but consider our home, at least for me anyway.

The flight on Asiana Airlines from Sea-Tac airport to Phnom Penh was about 18 hours. Ten hours to Incheon, Korea with an hour and a half lay-over plus another five hours to Phnom Penh. It was LOOOONG.

I planned to write some deep meaningful, soul searching bullshit but the photos of the country and its beautiful people says it much better than I can.

Note: It was about 97 F with 100% humidity everyday we were there. You know its hot when the locals says its HOT!

Pro-Life-Tip: Visit around November to February for a cooler experience.

Pops

It has been about 12 years since my wedding was when we last saw each other and I'm excited to see him. Once we deplane, there he is waiting ready to receive us. I don't know what the standard process of getting through customs, but we always must walk through without any issues, no questions asked. I remember the last time I went in 2006 I left the airport through the back door. How? I do not have the answer.

Pops and I at the airport. I'm wearing a VIP ID that allows me to go back in forth between customs without being checked.

Tea House, Asian Urban Hotel

"Inspired by Asia love for tea, Tea House is one of Phnom Penh most imaginative hotels. It combines classic and modern urban design with a cool Asian twist. A truly tranquil respite from the busy streets of Cambodia capital city".

I copied that from their website because its true! Highly recommend to stay there.

Wat Phnom, New Year Celebration

Although most of the city's population is gone, there's still a party for those who stays in Phnom Penh. Wat Phnom was live!

Block Party

My pops greeted us with a Karaoke and BBQ party outside of his house with his neighbors, it was such a good time. I didn't want it to end because I've never hung out with my pops in that setting before.

Pub Street, Siem Reap

After spending a couple of days in Phnom Penh, we make our way to Siem Reap to visit the mighty Angkor Wat. The car ride was faster than before (I was there in 2006) since the roads are paved, but it was still about a five-hour drive instead of the eight or nine hours.

We stayed at Advaya Residence, in my opinion, the best hotel experience during the trip. The rooms were pleasant, the staff attentive, and the food was terrific.

After we settled, we decided to go out to check the famous Pub Street in Siem Reap. Pub Street is where it's at for the nightlife experience Siem Riep, its an all-out party with bars, clubs, and restaurants that stay open until 4 am.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm (Khmer: ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម, pronunciation: prasat taprohm) is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara (in Khmer: រាជវិហារ). Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII [1]:125[2]:388 as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm is in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the junglesurroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992. Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. The conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm is a partnership project of the Archaeological Survey of India and the APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap).

Angkor Wat

The sunrise at Angkor Wat is breath taking. As beautiful as it is, the real beauty is the locals, tour guides, and those who work everyday to welcome tourists like us.

Phnom Kulen National Park - Waterfall

Phnom Kulen National Park is a national park located in the Phnom Kulen mountain massif in Siem Reap Province. It was established in 1993 and has two main waterfalls.

I fell in the water with my camera - surprisingly it still kind of works!

S21 Tuol Sleng Museum

Kep

Kep is a sleepy coastal town known for its seafood and tropical islands. Once was Cambodia's most prestigious beach town, it was a thriving resort town for the French and Cambodian elite until the early 1970s.

It is still beautiful as ever.

Preah Monivong Bokor National Park

Preah Monivong Bokor National Park is located in southern Cambodia's Kampot Province and established in 1993. Phnom Bokor (Bokor Mountain) is a vast terrain of many attractions. On top of the mountain sits a huge statue, some ruins, and a casino. There's also a plant that is shaped like a penis.

Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) , Kep Province

An island about 25 minutes from Kep, Rabbit Island has to be one of the most relaxing experiences I've ever had. If my life was a Corona "Find Your Beach" commercial, this was it. There are families who live on the island that provides visitors with karaoke, food, and bungalows to hang out in. Life is simple.

January 31st, 2019

1/31/2019

Thank you everyone who celebrated with me. Take your event to the next level with Platinum Touch Photo Booth!

URGENT! WE NEED YOUR HELP!

12/4/2018

URGENT CALL TO ACTION!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!

One of our seven community members scheduled to be deported, Mr. Roeuth An, has begun the pardons process and is in need of having it expedited by the Governor. The next round of flights are scheduled on or around December 11th and we need your help applying pressure to expedite the emergency relief Mr. An and his family needs to be able to stay and fight his case, before it is too late.

CALL GOVERNOR INSLEE'S OFFICE: 360-902-4111
CALL THE PARDONS & CLEMENCY BOARD: 360-586-0047

EMAIL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: CLICK THIS LINK TO EMAIL THE GOVERNOR
EMAIL THE PARDONS & CLEMENCY BOARD: (click the e-mail address) cpboard@atg.wa.gov

Below is a script you can utilize for communication:

My name is _ from (city, state). I am calling/writing _ (Governor Jay Inslee or The Pardons Board) to denounce the deportation of Cambodian Americans in Washington State. This issue is tearing our family and/or Washingtonian immigrant families apart. It is important for you and/or the Pardon Board to weigh in on this issue and I am writing/calling to urge you to take immediate action within your power to issue emergency pardons. Seven of our
community members will be removed next week, all of them coming to the United States as young refugee children, and Mr. An can potentially be saved from being torn from our/his family today.

Mr. An has an extraordinary case which merits consideration of a Governor’s Pardon. But if you don’t act now, he will be deported without this due
process. I urge you to stand in solidarity with the Cambodian community, take action to keep our families together and to do everything in your power to expedite Mr. An’s case, as well as consider a group pardon in time to keep our community members from being removed.

DOWNLOAD THE GRAPHIC BELOW BY CLICKING ON IT TO SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EFFORTS.

Featured on King 5 News!

11/27/2018

Last year I was blessed to be able to work with some awesome film makers to explore a few businesses in Tacoma's diverse Lincoln Business District. We explored the challenges of running a small business along with the challenges with the construction during the revitalization.

Finally premiered it a few weeks ago and it was highlighted on King 5 News! Here's the youtube link to the full film: https://youtu.be/pctz9iDCBN0