Timeline for the Vietnamese American Roundtable by Philip Nguyen https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline Hello VAR Board and Staff! For this part of the retreat homework packet, please list at least 3 significant moments, events, or memories that you have experienced during your time with VAR on the timeline. You can be as specific or as brief as you would like, and I would encourage you to use multimedia (photos, videos, memes, screenshots, etc) as we craft our shared timeline of what VAR is. During the retreat, please be prepared to share at least one of the memories and why you decided to include it as a part of our shared timeline. en-us 2022-01-15 00:20:28 UTC 2026-02-26 11:07:41 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f9d0.png 7/15/22 | VAR hires its first Executive Director! (EXAMPLE) philip232 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1993159424 I share this  not only just because it includes my name and face, but also because it marked a significant moment of growth for our organization, and I was so proud to be a part of it. ]]> 2022-01-15 00:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1993159424 2013 | A group of volunteers organize as a "roundtable" of Vietnamese American community members philip232 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1993160143 2022-01-15 00:31:04 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1993160143 10/15/21 | First interview with VAR for the position of Community Organizing and Outreach Program Coordinator | First time ever in my life I got to say this at an interview "The system we live in harms people of color, we can fix it." The rest was history :-) nguyenphamVAR https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1999435138 2022-01-19 03:22:02 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1999435138 11/13/2021 | First Time being interviewed by Huy Tran !!!! nguyenphamVAR https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1999440394 2022-01-19 03:26:31 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1999440394 12/17/21 First Chan Uot Chan Rao VAR on Air | Vietnamese Women Navigating the Male-Dominated Worlds of Business & Investing nguyenphamVAR https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1999442620 2022-01-19 03:28:14 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/1999442620 ~July/August 2018 | Amy asks me to be VAR's next Treasurer. She said it's just writing checks. I reluctantly accepted. The event in the photo is where it took place. (Thanks Christine for the pop-up escape room too!) atkinson12 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2001898526
https://varoundtable.org/vision-mission/]]> 2022-01-20 03:15:51 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2001898526 June 2018 | Launch of SEEDS Inaugural Class atkinson12 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2001917697 https://varoundtable.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/35972941_1412227472256959_510182126956576768_n.jpg?w=300]]> 2022-01-20 03:30:36 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2001917697 September 2019 admin3228 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2004285955 VAR Hires first part-time staff member! aka me! aka admin assistant! woo ]]> 2022-01-21 03:55:49 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2004285955 April 2018 admin3228 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2004289218 First time attending Black April Event ]]> 2022-01-21 03:58:34 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2004289218 Launch of VAR's Care Corner admin3228 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2004294486 2022-01-21 04:02:45 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2004294486 January 2018 - VAR Colfax Retreat https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005824828 VAR hosts our first overnight retreat with bonding activities over Myer-Briggs personalities and CodeNames Male vs. Female Showdown (females won of course). This retreat is also where we established our first 5 year strategic roadmap to have an ED and staff at the end of 5 years!]]> 2022-01-21 21:26:59 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005824828 April 15, 2014 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005877854 VAR hosts our first mayoral candidates forum, bringing together all major candidates to discuss major policy implications for the Vietnamese American community in San Jose in a full theater at Evergreen Community College. VAR begins its initial goals of establishing itself as a neutral, credible policy partner. ]]> 2022-01-21 22:37:50 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005877854 April 25, 2017 - VAR Formally Incorporates as a 501c3 Nonprofit https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005881508 VAR resisted being incorporated for many years as we didn't want to become yet another Viet-Am organization. But as our workload, reputation, responsibilities grew, incorporating would provide us with necessary governance to continue the projection of our goals.

Fun fact: VAR was a fully flat structure prior to this date. But incorporation required a president and officers for state filings. Christine became the first president of VAR as her name was picked out of a hat (and all the work that came with it). Lucky her!]]> 2022-01-21 22:43:35 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005881508 This article mentions voters and whenever Vietnamese voters are mentioned it makes me think of the Census and how I first become involved with VAR. xtnpham https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005909344 2022-01-21 23:31:54 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005909344 December 2019| First time receiving an award! Last fun event attended before never leaving the house again. xtnpham https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005912323

]]> 2022-01-21 23:37:20 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005912323 xtnpham https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005913656 2022-01-21 23:40:05 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005913656 April 26, 2014 - Meeting Christine atkinson12 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005927551 I should have brought cheesecake or Viennetta!!]]> 2022-01-22 00:05:21 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2005927551 October 31, 2015 - First VARoween! The idea came about when a group of us were sitting at Christine's house brainstorming events that VAR could do besides Black April. We started our initial plans for the Haunted House on the back of a napkin. https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006079153 2022-01-22 04:33:17 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006079153 December 9, 2021 - VAR and Si Se Puede collaborate on a redistricting effort to preserve as much of the Latinx and Vietnamese voice that we can in East San Jose, the first time that we worked this closely with a non-Vietnamese org. https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006082786 2022-01-22 04:40:53 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006082786 I joined SEEDS Inaugural Class! This is when I learned more about VAR, met amazing friends, and was introduced to civic engagement :) cindynguyen6 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006086087 2022-01-22 04:48:02 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006086087 January 27, 2018 - Immigration Symposium! The first symposium we ever held focused on why we had to fight the immigration policy changes being proposed to deport Vietnamese nationals. https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006086554 2022-01-22 04:49:09 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006086554 Listening to the panelists at the Silicon Valley Vietnamese American Empowerment Symposium inspired me to lean towards policy work for more systemic change in my community. I felt really empowered that day and am really glad I was able to attend. cindynguyen6 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006088205 2022-01-22 04:52:49 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006088205 June 2021 - Atkinson asked me if I was interested in joining VAR Board. Volunteering with VAR opened so many doors for me in terms of community involvement, so this moment was really special because I never expected to be able to join a board with such amazing people!! There was no hesitancy in my answer (YES), I knew that this opportunity would continue to help me grow more than I already have thanks to VAR. cindynguyen6 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006090821 2022-01-22 04:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006090821 12/18/21 VAR ugly sweater shindig ldonguyen https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006111955 2022-01-22 05:47:49 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006111955 11/13/2021 VAR symposium ldonguyen https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006112778 Great event that community was much in need of and 1st in person event I attended for VAR.]]> 2022-01-22 05:50:01 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006112778 8/7/2021 SEEDS showcase ldonguyen https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006116924 Witness how much of an impact such significant programs (SEEDS) are to Viet youth, coming into their own... VAR shaping the future!]]> 2022-01-22 06:00:58 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006116924 Black April 2018 Alicialuong https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006473167 This was the first event I volunteered for with VAR and loved it. MTVNC helped plan the gratitude wall which was super wholesome and inspiring to read. ]]> 2022-01-22 15:57:16 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006473167 VISION 2019: Civic Engagement Workshop Alicialuong https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006476543 Alex, Oscar and I presented and led activities around civic engagement and informed high schoolers about how to be civically engaged at their age. It was interesting stepping up to this role since I was still new to VAR, but was grateful for the resources I was given. This workshop actually inspired a few folks to participate in SEEDS! ]]> 2022-01-22 16:01:36 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006476543 SEEDS 2021 Alicialuong https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006478827 It was awesome seeing SEEDS return to an in-person format, and I think it was a success! It seemed like participants really benefited from SEEDS in a variety of ways and it was an honor being able to show up to some sessions and participate myself. ]]> 2022-01-22 16:04:33 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006478827 In-Person Board Retreats https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006519660 Away Board Retreat (pre-kids) 🤣]]> 2022-01-22 16:56:54 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006519660 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006520063 SEEDS ]]> 2022-01-22 16:57:21 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006520063 Code Name https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006526046 2022-01-22 17:05:33 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006526046 12/13/2021 | Hired onto VAR as Operations and Development Manager! huan23 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006552038 2022-01-22 17:39:54 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006552038 Our work is recognized on KQED! xtnpham https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006596006 2022-01-22 18:44:37 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006596006 Redistricting 2021 iluong1 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006673896 so much had happened and so quickly...it's amazing that we pulled together multiple days for the rapid updates, the many public comment sessions, and the all around support and coordination with talking points]]> 2022-01-22 20:58:45 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006673896 November 2014? Isabella meets VAR for the first time iluong1 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006674898 wow throwback

the folks i remembered meeting: Quyen Mai (lol), Kayla Tran, Minh Nguyen, Thi Ly]]> 2022-01-22 21:00:43 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006674898 Sept 2020: Census collaboration ICAN x VAR x NorCal UVSA iluong1 https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006676757 this was my first major project since joining ICAN and I remembered not only taking pride in doing outreach for the Census, but also feeling delighted at the opportunity to collaborate with familiar faces and those of shared values from VAR and UVSA.

i believe this was also the beginning of my many collaborations with VAR ]]> 2022-01-22 21:04:38 UTC https://padlet.com/philip232/vartimeline/wish/2006676757