Chinatown is LA
The Chinatown we know now, is not the original Chinatown in Los Angeles. There were several others AND there was a Chinatown Land ("theme park" for white people with orientalized motifs).
Common Ground, Sept. 2
Went down to the OC to catch Common Ground. It's a neat space for community members to express themselves through all different mediums, including spoken word, song, story, and art. This was only their second session ever, and they were already pulling in over 100 people.
I think what I appreciate the most is how genuine the community members were. You didn't have folks going up who were super polished. That's not what this is about. This is about sharing your voice, not a performance. I feel, especially with spoken word, there's now more of a standard on how well you perform. While I believe there should be room for that, my love will still be for folks who speak, unchoreographed, from the heart.
Open House
The Tongan Community Service Center had an open house today for their new office. They've officially moved out of Gardena and in to Hawthorne, bringing them much closer to the Tongan communities. It's a much bigger space, and they have windows now!
This is an awesome organization for the Tongan community. I've worked with several of the staff before, and they kick butt when it comes to repping their community, especially with policy and advocacy work. Policy work AND direct services with a limited staff. How else can I capture how bad ass they are?
HJN + PBP
So last night, Project by Project held their annual Plate by Plate fundraiser. Their partner this year is the Health Justice Network that I organize at APALC. Basically all the proceeds from the fundraising event go right in to the Network (and because it's a network and I'm all about empowering our member agencies, the money goes directly back to helping those very organizations that make up the Network.)
There was a lot happening last night. Volunteers running left and right (and everyone in PbP is a volunteer, yes, everyone) so it was quite awesome that the event came together so well. I'm hoping the night helped get our name out there. If not, to the very least people donated money to our cause. It'd be a bit idealistic to hope that a hip-and-happening party like this could inspire the masses to care about community health. Other approaches are needed, and I hope to one day get that down. 
A few pics from the night.
PbP made a new logo for us. I really like it.
Lots of folks attended throughout the night. I learned that in spaces where there are mainly private sector folks, I really feel out of place. I need to branch out! But that's kind of linked with making more money to actually be in places like this right? Haha
We were recognized up on stage, and Stewart Kwoh, our Executive Director, handed me the mic with little warning. I said a few lines and I was told I didn't sound unprepared. Isn't that an awesome thing to hear? By the way, Clayton got this pic right as the background said, "All of these smiles made possible by..." Hilarious...
Assemblymember Mike Eng, Stewart Kwoh, Me
Pricey Food! (for free)
Last night was the big Plate by Plate fundraiser event. They helped raise money for the Health Justice Network, which is the coalition that I organize at work. More on what went on during the event in another post, but here's a few pics of the free food that was there. They get the big name chefs to come out and treat folks to some good food (well I guess it's not free because people pay up to $125 to get in the door)
Working nonprofit and getting paid low wages, I'm sure glad I got to eat the tasty food (oh and drink some great Stone beer) for free
Sacramento Legislative Visits
Woke up at 4:50AM today to fly up to Sacramento. A few organizations were gathering to meet with state representatives regarding the budget. Specifically we wanted to talk about focusing on what the Dems were pushing: finding ways to increase revenues, rather than continue with the cuts to safety net programs.
So in one of the visits I was in, it was with Assemblymember Warren Furutani. He spoke of how they have always had to play partisan politics, and that in the end it hurts immigrant communities. He spoke of how out of all the Republican Assemblymembers in the State of California, there is only one person of color, and that is Van Tran (he's terming out). That says a lot. Are we forever going to do this partisan tango?
Even though I recognize that people will differ on practically everything, I just wish there were some more key issues, that people could have honest dialogue about, and come up with actual solutions (rather than bicker like children for months to no avail).
DONE (for now)
For the past 2 years, I've been going to CSUN part-time to get my Masters in Public Administration. Every Wednesday night, for practically all the two years, I'd get off of work and step in to 4 hours of class. It might not seem like much, but doing that, while having a full-time job, community involvements outside of work, and consultant jobs...it wears away at you.
Yesterday, I took the comprehensive exam to hopefully receive my masters. 2 essays, 3 hours each. I typed up about 12 pages, single spaced in total. The past month in particular has been ridiculous. It boggles me that we have to pass this test, to prove to them that we are deserving of the masters. I don't see how memorizing a bunch of facts will show that I deserve anything.
But yes, in the past month, I've partnered up with a few friends in the class, and we've crammed. We've undoubtedly taught ourselves more in the past month, than in the past two years. Mind you, this is not relearning stuff we covered in the past two years. It's us, practically teaching ourselves the topics.
ANYWHO, I'm done...until they call us with the results in two weeks. I'm hoping I don't have to take that 6 hour test again! But until I get that call....FREEDDDDOMMMMMMM!