February 4, 2020
As a community psychiatrist, I am committed to protecting the Affordable Care Act, as I have seen first-hand how expanding insurance coverage of mental health and other conditions have helped save lives and improve health care access for my patients.
- Dr. Anh Thu Bui, PIVOT member, Bay Area, CA
Read MoreJanuary 27, 2020
When I was growing up, my family of 7 lived off of half what I earn now as a struggling PhD student. Policies kept my siblings and me out of poverty and in school. So when I read lines of policies, budgets, or legalese, what I see are people's lives. "Every child is born with potential, but not every child is born with opportunity." If America is going to be a land of opportunity, we have to make sure our policies reflect our values.
Linh Chuong, PIVOT member, Los Angeles, CA
Check out PIVOT’s Policy platform: https://www.pivotnetwork.org/policy-platform
January 17, 2020
As a refugee with children who calls America their homeland, and whose future are clouded by the potential effects of a hotter planet, I am doing what I can to help realize the vision of America as a diverse and tolerant country of immigrants whose people can work together to build better lives for all. Particularly, as part of the generation that is responsible for the largest share of harmful greenhouse gases that could destroy the planet, I feel a personal responsibility to address the challenges of climate change for the sake of my children’s and grandchildren’s future.'
Khanh B. Nguyen, PhD, PIVOT Board member, San Jose, CA
Check out PIVOT's policy platform on climate change: https://www.pivotnetwork.org/policy-platform
January 16, 2020
I experienced the Thomas Fire in California first hand and witnessed its devastating impacts on our communities. This sparked a passion inside of me to delve into the climate change advocacy arena to help push the issue. The current administration's denial of climate change is an existential threat to our population's survival. The science is clear, and if we do not take drastic measures to transform our society to be more sustainable then we face the dire consequence of living in an unhabitable world.
Hieu Le, PIVOT member, Washington DC
Check out PIVOT's policy platform on climate change: https://bit.ly/30tp87m
January 6, 2020
PIVOT denounces the reckless use of force by the Trump Administration, which was taken without consultation of Congress, against the advice of our military leadership, and can escalate into yet another never-ending war in the Middle East. As Vietnamese Americans, we know first-hand the devastating impact of war and its aftermath.
In recent days, Trump ordered the drone strike that killed a powerful official in Iran, Major General Qasem Soleimani,a bold move that heightens the risk of war. A decision to wage war must always take into account the tremendous human, societal and environmental costs that war produces. Furthermore, while the decision to go to war is made by the powerful and rich, it is the poor - often people of color and working people - who bear the brunt of the pain. Thus, war must always be the very last resort, when our safety and our country’s very core interests are under threat.
Read MoreDecember 13, 2019
From California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus:
ASSEMBLYMEMBER DAVID CHIU, CALIFORNIA APILC AND ONE NATION HOST WEST COAST RELEASE OF REPORT ON IMMIGRANTS’ BENEFIT TO AMERICAN ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
Read MoreNovember 18, 2019
Mary Nguyen, PIVOT Member
There have been many occasions when I caved to the pressure to be “white” to conform with societal norms. In kindergarten, I chose to pack Lunchables after a “lunch box moment” occurred when a classmate claimed chà bông looked like hair. On Lunar New Year, I refused to wear my favorite áo dài to school for fear of standing out.
When my parents spoke Vietnamese or called me by my Vietnamese name in public, I flushed red with embarrassment. To retaliate, I’d respond in English, despite knowing this could perpetuate a barrier between my parents and me.
Read MoreOctober 31, 2019
Tung Nguyen, PIVOT President
This coming year 2020 will mark the 45th anniversary of the first settlement of Vietnamese refugees in the US. This is a long span of time, more than twice as long as the history of the South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. The majority of refugees have lived here longer than in Vietnam. We will never forget our homeland, but in reality, we have adopted the US to be our new country, the land that has nurtured us and will continue to do the same for our children and grandchildren’s generations.
September 20, 2019
Uyen Nguyen, PIVOT Board Member (Originally published in Seattle Times)
I came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam 34 years ago. Today, I would probably be turned away. As we await an announcement for the upcoming year’s refugee admissions target, my heart breaks for the mothers and children seeking safety and a better life in our country.
No one wants to flee their home. For my parents, it was a heartbreaking decision but one they felt they had to make in order to protect their children. When I was 10, I endured a treacherous, monthlong journey adrift in the South China Sea before arriving safely on land with my 15-year-old brother, thanks to the help of kind Filipino fishermen. We then spent a year and a half in a refugee camp waiting for the promise of a better future.
September 23, 2019
PIVOT enthusiastically endorses Representative Bee Nguyen in her re-election campaign. Bee was elected in 2017 to represent Georgia House District 89 after Leader Stacey Abrams stepped up to run for governor, breaking ground as the first Vietnamese American ever elected to the Georgia General Assembly and the only Asian-American woman currently serving in its 236-member body.
