RULES COMMITTEE: 5/24/2023
Item: B.1
File ID: ROGC 23-206
TO: Honorable Mayor & FROM: Toni J. Taber, CMC
City Council City Clerk
SUBJECT: The Public Record DATE: May 24, 2023
May 11, 2023 – May 18, 2023
ITEMS FILED FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD
Letters from Boards, Commissions, and Committees
1. Letter from the Youth Commission, dated March 15, 2023, regarding: Vietnamese American History Month.
Letters from the Public
No Letters received.
____________________________
Toni J. Taber, CMC
City Clerk
TJT/tt
YOUTH COMMISSION
San José Public Library
150 E. San Fernando Street, San José, CA 95112 tel (408) 808-2000 fax (408) 808-2133 www.sjpl.org March 15, 2023
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council:
We, the San José Youth Commission, asks your permission to sponsor the Black April Memorial Month assembly resolution (ACR-5) to recognize the month of April as the Vietnamese American History Month legally and permanently – similar to how October is recognized as Filipino American Heritage Month, February is Black History Month, and May is Asian American Heritage Month. “Black April Memorial Month,” was introduced by Assembly Members Ta and Stephanie Nguyen.
The Vietnam War came to an end on April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon. This resulted in the evacuation of around 125,000 Vietnamese refugees to the United States. It has been 48 years since the first wave of Vietnamese refugees arrived in the United States. The Vietnamese American community has grown substantially, both in population and in the number of accomplishments and contributions we have given to America, our new home. While many of the older generations are now in their 70s and 80s (with many having passed away), and the younger generations are growing up, we would like to urge that the month of April be legally and permanently recognized and established as "Vietnamese American History Month" in California.
Relating to youth, the resolution as written with respect to past generations states that “We must teach our children and future generations important lessons from the Vietnam War and the continuing situation in Vietnam, including how the plight of the Vietnamese refugees following the end of the war serves as a powerful example of the values of freedom and democracy [...]” Supporting this resolution will assist young people to realize the significance of their position as citizens of the United States, in domestic and international affairs.
Quyen N. Vuong is the Executive Director of the International Children’s Assistance Network.
She, a member of the “sandwiched generation,” is a refugee who escaped the Vietnamese Communist regime along with her parents and her children who are born in the U.S. She recognizes the necessity and the importance of having the month of April declared legally and permanently as the Vietnamese American History Month. This legacy would honor the older generations for defying death and all odds to bring their children to safe shores of freedom and democracy, anchor the younger generations so they can be proud of their roots, and remember the journey of how their ancestors brought them to America. This legacy will help to bring generations of Vietnamese together, reducing the mental anguish caused by the trauma encountered throughout our journeys such as the intergenerational conflicts, Public Record: 1
YOUTH COMMISSION
San José Public Library
150 E. San Fernando Street, San José, CA 95112 tel (408) 808-2000 fax (408) 808-2133 www.sjpl.org acculturation challenges, cultural differences, and language barriers. This legacy will also help bring communities together to enhance and celebrate diversity and inclusion in Santa Clara County.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
/s/ /s/
DEITRA HOANG ANDREW LIEU
District 3 Youth Commissioner District 5 Youth Commissioner For questions, please contact Elizabeth Nolan, Senior Librarian, at [email protected] and Gordon Chen, Chair of the San José Youth Commission at [email protected]