May 2012
2 posts
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April 2012
4 posts
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Introducing Diana Pereda of Los Angeles
“I think one of the natural inspirations that drives me is my heritage. Having family both in Cambodia and the Pacific, I have always dreamed of giving back to such regions that currently face a number of social issues, such as poverty, environmental degradation, and low levels of education,” says Diana Pereda, who also describes herself as mixed race Cambodian and Chamorro.
Pereda’s diverse...
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Introducing David Chau of Orange County
A proud member of Cal State Fullerton’s Cambodian Student Association, David Chau is a graduating senior majoring in business marketing. He acknowledges involvement with his student organization as being the catalyst for his cultural immersion and appreciation.
Growing up, Chau felt like the only Cambodian person among his peers, although he did attend weekly Khmer lessons and the annual New Year...
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March 2012
5 posts
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Cal State Long Beach's "The Missing Piece"...
By Eric Chuk
The Cambodian Student Society (CSS) hosted a successful culture show on Sunday, March 25th at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. The show was notable for its overall bilingualism and refreshingly creative story line—a modern, Khmer-inflected reinterpretation of the Wizard of Oz, incorporating history, action (martial...
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Introducing Sinoun Chea of Atlanta
Sinoun Chea seeks to be a source for and a recipient of inspiration relating to the Khmer American community. With a wide range of interests, including technology, art, music, cosmology, and mythology, she hopes her entrepreneurial spirit will carry her forward in someday pursuing all of them.
A web designer by vocation, Chea grew up in Texas and only recently began to realize the personal...
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Introducing Seth Sin of Portland
“I think Cambodian Americans are interested in seeing people who we can relate to succeed in the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, philanthropy, community outreach, business, and science,” says Seth Sin, an Oregon resident employed in information technology. “They provide a blueprint for how we should conduct ourselves in the public eye and can give us guidance on how we can become a...
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Introducing Sovannimul Bou of Lowell
A certified medical assistant majoring in nursing at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Sovannimul Bou dreams of becoming a doctor and returning to Cambodia, where she was born: “I have a goal to one day treat the poor, especially in the countryside, where they have no access, no knowledge of how important health issues are, and hopefully to work with the health system there to make things...
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Introducing Chan Kay of Merced
Chan Kay, a peer mentor for freshmen at the University of California, Merced, has had to fight others’ negative perceptions of Cambodians—as being gang members or dropouts. “I have always worked hard to defy these stereotypes and show others that Cambodians are capable of getting an education just like anyone else,” said Kay. “I know there are many other Cambodian Americans out there who do not...
February 2012
1 post
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WatchMAKE YOUR PLEDGE AT http://khmr.cn/pledge-page Our story: all of yours Three decades after first immigrating, Cambodian Americans are stepping into the spotlight not as refugees, but as performers, activists, scholars, and entrepreneurs. There is an increasing number of new-generation “Khmericans” (as we like to call them) who are accomplishing amazing things while building off the advances made...
January 2012
8 posts
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Introducing Will Koenig of Salem
“I want to learn what it means to be a Khmerican, so I can better understand what my wife and son experience,” says Will Koenig, a journalist who lived in Cambodia for three years, returning to the states in 2006. Koenig didn’t have much contact with Cambodians until he went to the country and found various employment, including at publications, academic institutions, and...
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Introducing Darlene Ly of Long Beach
“One of the things I hope to achieve for myself while at Khmerican is to be more informed and active in the current happenings of the Cambodian American community,” says Darlene Ly, a grad student at Cal State Long Beach and seasoned participant in several local organizations. “Simultaneously, I hope that the Cambodian American community will utilize Khmerican as a great...
sengha asked: Kyoum salanh blog neeh' meyn theyn ! :D
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Introducing Donny Te of Tempe
Donny Te has a passion for writing. Combined with his love of politics, he’s glad to be working as an editor for an elections news website in Arizona. Growing up around the Twin Cities in Minnesota, Te learned Cambodian values from his close-knit family and the considerable community there. Even so, it wasn’t always easy trying to fit in with mainstream society, and aside from family...
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Introducing Kenith Oun of Lowell
“I can try to express stories with my photography skills and hopefully help the younger generations to learn and not repeat history,” says Kenith Oun, a customer support technician by vocation but a photographer in his spare time. He hopes to turn that hobby into a full-time job one day, maybe even getting some of his shots published in National Geographic.
Oun believes there are...
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December 2011
6 posts
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Introducing Sameth Mell of Seattle
What were your experiences growing up in regards to the Cambodian American community?
Growing up in a multi-cultural social environment, I was conditioned during my growing years to offset the interest upon the Khmer community because of the surrounding dominant culture via the importation of American ideals, education, social norms and idealism, etc. However strong the cultivating mechanisms...
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Being 'Khmericanized'
Dear Supporters of the Khmerican,
Recently, we acquired a new domain, khmr.cn. No, we are not moving to China as the domain suffix might allude. Instead, we are in the process of organizing a way for the world to view content exclusively related to Khmer America. We want to take this opportunity to explain how it works and share how you can be involved.
Khmr.cn will serve as your new...
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Introducing Jae Om of Northern Virginia
“I see Khmerican as a great representation of a generation of Khmers that want to make a difference. It’s encouraging and will definitely inspire others to reach out to those in their communities that want to showcase their cultures and people,” says Jae Om, a Virginia resident who works in the information technology and entertainment marketing sectors. Om is also currently pursuing a degree in...
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“For the umpteenth time, Khmerican does not necessarily mean ‘Khmer...”
November 2011
7 posts
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Introducing Malissa Tem of Los Angeles
Malissa Tem has a natural instinct for storytelling, to the point that she feels her current path as a journalism student and freelance reporter found her rather than her choosing it. She takes a meticulous approach to her work, making such extensive notes that she can feel overwhelmed by the story she’s trying to cover. However, she believes the Khmerican is a fitting venue for her talents, one...
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Introducing Bunthay Cheam of Seattle
Bunthay Cheam’s main exposure to his Khmer heritage was through his father, who was a community organizer and worked on youth development in White Center, a neighborhood that is home to the largest Cambodians in the Seattle area. Cheam was also a member of the Khmer Student Association at the University of Washington, but does not regard himself as directly active in the community. However, he...
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“If its writing disappears, the nation vanishes.”
– Kambuja Surya, Cambodia’s oldest publication (circa 1926)
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Informational hearing on the state of Cambodian...
There was a buzz among the crowd of approximately 150 yesterday during the town hall meeting to discuss the findings of a report by Khmer Girls in Action (KGA), a Long Beach community development organization focusing on social/economic justice through the empowerment of Southeast Asian females. The earnest participants consisted of KGA members (largely high school students, some of whom doubled...
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The Khmerican & CamboFresh partnership
Dear Friends of the Khmerican: We are excited to announce a new partnership with CamboFresh Clothing! Founded by Jacksonville native Van Keo, the source of the widely popular ‘CAM BOD IAN’ tee-shirts, CamboFresh has formally agreed to have the Khmerican as its official media partner. In return, CamboFresh is being recognized as the premier clothing sponsor of the Khmerican. This...
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Khmer America is looking for you!
Attention, all members of Khmer student organizations:
As a Khmer college student or alum, you may have occasionally wondered what you can do in your spare time to contribute to the welfare of Cambodia and/or the U.S. in some way. There is now an opportunity to get involved with a young company that addresses that desire by giving you a platform to share just about anything you think is...
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Win $250 through photo contest to define...
Attendees of the 2011 Khmer Student Coalition Conference at UCLA:
How do you define “Khmerican”? Post a head shot of yourself and your written response to this question to enter our Photo Contest and a chance to win $250 in cash.
Here are the details:
Upload an image to Facebook. Image must be a head/face shot taken at the conference. Two entry max per participant.
Tag “Khmerican...
September 2011
2 posts
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Introducing Johnny Yoeun of Chicago
Johnny Yoeun is a longtime community organizer and activist in Chicago. He was involved with the Cambodian Association of Illinois (CAI) since age 12 and eventually was put in charge of a multicultural youth program. Yoeun is now director of Chicago APIA Hip Hop Summit, where he organizes related music and dance events: “I decided to start organizing in my community to bring more awareness to it...
August 2011
11 posts
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Introducing Eric Chuk of Los Angeles
Prior to settling in Southern California, Eric Chuk didn’t have many occasions to mark his family background. Aside from a few Khmer New Year celebrations in Saint Petersburg, Florida, he found that there was a disconnect between him and the Cambodian culture. Now after several years in Los Angeles, he recalls one reason he left his former home. “I wanted to live with a larger Khmer...
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PRESS: Cambodian-Americans Get an Online Home: An... →
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Century old tradition lives on through Lowell...
By Dahnie Tran
LOWELL, MA – Once a major American industrial center in the 19th century is now home to one of the largest Cambodian populations in the world and the host of a century old Southeast Asian tradition. The Water Festival or Bonn Om Touk in the Khmer language celebrates the significance of water as a source of food, transportation and livelihood. In Cambodia the festival marks...
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Introducing Rada Nong of Central Valley
If an archetypal success story of a Cambodian American was to finish higher education from a top university, work for giant multinational companies in leadership positions - all against a backdrop of unprecedented hardships as a first generation immigrant - then Rada Nong’s is that story. Born into Cambodia’s dark epoch of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979), Nong experienced the full measure of...
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Introducing Vesna Loek of Long Beach
In 1996 at the age of 13, Vesna Loek left the durian plantations of Kampot, Cambodia to reunite with his biological family in the United States. Settled in Long Beach, California, otherwise known as the Mecca of Khmer America, Loek’s childhood upbringing made the transition easier than most immigrants - both culturally and socially. But despite the smooth acclimation, Loek began to encounter...
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Introducing Sally Phnouk of Seattle
Sally Phnouk first picked up a camera at age 16 – the Canon Power Shot S3 IS – for a price tag of $300. Like most youth at the age, photography was commonly viewed as a privilege activity: taking photos of friends, at school events and during weekend escapades. But it was not until an upgrade of interest to purchase her first DSLR camera, the exorbitant Sony Alpha A700 that she took the hobby...
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TONIGHT TEAM KHMERICAN WILL BE ON RADIO FREE ASIA...
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Introducing Sopheak Chheng of Middlebury
When was the last time you felt inspired after reading a story on an individual? The type of inspiration that draws you to immediate action: to reach out, connect, and begin building a friendship with them. That was how powerful co-founder Phatry Derek Pan reacted upon learning the story of Sopheak Chheng three weeks ago via YouTube. Published under a college magazine, Chheng shares his story of...
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July 2011
7 posts
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Introducing Dahnie Tran of Boston
Dahnie Tran was born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts. Growing up, she was exposed to the vibrant Khmer culture — from Sinn Sisamouth’s golden voice being heard in restaurants to the fragrant incense that wafted out of Buddhist temples nearby. It was a positive experience for her to be surrounded by many other Cambodians who shared the same passion as her, and she desired to extend what...
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Introducing Vanndy Pan of Providence
For Vanndy Pan joining Khmerican offers her an opportunity to take her interest in community building and advocacy to a larger stage. Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, she realized how disconnected her peers were with their culture and history. It wasn’t until her sophomore year in high school that she took action to break the cycle. That year she began teaching herself how to read and...
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What's That Black Box on the Corner?
Since we’ve launched 48 hours ago, much of the attention have been diverted to Faces of Khmerican and the About page. And that’s perfectly understandable. Who doesn’t like looking at pretty pictures and read about the creators? But many of our supporters outside the US have been intrigued about something else. “What is that black box on the corner?” said our...
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“Tend cows and buffalos with authority; tend kindness with patience.”
– Khmer Proverb