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 follow the stereotypes and have made something of themselves.”
Indeed, in his job, Kay is able to act as a role model and advisor for the younger generation, something that was lacking while he was growing up. But things are changing: “I feel that Khmerican is able to provide representation for the Cambodian Americans that are doing some sort of good for themselves and the community, so that the youth are able to find role models that they can relate to.”
He hopes his affiliation with Khmerican allows him to learn more about his own identity as well as keep informed about what other community members are accomplishing. He believes in the importance of publicizing the many forms of that success, whether in activism, entertainment, or academics. As a student himself, Kay balances extracurricular activities and two jobs along with his schoolwork, striving to stay organized and manage his time well.
“Being a Cambodian American, I have a large amount of pride in who I am and for my community,” said Kay.
A native of Fresno, California, Chan Kay will serve as our third community liaison, putting his interpersonal/communication skills to good use.
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 resource to stay connected and work collaboratively towards a common cause, such as developing better learning communities for the youth.”
Informational hearing on the state of Cambodian American youth
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 as panel speakers), civic officials and agency representatives, and others of the community, both leaders and concerned citizens.
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 and how art and music can be use as tools for change.”
