Union Of The Vietnamese Student Assoc Southern California

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER VIETNAMESE AMERICAN YOUTH INCLUDING STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO BUILD UNITY, PROMOTE THE VIETNAMESE CULTURE, SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD.

THE TET FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND IS UVSA'S PRIMARY FUNDRAISER. AN ESTIMATED 50,000 GUESTS ATTEND THE FESTIVAL TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT TO THE 300+ UNPAID STAFF, 500+ YOUTH VOLUNTEERS, AND COUNTLESS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE THE FESTIVAL SUCCESSFUL. AT THE EVENT, GUESTS CAN EXPERIENCE THE VIETNAMESE CULTURAL VILLAGE, AN AREA WHERE A RURAL OR HISTORIC VILLAGE IN VIETNAM IS REPLACED INCLUDING STRUCTURES, EXHIBITS, ARTWORK, AND VOLUNTEERS DRESSED IN CULTURAL ATTIRE. OTHER PROGRAMS AT THE EVENT INCLUDE CULTURAL COMPETITIONS SUCH AS THE MISS VIETNAM OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PAGEANT, CHILDREN'S TRADITIONAL PAGEANT, AND TALENT CONTEST, EATING COMPETITIONS FEATURING CULTURAL FOODS, AND CULTURAL PERFORMANCES. THE EVENT FURTHER UVSA'S MISSION TO PROMOTE CULTURE AND ALSO SERVES AS A VEHICLE TO DEVELOP 250 YOUNG LEADERS IN EVENT COORDINATION. WHEN THE EVENT PERFORMS WELL FINANCIALLY, UVSA ALLOCATES UP TO HALF OF THE PROCEEDS TO THE TET COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND. THROUGH THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY, OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAN APPLY TO RECEIVE FUNDING TO THEIR PROGRAMS. SINCE 2002, UVSA HAS AWARDED OVER $1,500,000 IN GRANTS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

PROJECT LEAD (LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, AND DEVELOPMENT) ENCOMPASSES TWO PROGRAMS (ACE MENTORSHIP AND WORKSHOP SERIES) AND THREE EVENTS (VAHSA CAMP, UVSA CAMP, AND UVSA SUMMIT). THESE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AIM TO DEVELOP THE YOUTH TO VALUE MENTORSHIP, GAIN REAL-WORLD TRAINING SKILLS, AND NETWORK WITH LEADERS LOCALLY AND ABROAD. PROJECT LEAD IMPACTS OVER 300 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS A YEAR WITH EITHER FREE OR HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

THE INTER-COLLEGIATE COUNCIL (ICC) REPRESENTS MEMBER VIETNAMESE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 11 COLLEGES ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE COUNCIL COORDINATES AND DRIVES UVSA'S MISSION TO BUILD UNITY COLLEGIATE YOUTH BY PROVIDING SOCIAL AND NETWORKING EVENTS FOR BOTH COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ANNUAL EVENTS INCLUDE BEACH DAY, COLLEGE FAIR, FORMAL, FRIENDSHIP GAMES, GALA, SPORTS DAY, AND MORE. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNCIL INCLUDE CSU NORTHRIDGE, VSA, CSU LONG BEACH VSA, CSU FULLERTON VSA, CAL POLY POMONA VSA, UC SAN DIEGO VSA, UC SANTA BARBARA VSA, UC IRVINE VSA, UC RIVERSIDE VSA, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VSA, SAN DIEGO STATE VSA, AND CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY VSA