Quynh Chau Stone is an entrepreneur, manufacturer, consultant, international educator, motivational speaker, the host and producer of a radio and TV talk show “The Quynh Chau Show,” a wife, a mother, a friend and most of all a servant to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Quynh Chau escaped from Vietnam at the age of 12 with her four brothers in a small boat built by her brother. After 13 days stranded at sea, they were rescued and placed in a refugee camp in Malaysia for 18 months. Her father was already living in the U.S., working as a janitor and selling egg rolls on the side to raise money. After ten years, he landed a job at Nucor Yamato. Then, with the help of the First Baptist Church of Bytheville, her father was finally able to sponsor them to come to the U.S. with the hope of a new life. Quynh Chau only stayed with her family for seven months, which were some of the toughest times for her.
With the help of three wonderful families, the Johnsons, Brays and Reynolds, she found her new home and refuge at the ABC Children Home, having the opportunity to grow up experiencing America culture, graduating from high school and attending college where she met her college sweetheart and husband. In 2006, she had a second chance to reunite with all her brothers once again.
Author: Renae Virata
ATG Scholarship Update: Thoa Nguyen (2012 Winner)
Scholarship Winner: Thoa Nguyen
School: University of Texas at Austin
Major: Radio/Television/Film
One of the most compelling reasons we chose Thoa Nguyen to receive an ATG Artistic Scholarship Award and featured her in our monthly Going Against The Grain posts in 2012 was her sheer talent and tenacity. An immigrant from Vietnam at the tender age of two, she overcame language and culture barriers through her ambition to excel in school and a passion for studio art. As a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin, this Radio/Television/Film and Studio Art Major was already highly accomplished, with numerous leadership roles and academic honors under her belt. And now, as a senior, she continues to wow with her work in art direction and production design for more than 20 short films and helping her team capture first place in a joint UT Austin/St. Edwards University design competition. In the future, we hope to work with Thoa to create art for our upcoming documentary Light of Day. Read more about Thoa’s accomplishments and what she’s up to next.
ATG Scholarship Update: Kit Zauhar (2013 Winner)
Scholarship Winner: Kit Zauhar
School: NYU Tisch
Major: Film and Television Production, Minors in Creative Writing and Philosophy
The last time we caught up with Kit Zauhar, she was just 18 years-old, waiting to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Since receiving her ATG Artistic Scholarship Award in 2013, she has proudly increased her voice as an Asian American woman and filmmaker through a short film Helicopter, which will premiere on the West Coast at The National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle and published works in publications such as NYU’s Mercer Street, Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood and West 10th. Her ambitions don’t stop there – look out for Kit’s own online literary magazine to grace computer screens and devices soon. Read more about Kit’s accomplishments and what she’s up to next. Read more
ATG Scholarship Update: Lizzy Tan (2014 Winner)
Scholarship Winner: Lizzy Tan
School: University of Texas at Austin
Major(s): B.F.A. Dance, B.A. Economics, Liberal Arts Honors
Year: Sophomore
Sophomore Lizzy Tan has been one busy Longhorn since receiving an ATG Artistic Scholarship award in 2014. As a member of the University of Texas’ Dance Repertory Theatre, she has participated in a number of dance concerts while taking master classes with prominent dance artists. In just the past two school years, Lizzy has won six academic awards and honors, including a Cactus StandoUT Award, first place (twice) in the College of Liberal Arts Freedom of Speech essay contest and membership into the Order of Omega Honor Society. She’s also making a difference across the campus by co-founding Texas Leaders to “establish leadership as part of the University of Texas’ curriculum.”
Going Against The Grain: Kym Pham
Photo of Kym Pham by Eskil Digernes.
Born in Paris, Kym Pham is a Wonder Architect + Experience Designer living on the road. Between summiting remote mountains in Kyrgyzstan, competing in 4,000km rickshaw races across India, and studying sacred plant medicine in Peru, Kym Pham has documented nearly 70 countries in her mission to reconnect humans to their child-like sense of wonder. One of her methodologies includes designing life-altering bespoke adventures for creatives, where transformation is imminent.
Apply Today for the 2016 ATG Vietnamese and Thai Heritage Camp Scholarship by July 1st
Our 2015 Heritage and Culture Camp Scholarship Winners
The 2016 Against The Grain Vietnamese and Thai Heritage Camp Scholarship application process is officially open! Following our support of orphanages and underprivileged children in Asia, Against The Grain also provides scholarships here at home to ten young Asian American adoptees each year to attend culture camps such as Catalyst Foundation’s Vietnamese Culture Camp and Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families Vietnamese and Thai Heritage Camp. Last year, we raised $1,000, allowing ten youths to spend a few days in the summer connecting with their heritage, bonding with new friends and participating in enriching activities for this year’s Heritage and Culture Camps.
Eligibility: Proof of camp registration with Catalyst Foundation’s Vietnamese Culture Camp and HCAF Vietnamese and Thai Heritage Camp. Sorry, past recipients are not eligible for this year’s scholarship.
Due Date: Friday, July 1, 2016
Application: Simply submit the following in an email to outreach@againstthegrainproductions.com.
– Name of Applicant
– Age of Applicant
– City and State
– Photo of Applicant
– Question 1: What does ‘Against The Grain’ mean to me?
– Question 2: How do I go ‘Against The Grain’?
New Community Partners AREAA DFW and The Source of Hope!
ATG Board at the 2016 AREAA DFW Board Initiation and Charity Gala 01/29
We are thrilled at Against The Grain to partner with two North Texas organizations – AREAA DFW (Asian Real Estate Association of America of DFW) and The Source of Hope! Our community partners are nonprofits and governmental institutions who support Against The Grain Productions’ mission through collaboration, cross-promotion and program co-hosting. Read more
Going Against The Grain: Khai Vu
Born in Vietnam in 1980, Chef Khai Vu came to the States at the young age of 11. His first love and passion has always been food. With his Grandmother’s cooking as his young inspiration and his father growing him to be a successful business man, his family’s shared love of food has paved the way for him to produce some of the most modern and high quality cuisine at his own kitchen District One Kitchen & Bar in Las Vegas today.
Going Against The Grain: Rosa Oh
Rosa Oh is an accomplished business owner and community leader. She is the CEO and CMO of two companies, The Oh Group, LLC, a marketing and advertising agency and her new company Strap and Tote, LLC. She has been in marketing and advertising for the past 20 years.
December 2015 Aid Disbursement: The Philippines
In December 2015, Against The Grain Productions made their very first disbursement to Lady Fatima Orphanage located in Taguig, Philippines. With $1,500 allocated to orphanage aid in the Philippines for 2015, ATG’s Philippines Orphanage Advisor Stephen Tran and his team assisted in purchasing and donating supplies.
ATG Co-Director of Programming Jennifer Devany’s cousin Cherry Rose Chavez disbursed the supplies to the children at the orphanage upon delivery. We were able to give these children their best Christmas yet!
This year, we will be allocating $3,000 to give room to give and to grow. Not a bad start for our first aid to the Philippines!