Category: News

Learning How to Represent

ATG Board Member Hue Dao Miner recently competed in the 2011 Miss Asian American Texas Pageant. She was given the Asian Activist award, and we couldn’t be more proud of her for venturing to try something new! We asked us to tell her how this experience has changed her. Read her thoughts below:

Hue Dao Miner proudly wears the traditional Vietnamese 'ao dai.'

The lights, the eyes, the attention… they were on us girls. There were 22 of us total competing for the Miss Teen Asian American Texas, for ages 13-17 and Miss Asian American Texas, for ages 18-25. After weeks of rehearsals, our confidence was evaluated on stage. Twenty judges scored us based on talent, interview, and introduction in cultural attire and poise in evening gown. The event was spectacular, being broadcasted live stream.

The Miss Asian American Texas pageant allowed all of us to shine individually. We were clad in our robust confidence, gorgeous cultural and evening gowns. However, we were most proud to represent our countries. We collectively represented Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

I originally participated in the Miss Asian American Texas pageant because the ATG Fundraising Director, Sarah Tang-Horne, was joking around saying that I should compete since I was the youngest member on the Board of Directors, and one of two who could still meet the age requirements. The casual conversation became reality, I wanted to compete. I had to represent! Not only did I represent ATG; I represented my beloved motherland of Vietnam. So participating was more than just me.

I am so grateful to have so many supportive people around me. My mom, Tammy Miner, taught me charm. ATG President and Founder, Tammy Nguyen Lee (Miss Asian American Texas 1999-2001) coached me through the entire process. Miss Vietnam Global Alex Tran let me borrow an evening gown and traditional Vietnamese “ao dai.” I truly felt like a princess that night.

Shining in the evening gown presentation.


I didn’t go into the pageant to win, but to represent my Vietnamese roots and share my adoption story. But once I started participating, I wanted to win to carry on a platform for adoption, not necessarily just the family adoption type, but to adapt oneself into the community to make a difference.

I’ve learned more about my capabilities than ever. Putting together the application made me realize exactly how much I’ve done in the community, not just for one specific group of people, but for a variety of people in different settings. I received the “Asian American Activist Award” for my service. As cliché as it may sound, I’ve also learned that beauty is more than just looks, and that it should be shared with everyone.

Way to represent, Hue!

Congratulations to our Vietnamese Adoptee Heritage/Culture Camp Scholarship Contest Winners!

Against the Grain Productions is proud to announce
the winners of the 2011 Vietnamese Adoptee Heritage/Culture
Camp Scholarship Contest!

Earlier this year, ATG offered a contest to Vietnamese adoptees planning to attend a summer culture camp.  The rules were simple. Just tell us what ‘against the grain’ means to you, and tell us how you go ‘against the grain.’ Winners were selected at random and awarded a $100 scholarship to their culture camp of choice.  Read their adorable answers below! Some were submitted by loving parents. 🙂

2011 Winners:

Gracie Linh Hoffman, John Thach Minh Wolfinger, Aiden Bao Kornas, Nicholas French, Jamison French

Gracie Linh Hoffman

What does ‘Against the Grain’ mean to you?

It means embracing our differences and being proud of what I am, and not to worry about whether I’m just like everyone else, because I’m not.  I’m Asian-American in a country where most people are not. I’m Vietnamese in a country where most Asian-Americans are not.  I’m Jewish when most Vietnamese are not.  So I have to go against the grain, whether I want to or not.  That will be hard to do sometimes, but will be rewarding in the long run because I can be a smart, creative, beautiful, and compassionate, and unique person, and don’t have to follow the pack or be like everybody else.  The fact is, I’m NOT just like everyone else, thank goodness.

How do you go ‘Against the Grain?’

I try to learn new things every day. I throw myself into lots of things: gymnastics, music, science, coloring, mathematics, swimming, school, and more. Some day, I’ll figure out what I do best, and what I love, and how I want to find my own path to a fulfilling life. Because I am different from others, I know that my path doesn’t have to come from following everyone else, but will come from learning what I can from those I love and respect, and from my own talents and interests.

John Thach Minh Wolfinger

What does ‘Against the Grain’ mean to you?

‘Against the grain’ means to me that you try things differently than everyone else.  It means you do not back off when someone tells you that you can not do something.

How do you go ‘Against the Grain?’

I am one of the shortest boys in my class.  I go ‘against the grain’ and try different sports or contest when the other boys say I am too short.

Aiden Bao Kornas

What does ‘Against The Grain‘ mean to you?

Doing what’s right for our family, even if it’s not the norm or what other families are doing.

How do you go ‘Against The Grain?’

Doing whatever I can to help Aiden feel connected to and be proud of  his Vietnamese heritage and the Vietnamese culture….even if it means missing family events to attend events with other Vietnam adoptive families; going to events at our local Buddhist temple or at our Vietnamese American Community Center where I am the minority and my son is not; making culture camp our one family vacation this summer and hopefully every summer.

Nicholas French


What does ‘Against the Grain’ mean to you?

Not conforming to everyone’s ideas and holding your own ideas and staying steadfast to them.

How do you go ‘Against the Grain?’

Not being influenced by others and doing research for myself and believing in what I do.  I like to do community service and help others.

Jamison French


What does ‘Against the Grain’ mean to you?

I think against the grain means to do the unexpected or unusual; what you feel is right.

How do you go ‘Against the Grain?’

I go against the grain by being a member of the Natural Helper program in my school.

Against The Grain Productions Announces First Scholarship Winners

Non-profit Awards Artistic Scholarship to Two Outstanding Texas Asian American Students

DALLAS, TX – Dallas nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions announced the winners of their first ever Artistic Scholarship as Texas students Monika Hoang and Dorcas Leung. This year’s Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship is sponsored by Hotels.com and is given to an outstanding Asian American high school senior or college student pursuing a degree in the performing and/or visual arts and who represents the spirit of the organization’s going “against the grain” mantra. Both Hoang and Leung will each be awarded a $1,000 scholarship for their exceptional artistic ability, talent, community involvement, leadership and academics.

ATG Founder/President Tammy Nguyen Lee is proud of these two exemplary students who set a precedent for the standards that ATG values. Lee said, “We created this scholarship as an extension of what our organization is already doing to promote and support Asian Americans in the arts, and we hope that this scholarship continues to cultivate those in our community who are finding unique ways to express themselves and create stories for us to share.” She continued, “We look forward to seeing how these two students will grow in their profession and see just how they will find a way to give back.” Lily Yang, ATG’s Director of Community Outreach, spearheaded the review process for the ATG Artistic Scholarship and highlights the principles of the fund. “The scholarship embodies ATG’s mission of promoting awareness of art in all media and a commitment to the community. The scholarship program is not limited to only financial assistance, but also provides the winner with mentorship, exposure and a support group both within and outside of the art community.” She says she hopes that the scholarship will be a catalyst that will propel winners to greater heights.

ATG Artistic Scholarship Recipient Monika Hoang

Monika Hoang is a junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and is majoring in creative advertising. She was recently awarded top honors as Best Art Director for her portfolio class and was chosen to participate in the elite One Show Student Exhibition in New York City. In response to winning the ATG Artistic Scholarship, Hoang said, “Receiving this scholarship shows me that support for the arts is out there in the community.” She said that the scholarship gives hope to others who are hesitant in pursuing arts. “This scholarship is like a gentle nudge and whisper telling me to keep doing what I love.”

ATG Artistic Scholarship Recipient Dorcas Leung

Dorcas Leung, a senior at Stratford High School in Houston, Texas, recently graduated at the top of her class. There, she starred in and participated in nine different theatre productions. She was nominated twice for the Tommy Tune Awards’ Best Featured Performer. She is skilled in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, musical theatre and piano. She was one of twelve students accepted into the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma, where she will begin her college career this fall. “Getting the ATG scholarship makes me feel very blessed. It is hard enough already to be an Asian American in a difficult field of study, but I feel that with this scholarship I could be an encourager to other Asian Americans wanting to pursue a career in the arts,” Leung said. “I am very happy to be a representative of this scholarship, and I know it holds a lot of weight, because I want to be a good example of ‘Going Against The Grain’ and prove that I can do what I want to do, even if it is difficult.”

Both scholarship winners will attend ATG’s 3rd annual Fashion for a Passion charity event, held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Studios 1019 in Dallas, TX, where they will be presented with their scholarship, as well as showcase their talent amongst other Asian American artists. Hoang’s artwork will be on display, while will Leung perform a vocal medley.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian-American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages and outreach. Their first project, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For scholarship details, visit www.againstthegrainproductions.com/scholarship. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

Going Against The Grain: Dorcas Leung

Screen_shot_2011-10-18_at_4.41.39_PM

Dorcas Leung recently graduated high school at the top of her class, during which she starred and participated in nine different theatre productions.  She is actively involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities, including planning and hosting school functions through student council, performing as part of an improvisational comedy troop, and helping organize theatre activities for children as part of her local thespian society.

She was nominated for the Tommy Tune Awards’ Best Featured Performer twice.  She is skilled in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, musical theatre and piano and will begin her college career studying musical theatre at the University of Oklahoma.

Full Name

Shuting Dorcas Leung

Hometown

Hong Kong, China

Current City

Houston, Texas

Ethnicity

Chinese

What does getting this scholarship mean to you?

Getting the ATG scholarship makes me feel very blessed. It is hard enough already to be an Asian American in a difficult field of study, but I feel that with this scholarship I could be an encourager to other Asian Americans wanting to pursue a career in the arts. I am very happy to be a representative of this scholarship, and I know it holds a lot of weight because I want to be a good example of “Going Against The Grain” and proving that I can do what I want to do, even if it is difficult.

What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?”

To “Go Against The Grain” means to defy the norm. To me, I think it means to continue doing what I love and am passionate about, even if it’s not something that is always approved of or smiled upon.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the arts?

I first started doing theatre arts in middle school as a hobby but the more I was involved in productions, the more I loved the thrill of being on stage and performing. I think theatre is the most unique form of communication because with each production and each show, the actors are telling a story. It may not be your own story but somehow in a show, the message and thoughts of others are being communicated. I decided to pursue a career in the arts because I love how unique but direct communication is shown in theatre.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American student going into this field?

Physically, it is hard to be a musical theatre major because most shows are written as other races. It is a challenge because although I love to perform, I may not always get the right opportunity to. It’s not that I believe that I am not capable of doing certain roles, but the truth is,  the roles were not written for my personality/character as an Asian American. Although this is difficult, I cannot change and would not change who I am.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

My biggest accomplishment, I think, is that I have convinced my parents to support me in my decision to major in the arts. It is hard and against the norm for an Asian American girl to have the passion to do theatre full time. At first, my parents were hesitant and saw my love for theatre just as a hobby that would pass. But now at this age, I am very blessed to be able to have my parents by my side and supportive of my decisions.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Hopefully, in the future I can use my decision to major in theatre to write, communicate, and show the need for Asian Americans to express themselves through art. By winning this scholarship, I am more than happy to represent “Against the Grain Productions” because I believe that my choices for majoring in theatre are most definitely going “against the grain.”

Going Against the Grain: Monika Hoang

2011 ATG Artistic Scholarship Winner Monika Hoang
2011 ATG Artistic Scholarship Winner Monika Hoang

Monika Hoang is a junior at Southern Methodist University, majoring in Creative Advertising and minoring in Psychology and Latin. She was recently awarded Best Art Director for her portfolio class and was chosen to participate in the One Show Student Exhibition in New York City.

She considers herself to be a relaxed, cheerful and sarcastic both as a person and an artist. Artists must always be pushing themselves creatively, and sometimes this can be achieved when you become one with who you are on a personal and artist level; you never know when the next amazing idea will hit you.

Full Name

Monika Hoang

Hometown

Mansfield, Texas

Current City

Dallas, Texas

Ethnicity

Vietnamese

What does getting this scholarship mean to you?

Receiving this scholarship shows me that support for the arts is out there in the community. In a way it gives hope to those who are hesitant to pursue the arts. This scholarship is like a gentle nudge and whisper telling me to keep doing what I love.

What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?”

Defy stereotypes, try new things, don’t hold yourself back, break down mental barriers, scare some people in a good way, color outside the lines, wear mismatched socks, be free.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the arts?

I actually went back and forth in choosing potential career paths during my senior year of high school. All it took was reminding myself that wherever I would work in the future, I would be for at least 40 hours a week; the thought of doing something I didn’t love solidified my choice in pursuing the arts. Life has more meaning when you’re doing something you care about and makes you happy.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American student going into this field?

Initially, overcoming community expectations to pursue fields such as the sciences was a small hurdle to overcome, but once I began to immerse myself in my craft, those demands became insignificant. I did things for me, because I loved to, not because someone else wanted me to.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

My biggest accomplishment would probably be getting the opportunity to showcase my work in the student exhibition at the annual “One Show” in New York. Being able to attend this conference and meet and network with notable people from within the industry was a truly valuable experience.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

More work! I plan on entering more advertising competitions next school year while honing my craft, so stay tuned!

Mineral Wells Index: Update of Vietnam Memorial Wall replica is Saturday

June 3, 2011

Mineral Wells Index

By Chris Agee |cagee@mineralwellsindex.com
The only permanent Vietnam Memorial Wall outside of Washington, D.C., located at the National Vietnam War Museum on U.S. Highway 180 just east of Mineral Wells, will be updated for the second time Saturday with the names of three Marines and three Army soldiers added.

“We’ve already had the panels changed to reflect the new names,” said Jim Vines, commander of AmVets Post 133 in Mineral Wells.

The names will be unveiled at the ceremony, which is open to the public at no cost and begins at 10:30 a.m.

Vines said museum officials are required to wait one year after names are added to the original wall before the same names can be added to the local wall, meaning the people honored at Saturday’s event have been displayed in the nation’s capital since 2010.

Five more names added to the original wall this year will be etched into the replica wall next year, Messinger said.

The local wall, approximately half the size of the original, was unveiled May 30, 2009, and originally contained 70 panels and 58,260 names.

Vines said in addition to the unveiling of the names, he is excited to welcome guests from Operation Babylift to the celebration.

According to NVWM Treasurer Jim Messinger, Operation Babylift was established near the end of the Vietnam War to rescue scores of children left orphaned after years of battle in the country.

In total, the operation resulted in about 4,000 children being flown to safety, primarily to America but also to Canada and various European countries. Messinger said all of the rescued children were assigned homes and adoptive parents before landing in their new location.

Unfortunately, Messinger said, the second plane leaving South Vietnam crashed, killing 130 of the 300 on board.

In addition to the negative press assigned to the operation following the crash, Messinger said controversy arose at the time concerning whether some children were taken against their parent’s wishes. In the long run, however, the operation has largely been viewed as a great success.

Three speakers from Operation Babylift will be the first to address the crowd Saturday, according to Messinger, and eight other speakers will take part in an afternoon exhibit at the museum’s visitor’s center.

The guest list includes, in addition to now-grown rescued orphans and family members of those lost in the rescue plane crash, many speakers who were instrumental in making the operation successful.

Air Force veterans responsible for flying the rescue missions, Tammy Nguyen Lee, the producer and director of a feature film about the operation, Olen Bautwell, a crash survivor, and his wife, Louise, a Clark Air Force Base Babylift coordinator are all scheduled to speak.

Additionally, Vietnam veteran and artist Doc Bernie Duff will unveil an Operation Babylift painting which he will donate to the museum and Thuy Smith, the international president of the Amerasian Foundation will be on hand to address the crowd, expected to number between 500 and 1,000 people.

Operation Babylift’s presentation will be moderated by Lana Noone, author of the book “Global Mom,” which recounts her family’s experience adopting multiple orphans through the operation.

Another big draw for the event is an appearance by Elvis Presley tribute artist Kraig Parker before he goes on to perform that night at a concert in the Mineral Wells High School auditorium.

Parker will sing “America the Beautiful,” Vines said, adding both Presley and Parker were very supportive of veterans.

Presley himself served in the military, stationed at Fort Hood before his deployment to Germany, and, fittingly, another event scheduled for Saturday is an aerial display featuring helicopters from the same military post.

The event will be catered by Meals on Wheels, Messinger said, and the menu will feature pigs in a blanket.

Appearances by Patriot Guard Riders and a parachute jump by former U.S. Army Golden Knight and double-amputee Dana Bowman, of Weatherford, are also planned for the event.

Two attractions scheduled for Saturday’s ceremony have been cancelled due to conflicting schedules, according to Messinger.

The Liberty Bell will not make an appearance due to a military funeral scheduled for the same day and the bagpiper scheduled to perform during the invocation will be unable to attend.

The Record: Documentary on Vietnamese orphans has local touch

Robert Ballard of the University of Waterloo holds a promotional poster from a soon to be released documentary about a massive airlift of orphans out of Vietnam after the the war.By Frances Barrick, Record staff

Wed Jan 12 2011

He’s a University of Waterloo professor who is featured prominently in a documentary about the 1975 evacuation of thousands of orphans from war torn Vietnam.

Now Robert Ballard has arranged for the film, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, to be shown Jan. 22 at the Princess Twin cinema in Waterloo.

“A lot of people are interested in international adoptions and are intrigued by our story” and that led to this showing, Ballard said.

Ballard was just three weeks old when he and thousands of other Vietnamese orphans were airlifted during an American-led evacuation to protect the children from the impending threat of the Communist regime.

The orphans were adopted by families in the United States, Canada and Australia.

In their own voices, this movie tells the story of some of these Vietnamese adoptees growing up in America where they faced racism and being associated with an unpopular war.

Ballard is featured not only as a Vietnamese adoptee, but the film tells the story of the trials and tribulations he and his wife encountered as they tried to adopt a baby boy from Vietnam.

They were living in the United States when their plans to adopt fell through as the U.S. government ended its adoption program with Vietnam over allegations of baby selling, bribery and false documents.

In July 2008, the couple moved to Waterloo and started the adoption process again. Last May, they adopted Jayden, now 19 months, from an orphanage in Vietnam.

“Anyone involved in adoptions would be interested” in this film, Ballard said.

The documentary will screen at the Princess Twin at 46 King St. N. on Jan. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Although admission is free, a ticket is required. The event is being held as a fundraiser for the Vietnam Education Society, a Canadian-based non-profit group that builds schools in Vietnam.

To reserve a seat and or make a donation go to www.eventbrite.com/event/1089218883.

After the show, a discussion will be held featuring Ballard and his wife, Sarah Ballard, and Jared Rehberg, a cast member and the film’s associate producer.

The film coincides with a panel discussion on Jan. 21 at the University of Waterloo starting at 6:30 p.m. The panellists include three adult adoptees from Vietnam and Korea.

Going Against The Grain: Ysa Le

Ysa Le

ATG loves passionate people like Ysa Le, whose commitment  has supported so many artists in our community. Everyone who meets Ysa will know she has a bubbly, upbeat personality, always willing to land a hand and give words of encouragement.

Ysa began her involvement with arts activism in 2000 when she volunteered for the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. She served as Board President from 2004-2008 and is currently Executive Director. She has produced and co-produced many events and co-founded the biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF).  She recently developed the smART Program, which provides free art workshops to non-profit youth organizations in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas.

In 2005, Ysa was chosen by the Orange County Register as one of the “30 Vietnamese Americans to Watch” in celebrating  the 30th anniversary  of the Vietnamese American community in the United States.

Ysa is a graduate from the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy and currently works as a pharmacist.

Full Name:

Ysa Le

Hometown:

Saigon, Vietnam

Current City:

Fountain Valley, CA

Ethnicity:

Vietnamese

What does it mean to you to  “Go Against The Grain?”

Unconventional – swimming against the current –  but it needs to be done in order to reach the other shore. Art has always been viewed a secondary in the Vietnamese community.

What made you decide to lead Asian American non-profit for the arts?

I believe art can build the community.  It brings people together by creating understanding among people of different background and age groups.  And I love artists’ energy, passion and creativity.  Their work enriches my life.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in this field?

Specifically as a Vietnamese American, I think in the aftermath of the War, the portrayal of Vietnam and Vietnamese people has been narrowed to “the war” by the mainstream media.  Many of the artwork created by the mainstream artists would only focus on their own stories, leaving the Vietnamese people in the background with no voices of their own.  All this would create un urge for community art organizers to present a diversity of stories from our own experience.  Our diversity, in turn, would enrich the American experience and history.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

I think my biggest accomplishment so far is to introduce new artists to the Vietnamese communities as well as others through different projects by the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA).

What’s up next?

The fifth biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF), which will take place from April 7-10 & 14-17, 2011 at University of California, Irvine (UCI), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Bowers Museum, Santa Ana.  ViFF will showcase over 50 films made by filmmakers of Vietnamese descent from all over the world.

For more information, visit VAALA and ViFF.