VietUnity Organization Identifies Needs in Oakland Vietnamese Community

from VietUnity press release
10/25/07

VietUnity a grassroots, Vietnamese American organization is organizing a Unity Forum.The forum will highlight data findings on the often unrecognized needs of Vietnamese Americans living in Oakland..The forum also plans to discuss mobilization and strategy.

VietUnity will present the findings of the first community based survey project conducted in the Oakland San Antonio neighborhood, focused on the Vietnamese community. The survey sample came from 101 Vietnamese Americans ages 16 – 35.

Some major findings in the report include:

• · Housing: There is a need for affordable housing in Oakland. To be able to make rent in Oakland, 70% of those surveyed say they live with three or more family members or friends.
• Education: More than half say they want to obtain more education, but high tuition and school related expenses create real obstacles for young Vietnamese Americans to go to school.
• Unemployment: Young Vietnamese Americans face a high rate of unemployment (21%).
• Violence: At least one in four young Vietnamese Americans are extremely affected by gang violence and experience major problems in their neighborhood.

In Oakland, the Vietnamese population at 8,000 tends to be poorer and more recent immigrants, compared to Vietnamese counterparts elsewhere in California causing challenges to be overlooked and being assessed in the larger Vietnamese American discussions.

The forum called "California Dreamin': For A Better Oakland Day": was held at 655 International Blvd. Clinton Park Oakland.