Dear Friend,
The day after the election, I thought of my Dad, who passed three years ago. While searching for his guidance, I found the one gift he bought me in my life: a small lacquered wooden heart box with a picture of a buffalo herder that he bought on his first trip back to Viet Nam after fleeing as a refugee. In that moment, I was reminded of our collective strength and wisdom, which will always prevail.
In this moment, we at SEARAC are called to honor Southeast Asian American generations past, present, and future on the eve of our 50th resettlement anniversary, with power and love.
That’s why this year’s Week of Giving fundraiser will give testimony to SEARAC’s core work to defend and protect our communities for generations to come, while also practicing resistance by celebrating joy and love.
Our fundraiser this year shares art from celebrations past alongside five new illustrations to commemorate our community’s power heading into our 50th year anniversary.
This includes Kat Eng’s Refuge illustration, which “imagines an immigrant family finding an oasis within an unfamiliar city.” It reminds me of the buffalo and buffalo herder from my Dad’s gift, which I hold sacred to navigate the most difficult of times. You can learn more about Kat on her website or by reading our interview with her here.
Please join me in honoring our experiences while looking ahead to the community’s next 50 years. Make a gift to SEARAC today and help us reach our goal of raising $20,000 in support of our vital research, training, advocacy, and community power.
Quyên Đinh
Executive Director
SEARAC