“We Southeast Asians are a fighting people”
“Jonathan Tran, a HIP [Hmong Innovating Politics] organizer who’s also with the Southeast Asian Action Resource Center, thanked the district staff for working so hard on a plan that is so flawed. “To the board members who have not stood up to this terrible process…we Southeast Asians are a fighting people….because we are a people who have been denied peace,” he said. We want to work alongside you. Instead of the opportunity to uplift communities, you have again denied our communities peace.”
Source: Sacramento Press
Understanding the Affordable Care Act: A Fact Sheet Series by SEARAC How the Affordable Care Act Benefits Southeast Asian American Families
Her Story: When I was growing up, my father struggled with multiple health problems. He was diagnosed with diabetes, and also suffered from lung problems that made it hard for him to breathe. Even though these are health conditions that could have been managed, he was never able to get the health care he needed. He applied for Medicaid three times and was denied each time. Additionally, because of his health problems, private insurance companies refused to offer him any form of coverage. My family did not have enough money for medicine and medical bills, so he avoided going to the doctor and rarely bought the medications he needed. As a result, over the years, my dad’s health got much worse and his medical bills continued to pile up. Last year, my dad was rushed to the hospital. He was placed on life support because he could not breathe on his own. A couple days later he was pronounced brain dead. My family had to pull the plug on him because there was nothing else the doctors could do, and we could not afford the continued medical bills. We have so much debt from all the medical bills that I don’t know how we will ever pay it off. Recently, I started having respiratory health problems that are similar to my dad’s. We still do not have health insurance, and I do not always tell my family when I’m not feeling well because I know we cannot afford to go to the doctor. However, I am worried that if I do not get medical care, I can get chronically sick like my dad. (Story Source: Khmer Girls in Action, Long Beach, CA)
How does the Affordable Care Act (ACA) help Southeast Asian American Families? As Pouelinna’s story demonstrates, the lack of health insurance takes a toll on the entire family. The existing health insurance system leaves many families without coverage because they either do not qualify for public health programs or cannot afford private insurance on their own. Thus, many may go years without health access and risk life-threatening consequences. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes significant strides to help ensure that everyone has access to health insurance and to help you and your family plan for your future health care needs.
via SEARAC
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The Green Papaya is a community blog and online forum where the Southeast Asian community may share its stories. Its goal is to provide an online space that engages the SEA community, fosters voices within that community, and also raise awareness about that community. Click here if you wish to submit a post.
SEARAC - Employment and Internship Opportunities
Employment Opportunities:
SEARAC is currently seeking a Development & Operations Coordinator
Position Summary: The Development & Operations Coordinator works in partnership with SEARAC’s management team on a variety of resource development efforts, including researching and writing grant proposals, managing funder-related logistics, and working with the Director of Communications on online individual giving campaigns. The Development & Operations Coordinator is also responsible for working in cooperation with SEARAC’s Administrative Manager in order to manage the day-to-day bookkeeping operations of the organization. The Development & Operations Coordinator is the primary contact person with SEARAC’s accountant and three finance-related Board of Directors committees.
For a full description and information on how to apply, click here.
Deadline to apply: February 24, 2012
SEARAC is currently seeking an AmeriCorps VISTA Member
Position Summary: SEARAC’s AmeriCorps VISTA member will focus on two key objectives: 1) to improve health outcomes through raising awareness of health issues and the availability of health care services, and expanding the number of people with health insurance coverage; and 2) to build SEARAC’s capacity to continue anti-poverty programming.
For a full description and information on how to apply, click here.
Deadline to apply: March 2, 2012
Internship Opportunities:
SEARAC is currently accepting applications for a Summer Legal Intern in our DC office.
SEARAC seeks a summer intern to assist in our anti-deportation work. Southeast Asian Americans are greatly affected by deportation provisions of current immigration laws. Thousands of legal permanent residents who arrived in the United States as refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have orders of removal due to criminal convictions. SEARAC’s work on deportation strives to restore discretion to immigration judges, allowing them to review and determine deportation cases on an individual basis as well as narrow the definition of “aggravated felony” to reflect proportionality and the American system of justice. The intern will work directly with SEARAC’s Director of Policy to advocate for the priorities listed above. This internship will not involve the direct legal representation of clients.
To find out more information, please click here.
Deadline to apply: March 12, 2012
SEARAC is currently accepting applications for Summer 2012 internships in both our DC and Sacramento offices.
Apply to intern in the WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE: There are two ways to apply for the SEARAC DC Summer Internship:
1) You may apply via the OCA National Summer Internship Program here. Please state in your application your interest in being placed at the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. The deadline to apply is March 12, 2012. Keep in mind that acceptance to the OCA National Summer Internship does not guarantee you will be placed at SEARAC.
2) You may also apply directly to the SEARAC internship program online here. The deadline to apply is March 12, 2012. You may apply to both the OCA National Summer Internship and directly to SEARAC.
Apply to intern in the SACRAMENTO OFFICE: Click here to view the online application for the Sacramento office. The deadline to apply is March 12, 2012.
For more information about SEARAC’s internship program, please contact fam@searac.org
Source: http://www.searac.org/content/employment-and-internship-opportunities
