VAR

Stands For

VIETNAMESE

AMERICAN

ROUNDTABLE

VAR envisions a strong and unified Vietnamese American community that works towards improving our quality of life for all.

To this end, VAR focuses our mission to organize, advocate, and educate our community. We accomplish this through mobilization, advocacy, and education – mobilization through events and coalition building, advocacy through empowering and strategy, and education through panels, workshops and cultural events.

VAR’s programs cover three key strategic issue areas in community building, civic engagement, and cultural learning.

Our Pillars for Strategic Community Advocacy

Community Building

Group of four young people wearing masks, discussing papers in a brightly lit indoor setting.

VAR’s mission is to advocate for our community.

We do that through educating our community about the issues that impact us and through meaningful partnerships for civic and community engagement.

Civic Engagement

Group of people sitting on grass outdoors, wearing masks, one person speaking into a microphone, trees in background

VAR encourages our community to participate in the civic process—engaging with local leaders, advocating for policy changes, and voting in elections.

We empower individuals to make their voices heard and create lasting impact through informed action.

Cultural Learning

A person wearing a denim jacket and black face mask writes in a notebook in a room with maps and people.

Each year, VAR organizes events and workshops that are significant to the community - ranging from immigration forums, district elections, public health resource fairs, community cooking classes and more.

Community Building

VAR is proud of its history of engagement and activism through culturally competent organizing. We integrate our advocacy into the events and projects we take on to observe and honor our culture, and we collaborate with other groups representing local youth, seniors, and neighborhoods to bring us closer together.

Part of VAR’s mission is to advocate for our community. We do that through educating our community about the issues that impact us and through meaningful partnerships for civic and community engagement. These kinds of projects ensure that we are involved in the important decisions that are made on the national stage and down to the local level. We take on these kinds of projects because our apathy to issues involving immigration, housing, human rights, and other matters gives others the power to make decisions for us rather than with us.

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Partnerships & Collaborations

  • VAR partnered with the Open Space Authority, this event invites community members to explore local natural landscapes through guided walks. Participants learn about native plants, biodiversity, and the importance of environmental conservation while fostering connections with nature and each other.

  • In partnership with VeggieFest, VAR hosted an immersive escape room experience where participants solved puzzles related to cultural themes and social justice issues. This interactive event encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and community engagement in a fun and educational setting.

  • During the pandemic, VAR launched a comprehensive response to support the community, providing essential resources such as food distributions, health information, and access to public health services. VAR also worked to combat misinformation, promote vaccination efforts, and address the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations, ensuring the well-being and resilience of the community.

  • In partnership with the author of The Sympathizer, VAR hosted an exclusive early screening of the film in his hometown of San Jose. This special event brought the community together to engage with the story's themes of identity, history, and the Vietnamese diaspora, followed by discussions about cultural heritage and the immigrant experience, in the presence of the celebrated author himself.

    • Wildflower Walks with the Open Space Authority

    • Cafe VAR Escape Room at Veggie Fest

    • VAR COVID-19 Response

Children wearing masks play a game at an outdoor event, with a man in a patterned shirt standing nearby. The background shows people, trees, and tents.

Education & Training

  • The SEEDS Summer Program is designed to empower young leaders through a series of workshops and mentorship opportunities. Focused on community engagement, leadership development, and cultural identity, SEEDS equips participants with the tools to become future advocates and changemakers within the Vietnamese American community and beyond.

  • VAR launched the 2018 Student Voter Registration Contest to encourage youth civic engagement by promoting voter registration among students. Through a friendly competition among schools and student groups, the contest aimed to increase awareness about the importance of voting and amplify the voices of younger generations in local elections.

  • This interactive cooking class series connects participants to Vietnamese culinary traditions while sharing the stories behind beloved dishes. Cơm Back to Vietnam fosters cross-generational learning and cultural appreciation through food, offering a hands-on experience in preparing traditional meals that reflect Vietnam’s rich heritage.

A person speaking into a microphone in front of a group of people outside, with city buildings in the background.

Youth & Family Engagement

  • This event kicked off a new tradition of family-friendly Halloween festivities, featuring games, costumes, and activities designed to create a safe and enjoyable space for all ages to celebrate the holiday together.

  • In collaboration with local safety officials, VAR combined Halloween fun with important public safety education, offering a thrilling haunted house experience alongside interactive safety demonstrations for families.

  • VAR’s annual celebration of the Lunar New Year brings together families to honor Vietnamese traditions, featuring cultural performances, lion dances, and communal activities that mark the beginning of the new year.

  • This event celebrates the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a beloved cultural holiday for Vietnamese families, with lantern-making, mooncakes, and performances that highlight the significance of family unity and gratitude.

Civic Engagement

VAR recognizes the importance of civic engagement to improve the quality of life and further the goals of the Vietnamese-American community. We seek to engage the community by providing opportunities for our community to participate in the process, whether through education and outreach, participation in voter registration initiatives, and through using our collective voices to shape our lives.

We inform the community of recent changes in the law to protect individual rights; we participate in voter registration drives; and we recruit volunteers for poll monitoring, canvassing, and phone banking. We encourage individuals to uphold their civic duties to make a difference in our community.

Group of four people wearing masks standing under a canopy, holding COVID-19 test kits and medical supplies, with a "Vietnamese American Roundtable" sign in the background.

Policy Advocacy & Forums

  • This conference brings together advocates, workers, and community members to discuss labor rights, workplace equity, and strategies for advocating for fair treatment in the workforce.

  • VAR participated in the UVSA Summit to address pressing issues facing the Asian Pacific Islander community, sharing insights and advocating for collaborative solutions to foster empowerment and advocacy.

  • This initiative aimed to enhance voter accessibility and participation in Santa Clara County, providing a platform for community members to engage with local decision-making processes.

  • This forum featured candidates running for the San Jose District 7 seat, allowing community members to hear directly from the candidates about their platforms and priorities.

  • This symposium focused on the critical immigration issues facing the Vietnamese American community, facilitating discussions among experts, advocates, and community members to inform and inspire action.

  • The API Policy Summit brought together policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to discuss key issues affecting the Asian Pacific Islander community, fostering collaboration and strategic planning for advocacy efforts.

  • This forum provided a platform for candidates in the San Jose mayoral race to present their visions and engage with community members on critical issues impacting the city.

A man wearing a mask standing near a booth with a Vietnamese American Roundtable sign, holding items. A table is covered with a red cloth displaying papers and packages. Other people are present, some wearing masks, and there's a yellow banner with Vietnamese characters.

Voter Education & Outreach

  • This training program equips community members with the knowledge and tools to engage in the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of voter registration and participation.

  • VAR's appearances on Valley Politics aimed to raise awareness about local issues and mobilize community engagement in civic matters through informative discussions and interviews.

  • VAR hosts monthly sessions to assist individuals with naturalization processes and voter registration, promoting civic participation within the community.

  • VAR actively engaged the community to ensure accurate representation and participation in the 2020 Census, emphasizing the importance of every individual's voice in shaping local resources and policies.

A person wearing a mask and holding a microphone in an indoor setting with floral decorations and other masked individuals in the background.

Candidate & Policy Summits

Cultural Learning

Each year, VAR organizes events and workshops that are significant to the community – ranging from immigration forums, district elections, public health resource fairs, community cooking classes and more. Within each of our events, we build on the need to understand and pass on our cultural traditions. It is crucial to build on our intergenerational goals to bridge the gap of understanding and empowerment for our future generations.

Through our cultural events, we learn more about our community’s potential to narrate our stories, vocalize our issues, and mobilize our people. We have reflected on our past experiences and contemplated our future goals. We have acted on the interests of the Vietnamese-American community and our cultural values.

As refugees and children of refugees, we are mindful of the tragic conflicts around the world that have led to the exodus of millions of people from their homes. VAR seeks to encourage an understanding of the Vietnamese American immigrant experience and how it weaves together our past, present and future.

A young woman speaking into a microphone seated on a folding chair, with other participants nearby. The background has art pieces and photographs displayed on a wall.

Community Celebrations

  • This whimsical Halloween event combined fun and creativity, engaging families with interactive activities and performances inspired by the beloved story of Willy Wonka.

  • This Halloween celebration transported participants into a fantastical world, featuring themed activities and attractions that promoted community bonding through shared experiences.

  • This vibrant bazaar showcased local artisans, food vendors, and cultural performances, celebrating the diversity and creativity within the community.

  • Born as a collaborative effort between Vietnamese American Roundtable and Union of Vietnamese Student Associations, Northern California.

    LNY SJ: Bridging Generation's mission is to build the beloved Lunar New Year festivities in a modern light. Through the collective efforts of both young professionals, college students and the community, LNY SJ aims to create a new image of what it means to be a festival for Lunar New Year in San Jose.

Group of people playing a board game in a food court, focused on game pieces, with chairs and tables in the background.

Cultural Heritage

  • This annual event honors the legacy of the Vietnamese diaspora, raising awareness about historical events while fostering community solidarity and remembrance.

    VAR has hosted the Black April Commemoration since 2014 to Present Year.

People sitting at a table practicing calligraphy, with brushes and ink, in an outdoor setting with colorful paper.

Cultural Exhange & Awareness

  • This interactive cooking class series connects participants to Vietnamese culinary traditions while sharing the stories behind beloved dishes. Cơm Back to Vietnam fosters cross-generational learning and cultural appreciation through food, offering a hands-on experience in preparing traditional meals that reflect Vietnam’s rich heritage.

  • VAR’s annual celebration of the Lunar New Year brings together families to honor Vietnamese traditions, featuring cultural performances, lion dances, and communal activities that mark the beginning of the new year.

  • This event celebrates the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a beloved cultural holiday for Vietnamese families, with lantern-making, mooncakes, and performances that highlight the significance of family unity and gratitude.