Latest news with #CambodianAmerican
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
New meaningful play about Cambodian family set in Lowell will debut in city
A new play, "What You Are Now," about a Cambodian family will soon open in Lowell, the city with the second-largest Cambodian population in the United States. The play is actually set in the city. The production looks at generational trauma, family connections, and the hopes of healing. "Sharing this piece allows us to not only share what the people go through," says actor Joe Gno. "But also share the history of the tragedy that happened to the characters of the play and of the people of Cambodia." Actor Pisay Pao makes it clear, "I don't want anyone to be turned away and feel like I'm not Cambodian American, so it wouldn't relate to me. I'd rather people know first that this is an American story. It's an American family story. " Pao says that the family aspect is key. "How much do we really know about our mothers and our fathers? How much do they really know about us?" Her character, Pia, is a neuroscientist on a mission. "She's trying to fix her mom, basically. She's trying to connect with her mom. She wants her mom to be happy. She wants to be close to her. And so she goes through this journey in trying to find a cure for her mom's trauma," Pao explains. The trauma stems from surviving the Khmer Rouge, escaping the Cambodian genocide that claimed the lives of nearly two million people, 50 years ago this month. As Siobhan, the director of a non-profit, actor Kalean Ung hopes to convince Pia's mom to open up about fleeing her homeland. "This speaks to lots of different immigrant families and touches on a lot of subjects that we're still talking about, " Ung says. "Many people are going to see themselves on stage, not just Khmer people." Gno tells us, "There's not a huge gap between the Cambodian population and everybody else, especially here in Lowell." The cast feels that the Merrimack Repertory Theater is the perfect company to stage this play. "As a Cambodian-American myself," Gno says, "it means a lot to get to do this piece and offer something back to the community where their voices [are] not often as represented." "Lowell is such an amazing city," Pao tells us. " I stumbled upon city hall, and they were doing a Cambodian flag raising. And I was just stunned. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that this was happening in Lowell. And it wasn't just Cambodians. It was the entire community, and I got to see how diverse the city really is." Ung agrees, "The community is so supportive. They want to be involved, and it's so meaningful to be able to tell a story like this for this community." Merrimack Repertory Theater's production of "What You Are Now" opens at the Lowell Auditorium on Wednesday, April 23 and runs through May 11.
Reuters
12-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Dignity Living CEO: We Are Cambodian American and the Time to Change Our Survivor Status Is Now
LONG BEACH, CA, March 12, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- For decades, the Cambodian American community has carried the weight of its past—a history defined by survival against unimaginable odds. But today, Jeff Lam, CEO of Dignity Living and a prominent community mentor, is urging a transformation—a true shift in mindset that goes far beyond charity or nostalgic remembrance. 'We are not Cambodian. We are not simply Americans. We are the Cambodian American community,' Lam asserts, encapsulating the dual identity that he believes should drive the future. 'We're on the cusp of great change,' Lam says. 'But it's up to us to shape what that change looks like. Will we remain stuck in a cycle of blame and victimhood? Or will we honor the resilience of our ancestors by shifting our mindset toward one of success, ownership, and contribution to this country?' While the Cambodian American community has its share of success stories, many of those who achieve personal success leave, creating a void in the very places that need them most. This absence of role models reinforces a cycle where young people struggle to envision a future beyond poverty, low-income jobs, and government assistance. Lam understands this firsthand. He once distanced himself from his Cambodian roots, driven by a desire to escape the struggles he saw growing up. But as he built his career and engaged in mentorship, he began to see the impact of staying connected. 'The day I looked back to my community—the day I mentored just one person—it changed everything for me. Seeing someone from my community thrive because of the support I could offer made me realize I could never just focus on myself again,' he states. Lam has since committed to expanding mentorship efforts, creating opportunities for young Cambodian Americans to connect with successful individuals who can guide them. His vision becomes clearer every day, with one thing in mind: the community must build itself up from within rather than waiting for outside intervention. The Cambodian American community is not the only one that has struggled; many other immigrant communities have faced similar challenges in the past. However, Lam has seen a clear distinction in how different groups have responded with resilience-driven success. 'Look at communities that have faced hardship. They came together, helped each other, built businesses, and created generational wealth. They didn't let their history define them; they used it as fuel,' he says. For Cambodian Americans, the struggle has often been compounded by systemic barriers. Despite being categorized as Asian Americans—a demographic that statistically overperforms in income and education—the reality is completely different for Cambodians. Many remain in low-income neighborhoods, dependent on welfare programs, and caught in cycles of financial stagnation. For some, the fear of losing government assistance discourages them from pursuing better opportunities. If earning an extra few hundred dollars means losing food stamps or subsidized housing, the incentive to push forward weakens. Lam describes a common trap: 'If someone is getting $800 a month in welfare but working a full-time job only brings in $1,200, the immediate thought is, 'Why should I work?' That short-term mindset ignores the long-term growth opportunity that could come from building a career, gaining skills, and increasing income over time.' Then there's the influence of fast money. In many Cambodian American communities, the most visible success stories are not doctors or entrepreneurs but individuals who have made quick money. 'When the guy who made his money through illegal means has a flashy car and expensive jewelry, while the hardworking student can barely afford bus fare, what message does that send to our youth?' asks Lam. For him, the solution is clear: mentorship, community reinvestment, and an unwavering commitment to changing the way Cambodian Americans see themselves. 'We survived unimaginable horrors,' Lam says. 'No food, no water, forced labor, torture. If we apply that same survival instinct to the opportunities in front of us today, we will be unstoppable. Through this, we could all live the true American Dream.' His goal is to connect successful Cambodian Americans with those still finding their way, ensuring that the next generation has tangible role models to look up to. As Cambodian Americans enter their third generation in the U.S., Lam offers a reminder: 'To disregard what it means to be American is to disrespect the country that gave us a future. But to erase our heritage is to dishonor the sacrifices of our ancestors. The only way forward is to embrace both identities and build something even stronger. We are Cambodian Americans, and the time to move beyond our survivor status is now.' About Dignify Living Founded by Cambodian American Jeff Lam, Dignity Living provides a high-quality Level 4 residential setting for developmentally disabled men and women with physical or behavioral challenges. We offer a warm, nurturing environment where individuals feel safe and supported as they develop self-help skills, independent living abilities, behavioral control, and healthy habits. For more information, visit Media Contact ### SOURCE: Dignity Living
New York Times
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
At the Children's Film Festival, Unstoppable Heroines
A teenager rescues and defends an infant creature whose species the surrounding adults have condemned as vicious and predatory. Another adolescent battles injury and other hurdles in a quest for basketball stardom. A small child in Mexico contracts polio but finds solace in the world of art. And an 11-year-old Kurdish immigrant arrives in Berlin, ultimately relying on soccer talent to feel at home again. These young people, protagonists in works that will be shown in the 2025 New York International Children's Film Festival, are all fierce, fearless and — perhaps most striking — female. This year's festival, which begins a three-weekend run in Manhattan on Friday, includes 13 features and 79 short films, many of them proudly celebrating girls and women. Although the slate doesn't neglect films about boys, among them tales of time-traveling brothers and a boatbuilding father-son team, the choices exalt girl power more than any of the festival's selections in recent memory. 'A lot of these stories of strong girls and women are true-to-life stories,' Maria-Christina Villaseñor, the festival's programming director, said in an interview. She referred to two films that have their initial festival showings this weekend (every feature has two screening dates): Erica Tanamachi's live-action documentary 'Home Court' follows the Cambodian American basketball player Ashley Chea from her California preparatory school to her freshman year at Princeton, while the animated 'Hola, Frida,' by André Kadi and Karine Vézina, draws on the early years of the artist Frida Kahlo. 'Obviously, the story of Frida Kahlo is a story that a lot of people feel like they're familiar with, but telling it from the perspective of her child self is really interesting,' Villaseñor said. Delivering unusual fare that young viewers might otherwise miss — short films, offbeat independent cinema, subtitled foreign movies — is a hallmark of the festival, now in its 29th year and one of the largest and broadest of its kind. (It also operates classroom programs and a national touring film slate.) And unlike many film fairs for children, the New York festival, which offers program tickets starting at $17 (a full-festival pass is $135), includes multiple screenings for teenagers and even college students, who can see some of their peers' work in a showcase on March 15. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
