He Li

He Li recently graduated from the University of Washington. He had an APALA fellowship which allowed him to work with the Service Employees International Union, (SEIU), Local 6.

I was in a downtown Seattle skyscraper, a few minutes after ten at night, in a room where some fifteen middle-aged men and women gathered around a long table, gobbling their homemade meals, conversing with each other with mouths full of food, in their Cantonese dialect which I could not understand. Their energy would remind one of soldiers devouring a meal before returning to battlefield, using every opportunity to resolve the tension with good humor. I noticed a particular man who had just sat down, his gleaming eyes fixated upon a large, clear container in front of him with nothing but steamed rice and boiled cabbage inside. His whole pile of food looked so bland that it conjured up childhood memories of broccoli, yet he ate the meal with a most vigorous passion.

This was the scene in front of me, my first experience with a union, referred by an acquaintance, to use my language abilities to translate for union organizers during a building visit. I learned that these janitors clean floors of skyscrapers until 2 a.m. in the morning, return home and sleep until noon, take care of the next day’s businesses before 5 p.m. so they can commute to work before 6 p.m., and this half hour “lunch” is their longest break. Out of them was this man, who had worked many years in this wearisome profession, choosing to eat unappetizing food for the only relaxing time during work, in contrast with me, a volunteer, a lazy university student, with the fortune to indulge in restaurants daily. It wasn’t until several months later that I could speculate on his motivation, during a union backpack giveaway event, where he held his daughter’s hand along with his wife, smiling and strolling through the crowd of janitors. I realized that his responsibility was his motivation to work; with each dollar on meals he saves, he was able to provide for his family.

The internship experience allowed me to hear immigrant workers’ stories which were all too long to tell. These workers come to the U.S. seeking the American Dream, which to them is nothing more than a survivable wage sufficient to raise a family. They are not preoccupied with evading taxes whenever possible or “upgrading locations” that they don’t have. They experience joy in merely dedicating themselves to a stable profession, a value they deem central to the American Dream.

Such working individuals are the most concrete elements of the labor struggle. The union is their touching stories and their modest hopes.

Amy Leong

Amy Leong is currently an undergraduate at the University of Washington. She had an internship with UNITE HERE, Local 8.

The Seattle Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is convening the first Seattle Asian/Pacific Islander Workers’ Hearing on Saturday, November 19, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Asian Counseling & Referral Service gym, located at 3639 Martin Luther King Jr., Way South, in Seattle. Workers from the service sector, education, health-care and public sector will testify about the challenges they face in their workplaces. To learn more about the hearing, contact Tracy Lai at talyce.lai@gmail.com.

A great internship is one that can really make the difference in an amazing summer between school. What I had this past summer was an amazing time interning as a summer organizer for UNITE HERE Local 8. I had the opportunity to explore and gain more knowledge about organizing and the role of organizers. As the local representing hotel and restaurant workers in the King County area (UNITE HERE) I was able to learn about the different industries and jobs by talking to workers and building relationships with them. Besides sitting at a desk from 9-5, I instead rallied, visited workers at their jobs, flash mobbed and was part of a civil disobedience.

It was great not being an intern but a summer organizer. As a summer organizer, I was able to work side by side with others which allowed me to go and talk to workers from the Westin, Hilton, Edgewater, Space Needle and Sea-Tac and just hear their stories. I finally was able to put a face on these places that we take for granted. I was able to learn about these workers and how they are the ones that allow these businesses to run successfully everyday. I heard stories from workers who have been working at the same place from a couple of months to over 25 years. I even learned that some responsibilities such as housekeeping tasks can over time, harm one’s health. From lifting heavy beds to tucking sheets, being on your hands and knees to clean the tubs, and using chemicals to clean can be physically harmful and toxic to the body. It was very interesting to learn about how jobs we don’t even think about are the hardest ones.

Hearing these stories, we as summer organizers wanted to do something that would bring attention to these workers and the issues they face everyday. We decided to organize a flash mob for workers at the Westin. As one of the four summer organizers at Local 8, we re-wrote and re-recorded a song, choreographed a dance, and recruited about 40 people to participate. At that time and still currently, the Westin is in contract negotiations so we wanted to make a statement and let the company know that we as the community are supporting these workers.

From this internship, I was able to not only learn about the jobs but also establish personal relationships with these workers and learn about the hardships they have endured to get to where they are now. I know how hard they work each day and I can see how important it is to have unions. I have a parent who is part of Local 8 and one who isn’t and I see the difference. I understand that we need to fight to retain and improve working conditions for those who do have representation. I learned more in-depth about organizing and what it actually means to have representation in the workplace. I learned a lot this past summer that I will use for my future in organizing. This internship was as real as it gets.

Meet this edition’s InspirAsianal IE Reader — spotlighting you, the readers of the Examiner! Our non-profit news enterprise has shared the stories of our community for over 35 years — thanks to the support and readership of thousands of people like you. This is our way of showing gratitude and shine the light on our readers. This edition’s InspirAsianal Reader is Cindy Tien, a Chinese-Vietnamese American who is teaching English abroad and aims to inspire others.

1. Who are you?
My name is Cindy Tien. I’m 22 years-old and am Chinese-Vietnamese American. I grew up in Shoreline, Wash., and recently graduated from the University of Washington double-majoring in Communications and International Studies (Asia).

2. What are you?
When people first meet me, they describe me to be very quiet, kind, and shy. But I want to prove myself as being an outgoing, independent woman who can be inspirational to someone. As a result, I am that go-to girl when someone needs help or a friend to listen. Being a good friend and companion is a quality that I care about. Therefore being a role model for others would describe who I strive to be in life. Even though I’m not skilled at playing an instrument, mathematics, or sports, giving advice and being a great listener and friend are qualities that I have been gifted at.

3. What do you do?
Since graduating from the University of Washington in March, I am taking every chance I can get by traveling before September rolls around (where I will be dropped back into the ‘real world’ of job hunting). I know that for these next couple of months I will have to make the most out of it and take chances, so therefore I am currently abroad in Tainan, Taiwan teaching English to junior high and high school students for the summer. It’s an exhilarating experience, and many people are surprised by my decision. But I am not afraid of trying new things. Teaching and helping others have been such a rewarding experience. I wish to take that with me when finding a job back in the states.

4. How were you introduced to the IE and why do you follow it?
I choose to follow the IE (via social media and newspaper) because of the unique and community-centered articles and stories this newspaper brings to the Asian Pacific American community. The IE is all about the community and voicing out their opinions which makes it a unique non-profit newspaper. The fun and unique articles at times gives it a fresh perspective and interesting news to dig into.

5. What inspires you?
Words of encouragement and inspiration goes a long way for me. Words of affirmation and kindness from strangers or loved ones gives me confidence to work hard, never give up, and to one day put my two cents in to make the world a better place. I always try to put positive quotes around my desk or notebooks to give me self-confidence and believe in myself. I’ve had the thrill of teaching students, and when they write words of kindness and affirmation to the teacher — it gives me pleasure knowing I have inspired someone. In return I have inspired myself to be a better person, friend, and daughter.

Statewide Poverty in Action Network’s Teens in Action members.

Jump to Videos

The bill, HB 1126, proposed by state Attorney General Rob McKenna, expands law enforcement’s ability to issue protection orders against alleged gang members and calls for sentence enhancements when certain felonies are committed. Critics believe the bill, to be voted on at the end of the month, allows law enforcement to racially-profile young people.

Dear Representatives,
I am writing you today because I want to oppose the gang bill HB1126 & SB5799. I feel this decision upon this bill shouldn’t be a decision made by adults. I think this bill should be a decision for teens/young adults to decide since it has everything to do with them. I personally have not had a problem with the law but you can’t make a decision to take someone’s freedom based off of the clothes that they are wearing. We as young adults are already having so many problems in the life that we live now & we don’t really need the stress & problems with this bill. Think about how this will affect your children too. If this law is passed then your children will have their freedom taken too. You’re probably saying “No, not my children,” but at the end of the day no adult knows what their child is doing when they’re not home or out of your sight. So please take my voice in consideration & don’t pass this bill. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Andreanna (full name omitted by request), 18, West Seattle

Dear Representatives,
I am writing you today because I believe all youth are equally protected under the law. A fair criminal justice system is important to many [people’s] future and there is something we can do about it. My community deserves to be safe like any other. My neighborhood seems to have a lot of crime and gang activity so the police patrol my streets. The police target me and my friends as gang members even though we aren’t. If I go to jail, then my future will get impacted. I think that putting the money toward afterschool sports and our programs for youth as well as to keep the alternative schools running will help with gang prevention. I urge you not to support (HB1126, SB5799) the “Racial Profiling/gang bill” and save funding for alternative schools in the public schools system.
I ask you to not let the Gang Bill (HB 1126, SB5799) pass. Thank you for taking the time to hear from me.
Sincerely,
D’Marcus Coleman, 16, South Seattle

Dear Representatives,
I am writing because I do not agree with the gang bill HB1126 that they are trying to pass. I think that all of us teens should be treated equally. This is not fair to innocent teens. Nobody should be able to tell us we are in a gang just because of how we look. There are already many racist police and this would give them the power to get us for just walking. If someone is doing something bad then the police can say something but not just by standing or walking down the street. It is not fair to anyone to be judged for no reason. My community is full of teens that deserve to feel safe and not be worried that the police can stop them for no reason. If someone is doing something bad then, yes, but I believe that unless you’re doing something bad then police should not be able to say anything. I think that a better solution is putting money towards community centers. Also more afterschool programs, sports, and other activities to keep teens more busy. Also schools should stop closing because that affects us. They are trying to close alternatives schools which help us a lot and they should not close them down. They should also put money to gang prevention programs. I urge you guys not to pass this Gang bill. I think you guys should support us, not get us worried. I hope that you guys help us not hurt us. Think about how we teens are feeling about this Gang bill. I hope to hear from you guys that the gang bill was taken out and I hope to hear that you guys supported us.
Sincerely,
Jose Gutierrez Ruelas, 16, West Seattle

Dear Representatives,
I am writing to you today because I think that all youths should be treated equally. We can do something about a fair criminal justice system. My neighborhood deserves to be safe like any other neighborhood. Sometimes my neighborhood has somewhat of gang activity so the police goes to my neighborhood. The police targets my friends even though they aren’t gang members. If HB1126 passes than the police can arrest anyone even if they didn’t do anything or they are not gang members. I think that HB1126 should not pass because from my point of view people should not be arrested because of what they wear. If I go to jail then my future will get difficult. I think that putting the money toward afterschool programs and sports for teens, as well as to keep the alternative schools running will help with gang prevention. I urge you not to support HB1126 the “Racial Profiling/Gang Bill” and save funding for alternative schools in the Public School System. I they close the alternative schools than people that got kicked out of regular Middle Schools and High Schools won’t get a chance to graduate. Thank you for taking your time to read my letter and hear from me. I look forward to hearing from you too.
Sincerely,
Raquel Contreras

Dear Representatives,
To be honest I don’t like “operation Gang Bill”. Instead of making life easy you would actually make life a lot more harder then it already is and especially for me and my people. I’m writing this letter because I’m voting for you guys to not make that law pass. So as one voice for my Latin community I say “NO” to that law.
Sincerely,
Daniel Vargas

Dear Representatives,
I am writing you because I do oppose to the gang bill HB1126, SB5799. I feel that our system needs a fair law enforcement and that everyone should be treated equally and not based upon their skin color. My community deserves to be safe like any other and should be able to depend on the police and not be afraid. Police in my neighborhood harass young minorities for standing at a bus stop, hanging out at a park, walking to the store, walking around the neighborhood or just by looking at a kid based on what they look and dress like. Police find reasons to get minorities in trouble and talk down to us to erk our nerves which makes us want to put our hands on them or say something bad that could get us into trouble. I ask that you guys don’t pass the gang bill (HB1126, SB5799) and that money should go to community centers, schools, libraries, parks and communities. We need these programs to keep people of color off the streets and to better our education, life, and community. Thanks for taking your time to hear my side of the story. Hopefully I’’ hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Alvinna Henry

‘

I am a senior in high school and have had many experiences feeling pressured into doing things that I knew were not good for me. I’ve experienced pressure from my friends and others to do drugs but have not given in, although the challenge is there everyday. I hear about drugs at school, at work, and when I am with friends. I have learned how to deal with this challenge from my own experiences, but how do other teens tackle the challenge?

Throughout my high school career, I have matured and learned who I am through the mistakes I made. I have seen the consequences of using drugs from my close friends: their grades tend to suffer, relationships at home become distant, and they become frustrated with themselves.

Some things that I think influence teens to become involved with drugs are friends, groups at school, and media.

Friends can open the door to drugs because of the peer pressure. One of my close friends told me how she was introduced to drugs. One night, her friend wanted to come over to her house along with a few others. Once there, they revealed they had brought along marijuana and hoped to use it at her house since no one was home. Her friend eventually convinced her and she watched not knowing what to do. “Why don’t you join us?” her friend asked. “No thanks,” she said. Then her friend explained that if she did not join them, they would leave her. She felt threatened and eventually gave in.

Self-imposed pressure can also be experienced. Groups at school can influence a teen to take part in drugs. The desire to “fit in” can be intense. Throughout my earlier years in high school I heard about “popular” kids going to parties and getting high on drugs I have never even heard of. I used to think that if I wanted to be “popular” too, I needed to act and look how they did. So, I bought clothes that made me look the same, styled my hair the same way, and did everything else in order to “fit in”. But although I wanted to look like the others, I did not want to act like the others and put drugs into my body. I knew what would happen if I did. I have seen what my friends went through and it does not look like fun to me.

I didn’t want to let go of my goals and future, nor do I want to hurt myself along with my family and friends. I want to be myself and control what I do, and not let something else control me.

And then there are the pressures inflicted from media, especially music. Although I enjoy listening to mainstream hip hop and R&B, I’m beginning to notice that some of the music is not what I’d call appropriate. Some songs promote drugs and alcohol — even aired over school dances! Many teen listeners don’t think the content of the music is a big deal.

I have a 14 year-old sister who listens to the radio and blasts music over her iPod. Some of the songs are about drugs and alcohol, but she doesn’t understand what it is truly about. I explain to her why it is not something she should be listening to. Her reply? “It does not matter, it’s not like I’m going to go and do it.”

Netan Sansara, an 18 year-old Indian soccor player from England, has often spoken about the lack of Asian role models for young people.

American teens and children spend time watching television, listening to music, and surfing the internet daily. This can influence them in many ways. Popular television shows such as Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana”, Nickelodeons’ “Drake & Josh”, “iCarly”, and the CW’s “Gossip Girl” can play a role in a young person’s life, by giving them new ideas, ways to solve problems, teach lessons, and can even give them role models to look up to. Pop culture is influential and has direct access to young people. But I have noticed that all of these shows lack something fundamental – someone they can relate to and identify with on a meaningful level. They lack diversity, especially Asian Americans.

Magazines, movies, and shows seem to be based around Caucasians. Because of the lack of representation, Asian American kids may feel left out and not good enough. Growing up as a young Asian and African American girl, I watched shows on Disney Channel and read through Vogue magazines daily. There was one show I looked up to — “That’s So Raven” which starred a main character who was a young, female African American. I liked that I had someone to relate to and the character “Raven” was different than most girls on other shows. It made me feel like being different was okay and that I could be pretty, too. I liked other shows and the humor in them but they would leave me not feeling good enough. I noticed all of the main characters were white and only had white friends. And, in magazines, the models and celebrities were white, too.

It seems that American media has this stereotypical image of Asians: they are only good at math, engineering, music, and are very conservative. Although this may be true for some, it does not apply to all. Because America is familiar with seeing Caucasians play main roles in movies and shows, producers may not want to take a chance with something new, creating a lack in Asian American visibility and ultimately, role models.

Although there are very few famous Asian Americans in media, there is Connie Chung. Like her or not, Connie Chung has been a successful news anchor and reporter for various news channels for more than 30 years. I believe that she can be a good role model for many people. She’s an example that you can reach your goals no matter who you are or where you came from. She is somebody I can relate to because she is an Asian American working in the field that I too, want to go into.

America is viewed as a melting pot, full of diversity yet the media does not seem to reflect that. Children and teens may get the idea that only Caucasians are dominant and successful while others are outcasts, different, not worthy of being portrayed. I think if Asian American kids and teens had more role models to look up to, they too, can feel they are part of society and can reach their goals no matter who they are.

Despite some recent efforts to improve U.S. school lunhes, they are still loaded with unhealthy fat, salt and sugar, nutrition experts contend. Most schools in America use the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to serve their lunches, which allows school food authorities to decide which foods to serve and how it will be prepared. Although the National School Lunch Program standards require that 1/3 of Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) of nutrients and vitamins are met, this alone cannot ensure healthy eating habits. With the amounts of processed food and junk food given to students during lunch time and in vending machines, the nutrition in America’s schools is becoming a recipe for disaster. According to the U.S. News & World Report, unhealthy eating at school is contributing to the surge in obesity rates among American children. Obesity rates have quadrupled in children age 6 to 11 and more than tripled among adolescents age 12 to 19. Due to unhealthy eating and obesity, children have a higher risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. Middle school children who regularly eat school lunches are more likely to be overweight or obese, develop poorer eating habits and have high levels of “bad” cholesterol compared to those who bring lunches from home, according to Elizabeth Jackson, an M.D. at the University of Michigan Health System.

Parents may not have the time to make their children lunches, so they send them to school with money to buy their food. But parents are starting to ask questions about what their children are being served at lunch.

“I am not thrilled with the quality of food served at my daughter’s school,” said Sherry Nelson, the mother of a middle school student. “The lunch is all processed and does not have enough fresh food variety… the salad consists of only iceberg lettuce. There are no other vegetables or fruit to choose from.”

Sherry suggests when students are given lunch, they should be given dairy, fruits, and then the main dish.

“A lot of kids just eat the main starchy meal which lacks nutrition and does not give them all of the things they need.”

Children from ages seven to 18 should only be consuming about 2,000 calories a day. But a cheeseburger alone can carry well over 600 calories, and nearly 50 grams of carbohydrates.

Students are also concerned.

“I don’t understand why they try to promote health yet they serve unhealthy things that are not good for you,” said Holly Hudson, a junior at Glacier Peak High School.

Another student, Sacha Clow, a senior at Marysville Getchell High School, said, “I don’t think the food is healthy at all. They don’t have any fresh things. It is all frozen foods.” The administrator at this writer’s high school who is responsible for lunch services and orders, could not be reached for comment.

As a student, I believe that schools should serve healthy choices that will help students, not negatively affect their bodies. Food is our body’s fuel and healthy foods such as fruits, whole-grain bread, and low-fat dairy can help give students the nutrients they need to do better in school. Promoting a healthy diet at school can also help youth make better food choices in their daily lives which can lead to a healthier life.

Judith Murdock, principal of the Bio-med Academy at Marysville Getchell High School agrees.

“Having met with the food administrators, their goal is to make the food healthier and have more options at lunch and in the vending machines,” said Principal Murdock.

By offering and making better food choices, students can have the energy they need throughout the day to do well in school and be healthy.

“We’ve got to dispel this myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage,” said President Barack Obama in his Oct. 22 anti-bullying message on CNN News. “That it’s some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not.”

This kind of behavior hurts and can have a long term affect on children.  According to the National Institute of Health, recent surveys show that 77 percent of students are bullied mentally, verbally, or physically.

Bullying is a crime in our communities.  But in order to stop and prevent bullying, students need to take action.

“Last year, I was an exchange student and I would hear some mean comments made about me because I was different,” said Muhammad Alshathri, a senior at Marysville Getchell’s Bio-med academy. “I would try to ignore them because I knew that they were wrong anyways.”

“I think that minorities are an easier target for bullying because they are different than others,” said student Alwyn Galang, a junior also from the Bio-med academy.

As a minority, I feel that when I hear negative comments about myself or others, I need to take a stand and let them know that what they said was not right. Because I am taking action, I am preventing the comments from happening again. Because students are judging others based on ethnicity, there can be separation and exclusion.

“As a freshman at Marysville Pilchuck High School, because the school is so large and diverse, I saw a lot of racial separation among the students and tensions would sometimes get high,” student Bryce Rochon said.

If students take small steps, it can make a big difference throughout their schools and make it a safer environment.

School advisors can also prevent bullying within a school. Some administrators may see bullying but some do not think much of it and ignore it. But in order to stop and prevent it, everyone — not just students — need to take action. Marysville Getchell High School’s Bio-med Academy’s principal, Judith Murdock, explained that when she sees or hears bullying, she stops it right away. “First, I start with a warning,” she said. “I tell them what it is that they are doing, which is bullying,” she stated. “I then give them automatic suspension if the behavior continues; there is zero tolerance for bullying. We want to teach them and show them that what they are doing is wrong.”

“It’s horrifying and depressing,” she said. “It’s tragic how these things can happen. It’s a good thing the U.S. and other nations are providing aid. These kind of events show that we need to be more prepared.”

Vietnam and the Philippines are frequently hit by tropical storms and flooding this time of the year but neither country had ever experienced a storm like Typhoon Ketsana.

“I feel sad for the people that got injured or died in this disaster. I have a lot of family members in Vietnam, which worries me to death,” said another youth, Hau Doan.

The heavily damaged, northern region of the Philippines has limited access to power, medical supplies, and food. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appeared on television telling citizens to wait for rescuers and to remain calm.

In typhoon-ravaged Vietnam, U.S. military helicopters dropped food and water to victims in isolated areas, but what can villagers do with a ration of three packs of dry instant noodles per day?

Typhoon Ketsana caused devastating floods, damage to hundreds of thousands of homes and tens of thousands of hectare of rice and other crops.

“Having my mother still in Vietnam, I worry that she could have gotten hit in the storm since all of the power lines are down,” said a Vietnamese American youth, Alex Nguyen. “I don’t know if she is alive or died.”

But while many are anxious to hear word from family abroad, others in the U.S. are unaware of the calamity.

“I didn’t even know until now,” said Thien Thanh Le and Kathy Pham. “I didn’t even know this was happening since we are in the U.S. and all. I just found out what happened because you explained this to me now.”

Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and children who have immigrated to America are working their butts off to send money to family members in the Philippines and in Vietnam. Since the economy hit rock bottom, this has become increasingly hard. The typhoon has made it a tough situation for the people in those hard-hit countries and for their families in the U.S. who have not been able to get word from them or to help.

WAPISeattle youth council members, from left to right: Monique Le Phung, Julianne F. Deguzman, Andy Szeto, Steven Vu, Eleazar Teodoro, and Anthony Nguyen.

“More than a third (37 percent) of teens admit that they are sometimes teased or picked on at school, and boys are slightly more likely than girls to say this happens to them, according to the Gallup Survey For Teens. The report reads, “Bullying has always been a terrible experience for those being bullied because of the pain caused everyday.” Some students will stay home from school to avoid the hurtful interactions.

Today, in teen lingo, theses bullies are known as school “haters”—individuals or a group of bullies or gossip groups. Bulling and gossip cause emotional and physical pain to its victims. Gossip groups are also like bullies, formed around lies and exaggerations. And gossip can affect how you present yourself and who you hang out with. Judgement is based on the groups you identify with. For example: if you hang out with the smart people, people are automatically going to think that you’re smart.

But what is bullying? A lot of teens my age, around 16 years-old, have a good idea of what bullying is because they see it every day. It’s tough to define but is known when it’s observed or experienced. Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose while the person being bullied has a hard time defending themself. Doing so is not common because defending oneself up can be taken as offensive or as an attack to others. Of course, teachers discourage bullying and fighting, and it’s made very clear for every student the consequences to those actions.

But, usually, I see bullying happening over and over. In some well-known cases, the bullying can lead to resentment and tragically, to school shootings throughout the country.

But, that’s life. You get judged by your looks and your friends. I like to think I am not the type to stereotype or to be in a gossip group.