Public Safety
The Vietnamese American Community Center is a focal point for Southeast Asians in the County of Alameda and City of Oakland. Because we provide “client centrist” services (where the client is the focal point for all services) and complete wrap-around services”, we have the ability to provide bilingual workshops to educate the community regarding a host of issues that may to helpful to them. In those instances where our clients are in need of resources or where we have concerns regarding public policies that can have a detrimental affect on them, we take the role of advocates on their behalf.
Anti-Crime
In the last few years, there has been an increase in crimes against our community members; especially those with limited English capabilities. VACCEB will continue to work with law enforcement, joining community groups tackling crime, to educate and help keep our community members safe. In the months ahead, we will be hosting anti-crime workshops to help educate our seniors, refugees, and immigrants on strategies to keep safe. Look for the announcements for these Anti-Crime Workshops during the year.
As part of our anti-crime strategy, VACCEB will continue to provide up to date crime information and translate it into Vietnamese so our community members can stay informed about types of crimes in the neighborhood and areas to avoid due to unusual crime activities. We regularly post these on our bulletin board and hand out pieces of bilingual, up-to-date literature with this information. In those instances where community members are victims of crime, our Center can act as the conduit between police and citizen. We continue to ask the police to regularly patrol the area immediately surrounding our Center in order to give our citizens needed assurance that the City of Oakland and the City of San Leandro cares about their safety. We are asking members of our community to be on alert and to report suspicious behavior to us ((510)-891-9999 or info@vacceb.org) so we can keep a log of such activities.
Working with us to prevent crime are funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Bloc Grant (CDBG) administered by the City of Oakland, the Asian Advisory Committee on Crime, Office of the Alameda County Public Defender, Oakland Police Department’s Community Policing Program, the City of San Leandro, and the San Leandro Police Department.
The Nail Salon Project (2015)
Take a minute to write an introduction that is short, sweet, and to the point. If you sell something, use this space toThe Nail Salon Project was administered in 2015 with the goal of partnering with nail salon proprietors to educate them on the range of health risks associated with prolonged exposure to common toxins found in their work environment. As part of the initiative, participants learned how to take protective measures against toxins, transmission of infectious diseases, and chronic health setbacks (e.g. tendonitis, repetitive motion disorder, etc.) for themselves, their workers, and their clients. Having served a large population of Vietnamese immigrants since 1994, VACCEB recognizes that many view nail art as attractive starting vocations for its lucrative and certifiable nature. Therefore, we are uniquely positioned to ensure that such and similar demographics are informed when seeking work in the nail industry.
In total, VACCEB was able to reach 30 shop owners and nearly 150 workers in Alameda County. By showcasing the effects of the practice on health and the environment, the Nail Salon Project significantly changed how shop owners procure their products, implement sanitation protocol, and prevent chronic health issues. This campaign demonstrated a lasting impact not only on direct participants, but also their family members and clients. Upon the successful conclusion of this initiative, VACCEB continues to strive for improvement and a better-informed community.
