However, Yen’s influence is apparent in many spheres.
Last year, Nguoi Viet officials pledged $30,000 in newspaper funds to CSU-Fullerton to finance scholarly research benefiting Southern California’s Vietnamese and Southeast Asian populations. So far, two $5,000 faculty grants have been awarded. One grant funded a study of the relatively low Vietnamese American voting rates and reasons behind the lack of participation. The other financed work on Yen’s biography, a project begun before the newspaper’s gift to the university.
At the Nguoi Viet facility, its 275-seat community room is booked most weekends for events such as book signings or art shows. The room is an outgrowth of Yen’s longtime support of artists, Anh says.
Julian Do, the Southern California director of New America Media, says Yen has set an example for Orange County’s other Vietnamese newspapers and magazines, several of which dedicate space in their buildings for community events as well. New America Media is a national collaboration of ethnic news organizations.
“The promotion of culture, the engaging of artists,” says Do, no relation, “those are part of Yen Do’s very rich legacy.”
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