On some level or other, everyone wants to be able to connect with their community. And if that community has been affected by the traumas and politics of past generations, it can have grave effects on the ability to make that connection.

That’s something that I discovered as I grew up as a first-generation immigrant child to Vietnamese refugees. I rejected the notion of identifying with a culture that was scarred or abandoned. It wasn’t something I could identify until much later into adulthood. As a filmmaker, I opened myself up to the stories of not just Vietnamese folks, but members of other minority groups as well. I came to realize that heritage isn’t so much about the past, but a foundation for the future.

That’s how I came to really appreciate the things that Vingo is trying to achieve: Addressing this struggle by preserving Vietnamese language, heritage, and culture in the face of a diaspora. The co-founder of Vingo, Vy Nguyen, approached me with an idea that was later named the #WeValue Campaign. It aimed to document existing local efforts of leaders in Vietnamese-American communities who shared our vision. By telling their story, we could empower these leaders to bring personal and professional growth to themselves and to our community.

We celebrated the work of key figures from multiple generations of our community - from the children and teachers of Huong Viet to the dedicated professors at universities in California. It became a larger endeavor than I’d ever expected. Each story we heard was different and reflective of the many aspects to what our heritage, culture, and language has struggled against. We’re confident that when we expand the scope of #WeValue to Vietnamese communities across the country - and eventually overseas - those stories will continue to be more diverse. They’ll also provide an opportunity for reconnection across generational and geographical divides.

By promoting these cultural endeavors and amplifying these voices, I believe #WeValue can inspire others to look towards their community and ask: What can I do to help? You could participate in community work, or go on to form your own organization. You could educate and bring language or cultural knowledge to others. You could perform or create art and share your pride and identity - let the world know who you are. 

This journey has shown that any of those things - big or small, personal or professional - has long-lasting positive effects on a community that has overcome so much. There are many ways to not only preserve our culture, but to reclaim and celebrate our heritage. These are the things #WeValue. All it takes is a desire to help and grow, and others will become inspired to do the same. I hope you’ll join us.

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Lana Lam

University of California, Berkeley

B.A. Media Studies and Film, '16

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