Thuy Le Oral History Interview

Interviewee: Thuy Le
Interviewer: Natalia Fernández
Interview Date: July 31, 2015
Location: Portland, Oregon
Duration: 1:04:29
 

Le begins the interview by briefly describing her life in Vietnam with her parents and younger brother. She describes the process of the family being sponsored by her uncle to immigrate to the United States. Le discusses the challenges of being a teenager in Portland and how she and her family connected with the local Vietnamese community.

She then talks about her decision to pursue a degree in sociology and her desire to support her community. Le describes the various positions she has held with the Asian Family Center since 2004 when she began volunteering with Parenting Department. Her work involved home visits and coordinating group activities for families who had children under the age of 5 years. The goals were to help them understand child development, prevent child abuse, and connect families with other beneficial services.

Le describes the cultural differences, challenges, and successes of working with the families. As a Vietnamese Family Engagement Specialist, Le explains that she was stationed with elementary schools, which were SUN schools, to work as a parent/school liaison. As a Rental Assistant Case Manager, Le explains that she assists families in Multnomah County with short term rent as well as connecting them to other services such as employment opportunity connections.

Le then talks about her personal life: the support system she had when her family moved to Oregon, the process of learning English, differences between her and her parents’ generations, and her love of living in Portland. Le then describes the AFC as the place that “brings families together” and talks about needs of the community and how the AFC can continue to serve families. She also discusses the challenges she has experienced and how she has overcome them, as well as her successes, with the Rental Assistance Program.

Le concludes the interview by describing her love of working with children and teaching them about the Vietnamese culture.

Dublin Core

Title

Thuy Le Oral History Interview

Description

Le begins the interview by briefly describing her life in Vietnam with her parents and younger brother. She describes the process of the family being sponsored by her uncle to immigrate to the United States. Le discusses the challenges of being a teenager in Portland and how she and her family connected with the local Vietnamese community.

She then talks about her decision to pursue a degree in sociology and her desire to support her community. Le describes the various positions she has held with the Asian Family Center since 2004 when she began volunteering with Parenting Department. Her work involved home visits and coordinating group activities for families who had children under the age of 5 years. The goals were to help them understand child development, prevent child abuse, and connect families with other beneficial services.

Le describes the cultural differences, challenges, and successes of working with the families. As a Vietnamese Family Engagement Specialist, Le explains that she was stationed with elementary schools, which were SUN schools, to work as a parent/school liaison. As a Rental Assistant Case Manager, Le explains that she assists families in Multnomah County with short term rent as well as connecting them to other services such as employment opportunity connections.

Le then talks about her personal life: the support system she had when her family moved to Oregon, the process of learning English, differences between her and her parents’ generations, and her love of living in Portland. Le then describes the AFC as the place that “brings families together” and talks about needs of the community and how the AFC can continue to serve families. She also discusses the challenges she has experienced and how she has overcome them, as well as her successes, with the Rental Assistance Program.

Le concludes the interview by describing her love of working with children and teaching them about the Vietnamese culture.

Creator

Thuy Le

Source

Asian Family Center Oral History Collection (OH 30)

Publisher

Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries

Date

July 31, 2015

Contributor

Natalia Fernández

Format

Born Digital

Language

English

Type

Oral History

Identifier

OH30-le-thuy-20150731

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Interviewer

Natalia Fernández

Interviewee

Thuy Le

Location

Portland, Oregon

Original Format

Born Digital

Duration

1:04:29

OHMS Object

Interview Format

video