17th Annual VIA-1 Conference

Vietnamese Interacting as One (VIA-1) Conference

As UVSA-Midwest’s largest event, VIA-1 brings together hundreds of individuals from communities from around the region as well as other areas of the country. During this conference, we aim to develop and strengthen the leadership skills of young professionals through workshops and activities, but also encourage them to inspire others to achieve great accomplishments by utilizing the knowledge and skills obtained over this weekend. Through the conference–the Collective Philanthropy Project and other leadership development initiatives–participants can foster their appreciation for Vietnamese culture, take part in the philanthropy project initiatives and make connections that will last a lifetime! This year, we are excited to have the 17th annual VIA-1 Conference at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana! VIA-1 has never been hosted at Indiana University previously, so this marks a milestone in our history.

"Through The Reflection"

When we look in the mirror, what do we see? How do we view ourselves, in terms of identity, community, and self worth? Our identity, the person we see in our reflection, can be grounded or ephemeral. It can speak perpetual truths about our roots or it can involve fleeting interests and new hobbies. Oftentimes, it reflects what we think we lack: expectations imposed by others, the margin between us and who we want to be. The theme of this year’s VIA-1 is rooted in our reflection, exploring how we view ourselves and how that self image can affect us as an individual and as a community. As Vietnamese-Americans, our collective potential to mobilize, improve, heal, and innovate all starts with how we see ourselves and an understanding of our own value and identity. We look forward to seeing you at the 17th Annual VIA-1 conference. Join us in our conversations about self-care, utilizing our emotions to propel us forward, and how all of this can affect the community at large.

Keynote Speaker

Lisa Kwong

Ms. Kwong is a multidisciplinary educator. As an adjunct lecturer for the IU Asian American Studies Program, she has taught the following courses: Introduction to Asian American Studies, Asian American Literature and Media, and Asian Diaspora Experience. As a popular guest speaker at IU and in the Bloomington community, she has presented on topics such as Asian American stereotypes, the legacy of Chinese American actress Anna May Wong, Asian American poetry, writing as an AppalAsian, and love letter writing. Additionally, she has taught courses in creative writing and composition for the IU Department of English and in the Student Success Program at Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, where she also tutors writing.

VIA-1's

Staff Members

Attendees

Headliners

Vinh Vu

Vinh Vu is a 26 year old dancer and choreographer from Oklahoma. He has performed as a soloist for numerous events and competitions as well as with different teams, organizations, and clubs. In addition to being a dancer, he is also a 4th year medical student at OSU pursuiing Physical Medicine & Rehab

Maxell Nguyen

Maxwell is an ambitious musician born and raised from Oklahoma City with a love for all genres of music. He wants to change the world one relationship at a time. He enjoys creating originals, putting his own twists on songs, and making medleys. He is a University of Oklahoma graduate pursuing a career in Cinematography and Design.

Performers

Executive Directors

Linda Ngo

Linda Ngo (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she was greatly influenced by the Vietnamese community that resides there. Bringing this love for her heritage with her, she dedicated two years to VSA at Indiana University, pushing to rebuild a student organization that had fallen into a state of inactiveness for a few years prior. With each passing year, her love for VSA and the people in it has grown to no end and she strives to show how a community of inspiring and impactful people can make their mark on the world. As Executive Director of VIA-1, Linda hopes to continue creating an experience that all attendees will remember and cherish, much like how her first VIA-1 experience was like.

Uyen Nguyen

Born in Vietnam, but raised on the Western coast of Michigan in Grand Rapids, Uyen Nguyen (she/her/hers) is a graduate of the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor with a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Energy. She has been involved with her local VSA for three years, developing her leadership and professional skills in many different positions. Her involvement in UVSA-Midwest began at the VIA-1 Conference in Madison, WI when she was first introduced into the community. Ever since then, she has been involved with the organization in various roles. Uyen wants to utilize UVSA-Midwest as a means to help the Vietnamese community within the Midwest develop leadership and professional skills, learn more about their culture, create multi-faceted relationships, and participate in philanthropy work.