Lao American Community Services

Happy New Year!! LACS had an awesome turnout for our December 31, 2008 New Year Celebration party which was held at Furama Restaurant. We realize that everyone had many options for bringing in the New Year and are very thankful that you decided to spend it with us and, in addition, help raise funds for LACS. LACS raised $4,770. Congratulations to Nada Touma for winning the 1st prize Raffle, Zack Phoxay for winning the 2nd prize Raffle, Phyroath Chhun for winning the 3rd prize Raffle and Phanthamaly Phoxay for winning the special raffle prize!

	From L-R: Phyroath Chhun, Ramon Joson and Cindy Sung.	L-R: Mr. Khamphoui Singvongsa, Ms. Jesse Le, Mr. Steve Brunton (Executive Director of CMAA), Ms. Contessa Robins, and Mr. Sisavath Panyathip
		L-R: Ms. Thavone Nyatso, Ms. Saysamone Putnam, Mrs. Manivong Singvongsa
Brian Seibert & Jesse Le

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LACS New Year 2552/Dance Benefit s April18, 2009 s 6pm-12:00am
Furama Restaurant s 4936 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640 s (773) 271-1161

Come Join Us! Cultural Performance & Fashion Show

Ticket Per Person:
$45.00 Advance/$50.00 at door (Adult)
$30.00 Advance/$35.00 at door (Children under 12)
Dinner Served @ 8:00 pm SHARP!! Cash Bar, Cultural Performance, Dancing and Great Raffle Prizes!!
Entertainment by “The Chicago Band” *Free parking available just south of Restaurant

Links to event press release, and the event invitation here!

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LAO in Film

THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON)
Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath, nominated for an Academy Award. These are the first Academy Award nominations for Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath.

FILM SYNOPSIS:
The life of Laotian immigrant Thavisouk Phrasavath serves as a metaphor for the far-reaching repercussions that are still felt from America's involvement in the Vietnam War. When his family suffered persecution following the U.S. withdrawal from Southeast Asia as a result of his father's work for the CIA, Phrasavath's mother fled with eight of her ten children to a life of poverty in Brooklyn.

Other News of Note:
We are very saddened by the loss of one of our Lao Funeral Association Member, Mrs. Chanmy Prachack, who passed away in Laos in the week of February 16, 2009.

Ms. Mirona Ajvazi-Kucharz did 20 community hours at LACS in February; she is a student from DePaul University.

There is a Citizenship & Immigration Workshop available for those interested. It will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Cambodian Association of Illinois located at 2831 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, (773) 878-7090. The USCIS officers will provide information for the following: 1) How to become a legal permanent resident, 2) How to become a citizen 3) The new citizenship test 4) A demonstration of a Mock Interview. USCIS officers will answer questions and workshop participants will have an opportunity to receive N-400 application assistance.

Asian Health Coalition of Illinois will be hosting a fundraiser on April 2, 2009 at Petterino’s Restaurant, 150 N. Dearborn in Chicago. Christine Singvongsa will perform at the event.

Asians 4 Chicago 2016 is hosting an Asian American Community Rally in support of Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. The event will be on Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at Lane Tech High School Auditorium. Lane is located at 2501 W. Addison, Chicago, IL 60618. This is a FREE ADMISSION Event and free parking is also available. If anyone is interested in attending, please contact LACS office, Khamphoui Singvongsa, for free admission ticket. There is a Chicago 2016 Presentation on Chicago’s bid for the Olympics and live cultural performances; attendees will be able to meet former Asian Olympians, and experience a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to be a part of the City’s Olympic support process. For more information visit: www.asians4chicago2016.org.

Asian American Coalition of Chicago held their Lunar New Year Celebration at Hyatt Regency Hotel on Saturday, January 24, 2009. Many thanks to Sisavath Panyathip and Christine Singvongsa (volunteer) for attending this event on behalf of LACS.

Vietnamese Association of Illinois hosted their Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Many thank to Khamphoui and his family for attending the event on behalf of LACS; Christine Singvongsa also did a cultural dance, a great performance!

Christine performs Cultural Dance	Khamphoui Singvongsa Poses with his family

Useful Websites for the Lao Community: Visit this website: www.laonewyear.com for a press release about International Lao New Year Festival which is held in San Francisco Bay area in which Khamphoui Singvongsa is serving on The Festival Event Planning Committee. Other organizations could consider advertising their organization through the Lao New Year Festival program booklet.

LACS is excited to announce the launch of our new website: http://lacschicago.org. Please feel free to visit and see all that is going on in the Lao community here in Chicago!

Another useful Lao Website:
http://psouvanna.home.comcast.net/~psouvanna/index.html. Thank you Thavone!

Announcements!

• We are very excited to welcome our new Board Member: Michael Nanthavongsa!
• Laotian Catholic Community of Chicago-Elgin is hosting the Lao New Year Celebration & Community Potluck event on Sunday, April 19, 2009. Program is as follows: 8am-9am at St. Thomas of Canterbury; 10am-12 noon Laotian Mass; After Mass: Baci Ceremony, Cultural performance & potluck lunches at Homeland Center, 4858 N. Kenmore Ave, Chicago, IL

Advertise in the LACS newsletter! All we ask is a small donation to the community center in return. Please contact Thavone for details.

EL/Civics (English Literacy&Civics) classes are being offered at LACS every Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday from 2-5pm with Thavone Nyatso.
If you plan to attend the classes, please let us know in advance by calling the LACS office so that we can plan to accommodate everyone who will be attending.

[Get More Detail]: Attachment - LACS newsletter in PDF format.