EMAC in The News

‘We are here to stay’: Immigrant advocates rally against deportations. Reported by Emma Franklin Henterly.

Published December 16, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2022.

https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2017/12/17/x2018-we-are-here/16818844007/

STOCKTON — While the topic of immigration and deportations has almost squarely focused on the Latino community, families like that of Cathee Khamvongsa’s are dealing with the fallout of seeing loved ones detained with little acknowledgment.

More than 200 Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants living in the U.S. were detained by immigration agents in October; a crackdown that advocates say was the largest raid to ever affect the Southeast Asian community.

Khamvongsa’s husband of 17 years was among the people caught up in the raid.

Mony Neth was on his way to work when he was picked up by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents on Oct. 20. Since then, he’s been moved around immigration detention centers in California and the Southern states, making it difficult for his family to communicate with him.

“It’s been hard for the family,” said Khamvongsa, who lives in Modesto. “He’s the sole provider and caretaker for his elderly parents.”

On Saturday, Khamvongsa was joined by more than a dozen family members, as well as many community advocates and activists who rallied in Stockton to “raise the voice” of the Asian community.

Nikki Chan with Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities (EMAC), a Stockton-based group, said Asians get forgotten often in this issue. Yet, the Trump administration is targeting this community, she added.

Many of these people being deported came to the U.S. as refugees from war-torn countries and are suffering from trauma, Chan said. Some Cambodians being removed from the country weren’t even born in Cambodia, but in refugee camps all over Asia.

EMAC, along with several other organizations from Stockton, the Bay Area and Sacramento, planned the rally to garner support for the Asian community, but also to educate people and encourage partnerships between all the immigrant advocate groups.

“We are here to say we are here to stand for our communities,” said Nkauj Iab Yang, director of California policy and programs for the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. “We are here today to say we will not be moved. We are here to stay.”

Yang, a daughter of Hmong refugees, said the largest population of refugees was resettled in California, and as so, the state has a responsibility to the community to respond and fight back against the deportations, and demand that elected officials take a stand and pass fair immigration policies that keep families together.

“Our families have suffered for too many generations,” she said. “Enough is enough.”

Many of the people targeted for deportation are individuals with criminal records. According to ICE, of the 1,900 Cambodian nationals who are under an order for removal, 1,412 have criminal convictions.

In 1995, Neth was convicted on a felony weapons charge with a gang enhancement, and a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property.

In an online petition to speed up a pardon review for Neth, the organizer writes, “He applied for a pardon for a long ago paid debt to society for a crime committed when he was a teenager and now faces being forever separated from his family. Since he has paid his debt, Mony has been a more than model American, constantly bettering himself. He is a testament to what a person can do in this country if you work hard and focus on the positive.”

According to the Sacramento Bee, Court records also show Neth’s case was reopened on Dec. 8 and a Proposition 47 report entered into the court record, which could be a possible sign his case is being re-examined.

For now, a temporary restraining order from a federal judge in Santa Ana to prevent the deportations of Cambodian immigrants has bought Neth more time to fight his case.

Still, this past week, Khamvongsa delivered luggage to her husband in preparation for his return to a country he doesn’t know. Neth’s been in the U.S. since he was 10 years old.

“Our daughter wasn’t able to say ’bye to him (that day),” Khamvongsa said. “I didn’t get to hug him. We just talked through a glass window.” Khamvongsa said her family is not the same without him, but she prays daily for a solution. “I try to comfort (his parents) and tell them there’s hope,” she said. “But I know that if he’s gone, they may not survive this.”

Contact reporter Almendra Carpizo at (209) 546-8264 or acarpizo@recordnet.com. Follow her on twitter @AlmendraCarpizo.

March against Asian deportations TOP: Nikki Chan, right, leads dozens of marchers at Martin Luther King Plaza in a protest against the detaining of m ore than 200 Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants living in the U.S. by immigration agents in October; a crackdown that advocates say was the largest raid to ever affect the Southeast Asian community. BOTTOM LEFT: Southeast Asian anti-deportation marchers pass the Martin Luther King monument in downtown Stockton. BOTTOM RIGHT: Cathee Khamvongs, who's husband was one of more than 200 Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants living in the U.S. detained by immigration agents in October, attends the Southeast Asian Anti-Deportation Rally and march in Downtown Stockton.[CALIXTRO ROMIAS/THE RECORD]

Immigration clinic aimed at Southeast Asian community

Reported by Emma Franklin Henterly. Published April 20, 2018.

Retrieved March 31, 2022.

https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2018/04/21/immigration-clinic-aimed-at-southeast/12598044007/.

STOCKTON — A group of community nonprofits is hosting an immigration conference tailored for the Southeast Asian community. The conference and legal consultation clinic aim to offer information on naturalization, a Know Your Rights workshop, legal help and what to do if a loved one is detained by immigration agents.

Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, Asian Pacific Self-Development and Residential Association, Catholic Charities, The California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center are sponsoring the event. The conference will be from 2-5 p.m. May 19 at 3830 Alvarado Ave., Stockton. The conference is intended for people who speak Khmer and Vietnamese, said CaseyAnn Carbonell, a community organizer with EMAC.

A lot of the resources for immigrant communities are in Spanish, which is a population in need, but the Southeast Asian community also needs help, she added. Organizers said attorneys who speak other languages, such as Hmong, will be available if there are requests from the community.

People interested in attending are encouraged to register to provide details about what information and services they need, as well as what language they speak. To register, visit bit.ly/seaiconference or call (209) 944-1700.

The issue of immigration’s impact on Southeast Asian communities became national news after many Cambodian and Vietnamese deportations last year. More than 200 Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants living in the U.S. were detained by immigration agents in October, a crackdown that advocates say was the largest raid to ever affect the Southeast Asian community. Nikki Chan with EMAC said during a December rally in Stockton that Asians are often forgotten in this issue.

Yet, the Trump administration is targeting this community, she added. Many of those being deported came to the U.S. as refugees from war-torn countries and are suffering from trauma, Chan said. Some Cambodians being removed from the country weren’t even born in Cambodia, but in refugee camps all over Asia. Organizers said the event is free and open to the public. The event is so important, especially during these times of deportations and immigration crackdowns, Carbonell said.

Activists rally outside Stockton’s ICE facility

Reported by Emma Franklin Henterly. Published September 10, 2018.
Retrieved March 31, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2018/09/11/activists-rally-outside-stockton-x2019/10797104007/

STOCKTON — A group of activists rallied outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Stockton as at least six Cambodian refugees were scheduled to check in with immigration officials. California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, and other local activists, faith and community groups gathered outside the doors of the ICE facility at 603 San Juan Ave. to denounce the agency and deportations, and to make sure that immigrants who met with officials were not detained.

Sandy Valenciano said people who are reporting to ICE for check-ins are at high risk of being detained on the spot and ultimately deported. “It’s really important to be here today with the Southeast Asian community,” said Valenciano, who works with California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance. “Lately, ICE has been directly targeting Cambodian folks.”

More than 200 Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants living in the U.S. were detained by immigration agents in October 2017, a crackdown that advocates say was the largest raid to ever affect the Southeast Asian community. Many of the deportees had come to the U.S. as refugees from war-torn countries. ICE alleged that many of the people who were targeted for deportation were people with criminal records. Organizers planned Monday’s rally after being notified that members of the Cambodian community were scheduled to check in this week. By noon Monday, several people had already met with immigration agents without incident.

It was not immediately known how many others still had appointments. Valenciano said part of the demonstration was also to build a team for Southeast Asian immigrants who need support. People think immigration is exclusively an issue affecting Latinos, but there are other communities impacted by deportations, she added. “When we’re not uplifting these stories and how (these communities are) being impacted, we’re putting them more in the shadows,” she said. Floricel Liborio of Lodi spoke briefly during the demonstration.

The 38-year-old mother of three said she spent 11 months in an immigration detention center while her children were left to care for themselves. “Regrettably, my family, which is my children, has suffered a lot because of the immigration trauma,” she said in Spanish. “In 2012, immigration agents arrested my partner — the father of my children — it was a trauma that they haven’t been able to forget. “I was left alone to care for the three children, and the trauma continued because in 2017, immigration agents arrested me.” She said she was released from detention because of a lot of help and support from organizations and community members.

“My fear continues because every month I have to be coming here to this place to check in,” she said, pointing out that she has to wear a GPS ankle monitor. “It’s something that’s very difficult.” The rally, which drew about 35 people, was peaceful and without incident. Federal police officers made several appearances, once asking members to move the group away from the door, which the demonstrators did. Several employees on an upper floor inside the facility looked on at the protest from a window. “Let’s remind them why we’re here,” Valenciano said to the crowd, starting a call and response chant. “When I say, ‘Shut down,’ you say, ‘ICE.’ “Shut down.” “ICE,” the group responded.

Jose Arellana speaks to about 35 activists who protested outside the ICE facility in Stockton as Cambodian refugees faced immigration check-ins at the facility. [CLIFFORD OTO/THE RECORD] The Record

'We can do it right': First Stockton Women's March sends message of strength, confidence, purpose

Reported by Wes Bowers. Published January 19, 2019.
Retrieved March 31, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/entertainment/events/2019/01/20/we-can-do-it/6249171007/

STOCKTON — University of the Pacific students, from left, Wajiha Tahir, 20; Inez Marquez, 19; and Maria Rios, 21, pose for a photo at the first Stockton Women's March that was held Saturday morning starting at Eden Park and ending at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. El Dorado Street was closed so they could make the walk from the park at Acacia and El Dorado streets to the plaza at El Dorado and Oak streets where everyone gathered to listen to the speakers.

An army of women wearing a variety of pink clothing and carrying signs demanding equality, social justice, health care and voters’ rights, among other issues, marched down El Dorado Street in downtown Stockton on Saturday morning. The procession traveled four blocks from Eden Park to Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza singing chants calling for democracy and unity, kicking off the city’s first Women’s March.

“This is the first time that women have come together in Stockton for something beyond themselves,” community advocate Jennifer Primous told a crowd of nearly 1,000 women, men and children at Eden Park prior to marching. “I’m not here to march with any hatred toward Donald Trump. I’m not here to shame women who have been forced to sell their bodies for money. I’m not here to march against religion. I’m here to support the women who have sacrificed everything for family, their neighbors, church and community in spite of everything they have faced.”

Those women, Primous said, included business owners who open early on weekends to support events like Saturday’s march and bus drivers who volunteer for extras shifts to earn a little more for their families, as well as women struggling with mental health, high blood pressure and heartbreak. Hosted by the Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force and The Owl Movement, Inc., the purpose of Saturday’s event was to bring men and women of all ages, faiths, backgrounds and lifestyles together as those who believe in equality, tolerance, human rights, dignity and a safe environment.

According to womensmarchstockton.com, the event originally was planned to coincide with other marches taking place in 2018. But organizers felt that logistics and cost to plan a Stockton march was not feasible at the time, and instead a delegation traveled to Sacramento for the event there. With a year to plan, the Stockton Women’s March became a reality in 2019. Maria Rios, a 21-year-old student at University of the Pacific, marched with fellow members of the college’s Pacific Society of Women in Business. “I’m marching for equality and for women’s rights,” she said.

“Society places a lot of pressure on women and forces them to choose whether to be a housewife and mother or a part of the workforce. Society says you can’t do both, when in reality you can.” Fellow student Ynez Marquez, 19, said she was marching for her mother, an immigrant from Mexico who has been working two jobs and raising a family. “She was told she wouldn’t make it,” Marquez said. “She’s a mother of three and she’s still holding those jobs. I’m here to tell people not only can women be mothers and work, they can do anything they set their minds to.”

Following the march, participants gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza to hear the struggles and successes of many Stockton women, including Poet Laureate Tama Brisbane. Receiving a roaring round of applause, Brisbane said the world is looking for women to which to turn. “This is the first time that empowered great-grandmothers, empowered grandmothers, empowered mothers and empowered daughters can gather together in fullness and in purpose,” she said. “We haven’t had that before. It’s the first time, and it’s in time. Because at no other time has all of our combined energies been so needed. The men have had a turn, and now it’s time for us to turn it around.”

Casey Ann Carbonell shared her personal story of overcoming toxic relationships that affected her confidence, friendships and work life. Carbonell, a member of Little Manila Rising and Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, said it took a lot of effort to believe in herself and realize she served a purpose in this world. “I see this march as an opportunity to meet someone new, or realizing just how powerful Stockton women are,” she said. “I am 100 percent convinced women working together are unstoppable, and when we work together we can do it right.” Contact reporter Wes Bowers at (209) 546-8258, or wbowers@recordnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesBo26

United for a common cause: Award-winning activist rapper brings community groups together, vows to boost efforts in Stockton

Reported by Emma Franklin Henterly. Published June 7, 2019.
Retrieved March 31, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/06/07/united-for-common-cause/4958626007/

STOCKTON — The room was brimming with community leaders and their ideas about issues facing Stockton, and rapper Common and his nonprofit Imagine Justice were ready to listen. Mayor Michael Tubbs hosted Common and a cohort of organizers on Friday at City Hall for a discussion about ways to move Stockton forward. The event was part of a packed agenda of talks and meetings for the artist, which culminated with the free Imagine Justice concert, which included a program dedicated to empowering the audience.

“Common, you have around the table, some of the most amazing people,” Tubbs said of the various leaders gathered at the meeting. The people in the room represented organizations, such as Rise Stockton, the California Endowment and Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, that are working on gender equity, economic justice, criminal justice reform, as well as education and environmental justice.

In the hourlong meeting, they spoke openly about schools, incarceration and poverty, and some of the initiatives already in place. Sammy Nuñez, executive director of Fathers & Families of San Joaquin, called Stockton “ground zero” of the recession and mortgage meltdown. He said he looks at the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) program as a tool to reinvest in the community and show the rest of the world how they can tackle the problem. It’s important that the city build on this idea and scale up these initiatives, he told Common. SEED, a program initiated by Tubbs that gives certain residents $500 a month for 18 months, is intended to be a solution for the poverty that’s rampant in the city, explained Sukhi Samra, executive director of SEED. Other topics touched on were education and criminal justice, and how the two overlapping lead to what they said is the “school-to-prison pipeline.”

According to a representative with Stockton Scholars, the organization aims to address the fact that only 35 percent of students are ready for higher education after high school and that in the city only 18 percent of people have a college degree. The way Stockton Scholars is addressing the issue is by raising funds for its scholarship and increasing parent engagement, she said. Bobby Bivens, president of Stockton’s NAACP chapter, also emphasized during the meeting the importance of families taking ownership and parents being involved. “If parents don’t get engaged and become knowledgeable, then there’s no chance for the kids,” he said.

Engagement also was on the mind of the Rev. Trena Turner, who is the executive director of Faith in the Valley. During a moment when Common stepped out of the meeting, Turner said they need to find a way to build relationships with people so they can share their message and get people to move away from how things were done in the past. “If we don’t find a way to integrate these messages, we’re never going to bring anyone on board to move the policies that we need to move,” she said. The meeting, which also explored the possibility of building a public university in Stockton, served as an opportunity for Common to learn more about the work being done in Stockton and how his nonprofit can help the progress.

Gathering for Justice Executive Director Carmen Perez, whose organization facilitated the day’s sessions, said Friday was an important day for the city and added that she was proud of Stockton native Jasmine Dellafosse for bringing the groups together so they collaborate in an intentional way. “I’m excited about the conversation that is going to continue beyond this meeting,” she said. Common, who is the first rapper to win a Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award, said he is reinvigorated to see what is being done in Stockton and by Tubbs’ leadership, and added that he was in the city to “be a conduit.”

“You all have done the work for us and now it’s just about giving us the marching orders and I’ll do everything we can within our space to contribute to Stockton,” he told the group. “I do have an affinity and connection to the city.” Tubbs said he was grateful to Common and Imagine Justice for their time and “not just come in for a flyover, but to come and really plant and root themselves here.” “There’s so much good that is happening,” he said. “I think this is validation that we’re not where we need to be but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus holds first listening session in Stockton

Reported by Bob Highfill. Published June 27, 2019.
Retrieved March 31, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/state/2019/06/28/asian-pacific-islander-legislative-caucus/4810852007/

STOCKTON — The Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus held its first listening session in Stockton on Thursday at San Joaquin Delta College. The APILC represents and advocates for the interests of Asian and Pacific Islander-American communities throughout the state and seeks to increase APIA participation and representation in all levels of government.

The listening sessions began two years ago and have been held in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Orange County and Los Angeles with a future stop planned in San Diego. The session was presented by the San Joaquin Delta College Political Science Department. State Assemblymen Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, David Chiu, D-San Francisco, Rob Bonta, D-East Bay, and state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, attended.

“The diverse communities here … are burgeoning, are growing and have challenges,” said Chiu, APILC chairman. “It’s important for us to come here to Stockton to develop those relationships, that leadership and understand the community so we can do a better job in Sacramento.” Among the caucus’ top priorities is the 2020 census, which will have an impact on federal and other funding and district representation. The caucus is working to spread the word so the APIA population is more accurately counted and correspondingly better represented.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court blocked, for now, the Trump administration’s plan to include a question that inquires about citizenship status. Following the ruling, President Donald Trump vowed to try and delay the census. The block, even if temporary, came as good news to the caucus’ representatives. “The census is meant to count every person that lives in the state regardless of immigration status. That’s why the Supreme Court ruling was very important for us to make sure we in no way deter anyone from participating,” said Kalra, APILC parliamentarian.

“It’s particularly important for California and areas like Stockton because we have such a diverse community.” The APIA population is close to 6 million statewide and represents 16 percent of the state’s population, all-time highs. The API population is the fastest-growing racial demographic in the state, and the Central Valley is among the state’s fastest-growing regions in APIA residents. “Historically, our API communities have been in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and Southern California,” Chiu said. “But emerging API communities in the Central Valley have been of great interest to us.

We see a lot of future statewide leadership in the API community coming here from the Central Valley.” The APIA community has been identified as one the 14 toughest to reach in the state due to language and other issues. Lisa Vela, vice chairwoman of the San Joaquin County Complete Count Committee, urged everyone to spread the word about the census and volunteer to count. The listening session included audience participation.

The attendees were broken into groups and charged with coming up with issues they wanted the APILC to know about and how best to work together to address the issues. “We want to tell them about different categories like education, mental health, housing and immigration,” said Thear Chum, a mental health clinician in Stockton. “Those are the four things we want to focus on. Those are all different things that are impacting our community.”

Thear Chum, far right, and a group discuss issues to present to the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus on Thursday at San Joaquin Delta College. [BOB HIGHFILL/THE RECORD The Record

'ICE doesn't have a place here': Activists, clergy hold rally at Stockton ICE center

Published July 18, 2019.
Retrieved March 31, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2019/07/19/ice-doesn-t-have/4659735007/

STOCKTON — Dozens of community activists, clergymembers and students stood proudly outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in southwest Stockton to condemn recent nationwide raids and the practice of keeping migrants from accessing proper legal processes.

“Power to the people,” the crowd of 50 people chanted in unison, “no one is illegal.” The rally was organized Thursday afternoon by Faith in the Valley, ICE Out of Stockton, Pagea Legal Services, Fuerzas Unidas, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, I Am/O Soy student club of San Joaquin Delta College and Organización de Trabajadores Agricola.

Grouped together in front of the ICE facility at 603 San Juan Ave., the central message from several of the speakers was not only for the raids and separation of immigrant families to stop, but for legal advocates to be allowed access to detained individuals. Additionally, they demanded that the practice of processing people when the center is closed be halted and that the transfer of detainees from other communities be discontinued. In other words, those in attendance would also like to see the facility cease operations in Stockton, said San Joaquin Delta College instructor Mario Moreno.

“We don’t want ICE detention centers in Stockton; this city is better than that, this community is better than that,” the 54-year-old said. “We consider ourselves a city of immigrants as much as a country of immigrants.” The rounding up of human beings and referring to them in dehumanizing language is leading to more violence and more hate, especially in the Central Valley, Moreno said. “It brings up the most awful images that you would read about in history books: of lynch mobs, of lunch counters, of signs that read ‘No dogs or Mexicans allowed;’ we thought we were past that. It reminds us that as much as we think that we’re past these moments, we still have a lot that we need to struggle for and fight for and that is to make this country whole.” The rally comes days after national sweeps and deportations ordered by President Donald Trump that have left migrant families fearful.

A large-scale sweep that the Trump administration had said would begin on Sunday was aimed at targeting predominantly Central Americans with final deportation orders on 10 major court dockets in large cities such as Los Angeles and New York. According to The Associated Press, similar operations took place in 2016 under President Barack Obama and a year later under Trump. At one point during the rally, a woman approached each individual with a red plastic card that included instructions in both English and Spanish of how someone being detained should respond to ICE agents and exercise their constitutional rights. “They didn’t really expect for Stockton to show up like this,” said Thear Chum, a 29-year-old with ICE Out of Stockton and EMAC.

“Stockton has a majority people-of-color community that they wouldn’t get the same response that they would get in more progressive areas, Bay Area; there’s a lot of amazing folks in Stockton that are really willing to do the work.” Born in Cambodia, Chum was only 2 when he arrived in the U.S. with his parents as they fled the brutal Khmer Rouge regime that killed millions of people. Chum referenced the recent deportation of about 40 Cambodians, most of whom had never lived outside the U.S. or don’t speak the language.

He also said he was hurt by comments made Sunday by Trump that falsely portrayed four elected congresswomen of color as foreigners and that they should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.” “Oh yeah, it makes me feel really (expletive),” said Chum. Growing up in low-income communities in Long Beach and the Midwest before coming to Stockton, Chum said he’s dealt with racist comments his entire life, which in turn brought about self-hate and insecurity about his skin tone.

While visiting a Sacramento mall as a high school senior, Chum said, he had rice thrown at him from people on the floor above. Chum’s message on Thursday was clear: ICE needs to leave Stockton. “We don’t want ICE in our community, ICE doesn’t have a place here,” he said. “We can have a society without ICE, it’s just an extension of violence in our communities.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.

San Joaquin County residents receive free eye exams, more at Little Manila health clinic

Reported by Angelaydet Rocha. Published November 14, 2021.

Retrieved March 31, 2022.
https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2021/11/14/san-joaquin-county-residents-little-manila-health-clinic-eye-exams/8619495002/

Forty San Joaquin County residents received free vision screenings and prescription glasses at the Asian Health and Healing Clinic on Sunday at the Little Manila Rising Center. “They also get to detect underlying vision problems ahead of time … we could connect them with appropriate resources that are affordable in case they do find anything concerning with their eye health,” said Hannah Divino, holistic health director of Little Manila Rising.

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation provided the vision exams and prescription glasses for 40 individuals who pre-registered. It's a service that can cost patients from $100 to $300 out of pocket after insurance coverage depending on prescription glasses frames, said Olivia Chung, Mobile Clinic Manager, Tzu Chi Mobile Clinic Fresno. Shiela de Leon, a 25-year-old Lathrop resident, attended the event with her 72-year-old grandfather for the free vision services.

“I'm here because it's very beneficial for my grandpa and he has vision problems, but sometimes I get lost in medical care,” she said. “Not only did it bless my grandpa it blessed me too.” Jeremy Sean Rosal Agcaoili, spiritual healer and ceremonialist with his prayer altar. An "opening sacred space prayer" kicked off the event. An altar with elements of nature: earth, air, fire, water and spirit adorned the room.

“The opening prayer I did is to honor the elements, earth, air, fire, water and spirit, but I did it in a way that I was very inspired by our indigenous brothers and sisters, how they call in the seven directions,” said Jeremy Sean Rosal Agcaoili, spiritual healer and ceremonialist. Free blood pressure screenings by the Bayanihan clinic, a student run clinic, UC Davis nonprofit organization. Diabetes and asthma education was provided at the event and a student-run clinic, Bayanihan Clinic provided free blood pressure screenings. And other services included activities such as sound healing, Yoga, Zumba and massage therapy. Hannah Estrella, 23, Manteca resident and member of 209 Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) received a free therapy massage.

“I needed that, and I think a lot of people need it too, especially because sometimes it's a little bit difficult to have access to that especially when you don't have a lot of money.” she said. An activity was the words of affirmation. The first clinic of its kind at the Little Manila Rising Center in south Stockton was in partnership with Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, a sponsorship by Blue Shield California.

“Holistic Health is viewing health through emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health and seeing that intertwined with each other," Divino said. "It's also honoring culturally rooted healing modalities and practices that our people have used for generations, and it includes ancestral healing and includes working around spirituality."

Words of affirmation for ourself or others activity table. Angelavdet Rocha/ The Stockton Record

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation provided the vision exams and prescription glasses for 40 individuals who pre-registered.

Angelavdet Rocha/ The Stockton Record

Free blood pressure screenings by the Bayanihan clinic, a student run clinic, UC Davis nonprofit organization. Angelaydet Rocha/ The Stockton Record

Jeremy Sean Rosal Aacaoili. spiritual healer and ceremonialist with his praver altar. Angelavdet Rocha/ The Stockton Record

An activity was the words of affirmation. Angelaydet Rocha/ The Stockton Record