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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 124
BY SENATOR MORRELL
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Cyndi Nguyen, community activist, upon selection as
a fellow of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network and for her
efforts to promote educational development for children in New Orleans East.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Cyndi Nguyen upon receipt of a fellowship presented by the W. K. Kellogg2
Foundation Community Leadership Network for her exemplary efforts to broaden3
educational opportunities and after-school programs in New Orleans East.4
WHEREAS, Cyndi Nguyen is a community activist of the highest order; she works5
as an agent for positive change to promote access to educational and economic possibilities6
for the residents of her community, in particular, the enrichment of the lives of children; and7
WHEREAS, she has amassed scarce funding and manpower to bring much needed8
services to all the people who call New Orleans East their home, a rich gumbo of ethnicities9
that benefit from her determination and commitment; and10
WHEREAS, her activism is deeply rooted in her own personal experience and life's11
journey; Cyndi arrived in New Orleans in 1975, as a five year old Vietnamese National and12
refugee seeking political asylum in the United States after the Vietnam Conflict; and13
WHEREAS, Cyndi's first-person experiences with language barriers and a lack of14
knowledge of available social services remain at the heart of her advocacy to provide aid to15
those persons of similar circumstance who view the United States as a gateway to a brighter16
future for themselves and their families; and17
WHEREAS, Cyndi Nguyen is founder and executive director of VIET, Vietnamese18 SR NO. 124
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Initiatives in Economic Training, a nonprofit organization that functions as a neighborhood1
resource annex for a myriad of services that include a learning and cultural center, a disaster2
aid headquarters, and a venue for after-school programs and summer camp for area children;3
and4
WHEREAS, the VIET center has evolved during its fourteen year existence into a5
multi-service complex that provides programs, such as family resources assistance, parent-6
to-school assistance, senior activities, financial literacy and small business planning,7
translation and interpreting services, language classes, and provides assistance for those who8
seek citizenship, health care, and social services; and9
WHEREAS, the VIET center is presently housed in the former St. Brigid Catholic10
Church, a casualty of Hurricane Katrina that could not reopen after the storm; the11
Archdiocese of New Orleans extended a thirty-year lease of the building to the organization;12
and 13
WHEREAS, with unrelenting determination Cyndi marshaled neighborhood14
manpower to transform the dilapidated structure into a community asset with herculean site15
improvements of remodeling, landscaping, pedestrian walkways, and the planting of trees16
and gardens that resulted in a brightly colored playground, a volleyball court, and a pristine17
outdoor classroom setting; and18
WHEREAS, the prestigious W. K. Kellogg Foundation emphasizes the importance19
of healthy child development and the reduction of social inequities that inhibit the progress20
of and future prospects for America's youth; and Cyndi Nguyen is most deserving of this21
accolade as an acknowledgment of her inexhaustible service to the community; and22
WHEREAS, Cyndi Nguyen instituted the after-school program called "Afterschool23
Academy" to ensure that children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade have a safe24
and structured environment; Afterschool Academy focuses on homework assistance,25
learning opportunities, such as STEM studies (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math),26
community service, robotics, and enrichment activities that include art, cultural learning,27
karate, poetry, and gardening; and28
WHEREAS, the Summer Adventure Program, a nine week summer camp experience,29
provides learning and recreational participation that includes instruction in guitar and piano,30 SR NO. 124
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dance, pottery, photography, swimming, fishing, sports, and service days; and1
WHEREAS, although her travels took her far away from home to earn a bachelor's2
degree in social work from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and a master's degree in3
management from the University of Phoenix, Cyndi returned to New Orleans in 1998; and4
WHEREAS, through VIET, her mission continues to be one of service to the needs5
of the Vietnamese community and other minorities and of help to bridge the gap of cultural,6
social, and language barriers into the economic mainstream of American society; and7
WHEREAS, Cyndi has taken on many leadership roles, such as that of FEMA8
community liaison after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the area, then after the storm9
she established the Einstein Charter School in the Michoud area; and10
WHEREAS, her altruism and strength of character have not gone unnoticed, Cyndi11
has been named a Louisiana Afterschool Ambassador and a Young Leadership Council Role12
Model; her nonprofit VIET was featured in Fortune 500 magazine; and she has been the13
recipient of many honors that include LSU Women Pathfinder Award, Small Business14
Minority Award from the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Champion for Kids Award from15
the Louisiana Children Trust Fund, the O'Hara Award from the Asian Pacific American16
Society, Community Quarterback Award from the New Orleans Saints, WDSU Making A17
Difference Award, Making Things Brighter Award from Entergy of New Orleans, and18
Louisiana Women in Philanthropy Award from Louisiana Association for Nonprofit19
Organizations; and 20
WHEREAS, her community action has been a collaborative effort with assistance21
from corporate sponsors and nonprofit partners that include Entergy of New Orleans, BP,22
New Orleans Hornets, Jasmine Rice, HandsOn, City Year, Common Ground Relief, and23
Lotus Care; and24
WHEREAS, Cyndi has tackled large scale initiatives to promote healthy living and25
child-friendly environments such as National Childhood Obesity Awareness, "Lights on26
Afterschool" to increase public awareness of the importance of enrichment programs that27
are vital to personal growth, and "Boo in Michoud" a safe place for trick or treat28
celebrations; and29
WHEREAS, Cyndi Nguyen embraces the tenets of optimal child development30 SR NO. 124
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expressed by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation which are education, health, and secure family1
surroundings, and she strives to bring to fruition civic engagement, community service, and2
ethnic equity within the New Orleans East neighborhood.3
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana4
does hereby congratulate Cyndi Nguyen upon receipt of a W. K. Kellogg Foundation5
Community Leadership Network fellowship for her commitment to children and education.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Cyndi Nguyen is hereby commended for her7
efforts to improve the emotional, intellectual, physical, and cultural growth of the residents8
of the New Orleans East community. 9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to10
Cyndi Nguyen, executive director of VIET.11
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
Morrell SR No. 124
Commends Cyndi Nguyen upon receipt of a fellowship from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.