After losing her job, a Point Breeze resident stumbled onto a local nonprofit and put in 13 years of selfless work that won her a personal honor.
Photos courtesy of Bank of America
South Philadelphia has become home to many groups of immigrants, all searching for a better life. When Hanna Do traveled to Philadelphia from Vietnam, she never knew a little more than a decade later she'd be easing others' assimilations.
"During the time working at SEAMAAC, I am excited and proud to be a SEAMAAC employee," Do said of her job as an outreach worker for the South East Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition at 1711 S. Broad St. "I am really enjoying my job because most of my clients, they are refugees and immigrants and I understood what they faced with language barriers and they faced a lot of hardship, too."
Do's 13-year commitment to SEAMAAC's Refugee Program, as well as her teaching of hepatitis B and HIV awareness workshops, earned her recognition at Bank of America's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative at an Oct. 27 ceremony.
"I'm very pleasantly surprised when my executive director told me that I was selected a Local Hero by Bank of America," the 21st-street-and-Passyunk-Avenue resident said. "I'm really happy to be a Local Hero because my work was recognized."
One of eight children to emigrate to the U.S. in 1991 after her father spent a decade building a home for his Vietnam-based family to come to, Do set up shop at Fourth and Tasker streets.
"I suffered many hardships such as language barriers, culture differences, transportation and difficulty trying to find my way around the city. However, I tried overcoming that difficulty," the 51-year-old said.
Overcome she did -- teaching herself English through reading books and a dictionary -- and eventually committing her life's work to helping others do the same.
"I am responsible for a few programs such as Refugee Outreach Program, Intergenerational Program, New Routes 'Our Stories Our Health' and Elders Gathering," Do said. "I help the elders to become U.S. citizens and provide translation/interpretation."
Thirteen years of commitment to SEAMAAC caught the eye of the national bank's community service branch and brought Do in the company of two local nonprofits, four other Local Heroes and a group of student leaders for the annual honor that will bring a total of $450,000 into the local community.
The award comes with a $5,000 unrestricted gift Do can give to a charity of her choice. Her recipient is obvious.
"I will donate to SEAMAAC because SEAMAAC needs the money right now," Do said. "I work with the people doing the program, and I need my program [to have more funding]."
The South Philly-based nonprofit, which was established 25 years ago, aids immigrants and refugees with their transition into American life. Do's work is mainly done in her native tongue and, after she carved out a better life for herself, she is rewarded every day by the promise she is making the adjustments for others go more smoothly.
"Doing this job effectively requires working very well and it's a pleasure to help people," Do, who has lived at her Point Breeze home since 2004, said. "I know I must always be aware of their culture, their habits and their traditions to understand what they need and why."
Do's father began his family's move westward to escape Communism in Vietnam. He spent four months living in Pilipino refugee camps before landing on American soil in '81. A decade after, Do set foot in the U.S. and went to work in a factory that made decorations. The Wolf Street plant required hard labor, and her time there was short-lived.
"At first, I worked in a factory for five years and had no benefits at all and got laid off," Do, who would walk 20 blocks to work, said. "I collected unemployment and it expired after six months."
With no income, Do needed something to fill the void, but she found something that also would fill her heart.
"I needed assistance to support a family and I had a young child, so I enrolled in welfare," Do, who has a son, Samuel, now 27, said. "I told myself that I want to empower myself to search for employment. I asked my caseworker to look for me a job. After three months of welfare, my caseworker introduced me to SEAMAAC."
Do placed a call to the nonprofit inquiring about open positions. It seemed her luck had finally changed.
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1. Name said... on Nov 24, 2009 at 12:07PM
“This is a made-up story. ”
2. Name said... on Nov 24, 2009 at 12:16PM
“SEAMAAC abuses employees by often terminating employment without any justification ,cutting payments w/o any reasons, refusing overtime payment. The current Executive director is a dictator who manipulates all employee benefits including pay rate at his whim.”
3. Community Member said... on Dec 1, 2009 at 10:36AM
“ I agree with you. Thoai Nguyen, the ED, is a little man with a Napoleon complex who does little to aid the community which he claims to serve. It is a disgrace that he still is running the organization after the NLRB and the SEAMAAC Union successfully settled on several lawsuits against him. The SEAMAAC board needs to take a reality check and replace him soon. It is important to note that Thoai is NOT SEAMAAC- even though by looking at the website, you would think it is. SEAMAAC is a great organization and the community needs it.... But Thoai's much needed absence would improve its efficacy.”
4. Community member too said... on Dec 4, 2009 at 09:33AM
“ Thoai Nguyen's management violated National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and after investigations by General Counsel, cases has been brought against him. You can find the cases in the below link. It is public information. http://mynlrb.nlrb.gov/portal/nlrb.pt?open=512&objID=204&mode=2&in_hi_userid=201&cached=true Unfair Labor Practice (Complaint) Case Information Display Case Name: Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition Date Filed: 03/18/2009 Case Number: 04-CA-36644-001 NLRA Section: 8(a)(1)Coercive Statements, including Threats 8(a)(1)Rules: Other Employer Rules 8(a)(1)Concerted Activities: Discharge 8(a)(3)Other Allegations 8(a)(5)Refusal to Furnish Information Appeal Det: No Appeal Determination Data Available. Charged Party: Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition Union Name: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1739, AFL-CIO Employer Name: Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition Case Status: Complaint Issued Unfair Labor Practice (Complaint) Case Information Display Case Name: Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition Date Filed: 06/29/2009 Case Number: 04-CA-36867-001 NLRA Section: 8(a)(1)Promise of Benefits 8(a)(1)Rules: Other Employer Rules 8(a)(1)Concerted Activities: Discharge 8(a)(1)Coercive Statements, including Threats 8(a)(1)Discharge of supervisor (Parker-Robb Chevrolet) 8(a)(3)Benefits Altered 8(a)(3)Layoff 8(a)(3)Other Allegations 8(a)(5)Unilateral Changes [not Sec. 8(d)] 8(a)(5)Bad Faith Bargaining (Initial Contract) 8(a)(5)Refusal to Furnish Information Appeal Det: No Appeal Determination Data Available. Charged Party: Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition Union Name: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local 1739, AFL-CIO Employer Name: Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition Case Status: Complaint Issued ”
5. South Philly Tony said... on Jan 4, 2010 at 06:45PM
“Seamaac is a joke! Run by a corrupt little schemer. They screwed over people I know for years.”
6. Anonymous said... on Jan 14, 2010 at 02:57AM
“Mr. Thoai Nguyen said that if I got fire from SEAMAAC, I will fire all my staff first before broad members touch me.”
7. Mr. Nguyen Ho said... on Jan 22, 2010 at 03:32PM
“This is an awareness for all funders such as Pew Fund Foundation, DHS, PHMC, Kai's Foudation and other health department about this organization. It has lot of law sues by their own employees and local unnion. It have been corrupting inside of this agancy and ruining by Mr. Thoai Nguyen (CEO) who seen himself as a king in this organzation.
He is trying to destroy this agency by fire all asian employees to start it fresh organiztion with caucasian. He still his goal that is serving for asian with employees unknow asian languages. Mr. Nguyen claimed that asian employees are not speak English professional who are serving for asian communmities such as Cambudia, Chinese, Indonesian, Lao and Vietnamese. He started to hire new employees not know about the jobs those are serving for asian communities and try to eliminate asian employees out of his organization.
He came to”
8. South Philly reviewers said... on Jan 22, 2010 at 03:37PM
“All Board members of this agency should have an awareness about those command of communities' members.”
9. The Community said... on Jan 29, 2010 at 10:21PM
“It is quite clear that all the following comments are by one or two disgruntle people. The problem is that why would someone post such untrue comments. It is because they only know how to blame others rather than accepting the truth.You have no idea what you are talking about you insane person, go get a real job where you will not have such free time on your hands to post stupid things on line. If you are not happy go seek employment else where instead of posting such crap. My advice to you is to check into a mental hospital and get some heavy medication because you are nuts.Life is to short and all you know how to do is complain make accusations and scream fire and twist the truth get a life and live it my friend instead of all this petty stuff that somehow you want to inflict pain on others for your shortfalls in life. Grow up make a difference and stop all of your nonsense because it does not help the community at all. Just remember it is not all about you.”
10. Community member said... on Feb 11, 2010 at 11:15AM
“It's a shame that an article honoring a woman's hard work has become a forum for complaining about someone else.
From what I know, SEAMAAC is facing the same revenue cuts as other public service organizations in the city.
Immigrants have always had among the hardest times finding jobs in recessions. Basically SEMAAC needs to cut redundant workers in order to stay in business why revenues fall, and this spells disaster for those whose jobs are being cut.
For many employees of SEAMAAC this is the first professional job they've held in America, and many are unfamiliar with their legal rights, but have found that they union is a good way to pursue their own goals, whether legal or not. Too bad SEAMAAC doesn't have money for lawyers, like the NCLB ... they're just trying to stay in business.”
11. Wayne.Wlm said... on Feb 11, 2010 at 12:40PM
“I agree with "community member", how absolutely petty and unclassy to mar an occasion to celebrate a neighbor by attacking a struggling agency.
As a Black community member in south philly for all my life I have known SEMAAC and their work for the past 20 years, and more recently know their executive director Mr. Thoai. He is a classy man with immense patience with his staff - if you were fired by Mr. Thoai then you must have done some terrible things.
Unlike the corrupt people who ran the agency before (almost into the ground) Mr. Thoai is a breath of fresh air to the agency. The only napoleonic guy i ever met at SEMAAC was a squat older black guy who was arrogant and thought he was the boss, what a joke! The terribel comments above has got to be from stupid lazy disgruntled workers who finally got what they deserved. Hard times need hard workers not a bunch of lazy monkeys. let's hope the union doesn't destroy SEMAAC like they did the current economy.”
12. Community Member said... on Feb 12, 2010 at 08:29AM
“”
13. Concerned Staffs said... on Feb 12, 2010 at 08:34AM
“The Board of Directors need to listen to employees who have been long abused by Thoai Nguyen and replace this incompetent, abusive and corrupt dictator immediately if they want to save SEAMAAC.”
14. SEAMAAC's Staffs said... on Feb 12, 2010 at 08:36AM
“I am so sad to learn that some community members, funders and partner agencies still believe that Mr. Thoai is a good man. You all have been manipulated by him. If you really want to know his true color, you should listen to the voice of SEAMAAC employees who have long been abused by this incompetent and corrupt Eexecutive Director. He has not done much to help the community. His only job is to screw his employees who are immigrants, refugees and some are on temporary work visa. Those employees have suffered long enough and finally find some light of justice. Mr. Thoai Nugyen still cannot accept his incompetency and put the blame on others. 5 years under Mr. Thoai Nguyen dictatorship, SEAMAAC has reduced half of its staff and lost many good programs which means less and less direct service to community. The Board of Directors need to remove this abusive Executive Director immediately if they want to save SEAMAAC.”
15. SEAMAAC Concerned Staffs said... on Feb 12, 2010 at 08:47AM
“Mr. Thoai Nguyen, you are the one who is insane. You need to get treatment from a mental hospital before it is too late. You fired staffs after you have abused them long enough. This is a wake up call for you, but you still pretend to not hear it. You need to grow up and learn to be responsible for your own action and stop blaming others.”
16. Community Members said... on Feb 12, 2010 at 08:54AM
“Mr. Thoai Nguyen, It is great to be great, but it is greater to be " Human"”
17. SEAMAAC Staffs said... on Feb 16, 2010 at 08:12AM
“Just look at one simple fact. 5 years under Mr. Thoai Nguyen leadership, SEAMAAC has reduced from 60 staffs to 30 staffs and most of them work part time. Is he helping or hurting our community?”