What is VCSA's vision?

VCSA is dedicated to developing and building the generations of future leaders for the Vietnamese-American community across the United States, Canada and around the world.

What is VCSA's mission?

Vietnamese Culture and Science Association promotes excellence in education, leadership and skills development through culture and science. Our organization encourages multi-generational and cross-cultural collaborations.   We foster civic participation in the mainstream and Vietnamese America.

Describe briefly VCSA's formation history and track records
VCSA was founded in 1990, initially with 14 members located in Houston, Texas. Within the last 12 years, it has grown into a national organization with more than 400 members. VCSA is based in Houston, Texas with chapters in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; San Diego, California; and Washington, DC.

What are some recent VCSA accomplishments?
Although VCSA has not obtained any governmental funding, it has managed to establish its first VCSA center in September 2000. The center is located in the heart of the Vietnamese-American community in Houston and vicinity. It was maintained in the last two years with a full year-round schedule of community service activities and programs to serve the Vietnamese community in Houston and vicinity in many different disciplines: social, health awareness, educational, cultural and recreational. All of these programs were run by hundreds of volunteers recruited by VCSA. VCSA is currently establishing another center in the Dallas/Fort Worth area using the same model of operation as in Houston. VCSA is famous for its dedication to volunteerism and the spirit of teamwork. In 2002, it placed second in the nation for the prestigious National Leadership Independent Sector Award. This recognition was due to the extraordinary spirit of volunteerism of VCSA members in the last twelve years.

A quote from Phuong Mai Duong, a CPA working for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Houston, Texas

“7 years ago when I first came to the US, I was fascinated about what I saw as volunteerism here. But too busy with school, I could only participate in my University’s volunteer tax filling for low-income people. To be honest, it was not an activity truly motivated by my heart but in the purpose of gaining credit with Beta Alpha Psi fraternity and a way to get to the door of ‘Big Five’ after graduation. The day I received the letter of acknowledgement for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) from City of Seattle - Washington, I read that sentence “Volunteerism is in the heart of America”. That sentence has always been in my mind for the last several years.

In the process of finding something meaningful to do in my life, one day, by chance I have found VCSA. Within 1 hour, I filled out my membership application andcould never imagine how this has changed my life. I have learned several valuable skills to my personal development. But the most important thing is to learn to think about other people!  

I have found an association that has proven itself to be a genuinely caring group of people who devote their time whole-heartedly for good cause. Words can not describe how proud I am to be a little part of it.   I can say now, with much conviction, that “Volunteerism is in the heart of Vietnamese people”!” And you too, you can be a proud part of us. Join us to find a meaningful way to spend your time for good cause and to deliver your “first-class performance” to any project we set our heart to carry out. For our beloved country across the oceans, for our community here, for our proud race of Vietnamese!   “