Youth Leadership Project rally at Montefiore Family Health Center
Title
Youth Leadership Project rally at Montefiore Family Health Center
Description
In April 1998, the Montefiore Family Health Center in the Bronx announced the elimination of Southeast Asian translation services for their patients. This decision would affect the primarily Vietnamese and Cambodian patients, and other Southeast Asian families, reliant upon services provided by the clinic. CAAAV estimated that 10,000 Vietnamese and Cambodian patients visited the clinic between 1996 and 1997, alone. Additionally, CAAAV connected the announcement to other cuts to public services made in the implementation of the 1996 federal Welfare Reform Act. [1]
To respond to this, the Youth Leadership Project (YLP) organized a rally in May 1998 to protest the elimination of translation services at the clinic. YLP designated Press Contacts, featured in Photo589 and Photo621, and handed out flyers to inform demonstration participants, featured in Photo606.
Over 200 age-diverse community members participated in the demonstration. [2] Because the protest was youth-organized, many families brought their young children. A significant number of elders participated in the rally, featured in Photo604, Photo605, and Photo606. Protesters were also diverse in the languages they spoke, with signs written in English, Khmer (Cambodian), and Vietnamese. Signs included the slogans “Protect our rights to equal healthcare” and “Health Care is a Human Right.”
Prominent CAAAV YLP organizers featured in these photos include Chhaya Chhoum and Eric Tang. Eric Tang was one of CAAAV’s earliest youth organizers, serving as CAAAV Program Coordinator before becoming the Director of the YLP. [4] Chhaya Chhoum was another one of CAAAV’s first youth organizers, completing the YLP pilot program in 1995, and served as a Fall intern in 1996. [3]
As an outcome of the Montefiore rally, YLP organizers facilitated the formation of the Southeast Asian Community Council (SEACC). The SEACC would continue to monitor clinic services and develop future campaign strategies. This persistent direct action complemented an investigation into a Civil Rights Title VI violation committed by the clinic. [5]
[1] “Campaign for Translation at Bronx Clinic” CAAAV Voice (Spring 1998): 4. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://archives.caaav.org/files/original/897b2797fe5ecad2c63f6dcb057ab2ab.pdf
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Voice Fall 1998,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed October 19, 2024: 10. https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/2137.
[4] “New Staff,” CAAAV Voice (Winter 1996): 5. Accessed October 19, 2024. eb73acc7e60b47671a19fbdbdc279acf.pdf (caaav.org)
[5] “Campaign for Translation at Bronx Clinic,” 4.
To respond to this, the Youth Leadership Project (YLP) organized a rally in May 1998 to protest the elimination of translation services at the clinic. YLP designated Press Contacts, featured in Photo589 and Photo621, and handed out flyers to inform demonstration participants, featured in Photo606.
Over 200 age-diverse community members participated in the demonstration. [2] Because the protest was youth-organized, many families brought their young children. A significant number of elders participated in the rally, featured in Photo604, Photo605, and Photo606. Protesters were also diverse in the languages they spoke, with signs written in English, Khmer (Cambodian), and Vietnamese. Signs included the slogans “Protect our rights to equal healthcare” and “Health Care is a Human Right.”
Prominent CAAAV YLP organizers featured in these photos include Chhaya Chhoum and Eric Tang. Eric Tang was one of CAAAV’s earliest youth organizers, serving as CAAAV Program Coordinator before becoming the Director of the YLP. [4] Chhaya Chhoum was another one of CAAAV’s first youth organizers, completing the YLP pilot program in 1995, and served as a Fall intern in 1996. [3]
As an outcome of the Montefiore rally, YLP organizers facilitated the formation of the Southeast Asian Community Council (SEACC). The SEACC would continue to monitor clinic services and develop future campaign strategies. This persistent direct action complemented an investigation into a Civil Rights Title VI violation committed by the clinic. [5]
[1] “Campaign for Translation at Bronx Clinic” CAAAV Voice (Spring 1998): 4. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://archives.caaav.org/files/original/897b2797fe5ecad2c63f6dcb057ab2ab.pdf
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Voice Fall 1998,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed October 19, 2024: 10. https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/2137.
[4] “New Staff,” CAAAV Voice (Winter 1996): 5. Accessed October 19, 2024. eb73acc7e60b47671a19fbdbdc279acf.pdf (caaav.org)
[5] “Campaign for Translation at Bronx Clinic,” 4.
Date
May 1998
Contributor
Digitized by: Arlene Gao
Cataloged by: Tess Derby
Cataloged by: Tess Derby
Rights
Copyright is held by CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.
Format
Photograph
Identifier
Photo588, Photo589, Photo591, Photo596, Photo597, Photo604, Photo605, Photo606, Photo609, Photo612, Photo614, Photo 616, Photo621
Files
Citation
“Youth Leadership Project rally at Montefiore Family Health Center ,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed November 6, 2024, https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/2403.