Greetings from RAMS

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season from all of us at RAMS!

There is no Health without MENTAL HEALTH!

APA Heritage Month Closing Night Celebration Hosted by API Circle

Once again, RAMS is very pleased to be a community co-sponsor of the exciting  API Circle event, held on Friday May 31.  After very successful events in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Mateo, API Circle is headed back to where it all started 3 years ago!

When: Friday, May 31, 2013,  6pm - 9pm
Where:  One Ferry Plaza, San Francisco (behind the Ferry Building - close to Embarbarcadero BART/Muni)
How much: Cost to attend is Free!
FB: http://tinyurl.com/apicircle-may2013
RSVP at http://apicircle-may2013.eventbrite.com/

This year, we are honored that the API Circle event will be highlighting RAMS as well as another organization GOPIO Silicon Valley (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin), a non-partisan, secular global organization engaged in promoting the well being of People of Indian Origin, enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries.  Let's celebrate the closing night of Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month together!   You can definitely expect the same features … • GREAT people to mix and mingle with • TERRIFIC co-hosts and co-sponsoring organizations • highlighting & supporting AWESOME API community non-profits and their work • WONDERFUL performances • FUN raffle prizes (every attendee gets a free ticket!)  There will also be • DELICIOUS complimentary Thai food while supplies last (and for sale downstairs) • WONDERFUL samples from Jade Chocolates for the early birds   And there will be no cover charge! Festive ethnic attire is encouraged but business, business casual, or even just casual are fine ... please come as you are! See you soon - and please remember to invite your friends to join in too! Steering Committee Claire Chang | Kavoos Bassiri | Keesa Ocampo | Manufou Liaiga Anoai | Mary Nicely | Stephanie Balon Wong | Tamiko Wong Co-Hosts Ajay Bhutoria | Al Perez | Alisha Woo | Arnold Mew | Clifford Yee | Dairian Wan | Derek Lang | Diana Lin | Doreen Lew | Eric Lau | Frank Chui | Ivan Cheng | Gemmy Tsai | HoChie Tsai | Jen Low | Jenny Yu | John Tam | Jonathan Leong | Ken Pascal | Kyle Oura | Melanie Lew | Michael Lok | Paul Miyamoto | Pearl Wong | Roji Oyama | Ron Lee | Rose Chung | Ryan Takemiya | Sheetal Ohri | Sourichanh Sirch Chanthyasack | Steven Lee | Suzie Lee | Susie Willemsz-Geeroms | Taiko Fujimura | Ted Fang | Thanh Huynh Sponsor Serramonte Subaru Media Sponsors Diya TV | Hyphen Magazine | KAXT1 Community Co-Sponsors Asian American Donor Program (AADP) | Asian American Theater Company (AATC) | Asian Americans for Community Outreach (AACO) | Asian Business Connectors | AsianWeek Foundation (AWF) | ASPIRE - Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education | Chinatown YMCA | Coalition of Asian American Government Employees (CAAGE) | Corporate Asian American Employee Network (CAAEN) | Filipino American Arts Exposition | GOPIO SIlicon Valley | International Lao New Year Festival (ILNYF) | JPMorgan Chase Asians & Pacific Islanders Reaching for Excellence (AsPIRE) San Francisco Bay Area Chapter | Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) | Miss Asian America | Nihonmachi Street Fair | OCA - East Bay | OCA - San Francisco | Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition (PAAWBAC) | RAMA | Richmond Area Multi-Services - San Francisco (RAMS) | San Francisco Asian Professionals | San Francisco Global Vietnamese Film Festival | South East Asian Cultural Heritage & Musical Performing Arts (SEACHAMPA) | TaiwaneseAmerican.org | Taiwanese American Professionals - SF / Bay area (TAP-SF) | the it's ok campaign | Wa Sung Community Service Club Prize Donors Aaron Lum | Chili Pepper Event | Chinatown YMCA | Frances Kai-Hwa Wang | Kavoos Bassiri | Keesa Ocampo | Manufou Liaiga Anoai | Peoples Bank | Taiko Fujimura | Tamiko Wong Vendors and Tablers ASPIRE - Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education | Corporate Asian American Employee Network (CAAEN) | Jade Chocolates | Serramonte Subaru | Sumofish | Taiko Fujimura  List current as of 5/21/13   RSVP at http://apicircle-may2013.eventbrite.com/ To learn more about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, check out APA Heritage Foundation's page: http://apiaheritagesf.org/history.shtml The API Circle is an alliance of San Francisco Bay Area Asian & Pacific Islander American leaders and organizations with the mission to create meaningful relationships and collaborative efforts that are cross-generational, ideologically neutral and diversely representative.

Closing Night Event - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2011

Please join RAMS and other community organizations for the last Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event of 2011!  This inter-generational multi-ethnic event shall feature live performances, happy hour specials all night, announcements, and delicious ethnic food. All are welcome so please help us spread the love by inviting your friends to attend too!

RSVP: http://apahmclosingnight.eventbrite.com/

WHAT: APA Heritage Month Closing Night Celebration
WHEN:  Tuesday, May 31, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Carnelian By the Bay, 1 Ferry Plaza (behind the Ferry Building), San Francisco.  Close to Embarcadero MUNI/BART.  $5 valet parking.

Your co-hosts: 
Aaron Rora - Angela Pang - Caitlyn Chi - Chris Chang - Christine Hsu - Christine Padilla - Claire Chang - Cliff Yee - Edmond Hui - Frank Chui - Ho Chie Tsai - Irene Kao - James Feng - Jenny Yu - Kavoos Bassiri - Keesa Ocampo - Manufou 'Fou' Liaiga-Anoai - Mary Nicely - Myron Lee - Paul Yep - Plunket Phommachanh - Rich 'Juebop' Jue - Ron Lee - Samson Wong - Sandra Siharath - Shaun Tai - Sourichanh (Sirch) Chanthyasack - Stephanie Balon Wong - Steve Liu - Steven Lee - Susan Lee - Susie Willemsz-Geeroms - Tamiko Wong

Community co-sponsors:
3rd I Film Festival - Asian American 20s & 30s Meetup - Asian American Business Connection Meetup (AABC) - Asian Business League - San Francisco (ABL-SF) - American Legion Cathay Post No. 384 - Asian Peace Officers' Association (APOA) - AsianWeek Foundation (AWF) - Bay Area Asians Meetup - Burma Education Fund - Cherry Blossom Alumnae (CBA) - East of Main Street - Fa'atasi - Hyphen Magazine - Indonesian Day 2011 - Korean American Professional Society (KAPS) - Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) - Mission District Re-Entry Center for Youth (MDRCY) - Nakayoshi Young Professionals (NYP) - OCA-SF (Organization of Chinese Americans - SF) - ORIENTED.COM - Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition (PAAWBAC) - RAMA - Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc (RAMS, Inc) - SEACHAMPA (South East Asian Cultural Heritage & Musical Performing Arts) - SF Asian Professionals Meetup - SF Cantonese Enthusiasts Meetup - SF Samoa-Pacific Islander Community Partnership - Shelter Network - TaiwaneseAmerican.org - WHOmentors.com, Inc. - Young Filipino Professionals Association (YFPA)

Business supporters:
4fifteen clothing - Alido’s Restaurant (donating lumpia!) - Bok Choy Apparel (selling items!) - Blue Salud Special Events (helping with logistics!) - Burmese Kitchen (donating cold Burmese Salad called Nan gyi thoke) - Fight Life - New Delhi Restaurant (donating mini-samosas!) - Sugar Bowl Bakery (donating brownie bites!) - Usagi Team (selling doggie clothes, wine accessories, and hand-made bags!)

Performers:
Charles Wang (cellist) - Cynthia Lin and the Blue Moon All Stars - Kariktan Dance Company - Michelle Martinez - Traditional Burmese Dancer Using Oil Lamps - Visitacion Valley Ukulele Club

Volunteers:
Angela Tang - Jackie Hwang - Karah To - Q Thang Do - Scott Kong - Sherry Wong - Susan Wong - Vicki Hsu

Poster by Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute

Meet RAMS – Angela Tang, LCSW

On May 3, 2011, in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors honored one individual in each supervisorial district for “public recognition of distinction and merit for outstanding service”. We are proud to announce that Supervisor Eric Mar awarded RAMS Director of Operations Angela Tang, LCSW with a Certificate of Honor as the individual representing the Richmond District of San Francisco. Ms. Tang received commendation for her hard work and dedication with over six years of service at RAMS, and for her commitment to serving the Asian American community in the Richmond District, and the greater San Francisco area.

Please join RAMS in congratulating Angela Tang for this great honor, and in congratulating and celebrating all 11 honorees of the various San Francisco districts!

2010 Community Service Award from NCSPP

On December 3, RAMS was presented with the 2010 Community Service Award from the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology:

"In recognition of your longstanding commitment to advocating for and providing community-based, culturally competent, and consumer-guided services to the residents of San Francisco, and in deep appreciation for the high quality psychodynamic training that you provide to mental health service providers. Your program serves as a model for the compassionate, socially responsible, and culturally-informed practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy and training."

RAMS was recognized for its contributions to both patients and therapists-in-training, and for serving as an inspiration to those committed to providing psychodynamically-informed treatment to everyone, regardless of financial circumstance, immigration status, or ethnic & cultural background.

Changing Reality

Left to right: Senator Leland Yee, Victor Jih & Tammy Jih, Hung Huynh, Chloe Dao, Pamela Ling

The night was a success! We are grateful to the Hotel Kabuki for hosting the event, and to our event contributors DJ Pauly Paul, Echoes of the Dragon Chinese Drum Ensemble, Frank Jang Photography, Gobba Gobba Hey, Mariluz Design, and Soleil Portraits, for donating their time and services, and especially to our featured guests and all of our donors & supporters who made this event a night to remember.

One month... and counting down!

We are excitedly preparing for our upcoming Fundraiser Gala and Celebrity Forum, which is exactly one month away on May 12!

This event will feature a talk with four Asian-American Reality TV stars: Chloe Dao, Hung Huynh, and Victor Jih, whose triumphs on their respective shows Project Runway, Top Chef, and Amazing Race were considered a winning representation of Asian America, and Dr. Pamela Ling, who broke ground as one of the first Asian American faces on mainstream television when she appeared on the 3rd season of MTV's The Real World. We will be speaking with our guests about their reasons for being on their shows, how their ethnic and cultural identities may have shaped their experiences, and their thoughts on API representation in the media and society, as well as the impact that their participation and subsequent accomplishments have had on the way mainstream media perceives and portrays Asian Americans today.

This event will be the first of its kind, and we are thrilled to be presenting this to you.  California State Senator Leland Yee shall be participating as our Moderator for the celebrity forum.

Meanwhile, our staff are have been diligently meeting and talking with various members of the San Francisco community, in hopes of securing donations and sponsorships, as well as ticket sales for our much-anticipated event. This event is a fundraiser, and financial contributions from our supporters will help RAMS continue providing much-needed mental health services to the Asian American community, and the San Francisco Bay Area as a whole.

For more information about our event, and to buy tickets, please visit our events page at http://ramsinc.org/events/