It’s that time of year again! The fourth annual Mr. Hyphen rounds up a remarkable group of dedicated men in the Asian American community who are devoted to and tireless in enriching their communities through service in worthy causes.
Presented by Hyphen Magazine and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC), Mr. Hyphen is the perfect fusion of fun and philanthropy. The pageant-style affair will be hosted at the OACC in Oakland on Saturday, November 14th, and features a promising, energetic and action-packed event with rounds of talent, fashion and Q&A. The rounds are alternately voted on by audience and a panel of judges. The winner of the Mr. Hyphen 2009 crown will be awarded with a $1,000 cash donation to his nonprofit organization.
The six inspirational and talented stand-outs vying for the venerable Mr. Hyphen crown this year all share a zest for changing the world for the better — whether it is within their own communities or in communities spanning from across the state to across the globe. Each one of these contestants bring a richness of experience with their unique stories and vision for change.
Read on and root on!
MR. HYPHEN CONTENDERS:
Amit Singh
Mr. Singh is a 29 year old venture capital investor, social entrepreneur, culinary aficionado, and talented musician. He thrives on challenge, adventure, passion, and living a full and purposeful life. He works with people and companies that want to move their performance from “average” to “outstanding”, “ass-kicking”, “legendary”, and “of mythical results”. Mr. Singh is attuned to discovering a spark in others, and delivers tremendous amounts of energy to cultivate changing people into raging bonfires of positivity. Mr. Singh believes that each person has the power and the ability to create a “movement of good”; to create staggering amounts of tangible, positive, and lasting change. A ten minute conversation with him is sure to leave you awe-inspired, and with an action plan for how you can change the world.
Organization: Sikhcess, http://sikhcess.com
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Danny Le
Hi, my name is Danny Thien Le (aka Dandiggity) and I’m a 28-year-old Vietnamese American poet from San Jose, California. I was born in Oklahoma and somehow found my way to the Bay Area in 1989. An earthquake welcomed me in. When I’m not busy running a convenience store, I design shirts and shoes (www.plstk.com), promote parties and community events, contribute to a music blog, sing in a band, and dance. My mom wonders what I’m going to do with my life. I decided I’m going to live it.
Organization: The APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, http://apiaword.com
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Leng Phe
Leng Phe was born on August 23, 1986 in Danbury, Connecticut, the first of his family to be born in the US to Cambodian-Chinese parents who were refugee survivors of the Khmer Rouge during the Vietnam War. His first memory from before he could walk was of a man breaking a glass bottle over his mother’s head, which led to his family moving to Seattle, Washington. The violence and abuse from the war followed, reincarnating in the mentality of his family members, making him a witness/victim to violence, weapons, abuse, and drugs regularly. Taking passionately to the arts of break dancing and singing in his mid-teens helped him escape, and to feel like a more valued individual. He left his home the day after turning 18 years old, and worked as an aircraft mechanic, supporting himself. His outlook on life is wonderfully aware, stating, “My past was dark, but my future is bright, so presently I smile.”
Organization: Tiny Toones Cambodia, http://www.tinytoonescambodia.com
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Pahole Sookkasikon
Hi, hello, my name is Pahole Sookkasikon. I’m an optimist and a dreamer. I laugh at the most inopportune times and am extremely random, however I am a great listener and am respectful. I want nothing more than to change the world in epic ways and show my nephews that the world is not as bad as people paint it to be. I recently graduated with my Masters at San Francisco State University in Asian American Studies but failed at turning in my thesis — but I am almost done. I draw, I cook, and when I’m home alone, I sing in the mirror, pretending that I’m winning American Idol.
In one last sentence: I love my mom, my dad, and the Bo.
Organization: Thai/American Scholarship Fund, http://www.asianpacificfund.org/awards/thai.shtml
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Tony Douangviseth
Tony “Dezil” Douangviseth, 26, was born in the Tenderloin District in San Francisco and later raised in Oakland, CA after the big earth quake of 1989. His life experience in the streets of Oakland motivated him to devote his life to community work focused on the younger generation. In high school, his organizing efforts helped create a Youth Center that focused on health and wellness, a conflict resolution program, and also provided additional academia support. He later began to organize community clean-ups in East Oakland and annual free summer programming for disadvantaged youth of color. At the same time, he co-founded HOPE (Helping Oakland’s People Eat), an organization dedicated to educating high-school students on healthy eating. Tony, along with a handful of community members, co-founded the grassroots organization, Serve the People. He is now currently serving as the Collaborative Director of the Youth Center he helped create.
Organization: Serve the People, http://www.servethepeopleca.webs.com
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RJ Lozada
R.J. Lozada is only human. Really. Lozada’s sustained optimism and work ethic is the fruit of his parents, his family, and his peers. In addition to working in the legal field, Lozada continues to listen, gather, and share stories about people in the margins. Lozada resides in San Francisco by way of San Diego where the carne asada fries are best, and the beaches better. In this current iteration of intersections, Lozada hopes to continue is work with inmates, youth, and helping the elderly onto the bus.
Organization: The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), http://www.asianamericanmedia.org
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ABOUT THE EVENT:
MR. HYPHEN 2009
DETAILS: $15-20. Sat, 11/14, 7 - 10pm. Oakland Asian Cultural Center (Pacific Renaissance Plaza, second floor), 388 9th Street, Suite 290. Oakland, CA 94607.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.hyphenmagazine.com.
CONTACT: Lanlian Szeto at lanlian@hyphenmagazine.com or visit www.hyphenmagazine.com. OACC phone: (510) 637-0455.
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