Village Bridges
Xin Chào!
Hello & Welcome,
Village Bridges is a student-led organization committed to helping students of An Bằng Village-descent navigate the process of college applications, financial aid, college transition, cultural pressures, and career exploration.
Purpose
The term "global village" means a community brought together and reconnected by the internet. As a diaspora community of boat people, refugees, and immigrants, many generations of our villagers are spread all over the world.
We aspire to help preserve and strengthen the An Bằng global village by sharing free college and careers resources directly to students from under-resourced backgrounds like our own. Our efforts are focused on mentoring high school and college students with roots originating from our small fishing village of An Bằng, Vietnam.
Our Team
Village Bridges was co-founded by three young An Bằng women and our leadership team is comprised of students and professionals from various career paths & stages of life.
As each of us steps into the next stage of life, we are committed to reaching back to uplift the next person.
Our Current Initiatives
Below are highlights of a few current initiatives.
An Bang Professionals Database
Building a database across multiple generations of An Bằng students and professionals to help facilitate networking, bridge the generational gap within the community, and connect younger students to older role models.
Led by: Van Truong
In Collaboration with: An Bang Professionals Group
Combatting Mental Health Stigma
Advocating for mental health awareness through the development of free workshops and resources to destigmatize mental health within our village and broader Asian American communities.
Led by: Brandy Truong
College Admissions Q&A Event
Organizing virtual college admissions seminars and Q&A panels to address concerns about applying to college, the application process, standardized testing, and accessing financial aid. The goal is to create a support group of fellow applicants for application peer-review during the Fall application cycle.
Led by: Tien Dao
Virtual College Campus Tours
Creating virtual tour videos of college campuses across the country to enable students from all backgrounds to visit colleges on their list. The goal is to increase access to families unable to afford in-person college visits and decrease one barrier to entry for many colleges far from each student's hometown.
Led by: Christina Nguyen