DALLAS, TX – Dallas nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions proudly announced the addition of the Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship to its already existing Artistic Scholarship, to be awarded to Asian American students who are breaking the mold through their work in the arts and/or leadership in the community.  Last year’s Artistic Scholarship winners were Texas students Monika Hoang and Dorcas Leung. Both Hoang and Leung were awarded a $1,000 scholarship for their exceptional artistic ability, talent, community involvement, leadership and academics. The addition of the Sunna Lee Leadership scholarship is a $5,000 commitment from business executive Sunna Lee, a powerhouse in the business and fashion world who previously attended ATG’s Fashion for a Passion charity event as a guest and was moved to do her part by motivating and celebrating a young Asian American leader who is changing the stereotype of Asian Americans.

2011 ATG Artistic Scholarship Winner Dorcas Leung

2011 ATG Artistic Scholarship Winner Monika Hoang

ATG Founder/President Tammy Nguyen Lee is excited to include this Leadership Scholarship as an extension of the organization’s already strong commitment to community outreach. Nguyen Lee said, “We created the Artistic Scholarship as an extension of what our organization is already doing to promote and support Asian Americans in the arts, and we hope that the Leadership Scholarship continues to cultivate those in our community who are finding unique ways to express themselves and create stories for us to share.” Nguyen Lee continued, “ATG is very fortunate to partner with pioneers in the Asian American community like Sunna Lee and be the organization chosen to broaden our scope to select and promote a leader among the Asian American student population.  It’s a huge honor and responsibility. Our hope is that that this will send an impactful message and continue to inspire others to affect change and leadership in others.”

Leadership Scholarship Founder Sunna Lee

Sunna Lee is a first-generation Korean American with 25 years as an executive in product development, which includes trends, design, marketing and sourcing for brands and retailers small to large, private and publicly traded companies with $7 million to $2.5 billion in revenues. She has served as Vice President of Marketing for Priss Prints and NoJo, Vice President of New Business Development for Crown Crafts Infant Products, Vice President of Merchandising for Riegel, Director of Fashion for Dorel Juvenile Group and is currently the Director of Product Development for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. At Cracker Barrel, she leads the women’s group, Woman’s Connect, as a member of the steering committee to develop future women leaders of the organization. She previously founded her own line of high-end handmade handbags, which were sold at Stanley Korshak and Neiman Marcus. Lee said, “Being a female Asian growing up in the Deep South, I have had to overcome double the challenges of prejudice and ignorance and have chosen to convert what others may perceive as a disadvantage to a competitive advantage.” Lee is passionate about empowering others to tap into their own potential. “Teach someone to fish instead of giving them fish.  Fish can feed them for one meal.  The skill to fish will feed them for a lifetime.”

Lily Yang, ATG’s Director of Community Outreach, spearheads the review process for both scholarships and highlights the principles of the funds. “The Artistic Scholarship embodies ATG’s mission of promoting awareness of art in all media and a commitment to the community. The scholarship program is not limited to only financial assistance, but also provides the winner with mentorship, exposure and a support group both within and outside of the art community.” Yang continues, “The addition of the Leadership Scholarship allows us to reach out to an even wider group of Asian American students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and made a difference by challenging the conventional Asian American stereotype.  We are looking for candidates who truly embody the spirit of “going against the grain.”

Both the Artistic and Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship applications are online at www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com/Scholarship, and the application deadline is April 15^th. Scholarship winners will be invited to attend ATG’s 4^th annual Fashion for a Passion charity event, to be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the Dallas Contemporary in Dallas, TX, where they will be presented with their scholarship, as well as showcase their talent amongst other Asian American artists.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian-American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages and outreach. Their first project, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For scholarship details, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions/scholarship. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

]]> http://www.againstthegrainproductions.com/2012/02/against-the-grain-productions-announces-additional-leadership-scholarship/feed/ 0 http://www.againstthegrainproductions.com/2012/02/a-time-to-lead-a-message-from-atg-president-tammy-nguyen-lee/ http://www.againstthegrainproductions.com/2012/02/a-time-to-lead-a-message-from-atg-president-tammy-nguyen-lee/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:36:30 +0000 Tnguyen http://www.againstthegrainproductions.com/?p=2885

President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee

I was honored to be asked to be the keynote speaker at the SMU Crain All-University Leadership Conference, which took place on Saturday, February 4th just a few hours north of Dallas at the Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas. This was a wonderful opportunity to get a chance to speak to young leaders from all over the campus who had come together for a weekend of inspiration. Although I was given several months notice to prepare for this event, actually coming up with a speech that would address this incredibly broad topic in a way that would be relevant and impactful to this young audience of student leaders was a bit of a challenge. It wasn’t until I watched an episode of American Idol that inspiration came (just goes to show you, you never know how or when inspiration will hit). I wanted to share this message of leadership with all of you:

This year’s leadership conference theme is “Leadership: Is it in you?” Well, for me, leadership has been the fabric of who I am. 

Let me give you some background on some pivotal events that shaped my life – I came to this country as a boat person, less than 18 months old, a refugee from the bitter aftermath of the Vietnam War. My mother, in her early 20s, was from a well-to do educated, upper middle class family. Bravely, she had decided to escape her home country with a 3 month-old child for the opportunity for a better life. Under the communist regime, she would not be given the opportunity for a higher education and was forced to work in labor camps.  Risking the unknown on the South China seas with an infant, she bravely set out to find a better path for us.  We spent over a year in a refugee camp before being sponsored over to the U.S. by a church in Maryland. 

Although I was less than two years-old when we arrived, the significance of getting the chance to start over with very little was never lost on me and has always defined our family’s lives and perspective. If you understand this, you appreciate all that this country can offer, as well as the enormity of the responsibility we have to our community and family overseas in Vietnam and here. As the first-born child of an immigrant family, we had to sacrifice so much, so working hard to achieve was a given. And it was in that way that leadership in me began.

From a young age, my mom taught me that ‘right and responsibility go hand in hand.’ So, even as a child growing up, I did what was needed to be done – in my family, in school, in the community…to help, to affect change, to make a difference.  It was our responsibility, because we were given this right to freedom.

As a young adult, my values and my sense of identity evolved. Up until that point, I always wanted to fit into the mainstream…and as an Asian American, like many of us that are bi-cultural, that really is a challenge. How do you fit in when you look so different? There was the racism and the identity issues. I learned to express myself and find my voice through writing and through Theatre. I became curious about how I was different and embraced my uniqueness.  Instead of becoming something my parents expected and wanted of me (like to be a lawyer, as they still do this day), I chose a different path for myself. That need to express myself became my career path – to become a filmmaker, to tell stories that would educate and inspire others. Being a leader is often about taking the road less traveled, being a pioneer, and as a Vietnamese female, I began the path down the road so few had traveled before, lighting the way for others to follow.

By the time I entered SMU, I already had a dream of how I could make my mark, how I wanted to change the world – through film and philanthropy.  Coming to SMU and being involved in student activities gave me an even deeper understanding of people and how to be a better leader. On campus, I was the President of the East Asian Student Association and Chair of Program Council Films. I served on the Board of Asian Council and was an active member of many other organizations like VSA, Student Filmmakers Association, even wrote for the Daily Campus.   I got a chance to flex my vision, learn about what I stood for, tested my beliefs. I learned how to plan and program events, how to deal with people and how not to, how to listen. I had a great time and made wonderful memories. I made lasting relationships with those I still work with today. Having these experiences and skills were critical to my work today as a producer and in my charity work.  The more I was involved, the more I found out just what my unique skills were, what my voice was, and how I could continue to help others.  My experience as a leader on campus became a springboard for what I would do later in life.

After graduation, I became actively involved with the Vietnamese Community of Greater Dallas. It was there, while directing a play, that I heard about Operation Babylift, a topic that would later come back to redefine my life. I was accepted to study at the prestigious UCLA Producers Program, and it was upon graduation that I was given a grant to start developing my documentary. Nearly five years later, it was done, but it wasn’t without a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I’ll tell you this, I used every skill I learned as a student leader.  Out of Operation Babylift was born another dream – the creation of our non-profit, Against The Grain Productions. 

With our non-profit, I have found a way to combine all the things I love and dreamed about – creating media that will enlighten, engage, inspire and educate others.  In addition, we raise money to help needy orphanages in Vietnam – those who have no one looking out for them, so that they can have a future, like I was given.  On top of that, we have committed three scholarships this year –we are giving two $1,000 Artistic Scholarships for exemplary Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts, to help those who dreamed like me. One of the last year’s winners is a SMU student! The other is the Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship, a $5,000 scholarship for an Asian American student who has exhibited outstanding leadership ability. I’m so proud of this organization, because not only does it allow me to give back, it is a place where we are growing more leaders, many of whom I am honored to say, I have served with while at SMU. 

My husband, who is a West Point graduate, former Army captan and Ranger, says that ‘great leadership comes from hardship.’ I tend to agree. What are some of the qualities of a great leader? Here are a few things I’ve learned:

• #1 Persistence of Vision and Innovation – You have to have a vision and follow it fearlessly. Being bold, thinking not just out of the box, but strategically to know where is your goal and how you will get there. What are your priorities? What’s your game plan? Seeing how things have been done and where things need to change for the better. I think this has probably always been my #1 strength, next to…
• #2 Passion – Having a fire in your belly that drives you forward in the face of adversity. It will power your drive, dedication, perseverance and commitment.
• #3 Be a good and compassionate listener – For me, being of strong mind and strong vision, one of the hardest things was learning to be open to the opinions of others when they differ from my own (just ask my husband!) You may just learn something that can make you a better leader. Being a dictator is one way to get results, but it won’t make you a great leader. It’s a surefire way to alienate yourself and get you on the road to zero productivity and a coup!
• #4 Have confidence in your vision – But prepare yourself to have a thick skin for any criticism that may come. Have no fear of what people will say, of being involved in controversy, of hearing negativity and the discomfort that comes with it. Leadership isn’t always about popularity.
• #5 Resourcefulness – Who is your team?  Who do you know that can help you? Who is in your network? Who shares your vision? What partners are going to help you achieve your goals? Not taking no for an answer. If you hear no, what’s the back-up plan? How can you turn it into a ‘yes?’
• #6 Have great communication – whether written or verbal, use your voice in a way that others will hear you and be influenced by your message.
• #7 Building a strong team – you can’t do it alone. What’s a leader without those who follow? Nurture and strengthen these relationships. Grow their skills. Learn how to let others lead and shine, too.
• #8 Being effective and getting results – Your track record is your credibility that allows people to trust you.
• #9 Honesty and integrity Again – no one wants a leader they can’t trust.
• #10 Doing the dirty work ­– Being a leader isn’t always a glamorous job. You have to take the initiative to do the job, get it done, get it done right, even when no one else wants to. You can’t just delegate – you have to set the example.

As a producer, as the founder of a charity now, and as a leader, these are values that I hold dear. Thinking about some of these fundamental questions and what the answers are will help you, no matter what field you plan to enter.

Being a leader is not about a title – it’s about a commitment to serve. It’s not just something you stick on your resume, it’s for your life and the lives of others. And remember, you don’t need a title to be a leader.

What you are doing now is getting to learn about yourself and what’s important to your life —  whether that’s your values, your career or your sense of identity. You’re learning also about other people’s cultures, to develop your own career interests and to help other people. Because how you can you truly serve your community if you do not understand yourself and them? 

As leaders, you are given an extra responsibility. Dare to believe…but be prepared to work your butt off.  There will be physical challenges. There will be mental and emotional challenges. Serve honestly, fairly, with innovation and integrity. It’s a hard journey not for the faint of heart, and you have to love it.

I’m a female and a minority in an industry that has had very little fair representation of either. My dream was to be able to make an impact on the world with the stories I had to tell, stories that I felt would better help people understand the human condition. Whether I consciously set out to at the time or not, I became a leader.

Now, I’m a mother…with another child soon on the way. I think about all the things I have done as a community leader, and what are the values and lessons that I will teach my children. I don’t think they are that different than what I’m telling you now. In every way, in every day, I think of how can I pay it forward to my best ability. That is the way I can lead. I tell you this story about my life because this was my path to leadership. Each of you will have a different path.

As leaders, you are coming to figure out who you are, your style, your goals and in the next few years, you will be put to the test. People will ask you, “what are you all about, what do you want to do?”  What are you going to tell them?

The question is not “is leadership in you?” It’s “how is leadership in you?” …Don’t be afraid of the obstacles that will come your way. Like many leaders who have gone before you, face them bravely, because in the end, that’s the only way you will achieve your dreams. I hope you continue to work towards your dreams, and I look forward to seeing what you will do!

2011 is coming to a close, and as we look back at the many blessings this year has brought, we are grateful for all the support we have received. With your generous contributions, we achieved many ambitious goals.

2011 Fashion for a Passion

Throughout the year, we partnered with California Pizza Kitchen, Pinkberry and Panda Express for “dine for a cause” fundraisers, which allowed us to have fun, eat, and raise money for our organization. We hosted our 3^rd annual Fashion for a Passion, showcasing the talents of seven amazing designers, five musical performers and nine exhibiting artists. Our spectacular event was attended by over 300 guests and raised over $20,000 for orphanage aid, outreach programs and the ATG Artistic Scholarship Fund for Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts. We not only exceeded our goal, we made a record, doubling the amount raised from 2010!

Our documentary, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, continues to receive accolades and screen at events across the world, from Florida to Australia.  We have plans to go even wider with distribution in the coming year to help the film find its audience and bring more awareness to this unique group of people.

Dragon Boat, Kite & Lantern Festival

And as always, we participated in local and national community festivals, including the GDAACC May Festival, World Festival and we even had our first team of rowers at the DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival.  Our ATG Rowers did pretty well the first time round, and our hope is to practice and become even stronger and better next year!

Supported orphanages in Vietnam

In addition to promoting education, cultural awareness and Asian American artists, one of our organization’s most important missions is outreach. This year, we provided scholarship to 5 young adoptees to attend culture camps at Catalyst Culture Camp and Vietnamese Heritage Camp, two Artistic Scholarships to deserving and talented young Asian American students and continued aid to orphanages in Vietnam that serve hundreds of children, sending needed food, milk, toys and educational assistance.

We are so blessed to have a hard working and Board and team of volunteers who devote their time unpaid to our organization.  Even though we are a small group, we hope we can and are making a big difference. Thank you for your support to help us achieve these goals. Please continue to be an active participant in our mission to achieve “One Voice. Many Stories.” Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays and all the best in 2012!

Cheers!

Tammy Nguyen Lee
President/Founder

Winner of the 2011 Kollaboration Houston, Dette Buentipo, started her musical journey at the young age of 4 when her mother began teaching her piano lessons and encouraged her to start developing her voice. At age 6, she began piano instruction in a college setting and performed regularly in the Dallas area. At the same time, Dette was a dedicated cantor at church and shared her voice at various Filipino celebrations. At age 15, she began playing the guitar, which paved a way for her music career. In 2008, she made the move to follow the YouTube frenzy and began posting videos, singing some of her favorite songs, and later, her own original compositions. This brought her to start singing and playing the guitar for open mics and concerts in Dallas and developing a fan base. Since then, she organized a benefit concert for the Philippines, performed in several concerts and events around the Dallas/Fort Worth area and released her first EP in early 2010. When she isn’t performing, she is writing, as life continues to inspire her. In 2009, Dette received a Bachelor of Music with a degree in Piano Performance from Texas Christian University. She now has her own private piano studio and teaches all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Dette’s passion for music is evident as she continues to share her gift of music with whomever will listen.

Full Name

Bernadette “Dette” Buentipo

Hometown

Dallas, TX

Current City

Fort Worth, TX

Ethnicity

Filipino

What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?”

To me, to “go against the grain” means having individuality, being oneself and not following the norm or being influenced by society.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the music industry?

Music has been a part of my life since I was 4, when my mother taught me how to play the piano and encouraged me to start singing. Ever since then, my passion for music grew more and more, and as I got older, realized that these talents that God gave me had to be pursued. I started playing guitar in high school and discovered a new side of my music career – I loved singing and playing guitar. In college, I studied music and got my degree in Piano Performance, and at the same time, started singing and playing the guitar in public at several events and open mics, and began writing my own original songs. Now to this day, I’m still growing as a musician, but I never question the path that I have chosen for myself.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in this field?

Asian Americans have never been given enough recognition in the music industry, but recently, Asian American musicians have emerged in the YouTube scene, where several artists have become successful and built a huge fan base just by posting videos on YouTube. Many of them are not even signed to major record labels, but are still very successful. It gives me a lot of hope – that I can get my music out there and share my songs with others by using mediums like YouTube, social media, and other online resources.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

My biggest accomplishment so far was when I organized a benefit concert in 2009 for the typhoon victims in the Philippines and raised over $1,000 dollars and collected several boxes of food and clothing. I gathered several local artists to help me put on a concert, and we performed for a full house – it was a huge success! I didn’t expect to raise that much money. It was such a good feeling to be able to give back and help those in need. I hope to do another charity event like that in the near future.

What’s up next?

I’m going to continue writing music, and hopefully release another EP soon. Hopefully I’ll be presented with more opportunities to perform too, because I love performing. We’ll see what lies ahead!