1Q2000 was a very busy and exciting quarter for VPA.

VPA continues its supports of the Vietnamese Community of Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (VNC). VNC supports the Vietnamese American community. VPA's President is on the Board of Directors of VNC.

With VPA's help, the Vietnamese Youth Educational Association (VYEA) is now a beneficiary of the Combined Federal Campaign program of the Washington DC area. VYEA holds a yearly Vietnamese language summer session for the Vietnamese American youth.

The offering of the MCSE Certification training program for the economically challenged members of the Vietnamese American community is continuing. VPA is currently partnering with Linkages to Learning (affiliated with Montgomery County, Maryland) to offer the same training that was provided last year in the County of Fairfax, Virginia. The current session started on February 27, 2000 with 12 enrolled students.

The organization of the Second International Conference on Prosperity for the People of Vietnam, September 29 - October 1, 2000 is well under way. Professor Emeritus Robert Scalapino will be the Program Chairman. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, (SAIS), John Hopkins, is also joining forces to co-organize the conference, which will be held on SAIS premises.