The Vietnamese American Community of Central Florida marked the opening of a new cultural and activities center in Orlando, a dream that has been 40 years in the making. The celebration Friday featured firecrackers and a traditional lion dance to commemorate the occasion. “We worked really hard to make it happen,” said Toan Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese American Community of Central Florida. Located off S. Goldenrod Road, the center has been envisioned as a gathering place for the community since the influx of Vietnamese migration to Central Florida after the Vietnam War. “This is the place for us. It is really good for our future, for the children. We teach them culture, history, and a lot of stories,” Nguyen said. Nguyen provided a tour of the building, where the organization hopes to hold Vietnamese language classes in the future. “The Vietnamese language, but we also want to focus on the Vietnamese culture itself, like learn these phrases so it means certain things deeper than just speaking Vietnamese, more like literature,” said Helen Vo, external vice president of the Vietnamese American Community of Central Florida. The center is also intended to serve the older generation, providing them with a sense of community and connection. “Senior daycare, where the older folks can gather or something like that, where the seniors can participate. It gets them out of being home. Some people could be suffering from mild depression, so it creates a sense of belonging,” said Cathleen Gerenger, a member of the organization. The Vietnamese community of Central Florida has traditionally hosted its Lunar New Year event at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. With the new 2-acre property, the organization hopes to host the celebration at the cultural center in the future.
The Vietnamese American Community of Central Florida marked the opening of a new cultural and activities center in Orlando, a dream that has been 40 years in the making.
The celebration Friday featured firecrackers and a traditional lion dance to commemorate the occasion.
“We worked really hard to make it happen,” said Toan Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese American Community of Central Florida.
Located off S. Goldenrod Road, the center has been envisioned as a gathering place for the community since the influx of Vietnamese migration to Central Florida after the Vietnam War.
“This is the place for us. It is really good for our future, for the children. We teach them culture, history, and a lot of stories,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen provided a tour of the building, where the organization hopes to hold Vietnamese language classes in the future.
“The Vietnamese language, but we also want to focus on the Vietnamese culture itself, like learn these phrases so it means certain things deeper than just speaking Vietnamese, more like literature,” said Helen Vo, external vice president of the Vietnamese American Community of Central Florida.
The center is also intended to serve the older generation, providing them with a sense of community and connection.
“Senior daycare, where the older folks can gather or something like that, where the seniors can participate. It gets them out of being home. Some people could be suffering from mild depression, so it creates a sense of belonging,” said Cathleen Gerenger, a member of the organization.
The Vietnamese community of Central Florida has traditionally hosted its Lunar New Year event at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. With the new 2-acre property, the organization hopes to host the celebration at the cultural center in the future.
