Friday, March 6th, 2009 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Center for Intercultural Organizing
700 N. Killingsworth Street
Portland, OR 97217
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Suggested Donation of $6
http://www.interculturalorganizing.org/resources/enews/2009/kilong.htm
The Center for Intercultural Organizing is proud to present a pre-launch book celebration in honor of Golden Leaf, A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor. Golden Leaf is an American tale of a Cambodian refugee named Kilong Ung. Ung survived the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and after an incredible escape into Thailand, fled to the United States. Against all odds, this survivor is now a member of the Rotary Club of Portland and the Royal Rosarians. He also served four years as president of the Cambodian-American Community of Oregon, and now is a software engineer, community volunteer, motivational speaker and budding author. Through public speaking and volunteering, Mr. Ung aims to leverage his past to make the world a better place. Additional information about him and the excerpts of his memoir may be found at website http://kilongung.blogspot.com.
“I was a leaf at the mercy of the wind. The wind carried me from one remote part of the world to another. It blew me through turbulence and catastrophic weather. It took me to the Khmer Rouge labor camp and lingered for an eternity. It dehydrated me and nearly starved me to death. I helplessly watched the most devilish mother of all winds ruthlessly crush my tree into lifeless pulp. Like an almighty Olympian god, when the wind wanted to toy with me, it blew me through minefields, rockets and bullets. While two million leaves disintegrated, I persevered. Through an extraordinary journey, I discovered myself. I am fortunate, and I don’t easily perish. I was a golden leaf. Against all odds, I survived, laid down roots and became a tree.” ~Kilong Ung
http://wweek.com/editorial/3516/12253/ ~Willamette Week
All proceeds from the event will be used to support the Center for Intercultural Organizing. The Center for Intercultural Organizing is a diverse, grassroots organization working to build a multi-racial, multicultural movement for immigrant and refugee rights through education, leadership development, policy advocacy and organizing.
