COMMUNITY
Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
May 7, 2018
David Douglas princess is devoted
to helping young cancer survivors
SURVIVOR & HELPER. The 2018 Portland
Rose Festival princess representing David Douglas
High School is Alanesia “Ally” Vang. A cancer survi-
vor, Vang is looking forward to visiting the Randall
Children’s Hospital as part of the Rose Festival Court.
In the top photo, princess Ally (far left) is seen with her
parents and siblings (L-R): father Xe holding Aeddan,
Aezayden, mother Arum, Averyella, and Arihianna.
In the bottom photo, Vang (front row, fifth from left)
poses for a photo with her entrepreneurship class.
The Portland Rose Festival’s Queen’s Coronation takes
place Saturday, June 9 at Portland’s Veterans Memo-
rial Coliseum. (Photos courtesy of Alanesia Vang)
By Maileen Hamto
The Asian Reporter
orking with children who have
battled and survived cancer has
been a passion for Alanesia
“Ally” Vang, the 2018 Rose Festival Court
princess representing David Douglas High
School.
Ally was only two years old when she
was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma
(cancer of the lymph nodes). Living with
cancer at such an early age meant she
spent a lot of time in the hospital receiving
treatments she needed to survive. “My
parents are my heroes. Their mental
strength and support reinforced my will to
live and survive the disease,” she said.
Through Camp Journey, Ally found
community among other young cancer
survivors. For one week during the
summer, Camp Journey brings together
children between five and 17 years old who
have been diagnosed with cancer to an
extraordinary outdoor experience at Ross
Point Camp in Point Falls, Idaho. The
camp is staffed by volunteer counsellors
and pediatric oncology specialists.
“They helped us to have hope” and find a
“place where we belong,” Ally explained.
“Together, we talked about what’s happen-
ing to us, what we’ve accomplished. Even
though we were physically weak, we’re
mentally strong.”
Surviving cancer has inspired Ally to
give back by aspiring to become a pediatric
oncologist. Experiencing first-hand the
impact of cancer on her entire family, she
is committed to making a difference. Ally
plans to attend the University of
Washington and major in biochemistry.
“Without the experience of surviving
cancer, I wouldn’t be the same person. I
understand the magnitude cancer had on
my life. Seeing other children my age, still
fighting for their life, unleashed a sense of
maturation and wisdom,” she said.
As part of the Rose Festival Court, the
princesses will have a chance to visit
Randall Children’s Hospital. It’s no
surprise the hospital tour is on top of Ally’s
list.
“I love-hate hospitals. I love them for
what they’re doing for the children, but it’s
also painful to see these kids there,” she
W
said. “I’m passionate about children and
their healing.”
Developing mental strength throughout
a childhood punctuated by cancer has
helped Ally harness emotional intelligence
to adapt to new challenges. Originally
from Missoula, Montana, she has attended
three different high schools. She spent her
freshman year in high school in Missoula,
then moved to Jakarta, Indonesia during
her sophomore year. She is slated to
graduate from David Douglas in June.
Being part Hmong and Indonesian, Ally
was eager to experience part of her culture.
In Montana, her family was close to the
Hmong community that settled in the
area. Wanting to “broaden her scope” by
experiencing both sides of her heritage,
she decided to live with relatives in
This issue’s
Community
Calendar
is brought
to you by:
Free school vaccinations
Ongoing (Mon-Fri), 8am-5pm, Patient Direct Care (209 E
Main St, #121, Battle Ground, Wash.). Students younger than 19
years old are invited to a free vaccination clinic to meet school
requirements. Participants should call in advance to ensure
availability of vaccinations and also bring immunization
records. For info, call (360) 999-5138 or visit <www.ptdirectcare.
com>.
“Robot Revolution”
Through Sep 3 (Tue-Sun), 9:30am-5:30pm, Oregon Museum
of Science & Industry (1945 SE Water Ave, Portland). View
“Robot Revolution,” an exhibit that explores how robots, created
by human ingenuity, ultimately may become our companions and
colleagues, changing how we play, live, and work together. The
display comes to life with a collection of cutting-edge robots
secured from innovative global robotics companies and
universities. For info, call (503) 797-4000 or visit <www.omsi.
edu>.
Rich People Problems
May 7, 7pm, Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing (3415 SW
Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, Ore.). Join Kevin Kwan as he
presents Rich People Problems, his new novel that reveals the
long-buried secrets of Asia’s most privileged families. Kwan also
authored Crazy Rich Asians, a book that is now a major motion
picture set to release in August. The uproarious novel follows a
family riven by fortune, an ex-wife driven psychotic with
jealousy, a battle fought through couture gown sabotage, and an
Jakarta. Adjusting to her new environ-
ment was challenging, so she focused her
attention on learning local customs and
making new friends.
“I only knew the American culture, and
it was a big culture shock,” she said.
“That’s when I really took my education
into my own hands. I started to learn the
language and basics of the culture. But
what really helped me cope was making
friends at my school. They really helped
me get the inside scoop on Indonesian
culture.”
Fresh from the immersive experience in
Jakarta, Ally relocated to Portland with
her family during her junior year. At David
Douglas, she worked hard to make new
friends and contribute to her new
community through volunteering.
heir locked out of his inheritance of one of Asia’s greatest
fortunes. For info, call (503) 643-3131 or visit <www.powells.
com>.
“Race Talks”
May 8, 6pm (doors open), 6:45-9:15pm (talk), McMenamins
Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave, Portland). Attend “The Next
100 Years: Changing the Complexion and Gender of Golf,” a
presentation and discussion held as part of “Race Talks,” a series
of free dialogues facilitated by trained volunteers from
Resolutions Northwest. For info, call (971) 222-8254, e-mail
<racetalks01@gmail.com>, or visit <www.racetalkspdx.com>.
OAME luncheon and tradeshow
May 10, 10am-noon & 1:30-3pm (tradeshow), noon-1:30pm
(luncheon), Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther
King Jr Blvd, Portland). Attend the annual Luncheon &
Tradeshow of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs
(OAME). The event is designed to help businesses increase
networking with minority-owned companies, government
agencies, and others while sampling their diverse products and
services. The tradeshow is closed from noon to 1:30pm during the
luncheon. For info, or to register for the luncheon, call (503)
249-7744 or visit <www.oame.org>.
Budget committee public hearing
May 10, 6-8:30pm, Portland City Hall, City Council Chambers
(1221 SW Fourth Ave, Portland). Portland residents are invited
to learn about the proposed city budget by attending a budget
committee public hearing presented by the Portland City
Council. For info, call (503) 823-6925, e-mail <CityBudget
Office@portlandoregon.gov>, or visit <www.portlandoregon.
gov/cbo>.
Gresham plant sale
May 12, 8am-4pm, East Hill Church (701 N Main Ave,
Gresham, Ore.). Take advantage of the low prices on high-quality
local nursery stock, including trees, shrubs, bushes, hydrangeas,
lilacs, and more at a plant sale benefitting the Salvation Army’s
work assisting low-income families in east Multnomah County.
Plant specialists who are able to answer questions are available
Undoubtedly, being named to the Rose
Festival Court is a highlight of her senior
year.
“The Rose Festival is significant to me
because I feel I’m able to represent the
diversity of my school. Being half Indo-
nesian and half Hmong, I have a lot of
culture to bring to the world, and I can
signify that to the Rose Festival and my
school in a positive way,” she said.
Still relatively new to Portland, Ally
continues to learn about her new home.
While she has made connections through
school clubs, community activities, and
volunteer events, she keeps looking for
ways to deepen her connection to the City
of Roses.
“It was super hard at first, moving from
Missoula to Portland. Being involved has
allowed me to make friends and to create
memories in every school,” she said.
“I’m grateful to see new perspectives.
Living in different places made me grow as
a person to receive those new experiences.”
A Rose Festival princess represents her school
and acts as the “face of the Rose Festival” at many
events in the community, including parades, volunteer
activities, luncheons with community and business
leaders, and more. The Portland Rose Festival
Foundation awards each court member a $3,500
scholarship, courtesy of The Randall Group.
To qualify for the Rose Festival Court, a candidate
must be a full-time junior or senior at a 4A, 5A, or 6A
high school in Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas
county and have a minimum cumulative grade point
average of 3.0. Potential princesses are evaluated
on citizenship, scholastic achievement, school
activities, civic involvement, volunteer projects,
communication skills, and overall impression.
The Portland Rose Festival Queen is chosen from
all of the court members at Portland’s Veterans
Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, June 9 from
8:30am to 9:30am. To learn more, call (503)
227-2681 or visit <www.rosefestival.org>.
onsite. For info, call (503) 794-3200 or visit <www.salvation
armyportland.org>.
Tao Lin
May 18, 7:30pm, Powell’s City of Books (1005 W Burnside St,
Portland). Join Tao Lin as he presents Trip, his first book-length
work of nonfiction in which he charts his recovery from
pharmaceutical drugs. Lin takes readers on a trip through
nature, his own past, psychedelic culture, and the unknown. For
info, call (503) 228-4651 or visit <www.powells.com>.
“Medication Assisted Treatment
of Opioid Use Disorders”
May 19, 9am-3:50pm, CLIMB Center (1626 SE Water Ave,
Portland). Sign up for “Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid
Use Disorders,” a course now offered by Portland Community
College’s Institute for Health Professionals. Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT) is a strategy to help combat the growing opioid
epidemic that uses medications in combination with behavioral
approaches and therapies to offer holistic treatment for
individuals suffering from ongoing opiate misuse. For info, call
(971) 722-6633 or e-mail <amy.evans3@pcc.edu>. To register,
visit <www.pcc.edu/enroll/registration>.
Repair Café
June 7 & Aug 9; June 7, 5:30-7:30pm, Vancouver Community
Library (901 C St, Vancouver, Wash.); Aug 9, 6-8pm, Filbin’s ACE
Hardware (809 NE Minnehaha St, Vancouver, Wash.). Do you
have electronics, clothing, jewelry, knives, small appliances or
tools, or other items that need fixed? If you do, bring them to the
free Repair Café, an event at which volunteers share their
expertise and knowledge to help diagnose and fix a variety of
common household items. For info, or to learn more about items
that can be brought, call (360) 882-0936, ext. 224, or visit
<www.repairclarkcounty.org>.