Dr. Vu Pham, Ph.D. is a Partner in Spectrum Knowledge, Inc., a research, consulting, and training organization in Los Angeles.  He attended the opening of the traveling Smithsonian exhibition "Exit Saigon--Enter Little Saigon" at San Jose City College on March 14, 2008.  He spoke movingly of the losses endured by refugee people in their immigration to the United States following the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.  The purpose of Smithsonian for the exhibit is general education about Vietnamese Americans. Dr. Pham encouraged the Vietnamese community in San Jose to add to the educational perspective of the presentation with their own experiences and culture.

The opening dignitaries included the Chancellor of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District, Rosa Perez and the President of San Jose City College, Micheal Burke.  The SJCC coordinator for Smithsonian is Trang Nguyen, a counselor on special assignment.  Francey Youngberg, outreach coordinator of the traveling exhibit from Washington D.C., also attended.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Vu Pham toured the newly designated Little Saigon on Story Road, History Park, and the site of the planned Viet Heritage Garden which connects to Kelley Park.  His guide was Diem Truong of San Jose, a delegate from the Southeast Asia Community Advisory Committee to the Oakland Museum, and community representative of VietAm Review.   

For additional information on the Smithsonian Exhibit about Vietnamese Americans, see www.vietamreview.net/Smithsonian_Visit.html and  www.vietamreview.net/Enter_Little_Saigon.html