Form & Fashion: How to Choose a Vietnamese Aó Dài

Yards of colorful fabric and a dash of sequins and glitter. I never predicted my shopping experience could come in so handy on a campaign!

Last week I accompanied Rogene on a search for the perfect áo dài (pronounced ow-zai), a traditional Vietnamese long dress with two panels and silk pants.

In Vietnam, high school girls used to wear a white áo dài as part of their uniform. Nowadays, I see it most often worn on holidays and weddings.



We went to the famous Danny Nguyen Couture, a young designer whose works are often seen around Houston's fashion shows and at Yellow Magazine's events. He's known for using bold prints and incorporating other cultural influences into an áo dài, yet maintaining the two-panel design and silk pants.

He also lent some of his designs for a fashion show at the upcoming Youth Excellence Luncheon on Aug. 4 that honors graduating high school valedictorians and salutatorians in the Greater Houston area. I can't wait to see them!

How to Choose a Vietnamese Aó Dài

First, you choose the silk fabric. A single layer with prints or overlapping layers can do the trick.

 

Second, you choose a unique design, which makes this custom-made dress so much fun to begin with -- the traditional high neckline evolved to more contemporary designs that showcase the fusion of Vietnamese American culture.

Here, Rogene opted for a V-neck and I have a sweetheart neckline shaped like a halter top.

 

 

Third, you choose the occasion. Rogene and I went to the 4th anniversary of VAN-TV (55.2) , a Vietnamese broadcasting station based in Houston. I saw many familiar faces and was so impressed to see Rogene on stage in full galore, complete with a hat, áo dài khan đống, and the sequined overcoat.

 

 
 Dr. Vu Van Ban  and his wife Victoria Bich Ngoc (left photo) of Blue Jade Beauty Center own VAN-TV as well.
 

With Diana Tran, Pharm.D. who hosts the health and wellness program for VAN-TV.

 

  

With Melanie Flowers, a candidate for Judge in the Family District Court

***Don't forget to mark your calendar for this Thursday, July 25th for
Young Houstonians for Rogene

at Hughes Hangar, 2811 Washington Ave. from 6-8pm
Check out the Facebook event

Meet-and-Greet -- July 25 mixer @ Hughes Hangar

I am planning the next event in the Rogene Gee Calvert for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 3 campaign! And you're invited! RSVP on Facebook or Info@RogeneCalvert.com

Young Houstonians for Rogene

Come meet young professionals and students from around the Houston area at a reception with Rogene Gee Calvert!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Hughes Hangar

6pm-8pm
2811 Washington Avenue
Houston, Texas 77007

Having served in Houston City Council as Chief of Staff to Councilman Gordon Quan, and in Mayor Bill White’s Office as the Director of Volunteer Initiatives and Personnel, she is very knowledgeable about our city departments and how to engage the youth. This November, Rogene is running for HoustonCity Council, At-Large Position 3 and would like to hear your concerns for the city as we lead our communities “Together, For Houston”

Over the years, Rogene has led:

• -        Mayor’s Youth Council (high school students)
• -        City of Houston Summer Internship program (high school, college, and graduate students)
• -        Initiated the Houston City Hall Fellows program (post-college, one-year fellowship)

Join us for a discussion on leadership opportunities in Houston and share your concerns about the city’s future.

Complimentary Appetizers. Bring a friend!

Suggested Contribution:   $25

www.RogeneCalvert.com

RSVP on Facebook or Info@RogeneCalvert.com

Become a fan!

facebook.com/rogene.calvert

twitter.com/RogeneCalvert

Party Planning Possibilities

Happy July!

Yesterday, June 30, was the reporting deadline on fundraising efforts for the first quarter. Funny how some people think money is a measure of one's viability as a candidate. I like to think a candidate's work and community experience is a better measure than the money in the coffers. Lucky for Rogene, she has both advantages. She exceeded her fundraising goal. Tune in July 15 for the financial results of all the candidates. This fund would be used for more yard signs, hosting Candidate receptions in the community, participating in more parades and passing out candy and awesome "I'm a Rogene Calvert" fans...

In the next few weeks I'll be putting on my party planning hat to host a Meet-and-Greet with some of my friends in the Houston area. I first met Rogene when she was directing the Mayor's Youth Council. It'd be nice to have a reunion with the current and former MYC members and see how that experience has influenced our lives. Email me if you want to join the planning committee! Cindy (at) RogeneCalvert.com

For me, I've never strayed too far from state and local politics. In time, I'll be running for elected office near you. =D

Juneteenth - History in the Making

*** UPDATE: 3rd Annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade will be on Saturday, June 22, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  The Parade will start at the Acres Homes Multiservice Center, 6719 W. Montgomery, head north on W. Montgomery, turn left on Dolly Wright and then end at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1620 Dolly Wright. The parade route is approximately 1. 4 miles and the majority of the route will be along West Montgomery which will be closed during the duration of the parade. You don’t want to miss it! Come out and join us and e-mail me at: cindy@rogenecalvert.com 

Juneteenth. June 19th. The day that slaves in Texas found out they were freed....two and half years after Pres. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Slow, how news traveled back then. Or maybe deliberately so, considering nowadays a young maverick can bike across the U.S. in a matter of months and a horse and station wagon back then could have delivered the news earlier.

Today, I'm proud to be celebrating the achievements of communities across the U.S. After a long fought battle for civil rights, more public officials are running for office that reflect the diversity of this great nation. I do hope we elect more females into office, especially since they make up over half of the U.S. population!

So walking in last weekend's Juneteenth Parade to Emancipation Park (the first public park in the state of Texas) meant a lot to me.

1. The history of the U.S. is so unique and I'm a proponent of human rights and cross-racial collaborations. As one of the few (i.e. one of three) Asian Americans in the parade, I felt like all communities should recognize and celebrate Juneteenth, the inception of freedom for all Texans.

 

 

 

 

2. Walking in 100 degree heat, cheering "Vote for..." "ROGENE!", and bringing two of my friends to volunteer tested my commitment to this campaign. Drenched in sweat by the end of the 12 block walk, I could only reflect on the whole spectrum of what it means to be working on a political campaign. One day, you're researching organizations, writing memos, and prepping the candidate for interviews. The next, you're in t-shirts and shorts and bringing out the "inner cheerleader" in you. 

 

May Juneteenth inspire you to strive for greatness...with liberty and justice for all.

First Week: Deja Vu

My first week in the campaign office felt like my first week working for an actual City Council Member. It's quite fitting that "Rogene the Candidate" acts a whole lot like "Rogene the City Council Member."

 

 

 

 

While in college I interned in an At-Large, Houston City Council Office and was immediately assigned to 1) look at city maps 2) write memos that research into specific city programs 3) look at the City Budget. On top of that, I also staffed the Council Member on meetings and evening events.

 

Now, it's like déjà vu -- 1) I'm mapping out all of her contacts across the city (thanks Google Maps!) 2) I'm researching different organizations that she'll interview for endorsements 3) I'm getting familiar with the City Budget.

Self-fulfilling prophecy, eh? 

 

But what's more inspiring is that "Rogene the Candidate" is also "Rogene the Community Activist."

  
 

Texas: It's All About the Maps

 Outside of the campaign trail, she continues her work with the community as part of the Texas Asian American Redistricting Initiative. On Wednesday, she and I went to University of Houston to attend a public hearing organized by the Texas House of Representatives Select Committee on Redistricting.

 

 

Governor Rick Perry announced a Special Legislative Session to discuss the maps outlined for the Texas House, Senate, and U.S. Congressional Districts. Check out this article about the controversy of the maps that required the U.S. Department of Justice and the D.C. Courts to intervene per the Voting Rights Act.

The Interim Maps (used as a placeholder for last year's elections...now the Texas Legislature will either approve it permanently or use another map)

 

Rogene testified before the Select Committee on  Redistricting about the need to create more "opportunity districts" based on the changing demographics of our state.

 

I felt like I was witnessing a bit of history, especially since redistricting happens every decade after the Census, and it's still going on in 2013. My professors often mentioned Texas, particularly with the issues of race, partisan politics, and redistricting. Those debates in ethics class can come in handy at a time like this.

 

Public Private Partnerships

I have a feeling Rogene will be adept at this endeavor, especially after finishing her term as President of the Asian Chamber of Commerce. I volunteered to staff the event and watched her mingle with a diverse crowd of entrepreneurs.  

 

 

The luncheon featured a guest speaker from Major League Baseball, discussing opportunities to gain vendor contracts with each individual team, including our own Houston Astros.

 

 

Leading Ladies: past president Rogene Gee Calvert, and current president, Linda Toyota, of the Asian Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

Ready, Set, Go: Rogene Gee Calvert's Campaign Kick-Off!

Rogene Gee Calvert: Together for 

Houston

A microcosm of the City of Houston. That's how I would describe the crowd gathering for Rogene Gee Calvert's campaign kick-off at the Houston Garden Center for her bid for Houston City Council, At-Large 3. 


After being away from my hometown for grad school, I came back to a reunion of sorts, seeing folks from all of Rogene's communities. 

• As former President of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, she drew in local business owners. 
• As co-founder and former board president of HOPE Clinic, a federally qualified health clinic in Southwest Houston, she drew in the public health crowd. 
• And finally, she spent 10 years working at City Hall. As former Director of Volunteer Initiatives and Personnel under Houston Mayor Bill White, she drew in me. 

I met Rogene when I was in high school and participated in the Mayor's Youth Council. Rogene was the director and led us on hosting our own town hall meetings. Now it's time for her to lead a City Council meeting by claiming a seat at the table. This blog will detail the trials and triumphs of a grad student working on a local political campaign. 

Rogene's family supporting her every step of the way. 

Special thanks to the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for making my summer immersion in local politics possible.