BOSTON – Huong Vu can regularly be found in the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester, in which she explains how she left her native Vietnam for Boston twelve years ago. Her story about how it can be challenging to transition to life in the United States serves as a resource for families going through it similar experiences.
Vu and her Vietnamese-American husband met when he was home visiting family. They married, started a family and then moved to Boston. She admits it was difficult at first.
“English is my barrier, and I don’t have a degree here, so how can I get a job?” she remembers wondering.
Huong Vu
Special bond with immigrant families
Vu, a mother of two young girls, attended a parent-child play group at the Boys and Girls Club when she arrived in Boston. She immediately connected with other parents. Shortly afterwards, Vu was asked if she wanted to become a group volunteer.
“Every day she brings something new, different and exciting,” said Mary Kinsella Scannell, the club’s senior vice president of education, inclusion and community engagement.
Scannell said she immediately saw something in Vu.
“She connects with families in a way that I know I would like to, but I know there are ways she can connect that I can’t,” Scannell said.
Vu understands the challenges parents face. Dorchester is home to more than 13,000 Vietnamese residents. Many of them are new to the country.
“The parents come to our preschool to seek support and make sure their needs are met,” Vu said.
An important resource at the Boys and Girls Club
Scannell gave Vu an opportunity to grow and hired her as a full-time family engagement specialist.
CBS Boston
“We always want to be open-minded and make sure that we think about and accept ways that might look a little different,” Scannell said.
Vu not only runs the weekly playgroups, but also helps others with vocational training, parenting skills, school enrollment and more. She has also been asked by external organizations to share her best practices.
Her motivation is simple.
“After ten years, I was given so many opportunities to learn, grow and develop new, exciting leadership skills, so now it’s my turn to reap the benefits,” Vu said.
