Tony Lam, an influential figure in Orange County’s Little Saigon, participates in mah-jongg to balance his social life while staying active. At 88, he reflects on his contributions since his historic election to the Westminster City Council in 1992. His political career and relentless activism have significantly shaped the Vietnamese-American community in Southern California, which continues to thrive as the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches, highlighting their cultural and political growth in the region.
Lam, quietly fierce with a booming laugh, studies the spread, and then ... his cellphone pings... one of dozens each year - a commemoration of the Vietnamese immigration experience in America.
Lam, 88, has been a prominent figure in Orange County's Little Saigon for decades, but his election to the Westminster City Council in 1992... cemented that status.
After 10 years, he announced his retirement from politics, but his continuing activism, even into his 80s, helped set in motion a series of political movements and cultural upheaval in Southern California.
On April 30, the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, his community will be in the spotlight... the growth and influence of the Vietnamese community in Southern California.
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