The Southeast Asian Coalition Street Food Festival is Saturday

The third annual Southeast Asian Coalition Street Food Festival is Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Midwood International & Cultural Center. This is a high-energy festival with food, music and dance.

The Southeast Asian Coalition (SEAC) “exists to reinforce and uphold integrity, empowerment, inclusion, tradition, leadership and critical consciousness at the grassroots level.” According to SEACs executive director, Cat Bao Le, funds raised from this festival support their year-round youth development programs, a key element to their organization.

SEAC depends on the Street Food Festival to bring in enough money to fund their tutoring and social justice programs for a growing program. Seventy youth and their families are served through the afterschool and summer programs run by SEAC’s staff, volunteers, mentors and board members.

During the summer, mentors take 30-40 youth on a four-day retreat to talk about why they are here in America.

“We talk about our own histories – histories they don’t learn about in school — Vietnamese history, Lao history, Hmong history, Montagnard history,” said Le. “Often the parents won’t talk about the traumatic journey that they have taken to get here.”

If SEAC raises enough money this year, their hope is to purchase a SEAC Whip – a car that can be used to bring the youth to the office for afterschool programs.

Festival details

-Free admission

– Midwood International & Cultural Center, 1817 Central Ave.

-noon-6 p.m.

-Family friendly, comfortable and open vibe

-Over 3,000 people expected to attend

See & Do

– Music and dance performances by Hmong Singers, Lao Dance, Montagnard Yard Dance, Korean Pop Dance

-Southeast Asian food from Pho Daravan, Lao Mom and Pops and food trucks Yummi Banh Mi and ABao Time

– Pho-Eating Contest: 10 people eat large amounts of Pho on stage. Winner receives gift certificate, trophy and bragging rights. If you think you have what it takes, sign up on SEAC’s Facebook page. There is a $25 entrance fee.

Pho – a popular Southeast Asian dish

-Try the SEAC cocktail: Lychee Lagoon Punch.

-Bid at the silent auction for PokémonGo, art and coffeehouse baskets.

-Buy youth artwork and Hmong bracelets.

-Sign up for the raffle.

-Dance on the Lao dance floor.

Photos: SEAC

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "The Southeast Asian Coalition Street Food Festival is Saturday."