Thinking about getting more involved in the FCC-SoCal community? This is your opportunity! FCC-SoCal will hold a New Year potluck planning meeting on Saturday, March 3rd in West LA. FCC Members are encouraged to attend, voice questions or concerns, share your ideas for the coming year, and determine if there's a way to become involved in a large or small way to help make this a successful and vibrant year for FCC-SoCal.

When: Saturday, March 3rd from 4:30-6:30 in Santa Monica.

Bring a potluck dish to share. FCC-SoCal will supply drinks and some main course offerings.

Childcare? You bet! The kids will be looked after at Judy Marasco's home.

FCC-SoCal is an all-volunteer organization. The success and vitality of our community depends on great ideas and the enthusiastic participation of dedicated volunteers. So please join us on March 3rd to hang out with fellow FCC-SoCal friends in a relaxed setting to share ideas and formulate the plan to make 2012 a positive and fruitful year for our entire membership.

Click through for more details.

We are delighted to announce that there are a few additional openings in the China Care Bruins Youth Mentorship "Buddy" Program for the 2011-2012 academic year (October 2011 through June 2012). Founded in 2005, China Care Bruins is a student-run group at UCLA that raises funds to provide medical services for children in China's orphanages and mentors Chinese adoptees and their siblings.

China Care Bruins offers a wonderful enrichment opportunity for FCC children and youth to be part of a nurturing and empowering community of adoptee peers and mentors. The leadership and members of China Care Bruins come from a variety of backgrounds (and have many different majors), but are predominantly Asian American students.

The Buddy Program participants meet in monthly Sunday afternoon get-togethers on the UCLA campus throughout the academic year, enjoying crafts, culture, skits, campus tours, field games and more. Through these ongoing interactive activities, the kids and mentors will build their relationship, solidify friendships and develop camaraderie. The kids also witness the fruits of the teamwork, leadership and dedication of the college students who give of their time and talents to produce the program and to be their mentors.

Click through to full post for more information, FAQs and application.

Patty Uy writes:
We saw this film last Friday and both thought it very well done.  Ed found it slow during the first half, but for me that helped the viewer experience the physical as well as emotional discomfort experienced by the migrant workers in their lives and travels.

We recommend it.  People who have read Factory Girls may have even greater interest in the related subject matter of this film.  It's playing in several venues around the greater LA area.

Click through to the full post to read about the film and watch the trailer.

Add Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang to your summer reading list, and get ready for FCC-SoCal's book discussion event in October!

Factory Girls demonstrates how the mass movement from rural villages to cities is remaking individual lives and transforming Chinese society, much as immigration to America’s shores remade our own country a century ago."

FCC-SoCal will host a discussion of Factory Girls on Saturday, October 16 in Irvine. A concurrent storytelling event will be held for kids in an adjoining room.  Location, exact times and more details will be posted closer to the date. Mark your calendars now - you won't want to miss this new FCC activity!