Organization
United Cambodian American Network
The United Cambodian American Network (UCAN) is a nonprofit community organization for Cambodian Americans in Stockton, California.[1][2] Its work centers on cultural preservation, education, civic engagement and social advocacy.[1] It organizes The Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America, a traveling cultural exhibit.[1]
Exhibitions
UCAN has organized four cultural exhibits under the title The Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America. They form a continuing series presented with the Haggin Museum in Stockton.[1][2] The organization credits the exhibits with raising awareness of Cambodian Americans and their culture.[1]
The fourth exhibit, The Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America, Finding Freedom, opened at the Haggin Museum in 2025. UCAN developed and curated it. The exhibit follows Cambodian Americans from the Khmer Rouge era through refugee resettlement and the building of community in the United States. It tells that story through oral histories, archival materials, artifacts and multimedia storytelling.[2][3]
Sophy Reese, UCAN's president, managed the project.[2] The Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy and A Khmer Buddhist Foundation collaborated on it, and survivors and their descendants gave firsthand accounts and materials for display. The Haggin Museum provided exhibition space, curatorial support and logistical coordination.[3] On August 8, 2025, Representative Josh Harder of California recognized the exhibit's opening in the Congressional Record.[3]
Community
UCAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its team is made up of professionals and volunteers.[1] It partners with other organizations and with businesses to widen the resources and educational opportunities it can offer.[1] Donations pay for educational and cultural resources and go toward the Heritage Center for Cambodian Americans, a permanent cultural center that UCAN is working to establish.[1]
Related groups
Several of UCAN's leaders also lead other community groups.[1] Savong Lam, a founding member of UCAN, founded the Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy (KLACA) in Stockton and serves as its vice-chair. Its programs teach Khmer language and arts to young people and bring generations together.[1] This Stockton academy is a different organization from the Tacoma-based KLACA. Savong Lam also holds a leadership role in the Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG-Stockton), which supports families affected by deportation.[1] It is separate from the Washington-based KhAAG-Washington.
Reaksa Cheth founded PAPAYA (Pan-Asian Pacific Association of Young Adults) at Concordia University Irvine to promote cultural awareness and Cambodian representation.[1] Sophany Bodine founded and directs Morodok Khmer Performing Arts (MKPA), a dance troupe that promotes Cambodian arts through performance across generations. Lon Chan is the troupe's co-lead and costume coordinator.[1]
Leadership (2026)
Members of UCAN's leadership team in 2026.[1]
- Sophy Reese, co-founder and president
- Savong Lam, founding member
- Ren, treasurer
- Dr. Raksmey A. Tiano, adjunct professor at San Joaquin Delta College, administrator for Telecare Corporation and chair of Telecare's Cultural Humility, Equity, and Inclusion work
- Judie
- Raksan Kasem-Houy
- Reaksa Cheth
- Sophany Bodine
- Lon Chan
See also
- All organizations
- CACC-WA, a parallel umbrella organization for Washington State
- Morodok Khmer Performing Arts
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 United Cambodian American Network, official site
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congressional Record, Recognizing the opening of The Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America, Finding Freedom (August 8, 2025)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, page E756 (August 8, 2025)