News Feature

Dumpling Tour NYC supports immigrant rights

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Tom Nguyen — Rahoul Ghose | Dumpling Tour marketing images

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

Emma Lazarus, New Colossus (inscribed on a plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty)

New York is a city of immigrants, built on hard work, grit and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Brooklyn’s Tom Nguyen wants to celebrate and protect those migrants with the third running of the Dumpling Tour NYC – Sunday, June 3 – a group ride benefiting local immigrant resource groups who support and educate residents on their rights.

It’s a very personal goal for the 35-year-old graphic artist and food enthusiast. The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) graduate is the son of immigrants, Vietnamese War refugees who sought safety in the United States during the 1970s; Nguyen’s mother, father and grandparents fled Vũng Tàu province for their freedom and endured great hardships before finally finding safety and a home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“They created a life for themselves here; they worked hard at their jobs, contributed to their community, had children, and sent them to college,” Nguyen says. “They, and the greater community of immigrants, help weave the fabric of our country.”

Nguyen, who can often be seen two-wheeling it around town on his yellow Scrambler Ducati, hopes to double last year’s $1,500 fundraising tally through donations and the sale of Dumpling Tour swag – branded shirts and patches – with 100 percent of all proceeds going to support the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC).

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Tom Nguyen — Rahoul Ghose

They created a life for themselves here; they worked hard at their jobs, contributed to their community, had children, and sent them to college. They, and the greater community of immigrants, help weave the fabric of our country.

Tom Nguyen

To date, with just under 40 days to go, the 2018 ride had already signed up 56 riders and raised more than $400 towards the $3,000 goal.

Nguyen hopes to attract at least 100 riders this year, as that figure could ensure a police escort for the 2018 running. 2017 saw 115 participants register for the ride, with just under 100 turning up on event day. The inaugural ride had just 16 bikes.

Everything kicks off on the morning of June 3 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn at Union Garage NYC (103 Union Street) at 9:30 AM with coffee provided until the group heads out around 11 AM.

“(Union Garage) owner Chris (Lesser) has been a huge supporter of the event and we are really grateful to have him on board again this year,” Nguyen said.

This year’s ride will stick to Brooklyn streets, in part due to feedback from participants from the 2017 event, said Nguyen, as Manhattan traffic made it hard to keep the riding group together. The three pit stops for 2018 include Caribbean, Japanese and Chinese dumpling varieties hitting local restaurants in Prospect Heights, Williamsburg and Bushwick:

ON THE MENU (route map)

Triple D's: 11:30 AM
771 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Domo Williamsburg: 12:30 PM
359 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Ozi Dumplings: 12:30 PM
19 Bogart Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206

For the first time the Dumpling Tour will also include an afterparty, set for Lot 45 at 411 Troutman Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn from 2 to 6 PM.

For both riders and non-riders, the après setup will include a moto show – with bikes from Fly the Coop Moto in Ridgewood, Queens, live music – featuring The Underground Channel and Record High, dumpling vendors, a photo booth and a raffle with prizes from Union Garage NYC.

Representatives from the NYIC will also be on hand to answer questions about immigrant rights and what resources are available in New York.

Nguyen said he also been impressed by the buy-in from vendors involved this year, from the local printer – Exodus Printing – who helped with discounted pricing on the event t-shirts and patches, to some of the dumpling restaurant stops. Ozi Dumplings is offering a 10-per-cent discount of food for Dumpling Tour riders and will donate funds back to the NYIC.

For more information and to register for the 2018 Dumpling Tour NYC, visit the official website and social media. All monetary donations gladly accepted. |     

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