Name: Vina Sok
Current Position: Co-Founder, General Board Member

Time Involved in Market and How: 2004 started vending, cofounded VA 2021

Vina Sok is a co-founder and general board member of the Vendors Association of FDR Park. She first started vending in 2004 and helped work toward organizing market leadership through partnering with Phila. Parks and Recreation and the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. Sok is proud to have supported the partnership that led to a commitment to the permanent home in FDR Park and will continue advocating for vendors in this journey. 

Name: Naroen Chhin 
Current Position: Vice President 

Time Involved in Market and How: 1980s, attending as a kid, joined Vendor Board in 2023

Favorite Market Achievement/memory: 

• Being involved in the formation of the organization, Naroen helped really helped support the organization develop; felt like a big deal and really important 

• When the triangle partnership (FDR, CAGP, VA) came together and to start supporting the leadership and vendors, and future of the market 

Ultimate Goal being on the Board: 

• Establish pathway to formalization which includes equitable and inclusive home for this community and to share our experience and know how it can relate cross-culturally and to share this practice beyond the SEA Market and help empower other marginalized community and set a new standard and model for this city and beyond; preserve history, heritage, and culture in a way that can be shared; permanent home to encompass all this 

Naroen Chhin is the current Vendors Association of FDR Park’s Board Vice President. He recalls times as a child going to the market in FDR Park through the 80s and 90s and is proud of his supporting role in the development and formation of the Vendors Association of FDR Park. Chhin felt this was a significant step in advocating for the pathway to formalization and establishing a permanent home for the Southeast Asian Market community. Additionally, Chhin felt the support system including the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia, Phila. Parks and Recreation, and Vendor community leadership has been crucial in supporting the future for the SEA Market. Chhin is excited to support the pathway to formalization for the SEA market that includes an equitable and inclusive home for the SEA Market community. He believes this model would serve as a national model to help empower other marginalized communities. His ultimate goal is to preserve the history, heritage, and cultures of the SEA Market community in a way that can be shared and will fight for the future permanent home to encompass these needs. 

Name: Pheng Seng
Current Position: Board President

Time Involved in Market and How: 1980s, attending as a kid for chicken wings, joined vendor board in 2021, became Vendor board president in 2022

Favorite Market Memory/achievement: 

• Back to school event when everyone was able to come together and work together 

Ultimate Goal being on the Board: 

• See market vendors get formalized; city and non profit work together to make sustainable permanent home for the future of all SEA Market vendors 

Pheng Seng is the Board President of the Vendor’s Association of FDR Park. He is a community leader and entrepreneur recognized during the 2023 Mayor’s Day of Service Recognition Awards Ceremony. He also serves as a board member for the Cambodia American Business Community. Additionally, as a formerly incarcerated citizen and refugee who now contributes positively to the Southeast Asian community of greater Philadelphia, Seng is passionate about contributing to his community and setting a positive example for future generations. For instance, during the Back to School Backpack giveaway where groups were able to come together to support the next generation. Seng is excited to support the market’s path to formalization and help create a sustainable permanent home for the future of all SEA Market Vendors. He also owns ‘Unrivaled,’ a screen printing business in the 7th street corridor. 

Name: Jennie Nam
Current Position: Co-Founder, Board Advisor 

Time Involved in Market and How: joined as a vendor in 2020, Cofounded VA in 2021, transitioned to Board Advisory in 2022 

Favorite Market Achievement: 

• Asian Anti-Hate Rally in 2020 really helped to kick off the fight for belonging in the city 

Ultimate Goal being on the Board: 

• Growing the board to improve the market and support the future of the market

Jennie Nam has served as a prominent Philadelphian community leader and Cambodian-American entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the city’s Cambodian Community. After joining the Southeast Asian Market in 2020 as a vendor, Nam helped co-found the Southeast Asian Vendors Association of FDR Park and currently serves as an Advisory Board Member. She’s formerly served as a board member for the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia and now works as the Khmer Bilingual Business Manager at the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. Nam hopes to grow and develop the Board of directors to better support and advance the future of the SEA Market. One of her favorite moments was the Asian Anti-Hate Rally in 2020 that really built momentum in the fight for the SEA Market belonging in the city and deserving a permanent home to showcase and empower their community.