| JACL Weekly Digest April 22, 2025 Check out our new Pilgrimage Events Section at the bottom of the Weekly Digest! |
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| | | 2025 JACL National Convention Only a Little Over 1 week left! JACL Members Register before April 30 to Save! |
|  | Join us this Summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from July 17th through 20th for an exciting convention as we celebrate local and national communities coming together with "Voices in Unity!" |
| | Announcing our 2025 Workshop Tracks! Stay tuned for more information! |
|  | | Beyond the China Initiative: Civil Rights, National Security, and the Future of AAPI Communities presented by JACL, CKA, TAAF, and Committee of 100 |
|  | | | Take Action Against the Alien Enemies Act! |
|  | President Trump has now invoked the Alien Enemies Act to target Venezuelan immigrants and already used it to arrest and deport hundreds of people without any due process, only specious accusations based on tattoos and social media posts, but not necessarily actual evidence of criminal activity. The Supreme Court infamously affirmed the right of the government to take actions to preserve the security of our nation in the cases of Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui, while also affirming the right to due process in the case of ex parte Endo. The Alien Enemies Act deprives people of that constitutional right to due process affirmed by the Supreme Court. Together, we can ensure that "Never Again" is more than a promise. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose the President's use of the Alien Enemies Act and co-sponsor the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to repeal the Alien Enemies Act. |
| | | JACL Organizational Sign-Ons |
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| | | If any JACL Chapters would like to submit stories or events to the Weekly Digest, please send inquiries to Education Programs Manager, Matthew Weisbly at mweisbly@jacl.org |
| | JACL NCWNP District Youth Summit |
|  | The JACL NCWNP District Youth Board Summit is an opportunity for Japanese American youth (high school and older) to connect and learn more about the JACL and its advocacy efforts. This event will include games, a discussion session, a tour of SF Japantown, and free lunch :)
RSVP here and feel free to contact us at ncwnpyouthboard@jacl.org |
| | Kansha Project Fundraiser at Nikkei Lounge |
|  | Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 6:30-9:30PM Nisei Lounge | 3439 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago IL 60657 Join the Kansha Alumni Leadership Board (ALB) as we bring back our favorite community bartending fundraiser at the Nisei Lounge in Wrigleyville! Friends, family, and all community members are welcome! Kansha Project alumni will be guest bartending throughout the night. Come on by to get some drinks and socialize with Kansha folks and the community. All cash tips will go towards the Kansha Project program. The Kansha Project is a JACL Chicago program that connects self-identified Japanese Americans, ages 18-25, to the continuing legacy of the Japanese American community’s incarceration during World War II. The program centers around an educational trip to Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood and Manzanar National Historic Site. This event is 21+. Please bring a valid form of ID. Can’t make the event? Donate to the Kansha Project at https://donorbox.org/2023-kansha-project |
| | Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past |
|  | Saturday, August 30, 2025 | 3:30-6:30PM Midwest Buddhist Temple | 435 West Menomonee Street Chicago, IL 60614 Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past is a JACL Chicago program that brings Chicago-area Nikkei (people of Japanese ancestry) together to connect and process the trauma of WWII forced displacement and incarceration through personal story sharing. It was created to bridge the gap in programming for the community’s need for containers to reflect on and heal from the generational impact of incarceration. The goals for this program include: - expanding understanding and awareness of impacts of the WWII displacement and incarceration,
- creating a space where participants feel brave to explore difficult subjects and feelings with one another,
- encouraging community members to develop deeper connections with one another,
- catalyzing intergenerational processing and healing, and
- beginning to consider hopes and dreams for our community moving forward.
- Questions? Contact Program Director, Rebecca Ozaki at rebecca@jaclchicago.org
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| | Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition on Select PBS Channels in May! |
|  | JACL Monterey's documentary film, Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition, has recently been released to every PBS station in the United States and stations are signing up to show it. Here’s where you’ll find it in May: May 1, KCRB Northern Cal Media. 10pm May 7, UEN Salt Lake City Ut, 9pm May 17, PBS Hawaii, 9pm May 19, KPJK San Mateo, 8pm May 23, PBS 12, Denver CO., 10pm May 29, PBS Rhode Island, 3:30pm |
| | | JACL Arizona Essay Challenge with the Chandler Museum - Deadline Extended! |
|  |  The Chandler Museum has partnered with Japanese American Citizens League - Arizona Chapter (JACL-AZ) to invite students to participate in the 2025 Essay Challenge! This contest encourages young writers to explore the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the importance of protecting civil liberties for all.
Eligibility:
Open to students residing in Arizona who meet ONE of the following criteria:
 Are a member (or have relatives who are a member) of JACL-AZ Chapter, Arizona Buddhist Temple, or Phoenix Life Church.
Have visited the 2025 Chandler Museum Exhibit, Gaman: Enduring Japanese American Internment at Gila River.
Essay Topics:
Students should submit a well-organized, thought-provoking essay addressing:
The history and reasons behind Japanese American incarceration during WWII.
The lessons this history teaches us about justice and equality today.
Ways to prevent future injustices through laws, education, and civic engagement.
The significance of this history for all Americans, regardless of background.
Submission Guidelines:
Grades 4-8: 500-800 words
Grades 9-12: 1,000-1,500 words
Typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font
Must include a bibliography
Deadline: All entries must be submitted by May 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Details and Submission Link: http://bit.ly/JACLAZ_Essay_Challenge_2025 Or scan the QR code |
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| | | | Commemorating 50 Years of the Southeast Asian Diaspora |
|  | NCAPA is excited to announce that on April 24th, 4PM ET / 1 PM PT, we will be convening our different Southeast Asian coalition members to host a panel commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Wars in Southeast Asia. Participating will be SEARAC, National CAPACD, and Hmong National Development (HND) who will share about our advocacy work and reflect on what successes and what challenges we’re still facing after 50 years Register here: bit.ly/50YearsSEADiaspora Please join us for a virtual panel featuring: -
Quyen Dinh, Executive Director, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) -
Vimala Phongsavanh, Managing Director of Coalition Mobilization, National CAPACD -
May yer Thao, President and CEO, Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND) |
| | A Conference on Changing Perspectives on Japanese American Incarceration |
|  | | | Films of Remembrance On Demand! |
|  | Illuminating Japanese American Incarceration through powerful storytelling - Nichi Bei Foundation Presents Films of Remembrance On Demand. A groundbreaking digital platform that brings untold stories of the Japanese American incarceration experience directly to your screen. Our carefully curated collection of award-winning documentaries and films ensures these crucial narratives continue to educate, move, and inspire audiences worldwide. Discover films that transform memory into action. The Nichi Bei Foundation’s collection on Japanese American incarceration demonstrates that remembrance is resistance — challenging historical amnesia and erasure. |
| | | "Am I an American or Not?" at the International Peace Museum |
|  | | | "Am I An American Or Am I Not?" Exhibit at the Arizona Capitol Museum this Month |
|  | From the Fred T. Korematsu Institute: In Arizona? Our national traveling exhibit, “Am I An American Or Am I Not?,” opens Wednesday, April 2 at the Arizona Capitol Museum in Phoenix and runs through April 27. The exhibit is named after the question Fred Korematsu asked when faced with criminal charges for violating the military orders to leave his home without due process after Executive Order 9066 during WWII. He joined 125,000 other Japanese Americans at incarceration camps. Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation establishing a “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in 2021, honoring #FredKorematsuDay for the first time in 2022. Learn more about the exhibit here: https://azcapitolmuseum.gov/ |
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| | | | 56th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage - April 26th & Digitization Project with the Inyo County Library |
|  | |  | | 50th Amache Pilgrimage - May 16th to 18th! |
|  | This year, the Full Amache Pilgrimage will take place in the Amache area from the evening of Friday May 16 to midday Sunday May 18, with additional events hosted by Amache Alliance, the University of Denver Amache Project, National Parks Conservation Association, Colorado Preservation Inc., and the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation. There will also be events earlier in the week in Denver at the Denver Art Museum and History Colorado Center. PLEASE NOTE: you will need your own transportation to attend these events. |
| | | Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Registration Available Now! |
|  | The Jerome Rohwer Committee and the Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Planning Committee are thrilled to invite you to register for our upcoming 2025 Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage in Little Rock, AR, May 21-24, 2025. The Pilgrimage offers camp survivors, descendants, and others the opportunities to connect with fellow Pilgrims from around the globe. Last year we had Pilgrims from as far east as Europe, and as far west as Hawaii. You will learn about and discuss the legacy and aftermath of WWII era concentration camps in the USA. One day of the Pilgrimage is a journey to each concentration camp site in Jerome and Rohwer, where the sacred Ireichō (a book with names of over 125,000 innocent Japanese and Japanese Americans imprisoned during WWII) will be honored and short services will be held. We will have lunch in McGehee, AR, home to the WWII Japanese Internment Museum, followed by a program that includes taiko drummers and a short Obon festival to honor the spirits of our ancestors. There will be two full days of programming in Little Rock, with historical sessions, survivor perspectives, generational and intergenerational discussions, social activities, and opportunities to research family histories and to stamp the sacred Ireichō. Learning and open conversation leads to understanding and healing. |
| | | 2025 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage July 24th to 26th (Early Bird Registration Open!) |
|  | Eighty years ago, the unjust incarceration of over 14,000 Japanese Americans at Heart Mountain finally came to an end. Yet, the lessons of this dark chapter in history are more relevant than ever. Join us at the 2025 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage as we honor the stories of incarceration, uplift the voices of incarcerees and their descendants, and fortify our community’s strength. This year’s Pilgrimage will be a powerful gathering, designed to inspire hope and resilience for future generations. Featured events include the premiere of Hello Maggie!, the stamping of the Ireichō, the debut of a compelling short film exploring cultural connections to Heart Mountain, multigenerational discussion groups, a transformative art healing workshop, and the ever-popular Sayonara Banquet. Come be part of this unforgettable experience—because remembering the past is the key to shaping a just future. |
| | | 2025 Poston Pilgrimage - October 24th and 25th! Registr |
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| | JACL Headquarters
1765 Sutter Street
San Francisco, California 94115
(415) 921-5225 | mbr@jacl.org |
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JACL DC Office
1025 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 223-1240 | policy@jacl.org |
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