 | | Weekly Digest
April 4, 2023 |
| | 2023 JACL National Convention Workshop Proposals Due Next Week! |
|  | Do you have an idea for a possible workshop at this year's upcoming JACL National Convention? Then help us by submitting your idea to possibly see it as a workshop this year! Proposals are due by Monday, April 10th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This year's workshops will be spread across two days with each dedicated to a specific theme:
Friday Workshops: Envisioning JACL for the Future
Workshops on this day should focus on the current work that JACL is doing, educating and skill-building for chapters and members, and/or discussing how JACL can prepare itself for the future
Saturday Workshops: Rooted in Community
Workshops on this day should focus on the work individuals and organizations are doing to preserve and celebrate the Japanese American, the larger Asian American & Pacific Islander community, and allied communities. |
| | You can also scan the QR Code below to visit the form! |
|  | | Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders - May 3, 2023 |
|  | YOU'RE INVITED: On May 3, join the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) in Washington, D.C. for a historic, community-wide celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This event is open to the public and will feature Biden-Harris Administration officials, groundbreaking artists, and community trailblazers. To attend in-person or virtually, RSVP below and share out with your networks! |
| | | JACL Saddened by School Shooting in Nashville |
|  | | | |  | The Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium (JACSC) met in person for the first time in three years in Washington, DC for its annual JACS Advocacy Days. This annual gathering allows the 40+ JACSC members to meet, update, and discuss issues important to the greater Japanese American community. The purpose of this year's advocacy days was to thank the Members of Congress for the passage of the Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Act which authorized an additional $42M for the JACS program. In addition, JACSC members asked Congress to stop the Lava Ridge Wind Project, which would put over 400 extra large wind turbines on property adjacent to the Minidoka National Historical Site. The construction of this project would negatively impact the site by failing to recognize the cultural landscape and would ruin the viewshed of this historical and cultural site. -- JACSC was also able to attend the National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA) awards ceremony where the Amache Preservation Society (APS) received the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award. APS has played a pivotal role at Amache in Colorado, also known as the Granada Relocation Center, which served as an incarceration site for Japanese Americans during World War II. Thanks to the dedication of the APS, along with Amache survivors, descendants, and other advocates in partnership with NPCA, President Biden signed the Amache National Historic Site Act into law in March of 2022. As a new addition to the National Park System, the site will keep this significant piece of history alive while honoring the people who were unjustly imprisoned. You can read an article on the award here: -- At the JACSC reception, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Senator Brian Schatz, and Senator John Barrasso were honored for their help in getting the Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Act and the Japanese American World War II History Network passed. Photos courtesy of John Tobe and Robyn Achilles. Recap thanks to John Tobe. |
| | NCWNP District Luncheon Recap |
|  | This past weekend, the JACL Northern California. Western Nevada, Pacific (NCWNP) District held its first in-person awards luncheon since 2019! The awards luncheon is a way to honor members and supporters from across the district for their many accomplishments. This year a dozen Daruma awards were given out to members and supporters for all they've done in supporting the community! Two Sapphire pins, awarded to longstanding JACL members who have engaged on both the local and national levels, were given to Haruka Roudeboush and Alan Teruya. Dr. Satsuki Ina was also awarded the NCWNP District Award of Excellence. We congratulate all the winners and thank them all for their support of JACL! |
| | Asian Americans in Office: A Discussion with Midwest Elected Officials |
|  | You are invited to join the JACL Midwest District Council (MDC) Youth Summit for a hybrid event hosted on Zoom and in Chicago at the Japanese American Services Committee on Saturday, April 15th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM CDT + a mixer to follow! The event will be a hybrid panel with four distinguished Asian American elected officials making change in their respective communities! - Senator Stephanie Chang, Michigan Senate
- Commissioner Josina Morita, Cook County, Illinois
- Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura, Minnesota House
- Representative Gene Wu, Texas House
After the panel will be a mixer event to debrief, discuss, and connect with youth from across the Midwest. Participants do NOT have to be a JACL member in order to attend and anyone of any age is welcome to join us. Contact Ayako (mdcyouth@jacl.org) with any questions! Please RSVP at bit.ly/MDCCHI. Follow @mdcjacl on Instagram for the latest updates! |
| | Kansha Nisei Lounge Fundraiser |
|  | 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. RSVP HERE Can't make the event? Donate to the Kansha Project at https://donorbox.org/2023-kansha-project |
| | Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment Asian American Action Day 2023 |
|  | What: Asian American Action Day (AAA Day) When: May 9th, 2023 (Buses leave at 6am, lobby from 10am-2pm, rally in the Rotunda at 2pm, and return to Chicago by 7pm) Where: State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois Who: Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition and YOU! Why: We’re heading to Springfield because policies are passed through stories and our legislators need to hear about our unique needs as Asian Americans in Illinois. AAA Day is an opportunity for us to speak with elected officials and directly influence legislation. PAVE is fighting for the Language Equity and Access Act, to Prevent Unwanted Medical Debt, Faith Behind Bars, Faith by Plate, Driver’s Licenses for All, and Health Care Cultural Competency. Outcomes: - 300 Asian American community members in Springfield lobbying their legislators
- Legislators hear testimonies from community members
- Legislators express their commitment to support the 2023 PAVE Legislative Agenda and Priorities
- PAVE organizers and community members continue to develop their leadership in policy/advocacy.
Registration: Please complete our registration form at bit.ly/AAADay2023 by May 2nd. Training: All participants must attend a Lobby Day 101 training prior to AAA Day. Trainings are available on the following days: - Thursday, May 4th 6-7:30PM (Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese interpretation available)
- Saturday, May 6th 11AM-12:30PM (Arabic, Hindi/Urdu, Khmer interpretation available)
- Tuesday, May 8th 11AM-12:30PM (Tagalog and Vietnamese interpretation available)
Logistics: Transportation and food will be provided. Contact: Please reach out to Rebecca Ozaki (rebecca@jaclchicago.org) with any questions! |
| | | | Darrell Miho & Heart Bypass Surgery #MihoStrong |
|  | Dear Friends and Family of Darrell Miho, Our dear friend, Darrell, has had a sudden serious health emergency and needs our help. He was running errands when he began to feel chest pain and was a little short of breath. It felt off enough that he went to an ER. Good going, Darrell. But, you know it’s not good when you turn around to suddenly see the doctor and staff surrounding you, springing into action. He underwent open heart surgery on February 27, 2023. A total of 5 bypasses(!) were performed that day. Thank goodness it was a success! Darrell was the official photographer for the 2022 JACL National Convention in Las Vegas. We wish him a speedy and successful recovery and hope that the community can help support him through the process! |
| | | Seattle JACL event: Stop Rhyming History |
|  | The Seattle JACL is pleased to host a discussion of the documentary film Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America. The film is the creation of Jeffery Robinson, a Seattle-based and nationally recognized civil rights lawyer. The film explores the history of anti-Black racism in America and the enduring legacy of white supremacy and our collective responsibility to overcome it. Our event will reflect on the types of oppression still present today, how they repeat, or rhyme with episodes in our nation's past, and current efforts aimed at repairing past harms and promoting equity and liberation for all. Our event will feature a panel discussion with Professor Wayne Au, Professor Lorraine Bannai, and community leader Peter Hasegawa, followed by small group conversations among event attendees. Here are the event details: Saturday, April 15 1 PM - 3:30 PM PDT / 4 PM - 6:30 PM EDT Zoom - register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIldOitrjwsG9eRkcsrV6BQYUjUhcfxL8yA Event attendees are asked to watch the film prior to the event. The film is available for streaming on Netflix. The Seattle JACL has also obtained a screening license for those who are not Netflix subscribers. The link for the screening will be active for 72 hours from distribution. We hope you will share this event with your organization's members. We are excited to continue to build community together. |
| | San Diego JACL Monthly Community Dialogues |
|  | | | Call to Action: Protect Minidoka National Historic Site! Deadline for Comments Extended! |
|  | From Friends of Minidoka: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in south-central Idaho was released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on January 17, 2023, and sent to the EPA for approval. It was published in the Federal Register on January 20. The public comment period started Friday, January 20, and will end at 11:59 pm MDT on April 20, 2023 (NEW DEADLINE). For more information about the Lava Ridge proposal, see additional posts on the Friends of Minidoka site linked below. |
| | | Help Find a Match for Mama Grannis! |
|  | From Kina Grannis: Hi! Kina, Emi, and Misa Grannis here. Thanks for coming to help save our mom’s life. Here’s the deal: If you know our family, you know that our mom is an incredibly magical human. If you don’t know our family, trust us when we tell you that she brings light to everything and everyone she touches. Right now, she needs your help. The short version: 1. Mama G has a bone marrow cancer called myelofibrosis. 2. She needs a blood stem cell donor* as soon as possible to save her life. 3. To see if you are her match, all you have to do is swab your cheeks with DKMS provided swabs. *Due to our mom’s specific condition, she needs a blood stem cell donor, not a bone marrow donor. It’s a different (and much simpler) donation process. Either way, all that’s required up front are cheek swabs. |
| | | 2023 Minoru Yasui Student Contest |
|  | The 2023 Minoru Yasui Student Contest theme is responsibility and asks students to express their community responsibilities through a visual art piece and artist statement. The contest has a Junior Division (5th-8th grade) offering a $500 grand prize and Senior Division (9th-12th grade) offering a $1,000 grand prize. Organized by the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project and the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, the Minoru Yasui Student Contest offers students the opportunity to explore societal topics in connection with the legacy of Minoru Yasui, the only Oregonian to have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. To view the full details of the contest, visit the Minoru Yasui Student Contest webpage. Submissions must be completed and uploaded by 11:59pm PT on Sunday, May 14. |
| |
|
| | | | | JACL Headquarters
1765 Sutter Street
San Francisco, California 94115
(415) 921-5225 | mbr@jacl.org |
|
|
JACL DC Office
1629 K Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 223-1240 | policy@jacl.org |
|
|
| |  | Unsubscribe or change email preferences with the link below |
|
|
|
|
|
