JACL Concludes its 2025 National Convention in Albuquerque

"From July 17 to 20, JACL hosted its 55th National Convention, “Voices in Unity,” for the first time in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Additionally, for the first time, this convention featured no national council sessions, allowing attendees to fully focus and participate in the multitude of workshops and plenaries offered..."

Take Action Against the Alien Enemies Act!

Learn more about the Alien Enemies Act, the new JACL Alien Enemies Act Fund, hear stories of people who were subjected to the AEA in WWII, and more at our Alien Enemies Act landing page.  Click the button below or visit jacl.org/alien-enemies-act

2025 Legacy Fund Grants Available Now

Are you a chapter in good standing and thinking about furthering the mission and fulfilling the vision of the JACL? If so, apply for a 2023 Legacy Fund Grant today and use it as seed money to execute a multi-generational project or activity where your chapter (or district) can take a leadership role in local programming.

To learn more, please visit the JACL National Legacy Fund Grant page here or click below. Applications are due by Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 11:59 pm Hawaiian Standard Time. 

Puyallup Valley JACL Legacy Membership Banquet

This past Spring, Puyallup Valley was given a Legacy grant to assist in building its membership. PV is a very small chapter with only 54 members, so this offer was very
helpful. The board set is the goal of five new, lapsed, renewal, and/or upgrade; this would be a 5% increase. The initiative began at the end of March and concluded on June 30, 2025. We are proud to announce that we reached and exceeded our goal with seven new members, one renewal, one lapsed renewal, and one upgrade!

How did we do this? We invited the current and lapsed PV members, former lapsed members of the White River Valley*, and volunteers with the Remembrance Gallery to the PV annual installation/scholarship luncheon. This was the first in-person gathering since the pandemic on Saturday, June 7th. A bento lunch and mochi dessert accompanied the installation of the 2025-2027 board and awarding of two scholarships. A PowerPoint reflected on the 90 years of the White River Valley chapter's activities and an update on the Puyallup Valley, including the Remembrance Gallery.

Special guests included Sheldon Arakaki, PNW Governor and installing officer, Elsie Taniguchi, PV Past President, Rich Hayashi, White River Past President, and Lilly Kato,
64-year JACL member!

*In 1930, the Puyallup Valley Chapter sponsored the White River Valley, which merged with PV in 2009.

Installation: Sheldon Arakaki, installing officer; Leslie Soule, membership and newsletter; Joan Yamada, treasurer; Eileen Yamada Lamphere, president; Cheryl Lamphere, Vice President; Liz Dunbar, secretary.

Scholarship: Kai Vu, Tufts Medical School; Max Vu, University of Washington Masters in Computational Linguistics; Leslie Soule, Scholarship Chair

Upcoming Events!

August 9: JACL Arizona Blood Drive

JACL BLOOD DRIVE
Saturday, August 9, 2025
9:00 am - 1:00 pm

JACL - Main Room
5414 W Glenn Drive ~ Glendale

Advance appointments are encouraged.

Visit www.vitalant.org (Blood Drive Code: 100561201) 

Questions, contact Mike Hashimoto at (602) 616-8120.
**
Donate blood between May 23 – September 7 and you'll be entered to win a 2025 VW Taos S, donated by our Valley Volkswagen Dealers.

Donate August 1–28 for a $10 Rewards gift card.
PLUS, be entered for a chance to win one of three $10,000 gas gift cards – enough to buy gas for a year!

August 17: Nikkei Community Picnic in Portland, OR

August 30: Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past

Saturday, August 30, 2025 | Midwest Buddhist Temple (435 W Menomonee St, Chicago IL 60614)

Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past is a JACL Chicago and Nikkei Uprising 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.

For more information, visit https://jaclchicago.org/programs/intergenerational-conversations.

Remembering the Oak Creek Anti-Sikh Shooting

Today marks the 13-year anniversary of the deadliest act of hate against a Sikh house of worship in U.S. history. We #RememberOakCreek by honoring those lost and standing in solidarity with the Sikh community, because no one should fear for their lives when they gather to pray.

#RememberOakCreek by honoring the seven lives lost on this day in 2012—Paramjit Kaur Saini, Sita Singh, Ranjit Singh, Prakash Singh, Suveg Singh Khattra, Satwant Singh Kaleka, and Baba Punjab Singh—and standing united in our opposition to violent hate and bigotry.

On August 5, 2012, a gunman with neo-Nazi ties attacked a Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin, ultimately killing seven worshippers. Today, 13 years later, we stand with the Sikh community against the continued threats of white supremacy and hate violence. #RememberOakCreek

2026 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Applications Now Open! 

The Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program provides the opportunity for a select group of Japanese American leaders from across the U.S. to travel to Japan to engage with Japanese leaders in the business, government, academic, non-profit and cultural sectors. The trip also allows Japanese leaders to gain a greater understanding of multicultural America through the experiences of a diverse group of Japanese Americans. Upon their return, delegates collaborate with JALD alumni, the local consulates, the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) and local and national community organizations to continue strengthening ties between the U.S. and Japan.

Upcoming Events!

August 6: Never Again: Art Speaks Where Words Fail - Art's Enduring Protest 80 Years Late

This year marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As we reflect on this solemn anniversary, we invite you to join Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility for our annual memorial event honoring the lives lost, the survivors (hibakusha), and the global movement to abolish nuclear weapons.

Our 2025 theme,
🎨 Never Again: Art Speaks Where Words Fail — Art’s Enduring Protest 80 Years Later highlights the role of art as an enduring protest—telling stories, expressing grief, and inspiring action when words alone cannot.

WHEN

August 06, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7pm

WHERE

Japanese American Historical Plaza
Portland, OR 97209
United States
Google map and directions

CONTACT

- · info@oregonpsr.org · (503) 274-2720

August 20: Navigating Today's Business Immigration Landscape Webinar with USJC

This session will offer a comprehensive overview of the current business immigration landscape—what is evolving, what remains consistent, and what employers should closely monitor. USJC member Lisa Tashiro, a leading expert in the field, will examine how recent policy changes affect companies hiring Japanese talent or managing global workforces. They will also provide strategies for navigating the complexities of an ever-shifting regulatory environment. Given the dynamic nature of immigration policy, the session will focus on the most up-to-date and relevant developments.

Date: August 20, 2025 (US) / August 21, 2025 (Japan)

Time: 7pm-8:15pm ET / 8am-9:15am JT

Location: Virtual on Zoom

Please mention your affiliation with JACL when registering!

August 24: The Incredible History of Nikkei Farmers in the Sacramento+ Region Hosted by KanshaHistory.org

August 14: Tsuru for Solidarity - Voices in Solidarity 

Tsuru for Solidarity (TFS) is thrilled to announce its upcoming Virtual Fundraiser and Community Celebration and the locations of in-person Watch Parties. TFS is also excited to introduce the MCs for this year’s program!

Please join us in welcoming Brynn Saito and Brandon Shimoda, two incredible poets and friends of Tsuru who bring deep heartfelt commitment to our shared work for justice. The Gate of Memory, edited by Saito and Shimoda, is a groundbreaking poetry anthology by descendants of WWII-incarcerated individuals, exploring intergenerational trauma and the enduring impact of mass incarceration in the U.S. and Canada. A selection of the poems will be read by descendants as the hosts highlight the resistance and liberation work of TFS campaigns and national partners. 

TFS will also honor this year’s recipients of the Tsuru Leadership and Activism Award! 

In addition, an empowering Nikkei singer/activist will be announced soon! Stay tuned for more details—we can’t wait to be in community with you.

2025 Crystal City Pilgrimage

The Crystal City Pilgrimage Committee has opened registration for the 2025 pilgrimage taking place October 9-12 in Texas. This year’s Pilgrimage theme is “Crystal City Rising - Neighbors Not Enemies.” In addition to learning about the unique history and stories of survivors of the Crystal City Concentration Camp, this year’s Pilgrimage will frame many of our programs through the lens of present-day attacks on immigrant communities. The event will include a visit to the site of the former prison camp in Crystal City, and a multi-day educational conference taking place in San Antonio.  

2025 Poston Pilgrimage