COVID-19 and JACL operations and resources |
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JACL's physical offices remain closed. Staff continue to do the work of the organization remotely. Please direct all phone calls to our Washington, D.C. Office at (202) 223-1240 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we will all be available via email. All staff emails can be found HERE. You can also check our website, jacl.org, for updates and COVID-19 resources. You can view our resources page here. Stay safe everyone and we hope to see you all in person again soon. - JACL National Staff |
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Tonight! AAPI Inaugural Ball: Breaking Barriers |
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7:00pm-8:00pm EST In partnership with IMPACT and RUN AAPI, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will join an Inaugural Ball celebrating the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and the multitude of contributions they make to our nation. The event will feature remarks from AAPI organizers, political leaders, celebrities, and musical, comedy, and cultural performances. Confirmed participants include OMB Director-designate Neera Tanden; Reps. Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Andy Kim, and Raja Krishnamoorthi; former Olympian Michelle Kwan; actors Kal Penn, John Cho, Kumail Nanjiani, and Chloe Bennet; performances by Japanese Breakfast, Ari Afsar, Raja Kumar; and more. The AAPI Inaugural Ball will stream live at bideninaugural.org/watch, on IMPACT and RUN AAPI social platforms, and shared on PIC social channels from 7:00-8:00 PM Eastern. ASL will be provided. |
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"Black + Japanese Reparations" Virtual Event Series and Book Club |
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From the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religion and Culture: Please join us and our partners at JANM, Densho, and Tsuru for Solidarity for “Black + Japanese American Reparations,” a special virtual events series and book club. Many Black reparations advocates have pointed directly to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 granting reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II as a precedent that can inform the case for restorative justice for African Americans. As Ta-Nehisi Coates has argued, reparations are more than a recompense of past injustices, but a national reckoning “that would lead to spiritual renewal.” The USC Ito Center series and book club is thus predicated on a serious examination of the deeper meaning of “reparations." The #BJAReparations event series is accompanied by a reparations-themed book club that meets every third Tuesday from January to July at 4pm PST. We look forward to connecting with anyone concerned with racial justice and repairing America’s racial karma. The series kicks off with an Introduction Session on January 19. RSVP at dornsife.usc.edu/cjrc. All are welcome and meeting participation is not contingent on having attended previous meetings. |
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2021 Presidential Pearl Gala |
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Since 2009, the Pearl Gala has always served as the inaugural ball for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community for Democratic administrations. The 2021 Presidential Pearl Gala is scheduled as a virtual celebration on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 7:00 PM ET with a virtual mixer at 8:00 PM ET. This event is being produced by the same team from 2009 and 2013 — Francey Youngberg, Gloria Caoile, and Irene Bueno in conjunction with our beneficiary APIAVote. Please support the Presidential Pearl Inaugural Gala—it is not just a celebration but a day to reflect on the results of the election and engage participants in the future direction of the country. In 2009 and 2013, the Presidential Pearl Inaugural Gala played host to 1500 attendees. This year it will be produced as a virtual event highlighting remarks from Congressional members, from the administration, and recent AAPI nominees for appointment. There will be opportunities to engage with one another. |
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2021 Day of Remembrance Events |
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JACL is looking to compile a list of all of the Day of Remembrance Events coming up around the country for members and their communities to be able to search for events near them. If you have any DOR events in your city or know of any, please email our Policy Fellow, Matthew Weisbly, at mweisbly@jacl.org with details for the event! We'll start posting a list of dates, times, and locations online and here in the digest starting next week! |
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JACL Organizational Sign Ons |
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JACL Statement on Capitol Insurrection |
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January 6, 2021 Today we have seen the culmination of months of seditious rhetoric from the President and his supporters. For too long white supremacy and hate have gone unchecked in our nation; there can be no other word for what has happened today with the storming of the Capitol than treason. These heinous acts, encouraged and supported by our President, should not go unpunished – Congress must immediately begin the process of impeachment and removal of the President of the United States for acts of sedition. |
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Lack of Asian American Cabinet Secretary Appointments is Unacceptable |
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January 8, 2021 On Thursday, President-elect Biden announced his final Cabinet appointments, including key senior appointments to the Department of Justice. We celebrate the nomination of Vanita Gupta to the role of Associate Attorney General. She will bring with her a career of civil rights legal expertise when it is most needed for the challenges ahead for DOJ. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, Ms. Gupta represents much of what is great about our country and will act on the concerns of Asian Americans in the restoration of civil rights protections in the Department of Justice. However, with the final Cabinet appointee nominations, it has become clear that there will be no Asian American nominated to a Cabinet Secretary position. Were it not for Transportation Secretary Chao’s abrupt resignation from the current Cabinet, President-elect Biden’s Cabinet would be the first in 20 years without any Asian American representation. This comes as a shock as there is no shortage of qualified Asian American candidates put forward to the transition team. |
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25th Anniversary of Portland JACL's Mochitsuki |
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Throughout the month of January, the Portland JACL is partnering with community groups to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mochitsuki. Every day a new video will be posted. Our Mochitsuki headliner, Elena Moon Park has been sponsored with a JACL Legacy Grant. Mochitsuki is Portland’s annual Japanese New Year celebration and has been a premier event in the local community since 1996. Mochitsuki Portland is a community volunteer-run non-profit event. The goal of Mochitsuki is to celebrate tradition by sharing Japanese and Japanese American culture. The 2019 event attracted more than 3,000 people, not just Japanese Americans, but from every walk of life shared and enjoyed the event. We hope to reach even more people through our online 2021 event! Tune in online for our celebration of culture, food, and the arts! Come and join the fun and educational event for the whole family! |
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Help Save Sakura Gardens Intermediate Care Facility |
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Image courtesy of Vini Taguchi, Twin Cities JACL From Koreisha Senior Care and Advocacy On August 13th, Pacifica Companies submitted a proposal to the Los Angeles City Planning office to convert the Sakura ICF (formerly Keiro Intermediate Care Facility) into multi-family housing with the addition of another 50 unit, 40,000 square foot housing unit on the south side of the campus as well construction of a parking structure. This proposal was unanimously rejected by both the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee on September 10th, and by the full Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council on September 23rd, both in an open, public forum (via Zoom) showing overwhelming public and local community opposition to the conversion. As of now, we have not received any information that Pacifica has taken any further steps, but will advise you if and when we hear of anything. Rest assured, we will be there to oppose this. |
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Help find a Bone Marrow Match for Paul and Kazumi! |
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2021 Minoru Yasui Student Contest |
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“If there is suffering or pain that is unfairly imposed upon anyone, it’s my duty, it’s your duty to try to alleviate it because that’s the way in which we gain a better life for all of us.” — Minoru Yasui The Minoru Yasui Student Contest is proud to announce its 2021 essay competition on Refugee and Immigrant Experiences. We celebrate the ideas and opinions of students in grades 6 through 12 and challenge them to write an original and thoughtful essay exploring refugee or immigrant experiences. Their essay should also demonstrate an understanding of the life and legacy of Minoru Yasui, who spent over 40 years as a dedicated leader serving diverse and often marginalized communities. Students are encouraged to research and share meaningful stories about the conditions, challenges, and support experienced by immigrants and refugees coming to the United States. At the same time, we hope to inspire the next generation of leaders who can embrace complex issues as Min Yasui did - with courage, agility, and thoughtfulness. For more information on contest details, please go to the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project website: minoruyasuilegacy.org/student-contest. Here’s what you need to know: Other resources include: -
For curriculum, logistics, and educational resources related to the life and legacy of Minoru Yasui and primary sources about Oregon’s Nikkei community, please contact Jennifer Fang at jennifer@oregonnikkei.org -
For student experience and research guidance, please contact Alan Zhou at alanzhou2018@gmail.com or Kyler Wang at kyler.y.wang@gmail.com |
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JACL National Announces the 2021 Scholarship Program |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) announced that the 2021 National Scholarship and Awards Program is now underway. The JACL annually offers approximately 30 college scholarships for students who are incoming college freshmen, undergraduates and graduates, and those specializing in law and the creative/performing arts. There are also financial aid scholarships for those demonstrating a need for financial assistance. Scholarship Program guidelines, instructions, and applications have been posted on the JACL website, www.jacl.org, and can be accessed by clicking the “Youth” tab on the menu bar. You may also click the button below “To Learn More or Apply Click Here.” Starting this year, the application forms for the scholarship program will be completely online. Freshman applications must be submitted directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than March 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST). Applications for the non-freshman scholarship categories (undergraduate, graduate, law, creative/performing arts, and financial aid) are also to be sent directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than April 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST). For more information on the National JACL Scholarship Program, contact Scholarship Program Manager Matthew Weisbly at scholarships@jacl.org. |
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APAICS & NCAPA Resume Bank for Presidential Appointments |
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For more information about the appointment process, types of appointments, and what to expect, please visit the Partnership for Public Service’s “Ready to Serve” website: https://presidentialtransition.org/readytoserve/ Please review the previous Plum Books to research listings of former appointee positions, departments, agencies, and desired bureaus to inform your application. Access the resume bank submission form here: bit.ly/AAPIResBank |
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Join Us in Support of H.R. 40 |
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JACL Executive Director, David Inoue, discusses JACL’s support of H.R. 40. H.R. 40 would create a commission to examine the institution of slavery, its legacy, and make recommendations to Congress for reparations, beginning a process of repairing and restoring after centuries of enslavement. Click the image above to watch the full video statement. |
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We've updated our Hate Crimes Page to include more information and reporting options for members of the community as hate crimes increase as a result of COVID-19. You can visit the updated page here. |
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