Weekly Digest
March 15, 2022

JACL Operating Status

JACL's physical offices remain officially closed. Staff continue to do the work of the organization remotely with some visits to the physical office.  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. 

Stay safe everyone and we hope to see you all in person again soon. 

- JACL National Staff

JACL Applauds House Passage of the Japanese American Confinement Education Act

March 15, 2022

The JACL applauds today’s unanimous passage of the Japanese American Confinement Education (JACE) Act in the House of Representatives...

JACL is thankful to Representative Doris Matsui for her leadership in authoring and championing the JACE Act. We are also grateful to Chairman Neguse, Ranking Member Fulcher, and the rest of the members of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands subcommittee for shepherding the JACE act to passage. We would also like to thank the 67 bi-partisan co-sponsors for their support. 

We call upon the Senate to swiftly pass the JACE act (S.988) to ensure continued funding to the JACS grant program.

Next Week - Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium Week of Action!

ACTION ITEMS:

• Please register your participation at https://forms.gle/AfLwnGuWyT1ZDZvw8 for our tracking and scheduling purposes
• This is also where you can request JACL assistance with scheduling requests

Meeting Requests

• Request House meetings through your district office to meet your Rep during District Work Week
• Request Senate meetings through the DC office to meet with your Senator virtually
• JACL can help you find contacts for scheduling or requesting your appointments
• JACL will schedule high-level group meetings for JACSC with key legislators and the administration

Now through March 18: 

• Submit your meeting requests for March 21-25, ask for your members' appropriations requests deadlines

March 17: Policy Briefing meeting

• We will have our “leave-behinds” prepared and the most up to date status of the issues to discuss in your meetings 

March 21-25

• Meet with your Representatives in your home districts 
• Meet with your Senators in Washington, DC virtually

March 14, 2022

On February 27th, Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) went on CNN and suggested that Russian students should be expelled from the country as a potential pressure point against Russia. Swalwell said, “Frankly, I think closing their embassy in the United States, kicking every Russian student out of the United States, those should all be on the table.” 

The JACL would like to remind the Congressman that his district encompasses an area from where many Japanese Americans were forcibly removed during WWII, leading to the disruption and end of college careers. The disruption of promising college careers was one of many traumas inflicted upon incarcerated Japanese Americans that would have lifelong implications. Only in the last few years have universities begun to take responsibility for the role they played in discriminating against Japanese American students during the war whether through expulsion.

Tsuru for Solidarity - Pardon Lam Le Letter Writing Event

Join Tsuru For Solidarity, as we continue to support Lam Hong Le in fighting for his freedom! Lam Hong Le is a Vietnamese refugee who fled to the United States at the age of 12 and is now at risk of deportation back to the country he fled. #PardonLamLe

In addition, we will be going over other ways in which you can support criminalized migrants like Lam with legislation such as the Vision Act. The Vision Act would stop the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE).

Be in community with us on:
Monday, March 21st @ 8PM EDT /5PM PDT - 9PM EDT/ 6PM PDT

2022 JACL National Convention - Awards Applications Available Now!

As we continue closer to the start of our 2022 JACL National Convention, "Strengthening Out Community Through Action", we will be sending out different notifications about applications for various committees and awards, registration, hotel information, and more! So please make sure to follow JACL on social media, signing up for our email list, and checking our website at jacl.org! 

We are happy to announce our awards nominations! Fill out applications for the Inagaki Chapter Award, the JA of the Biennium Award, and the JACLer of the Biennium Award! 

2022 JACL National Scholarship General and Arts Applications Due April 1!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

JACL is Hiring!

JACL is hiring for two positions in the San Francisco National Headquarters Office! 

Director of Finance/CFO

• Regular - 32 hours/week 
• Location: San Francisco, CA (Hybrid/work from home schedule available)
• The Director of Finance/CFO is responsible for the financial health of the organization with an annual budget of $2 million and growing. JACL has a diverse source of revenues from membership dues, charitable contributions, corporate sponsorships and partners, annual convention, grants, and a newspaper with advertising revenue.

Operations Manager

• Regular - Full Time 
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• The Operations Manager is a key member of the management team at JACL working in concert with the Executive Director and the Director of Finance and CFO. They will be responsible for the management of all the processes behind the scenes to help JACL and its employees work effectively. This includes ensuring the National Headquarters building is well maintained to be a strong presence to the Japantown community in which we are located.

2022 JACL Legacy Fund Grants Now Open!

JACL Chapters and Districts are eligible to apply for a grant to support a project or activity that is supportive of the National JACL Strategic Plan.  Grants of up to $6,000 each will be awarded by the Legacy Fund Grants Committee to selected applicants.  Funding for the program grants is provided by Legacy Fund revenues.

24th Annual Freedom Walk 

Please join us for the 24th Annual and 2nd Virtual Freedom Walk on Saturday, April 2 at 3pm (EST). Our theme this year is “Dissenting Voice to EO 9066: Eleanor Roosevelt.” We are pleased that David B. Wollner, Resident Historian and former Executive Director of the Roosevelt Institute will be our keynote speaker. Following his remarks, he will answer questions from participants. Registration is required but free.

OKI: Music of the Ainu

Early Bird Tickets Now Available!

On Sunday, May 1, 2022, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center will host Oki Kano, known professionally as OKI, at the James Irvine Japanese Garden in Los Angeles, CA, at 7 PM PST. OKI, is a leading musician of Ainu music—the music of Japan’s northernmost indigenous people. Early bird pricing is available only until March 18th. Register today! 

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