JACL Weekly Digest

May 14, 2024

JACL National News

JACL Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Register Now for the 2024 JACL National Convention!

Sponsorship information, committee forms, and volunteer registration are all available online now! Click the button to take you to the convention page below!

The tentative convention schedule is also now available to view!

New Trailer for "League of Dreams"!

A new trailer is available for our documentary film being made in conjunction with filmmaker, Lane Nishikawa! "The League of Dreams", examining the 95-year history of the JACL. The film is currently in its final stages of production and will be screened at the 2024 JACL National Convention this summer! Be sure to join us in Philadelphia to get your first look. 

JACL Organizational Sign-Ons

• Center for American Progress - Civil Society Groups Write to Meta Addressing CrowTangle Shutdown and Concerns about Election Observation
• NAAPIMHA - 100+ organizations Celebrate 4th Annual National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Mental Health Day to Raise Awareness of Mental Health of AANHPI Communities
• LCCHR - Letter to Oppose H.R. 7109 and its Unconstitutional and Discriminatory Changes to the U.S. Census

JACL Chapters News

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

Sacramento Japantown Mural Fundraiser

Ventura County JACL APA Film Festival

From Our Partners

Defining Courage Coming to Houston!

From the Organizing Committee:

Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors, we are pleased to be able to extend a 50% discount on tickets to all veterans and students who would like to attend. 

Discount code for veterans: TEXASVETS

Discount code for students: TXSTUDENTS

Japanese Cemetery Community Clean-Up Day in Colma, CA

2024 OKAERI NORCAL – JAPANTOWN LGBTQ+ PRE-PRIDE POTLUCK

Memorial Day Volunteer Opportunity at Manzanar National Historic Site

From Manzanar National Historic Site:

Our Memorial Day weekend volunteer project will be May 23-27 (Thurs-Mon). You are invited to join Manzanar’s staff in completing the restoration of Merritt Park. Our main job will be working on accessible paths. The existing paths need to be dug out a few inches with gravel and decomposed granite added, compacted, and stabilized. Other tasks include finishing the teahouse, installing metal edging, adding post walls and plants, sealing wood benches, pruning, and weeding.

We will be able to accommodate up to 35 volunteers a day. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old and be able to work outdoors. Volunteers must sign up in advance and may work any number of days or hours, but a full day or multiple days are preferred. Work will be conducted regardless of weather, so please come prepared, bring water, lunch, snacks, sunscreen, hat, and work gloves. There will be a portable toilet and hand-washing station at the work areas. We will meet each day at Merritt Park at 8:00 am for introductions and a safety briefing. Park along the tour road and walk in.

Participants will be emailed additional information about a week before the project starts.

To reserve your spot reply to: jeff_burton@nps.gov

Volunteer project documenting the contributions of Japanese American farmers in Sacramento/Yolo Counties

Hello! My name is Amanda Mei Kim and I’m the lead researcher/founder of www.KanshaHistory.org. We are a community history project that is documenting the incredible contributions of Japanese American farmers prior to World War II. Volunteers are transcribing and proofing the farm transfer records of 6,000 California Japanese American farmers who lost their farms/homes/livelihoods during World War II. This is a lost history for many Nikkei families because most were renters and could never return home after the war. This project began in the fall of 2023. Since then, we have recruited 50 volunteers and transcribed 1,000 records.  Our next project, June-July 2024, will focus on the 600 records of the Sacramento Delta, where AAPIs have a rich agricultural history.  This portion of the project is funded by the APIs Rise Fund. 

Volunteers range in age from teens to 80s. Family groups, clubs, youth and seniors are all welcome! If you have 10 hours, reliable internet, an email account, and basic data entry skills, join us!

Volunteer Orientations:
May 25, 10 am
Jun 3, 6 pm

To join us, sign up here: https://forms.gle/N9cEj4xpvT2J3frt5

See attached for examples. Every record is a precious family story.

We are a fiscally sponsored project of the nonprofit California Black Media which provides us with discounted financial services and administrative oversight. We also use their taxpayer ID# so that all donations to Kansha History are tax-deductible. At the time of the incarceration, California’s Black newspapers were the most vocal, and in many communities, the only non-Nikkei opponent of the incarceration. 

Help us connect descendants to their powerful family stories. To read more about the volunteer experience, please check out these testimonials.  If you can’t volunteer, please spread the word and donate.

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