Weekly Digest
November 3, 2020

ELECTION DAY ISSUE

It's Election Day! Go Out and Vote!

Today is the day! As part of Election Day, we're sending out our Weekly Digest early! If you haven't dropped off your ballot, or are planning to vote in person, make sure you do it today! Click the button below to find your local polling place and their hours!

Have questions or need help voting?

Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683).

Bilingual assistance is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali

Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue Ad Buys Available Now!

Tomorrow - Virtual Town Hall on Fulton v. Philadelphia 

Tomorrow November 4 is Our Day In Court when the Supreme Court hears the Fulton v. Philadelphia case -- Can private groups who get public money discriminate against LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, single women, and more? RSVP to join the Virtual Town Hall tomorrow night for info, analysis, and Q&A.

2020 JACS Grant Applications Due Next Week

Congress established the Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grant program (Public Law 109-441, 120 Stat. 3288) for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. The law authorized up to $38 million for the entire life of the grant program to identify, research, evaluate, interpret, protect, restore, repair, and acquire historic confinement sites in order that present and future generations may learn and gain inspiration from these sites and that these sites will demonstrate the nation’s commitment to equal justice under the law. 

Japanese American Confinement Sites grants are awarded to preserve and interpret U.S. Confinement Sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. Grants are awarded to organizations and entities working to preserve historic Japanese American confinement sites and their history, including private nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and state, local, and tribal governments, and other public entities. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process and require a 2:1 Federal to non-Federal match ($2 Federal to $1 non-Federal match). The minimum grant request is $5,000.

Applications must be received by Monday, November 9, 2020, 5 pm (Mountain Time). Note: this is not a postmark date.

Japanese American Veterans Association  2020 Veterans Day Program

Wednesday, November 11, 2019, 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 am PST / 9:00 am HST 

Distinguished Speaker

RDML Andrew Sugimoto 

U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Intelligence 

Remarks

Rhianna Taniguchi, NJAMF Board Member & ANG Veteran

Howard High, USA, JAVA

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the program will be live-streamed via Facebook. Viewers can go to the JAVA website at JAVA-US.org and watch from JAVA’s Facebook page or click on the Veterans Day Program webpage. Members, friends, and interested persons are encouraged to watch the program online via Facebook rather than attending in person.

JAVA’s Veterans Day Program has been selected by the Veterans Day National Committee, which is a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as one of the “Veterans Day observances throughout the country that represents a fitting tribute to America’s heroes.”  You can find the listing of all 2020 Veterans Day Regional Sites on the Department of Veterans Affairs at https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/docs/2020-Veterans-Day-Regional-Sites.pdf.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Introducing the Japanese American Confinement Education Act

We are beyond excited to support Congresswoman Doris Matsui in her introduction of the Japanese American Confinement Education Act. The bill will permanently authorize the Japanese American Confinement Site (JACS) program, for which funding will run out in 2022, with a new $38 million in potential funding. The JACS program, within the National Park Service (NPS), has been one of the primary resources in the preservation and interpretation of the U.S. Confinement Sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.

In addition to making the JACS program permanent and establishing a new stream of potential funding up to $38 million, this act will also introduce a new museum-based education component. This new program is modeled on the recently passed Holocaust education Never Again Act, run through the National Holocaust Museum, to continue and expand teaching the history of the Japanese American incarceration experience to more people than ever before. The new five year, $2 million per year ($10 million total) program would fund the development and national dissemination of accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to improve awareness and understanding of Japanese American Confinement in WWII. This new program would bring together many elements of the community and educators performing vital work in Japanese American history education under a more cohesive and powerful effort to ensure that the experience of Japanese American incarceration is taught nationally to as many students as possible.

JACL Chicago is Hiring!

The Chicago Chapter of the JACL is looking for two part-time positions to be filled!

Office Manager:  JACL Chicago is currently seeking a part-time office manager to help with day-to-day operations, finances, and communications. The position, which is paid hourly, has a minimum of 10 hours/week, with an average of 15 hours/week. The position supports JACL Chicago Board Members and Committee Chairs, works closely with the Program Manager, and ultimately reports to the JACL Chicago President.

Program Manager: JACL Chicago is currently seeking a part-time Program Manager to provide support to our student/youth facing programs. The position has a minimum of 10 hours/week, with an average of 15 hours/week while JACL holds virtual programs. When JACL Chicago is able to return to in-person programming, this position could increase in hours. The Program Manager works closely with the Office Manager and reports to the Chicago JACL President while supporting various projects and Board committees.

New Video on the Need to Pass HR40 

This new video from NowThis highlights the need to pass HR40, to establish a committee to determine how to make reparations for the past injustices of slavery and discrimination. The video highlights John Tateishi, former Chair JACL National Committee on Redress and National Director. JACL continues to advocate for the passage of HR 40 as just one means of moving towards racial justice in our country.

Join Us in Support of H.R. 40

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. 

Hate Crime Resources 

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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