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October 21, 2025

Check out our new JACL Weekly Digest!

 

JACL National News

 

Advocacy Updates on Sacred Sites: A View from DC

We’re excited to share an upcoming webinar, “Advocacy Updates on Sacred Sites: A View from DC,” taking place on Monday, November 3rd at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. This conversation will feature Dan Sakura, conservation advocate; Katie Masano Hill from the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL); and Huy Pham from Asian and Pacific Islanders in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP). Together, they will discuss key federal updates and community advocacy efforts related to the preservation of Japanese American incarceration sites and other sacred places. Topics will include FY25 JACS grant funding, the FY26 appropriations process, the Lava Ridge–SWIP-N transmission line and its impact on Minidoka, ongoing preservation work by APIAHiP as we approach America 250, and updates on Japanese American Network bill implementation.

JACL New Member Orientation - November 6, 2025!

How can you make the most of your JACL membership? Join us for a first look at JACL's education videos, hear from JACL leadership, meet other new members, and find out all JACL has to offer. We will have prizes!

JACL NY/SC Sticker Art Contest!

The NY/SC is excited to announce a new art contest to design our next merch item — stickers! We want to create a platform and encourage the creativity of our community. Whether you are an avid artist or just enjoy a quick doodle every now and again, we encourage you to apply! Your design will be submitted via this google form, and your submission will be judged by current NY/SC members. Application will close November 7th at 11:59 PM HST

Election Day is Coming Up!

Have questions or need help voting this fall? Call APIAVote and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC’s Asian voter hotline at 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683) for assistance!

Bilingual support is available in:

English, Mandarin (普通話), Cantonese (廣東話), Korean (한국어), Vietnamese (tiếng Việt), Tagalog, Urdu (اردو), Hindi (हिंदी), Bengali/Bangla (বাংলা), and Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ).

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, the hotline will operate through voicemail, and callers will receive a callback from the team.

In the weeks leading up to the General Election, the hotline will be taking voicemails and providing callbacks. During Election Day, the hotline will be LIVE from 7am-11pm EST.

Spread the word and support AAPIs exert their voting power this fall

 

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

 

Upcoming Events!

November 1: Nakayoshi Ornament Making with Monterey Peninsula JACL

November 6: Ireicho in Chicago Evening Event and Volunteer Form

 

November 6: Shamisen and Minyo Performance with Anju Madoka

November 15: Conversations for Action hosted by Berkeley JACL and Berkeley NSU

 

 

From Our Partners

Our Debt of Gratitude - Seeking Stories!

Nichi Bei 2026 Films of Remembrance Call for Submissions!

The Nichi Bei Foundation is now accepting submissions for its 15th annual Films of Remembrance, the premier showcase of films commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II.

Selected films will be included at showcase screenings in

  • San Francisco’s Japantown on February 21, 2026
  • San Jose’s Japantown on February 22, 2026

Additional screenings in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo and in Gardena, CA, in March 2026 are under consideration.

In addition, selected films may be eligible to be included in Films of Remembrance On Demand, our new streaming platform dedicated to films on the Japanese American incarceration experience. 

Eligible films should be recent productions on the topic of the Japanese American wartime incarceration experience and its aftermath, in either documentary, narrative, animation, or experimental forms. Works in progress may be considered if they are under production and guaranteed to be completed by the film submission deadline.

PRIORITY DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 7, 2025

October 23: Screening of Colorado Experience - United by Baseball on Colorado PBS

10.23.25 at 7 pm on Rocky Mountain PBS, Rocky Mountain PBS YouTube, and the NEW RMPBS+ app

Baseball has long unified Colorado’s diverse communities. Even before statehood, towns formed teams that brought people together. Immigrant groups—like Hispanic sugar beet workers and Japanese Americans—created their own leagues, claiming the sport as part of their American identity. In Denver, rising Black talent led to the first integrated game of the 20th century. Today, baseball still builds lasting connections, especially for new immigrants

 
 

Follow JACL on:

 

JACL Headquarters
1765 Sutter Street
San Francisco, California 94115
(415) 921-5225 | mbr@jacl.org

JACL DC Office
1025 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 223-1240 | policy@jacl.org

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