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JACL Weekly Digest

September 10, 2024

 

JACL National News

 

2024 Winter Kakehashi Project Trip Applications Due This Week!

We are excited to announce the return of our in-person Kakehashi project trips! This upcoming program will be from December 11 - 18, 2024! This program's cohort will consist of 71 participants who will travel to Japan to enhance their understanding of the Japanese economy, society, history, diverse culture, politics, and diplomatic policies of Japan through people-to-people exchanges. Participants are expected to play an active and important role in the future of U.S.-Japan relations. We will also be looking for applications for three chaperones! Japanese language experience preferred!

Some changes to this year's program include an increase in the age restrictions; participants can be up to 27 years old when they leave for the trip. All participants who attend will also need to have proof of at least 3 vaccinations before applying and will need the most updated vaccine prior to leaving for the trip. Due to budget constraints, participants will be required to pay an Attendance Fee for this year's trip, which will cost NO MORE than $45. Additionally, participants will have to pay for their own Wireless or Cell service on the trip. Please visit the webpage for additional requirements, which can be found at jacl.org/kakehashi.

Applications will close on Sunday, September 15th at 11:59 pm Hawaiian Standard Time

The JACL Kakehashi Program is coordinated by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), and supported by funding from the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

 

Virtual Symposium - Trans Allyship: Learn, Grow, Act hosted by Okaeri, JACL, and PFLAG SGV API

Trans Allyship: Learn, Grow, Act is a joint effort by Okaeri, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and PFLAG. This effort grew from the realization that the transgender community, and its Japanese American and API members, are largely invisible and misunderstood both in LGBTQ+ spaces and especially among allies. Through this symposium, we aim to address this gap by (1) facilitating a basic understanding of the trans community, and (2) emphasizing touchpoints of Heart, Head, and Home: to connect, educate, and encourage attendees to take action in their own communities. In doing so, we hope to educate and inform allies about the transgender community to help them make better-informed and more inclusive social, community, and civic choices.

The symposium will be held virtually over Zoom on Saturday September 28th from 10am-3:30pm PST, and will feature an opening plenary, guest speakers, workshops, and discussion groups exploring areas of advocacy, information, and family support. Registration is free and open to all. 

 

2024 JACL Legacy Fund Grant Applications Available Now!

JACL Chapters in good standing and District Councils are eligible to apply for a grant to support a project or activity, which can enhance & strengthen the chapter or district’s capacity to advance JACL’s vision and mission. Funding is provided by an annual distribution from the Legacy Endowment Fund. Applications are open now through September 22nd, at 11:59pm HST. Click through below to learn more and find the application instructions.

 

Webinar on Voters' Rights, Conducting Voter Registration, and Election Rules for Nonprofits/501(c)3s

 

JACSC Education Conference Registration Now Available!

Please save the date for this year's Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium Education Conference, "Echoes of Resilience: Imagining the Possible in Preserving Japanese American Heritage," to be held October 4th - 6th at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Programming will begin with lunch on Friday and conclude at 1pm PT on Sunday. 
 
Highlights include a panel on the Irei: National Monument programmed in collaboration with Tsuru for Solidarity's Kintsugi 2024, a screening of the new film, Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement, and the immersive FandangObon event celebrating Mexican, West African, Japanese, and Sufi traditions in dance and music. Sessions on multi-generational fundraising and capacity building and case studies on storytelling will equip participants with essential tools for sustainable growth. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate with others committed to preserving this vital part of American history.
 
We have reserved a block of rooms at the DoubleTree Los Angeles Downtown hotel, available on a first come, first serve basis. The link to reserve a room in the block is here. Please note that the deadline to reserve at this rate is September 3rd. 
 

Your Family, Your History with Genealogist Linda Harms Okazaki and the Center

Discover your family's history over a year of monthly online genealogy workshops and create a photo book telling your family's story to share with the rest of your family and future generations!

Special Offer for JACL Members! Register for any individual online workshop or the full 12-month course at discounted Center member rates!

Monthly Online Workshops

  • 1st Thursday of Each Month From October 3, 2024 - October 2, 2025, 6:00pm-7:30pm Pacific
  • Additional In-Person Research Field Trips for Bay Area Participants
  • Hardcover Photobook Project for Full Course Participants
  • Session Recordings Provided to All Registrants

Full Course Fees (Includes all workshops, field trips, and Shutterfly photobook):

  • $250 Center & JACL Members
  • $300 General Public

Single Workshop Fees: $25 Center & JACL Members

 

JACL is Hiring! Looking for a Director of Fundraising and Membership Development

Director of Membership and Fund Development

  • Regular -40 hours/week 
  • Location: San Francisco, CA (PREFERED), Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid Fixed, minimum 3 days per week in office)
  • Under the general supervision of the Executive Director and in support of the V.P. of Planning and Development, this role is responsible for the overall management and administration of all JACL membership and fundraising programs and initiatives.

 
 

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

 

New Mexico JACL Aki Matsuri

 

Portland JACL - Be an Informed Voter Workshop 

 

REMEMBRANCE GALLERY NOW OPEN AT WASHINGTON STATE FAIRGROUNDS 

Honoring the Unjust Wartime Incarceration of Over 7,500 Japanese and Japanese Americans on This Site

When the Washington State Fair opens to the public on August 30, visitors will notice a new permanent exhibit honoring survivors of a dark chapter in American history. Located under the grandstand, the Remembrance Gallery brings awareness to the history of the “Puyallup Assembly Center” (PAC) as the largest temporary American concentration camp in Washington State. 

A project of the Puyallup Valley Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (PV JACL), the Remembrance Gallery was created to honor the lives that were forever transformed through mass incarceration at the site during World War II. Between April and September 1942, over 7,500 Japanese and Japanese Americans from Alaska, Seattle, and rural areas of Pierce County were imprisoned on what was then known as the Puyallup Fairgrounds, before later being moved inland to more permanent concentration camps for the duration of the war. 

To promote understanding about this history and the impact of wartime incarceration on individuals, families, and communities, the Gallery has three distinct sections. At the heart of the space is Monument, a memorial to those incarcerated at the Fairgrounds that lists each person’s name and government-assigned family numbers. To get a sense of living conditions in the camp, visitors can step inside a full-size 8’x10’ re-creation of the horse stalls located under the grandstand that were used as makeshift housing for many PAC incarcerees. In addition, the Remembrance Gallery features interactive touch screen displays that use interviews, maps, archival images, and comprehensive content to humanize the stories of survivors and offer insight into the forcible removal of Washington Nikkei, its causes and repercussions, and echoes of these events today. 

The Remembrance Gallery will be open to the public during the Washington State Fair, from August 30 until September 22. The Gallery is also planning to host tours and presentations, by appointment. For further information, please refer to the PV JACL website or contact Sharon Sobie-Seymour, Project Manager, at ssproevents@comcast.net.

 

San Diego Monthly Virtual Dialogues

 

Applications are now open for the NCWNP District Youth Board Chair for 2025-2026!

Are you a young person in the NCWNP District eager to make a difference with the JACL? Join a dynamic team, enhance your leadership skills, build your network, and engage with peers while contributing to the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization! We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Apply now at bit.ly/apply-dyb-chair by Monday, September 30. If you have any questions, email us at ncwnpyouthboard@jacl.org.

 

JACL DC Chapter Keiro Kai!

The deadline for JACL DC's Keiro Kai and Family Day is Tuesday, September 10! You're invited to a lunch provided by JACL DC for all ages to honor and to show gratitude for our community elders at the Cabin John Group Picnic Area: 7701 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, MD 20852 on Sunday, September 15, 12-2:30 pm. Free for Members; $10 for Non-members (Please pay by cash or check on the day of the event.) REGISTER HERE

 
 

From Our Partners

 

Daniel K. Inouye 100th Birthday Tribute - Japanese American Documentary Trilogy

From Japan Hollywood Network:

We are proud to announce the free nationwide streaming of a documentary film trilogy in honor of the 100th anniversary of the late Senator Daniel K. starting on September 7, which is Senator Inouye's birthday.

All three films are directed by Junichi Suzuki and focus on different aspects of Japanese American history, including internment camps, Japanese American military units, and the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service (MIS) language specialists, offering a multi-dimensional portrayal of Japanese Americans during the war.

The late Senator Daniel K. Inouye appears in all three films, sharing his valuable experiences and deep insights.

The films will be available for free streaming on the Japan Hollywood Network website from September 7 to September 29, 2024, and will be accessible all across the United States.

 

Midori Kai Arts and Crafts Boutique

 

Kintsugi 2024 Hosted by Tsuru for Solidarity in Little Tokyo

Registration for Kintsugi just opened! Secure your spot before it books up. 

Who should attend Kintsugi?

We are asking that participants self-identify as Japanese American or Nikkei and must be at least 18 years old. 

Other than that, Kintsugi is for you. You DO NOT need to have any previous knowledge of trauma, intergenerational trauma, Japanese American culture or history.

We hope Kintsugi can gather a diverse range of Nikkei and Japanese American people.

For more information and registration information visit tsuruforsolidarity.org/kintsugi 

 

Poston Pilgrimage Registration Now Open!

Poston Pilgrimage – Oct 25 & 26, 2024 

The Poston Pilgrimage is an opportunity to learn more about the Poston Incarceration Camp, where approximately 18,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Visit the current Poston site, learn of our preservation efforts, attend our various workshop and hear from our keynote speaker.

In collaboration with the CRIT Tribal Council, we are upholding the memories of camp life and highlighting the significant links and relationships between the Japanese American incarcerates and members of the tribal community.

 
 
 

Follow JACL on:

 

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

JACL DC Office
1612 K Street NW, Suite 1400
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 223-1240 | policy@jacl.org

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