Reopening the Center MESSAGE from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FALL 2020 | VOLUME 65 Reopening the Center MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR When Will The Center Reopen? n March some people to feel comfortable getting BOARD OFFICERS 12, 2020, it or participating in indoor activities. Myron Okada | President Obefore the We realize that things are continually Scott Okamoto | Senior Vice President mandated city- changing, and we hope for the best. Donna Kimura | Vice President wide Shelter-in- Taking all of this into account, the Kelly Yuka Walton and Hillary Nakano | Place (SIP) started, Center developed a plan based on Corporate Secretaries we closed our nine months. The plan is based on Robert Sakai | Chief Financial Officer, doors and ceased the following assumptions: Ex Officio all programs for Executive Director • a vaccine is approved by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS the health and PAUL OSAKI end of 2020 or early 2021. Terry Akiyama safety concerns of Sherilyn Chew our community. Although everyone knew • the vaccine will be widely David Fukuda the COVID-19 virus was deadly, at the available to the public within the Judy Hamaguchi time, none of us realized just how much first and second quarter of 2021. Chris Hirano and to what extent. Most of us had never • even with a vaccine, it may take 3-6 Stephen Katayama even heard the phrase "Shelter-in-Place." Ryan Kimura months for some individuals to feel Susan Kobayashi We were hoping to reopen, possibly comfortable participating in indoor group Rumi Okabe in June or July. Little did we know, in activities, programs and special events. Allen Okamoto the months ahead, that over 250,000 Our primary concern is the health Marilyn Oshiro people would die in the United States and safety of the community. Like Teresa Serata and over 1.3 million worldwide. restaurants and other businesses, Jon Shindo When the State of California and San Community Centers will probably Peter Weber Francisco first established reopening plans be allowed to reopen on a limited STAFF and a timeline, Community and Recreation percentage basis with programs that can Paul Osaki | Executive Director Centers were scheduled to reopen in late meet the social distancing guidelines Lori Matoba | Deputy Director Phase 3, which was tentatively September and health and safety requirements. Marjorie Fletcher | Executive Assistant or October. Later, as the medical and To answer the question of when the Mika Shimizu | Office Manager/ science communities learned more about Center will reopen? We don't know Receptionist the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, exactly. We do know things will get Matt Okada | Director of Special Events indoor facilities like Community Centers and Communications better, and the COVID-19 pandemic moved to Phase 4, in the same category Stephanie Doi | Development Manager will not define us. Our goal is to take as Concert Venues and Convention Halls. Elena Nielsen | Membership Coordinator this experience and everything we Jennifer Hamamoto | Director of Programs This past August, California announced a learned about using technology to Haruka Roudebush | Senior Programs new reopening plan based on four color- create an interactive virtual community. Manager coded tiers, taking into account infection We are moving the Center into the Jerry Kika | Volunteer Coordinator rates and risk factors. In this new plan, future, making us a better organization Community Centers, Concert Venues, and than before closing our doors. MISSION ミッション others are not yet listed in any color tiers. With all the uncertainties today, the one The Center is a non-profit organization Until indoor social and recreational thing for sure is we can't wait to welcome which strives to meet the evolving needs of the Japanese American community by activities are considered safe, we do and see you back at the Center soon! offering programs, affordable services and not expect to reopen the Center until administrative support and facilities for sometime around the first quarter of 2021. other local organizations. The Center also provides educational, cultural and recreational Of course, the opening will depend on programs that meet and address the interests infection and hospital rates and close- and concerns of the community. Our goals contact risk factors. Even with a vaccine's remain rooted in preserving the Japanese Paul Osaki American cultural and historical heritage as availability, we know it may take time for well as fostering the foundation for future Executive Director generations of Japanese Americans. 2 Fall 2020 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース おかえりなさい "Welcome Home" On March 12, none of us could have imagined the impact and challenges we would still face today, nine months after we were directed to Shelter-in-Place (SIP). During this time, the Center staff has diligently worked from home to stay connected, engage with our constituents and the community, create virtual programs and events and draft a plan to safely reopen, even though there is no date certain for reopening. he Center’s top priorities for Health (SFDPH). These procedures and safely reopening are guidelines may change and evolve the health, safety to reflect new/updated and comfort government guidance our monthly and quarterly newsletters, Tof those who enter and expectations. social media, on our website and visually our building. For over through signage around our building. 34 years, the Center 2. Re-Starting (see sample signage on this page.) focused on being Programs a second home for We want to share our reopening vision the community, a Due to the variety with you. Our Reopening Overview, a place where people of programs and condensed version of our Reopening can connect, gather activities that Guide, will be available on our website and be together. In happen at the Center, (www.jcccnc.org) for download. our “new normal,” coming programs and activities Our Reopening Guide is an evolving together will require all of us will resume and be phased document of our policies, protocols to do our part to remain safe. in based on government guidelines, and other matters relating to social distancing practices, our operational opening Our reopen plan focuses air ventilation, type of and phasing plan. on three key areas: program and comfort level of instructors Caring for our 1. Safety and Health and students to constituents and The health and wellbeing of staff and resume them safely. providing exceptional visitors are at the forefront of our service has always been our priority at planning. We will implement daily 3. Communications screenings, require everyone to wear the Center. While The Center feels face coverings and maintain a minimum the recent COVID-19 that the comfort and of 6 feet distancing at all times. pandemic has changed peace of mind of staff and the world and how business We have also further enhanced our visitors are equally important, is conducted, we remain cleaning guidelines, which we carefully so we included consistent and optimistic. We look forward to put together and will implement ongoing communication in our plan. We welcoming all of you with a commitment following the recommendations by the will provide details on what to expect to ensure your health, safety and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), when returning to our facility and our comfort. We hope to see you soon! California Department of Public Health phasing strategy for programs and (CDPH) and SF Department of Public activities. Information will be shared in Fall 2020 3 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic: Center Plan and Concerns Our goal from the start of the Shelter-in-Place (SIP) Order was to create a dynamic social media presence and online interactive programs as though the Center never closed its doors. As in every community, the Center is the heart and soul of activities and programs and is a central gathering place that provides stability through its leadership in the community. We felt our members, program participants, online followers and the community at large needed to know that despite the SIP and closure of the building, we were still the heartbeat of the community. Our motto during these challenging times has been, "Although We Are Apart —We Remain a Community at Heart." Our Four-fold COVID-19 also send them handwritten cards, 3. Continue Center outreach postcards and activities they can do Pandemic Activities and at home. Staff and volunteers bake We continue to send to our members, Outreach Plan: cookies and treats for them, staff play program participants and donors games with them over the internet and Center related materials, membership board members make regular phone information, donor solicitation calls. This summer, we created a “pen and our quarterly newsletter. We pal” call program where youth phoned also inform them about the status 3–4 seniors once a week. We also send of the Center during the SIP, our volunteers to socialize with them, run reopening plans, including our safety errands and perform daily tasks. and health procedures and how we are looking forward to welcoming 2. Create a massive online them back to the Center. presence through social media 4. Online interactive programming Our goal is to create a virtual community. We post culturally relevant The SIP has allowed us the time to and community-related messages, experiment with online (virtual/real-time) games, events, stories, news articles programming, classes, workshops and 1. Weekly outreach to our and activities. We will create more games. We have been offering cooking Nisei population interactive opportunities on our social courses, workshops for researching your Our seniors are the most vulnerable media platform to engage our users. Japanese ancestry, understanding your population we serve. Because they were This could include an on-going Japanese family kamon and social interaction restricted to staying at home, we were American trivia contest, chat rooms to activities such as karaoke, sharing your concerned about their social isolation, discuss issues, a community history app family recipes and cultural classes.