Japanese American Service Committee Newsletter
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JAPANESE AMERICAN SERVICE COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER Summer 2016 • 4427 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640 • (773) 275-0097 • www.jasc-chicago.org Legacy Center Launches “Memories of Now” Series porary issues in Chicago’s Japanese American community. Previous seminars have high- lighted family memento preser- vation, how to research Japanese genealogy, a presentation on Shoji Osato and Jackson Park revitaliza- tion efforts, and a presentation on how to preserve Japanese Ameri- can food culture. For panel participants, this was an important opportunity to question internal prejudice in the Japanese American community and reclaim a sense of identity. However, Kina cautions that “Facing Forward: A Panel Discussion on Mixed-Race/Ethnic Japanese Americans and Community” “in the same moment that we’re Speakers. From left: Jackie Keiko Denofrio, Laura Kina, Erik Matsunaga, and Christine Munteanu. naming something to identify our experiences as human beings and “So I definitely got asked ‘what mixed-ethnic Japanese Americans our commonalities, it’s dangerous are you?’ all the time, and of in Chicago, Kina’s presentation was to separate ourselves off as a whole course there were times my broth- joined by talks given by commu- other little category.” ers and myself have experienced nity leader Jackie Denofrio, Erik “We really have to think about overt racism,” stated Laura Kina, Matsunaga, co-founder of Nikkei anti-racism. So I think that for DePaul University Professor, of Chicago and instructor of the Ra- me right now this is what it means her experiences as a mixed-race venswood Shorin-ryu Karate Dojo, to be mixed-race in a moment of Okinawan American growing up and Christine Munteanu, formerly Black Lives Matter.” in the Seattle area before moving of the JACL, but now Assistant Christine Munteanu expanded to Chicago. Director of Multicultural Student on these sentiments to discuss “We did have cross burnings in Affairs at Northwestern University. the need for openness in thinking our community, there was one Organized with co-sponsors about the future of the Japanese time one of my brothers was shot the Chicago Japanese American American community in Chicago. at and called a ‘Jap.’ There were Historical Society and the Japanese “A lot of what I have tried to do lots of racial slurs, so there have American Citizens League - Chi- in the JACL and in my work is been overt moments where I was cago Chapter, this panel was the to allow for the fluidity and re- reminded that I was an outsider.” fifth in the summer-long “Memo- creation of Japanese American With roughly 60 community ries of Now” seminar series initi- community, in the same way that members in attendance at a panel ated by the JASC Legacy Center to our identities can be changing and on July 19, 2016 on mixed-race/ highlight historical and contem- fluid as well.” Message from CEO Michael Takada STAFF Chief Executive Officer: Michael Takada to providers; for JASC this rep- Program & Operations Manager: resented less than 10% of IDOA’s Justine D. Urbikas Cultural & Community Affairs Coordinator: total bill. Needless to say, by June Kay Kawaguchi 2016 the total unpaid bill from Legacy Center Manager: Ryan Masaaki Yokota, MA IDOA was just under $200K or Coordinator – Tampopo Kai: 20% of JASC’s total budget! Naomi Negi Database Coordinator: The good news for JASC is Ryan Toguri that we’ve continued to provide Receptionist: Yuki Scroggins uninterrupted social services to Maintenance/Custodian: our clients, have not needed to Bill Wils implement staff furloughs, are Adult Day Care Services: Coordinator: paying our bills on time, and are Melba Ristow, RN adding new programs while con- Nurse: Nanytes Blanca, RN tinuing to offer existing ones! Activity Planner: This is in large part and with Katren Mesa Chiong, CNA Driver: much gratitude to the over- Tyroam McGhee Greetings from JASC! As whelming generosity and support Social Work: another amazing Chicago sum- from you, our friends and mem- Social Worker: Susan McDaniels, PhD, LCSW mer slowly fades to fall, we find bers, through your membership Home Support Services: ourselves reflecting on the past and financial contributions! Manager: several months while looking Most recently, we’ve learned Sodarlene Khee Homemakers: forward to exciting times ahead. from Springfield that JASC will Siddharth Arya JASC, like so many other social receive the outstanding balance Carmelo Arzuaga Kathleen Drury service agencies and businesses from FY 2016 in the coming Maria Garduno throughout Illinois, found our- weeks. However, our challenges Charlene Jackson Della James selves financially challenged this remain unchanged: until the state Soung San past fiscal year due to the absence passes and approves budgets for Diana Sandoval Donna Scott of an approved IL state budget FY 2016 and 2017, careful moni- Carollynn Shiozaki (July, 2015 - June, 2016). toring and management of cash JoAnn Tsuji Hideo Watanabe This meant that while we con- flow and expenses are imperative Connie Watkins tinued to provide both adult day to our survival. JASC, working and homemaker services through with other providers and com- BOARD OF DIRECTORS our agreement with the Illinois munity groups, meets regularly Department of Aging (IDOA), with local legislators and officials President John R. Sasaki we did not begin receiving any to encourage getting a budget Vice President & Treasurer significant payments up until passed. Please consider making Yasuko Metcalf Vice President this past July and only after the your voice heard as well! Glenn Sugiyama governor signed the Stop Gap With the talent and support of Secretary Bob Kumaki measure approving expenditures all who make up our JASC com- Directors between July-December 2016. I munity, I have no doubt we will Marion Friebus-Flaman, PhD Laura Kina say “significant” because in Octo- continue to grow and thrive. Sayaka Machizawa, PsyD ber, the state lost a lawsuit result- Andrew Mine Brian Parish ing in mandatory payments of In gratitude, Kimberly Robinson federal Medicaid-related dollars Michael Takada John T. Sasaki 2 Tampopo Kids Class Enters 33rd Year Elementary Kids Group Piloted This May, the JASC initiated a pi- lot program to teach conversation- al Japanese to elementary school children, thanks to the efforts of instructor Tomoko Hanna. Building on the success of the long running Tampopo-kai chil- dren’s program, this pilot program is intended to augment JASC offerings by providing program- ming for kids that are older than Tampopo-kai’s target age. As JASC CEO Michael Takada notes, “It’s really an evolution- ary process here, arising from Kids’ entertainment during Halloween costume festivities at the Tampopo-kai children’s program. the strong community which was created amongst the families in the Children’s voices and laughter songs, and arts & crafts, children nursery program, and seeking to resounded through the JASC learn about Japanese customs, and give them more opportunities to warehouse on a typical Monday get introduced to basic Japanese continue to learn and be together.” morning, as parents and relatives vocabulary words. Ideally this project would ad- brought their toddlers and small Additionally, for children over 3 dress the need for more Japanese children into the classes of the years old and who show an interest kids’ programming within the city, Tampopo-kai (“Dandelion Club”), in reading and writing, a Wednes- and also provide opportunities a bilingual children’s group run by day class allows slightly older for children to continue to build Naomi Negi, and which this year children an opportunity to start on skills they have acquired in the entered its 33rd year of existence. learning hiragana writing/reading Tampopo-kai. Founded in 1983 by a group of systems while continuing to learn While not yet set, the JASC is sansei (third-generation) Japanese by having fun. currently assessing interest regard- American moms, the Tampopo- All are welcome! ing continuing the pilot program. kai has continued to be a local presence in the lives of those New sessions start Wednesday, September JASC RESIDENT PARTNERS parents who wish to expose their 7th, 2016 and Monday, September 12, 2016. children to the Japanese language Asian Improv aRts Midwest • airmw.org and culture. Monday Classes: Children under 5 years old A-Squared Theatre • a-stw.org 9:30am-12pm (Play Time: 9:30am-10am) Chicago Aikido Club • chicagoaikidoclub.com In the classes, parents/caregiv- Chicago Nisei Post No. 1183 • nationalveter- ansnetwork.com/chicagoniseipost1183.shtml ers attend the classes with their Wednesday Classes: Children at least 3 years Christ Church of Chicago christchurchchi- children, and are able to bond over old and who show interest in writing and cago.wordpress.com reading Fujima-Ryu of Chicago • fujimalegacy.com an appreciation for the Japanese 12:30pm-3pm (Play time: 12:30pm-1pm) Japanese Mutual Aid Society culture. New Horizons Two classes are offered. A Mon- Registration and class attendance is possible Northside Friends • northsidefriends.org even after class sessions have begun. Northside Origami Club day class is aimed at infants to tod- Discounted rates for members are also avail- Stir Friday Nights! • stirfridaynight.org Tohkon Judo Academy • tohkon.com dlers, and includes preschoolers able. First class is FREE. Contact Naomi at Tsukasa Taiko • taikolegacy.com up to 5 years old. Through games, [email protected] for more info. 3 Home Support Services Kay Kawaguchi Receives Manager Sodarlene Khee Community Service Award Sodarlene Khee, Home Support Services Manager Kayoko Kay Kawaguchi, JASC Cultural & Community Affairs Coordinator The JASC would like to introduce Sodarlene Khee, In her own self-effacing way, Kay Kawaguchi has who recently joined the JASC staff as the Home Sup- devoted most of her working life in Chicago to the port Services Manager. preservation of Japanese cultural traditions. Born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sodarlene attend- In her capacity as coordinator of cultural classes at ed private schools and later graduated from a Royal the JASC, where she has been working since 1999, she University with a degree in finance.