48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage: “Never Again, To Anyone, Anywhere!
2017 Manzanar Pilgrimage- (from left to right) Amy Watanabe, Keith Kawamoto, Hon. Warren Furutani, Annia Yoshizumi
Independence, CA – The Venice-West LA Chapter was proud to support the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage that took place on Saturday, April 29, 2017. The program featured former California State Assemblymember and grassroots activist Warren Furutani. Warren spoke on this year’s Pilgrimage, “Never Again, To Anyone, Anywhere! 75th Commemoration of Executive Order 9066,” and shared his story and call to action recognizing our history and the current political climate.
The Manzanar Committee also recognized long-time activist and community leader Alan Nishio with the Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award. The day also included performances by UCLA Kyodo Taiko and a powerful poem performed by Sahar Pirzada, traci kato-kiriyama, Kathy Masaoka and traci ishigo. More than 2,000 attended this year’s Pilgrimage.
For photo and video coverage of the event, check out: https://blog.manzanarcommittee.org/2017/05/29/video-48th-pilgrimage-mad2017/
Rafu Shimpo coverage of the event: http://www.rafu.com/2017/05/trump-concerns-dominate-48th-manzanar-pilgrimage/
Jordyn Akari Terukina Selected as 2017 Miss Western Los Angeles
The Venice-West LA JACL Chapter sponsors the Miss Western Los Angeles Court Candidate with the Venice Japanese Community Center. The 2017 Miss Western LA Court Candidate is Jordyn Terukina. Jordyn is 24 years old and graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2016 with a Bachelors degree in Health Science and Community Health. She currently lives in Cypress and works as a physical therapy rehabilitation aide at Atlantis Physical Therapy in Torrance. Jordyn was the 1st princess in the Nisei Week Baby Show when she was 3 years old and has wanted to be a part of Nisei Week since then. Congratulations to Jordyn on being selected as 2017 Miss Western LA, representing the Venice Japanese Community Center and Venice-West LA JACL chapter.
We thank Kazie Kame and Delcene Kuwata (from VJCC), Jean Ushijima (former West LA JACL board member), Shannon Tsumaki (2016 Miss Western Los Angeles) and Marisa Tamaru (2009 Miss Western Los Angeles and First Princess) for conducting the interviews and selected the 2017 Miss Western LA.
2017 Day of Remembrance: 75th Anniversary of EO9066
Los Angeles, CA - On February 18, 2017, Board Members Keith Kawamoto and Amy Watanabe (pictured above) attended the the 2017 Day of Remembrance: "Unite to Uphold Our Civil Rights" at the Japanese American National Museum commemorating the 75th anniversary of the signing of EO9066.
Former Congressman Mike Honda (pictured above) provide the keynote address. The program also featured representatives from the Muslim, Latino and African American communities.
For a full recap of the event, here's an article by the Rafu Shimpo: http://www.rafu.com/2017/03/l-a-day-of-remembrance-draws-huge-crowd/
Hitoshi Shimizu Presented with 2017 George Inagaki Community Service Award
Chapter President John Saito, Jr. and George Inagaki Community Service Award recipient Hitoshi Shimizu.
Los Angeles, CA - On January 15, 2017, the Venice-West LA JACL chapter honored Hitoshi Shimizu with the George Inagaki Community Service Award at the Venice Japanese Community Center's Shinnenkai.
Mr. Shimizu is a longtime member of the VJCC and is a former Chapter President of the former Venice-Culver JACL chapter. The award is given annually in honor of George Inagaki, one of the leaders of VJCC during the 1960s and former JACL National President.
Mr. Shimizu helped start VJCC’s Senior Nutrition Program over 30 years ago and served as the center’s auditor and member of finance and fundraising committees. He was a board member of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation and helped fundraise to build the Japanese American Memorial Monument in Washington, D.C.