The consortium members will participate in various panels as part of its advocacy and action work for groups and organizations.
The Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium is excited to announce that for the first time, it will partner with the JACL to offer a workshop track at the upcoming JACL National Convention, which is set to take place in Salt Lake City from July 31-Aug. 4. This year highlights the 90th anniversary of the JACL while celebrating a theme of “Advocacy, Inclusion and Action.”
Founded in 1929, the JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the U.S. This year’s 90th anniversary will also mark the many historical connections Japanese Americans have to the community in Salt Lake City.
The JACSC is a national coalition focused on preserving and interpreting the sites, artifacts and stories related to the World War II experiences of Japanese Americans. The consortium also aims to elevate social justice lessons from the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans — a mission goal that makes the JACSC a perfect partner for this year’s National Convention theme.
In addition, the convention will include a special visit to the Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah, which covers the history of the WWII Topaz concentration camp south of Salt Lake City.
“We look forward to welcoming the Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium to the 2019 annual convention,” said David Inoue, executive director of the JACL. “Combining our meetings will create a tremendous synergy for the Japanese American community as we unite and embody this year’s theme of ‘Advocacy, Inclusion and Action.’”
At the 2019 convention, JACSC members will deliver sessions on topics including multigenerational impact on mass imprisonment; travel bans and the detention of undocumented immigrants; building partnerships within and beyond the Japanese American Community; and grassroots community-building from redress to the creation of the JACSC.
The JACSC program committee for the JACL National Convention includes Brian Liesinger, Inoue, Hanako Wakatsuki, Kurt Ikeda, Mia Russell, Shirley Ann Higuchi, Sam Mihara and Stan Shikuma.
Due to the strong partnership between JACL and the consortium, JACSC members attending the conference will be able to attend this year’s JACSC sessions at no cost. With a full week of activities, there are several options for participation. Participants are encouraged to register for the full convention but can attend events “a la carte,” with several JACL workshops, tours and banquets offered.
This year’s collaboration builds upon JACSC participation in the 2018 National Convention. In a panel presentation, JACSC Coordinator Brian Liesinger moderated a discussion on the National Park Service’s Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant program, which featured the projects of JACL chapters and members.
Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat and Heart Moun- tain legacy, addressed members of the JACSC delegation visiting Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28. (Photo: Brian Liesinger)
Included on the panel were Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Board Chair and Washington, D.C., JACL chapter member Shirley Ann Higuchi; Chicago JACL VP Lisa Doi; and Alex Hernandez of the National Park Service who also is assistant program manager of the JACS grant program.
“It was a great opportunity to feature Japanese American Confinement Site grant projects to show how JACL chapters have leveraged the program for their projects and to allow attendees to gain insight on submitting successful grant proposals,” said Liesinger. “We look forward to building on this engagement this year with impactful workshops.”
The 2019 National JACL Convention will be held at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. There are a wide variety of activities that will be offered to conventiongoers and Utah community members alike.
Some auxiliary events include:
- Workshops that will enhance advocacy and alliance with community groups, with topics focusing on LGBTQ issues, immigration, social media, and membership
- Visits to the Family History Museum, the largest genealogical library in the world. Participants will be given the chance to get hands-on experience in learning how to research their own family history and then put their new skills to the test
- A special excursion and tour of the Topaz Museum and incarceration site.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.convention2019.jacl.org/. For more information on the JACSC, visit jacsc.org.
