(From left) AADAP board member Mike Yoshiba, award recipient Trisha Murakawa and event co-host Jennifer Paz (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
Music takes Aratani stage as organization marks its 52nd anniversary.
By George Toshio Johnston, Senior Editor
The Asian American Drug Abuse Program again lived up to its “people need people” credo Sept. 21 in Little Tokyo’s Aratani Theater, celebrating 52 years by celebrating three individuals for their accomplishments and community contributions at its music-laden “Showtime 2024” fundraiser.
Honored were Kaiser Foundation’s John Yamamoto, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (8th District) and Murakawa Communications Founder and El Camino Community College board of trustees President Trisha Murakawa.
Serving as the evening’s hosts were singer-actress Tia Carrere and Jennifer Paz, filling in for actor-writer-producer-director Mark Dacascos who, according to Paz, got stuck on location on a film shoot.
AADAP’s Kuleana Award, which honors the support of a distinguished corporate or foundation partner, went to Kaiser Permanente’s John Yamamoto, the health care provider’s vp of community health and government relations at Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plan, Southern California.
AADAP board member Dr. Warren Yamashita (left) presents John Yamamoto with AADAP’s Kuleana Award on Sept. 21 at “Showtime 2024” at the Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo. (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
According to AADAP, Kaiser and Yamamoto exemplify the spirit of kuleana through their strategic investments in community health, high-wage job creation, affordable housing and addressing health and economic disparities. AADAP board member Dr. Warren Yamashita presented the award to Yamamoto, who noted that he grew up in Maui and absorbed the meaning of kuleana through the local culture that emphasized helping others without being asked, even if “no one teaches you the formal definition of these words.”
“You just learn how to treat people with aloha . . . I learned that kuleana embodies a sense of personal and collective responsibility,” Yamamoto said.
The next honoree, Harris-Dawson, accepted AADAP’s Social Justice Award and was introduced via a video message from Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (2nd District). According to AADAP, the Social Justice Award “celebrates an individual whose steadfast dedication to combating inequity and discrimination embodies the true spirit of social justice.” AADAP recognized him for “leading community advocacy in South L.A., championing AADAP’s Youth and Family Programs at the City Council and working to overcome systemic barriers to youth services.”
Presenting the award was Ty Carter, AADAP board member and event chair, who said, “This Social Justice Award is presented to L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson of the Eighth District, in recognition of your tireless commitment to advancing equity, uplifting marginalized communities and advocating for social justice.”
Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson addresses the audience at the Sept. 21 AADAP fundraiser after accepting the group’s Social Justice Award. (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
In his remarks, Harris-Dawson said, “I’m happy to be associated with this organization and with the Social Justice Award. And you know, I also want to recognize John and Trisha, our other honorees tonight, and also Mike Watanabe,” in reference to the longtime AADAP leader most-associated with its 52-year history, who died in 2023 (see Pacific Citizen, June 7, 2024).
The evening’s final honoree, Murakawa, accepted the Mike Watanabe Leadership Award. Presenting her with it was AADAP Board Chair Mike Yoshiba, a partner at the law firm Richards, Watson and Gershon in recognition of Murakawa’s “innovative spirit and unwavering dedication to community service.”
In her remarks after accepting her award, Murakawa said, “I am deeply honored to receive this Leadership Award, especially because it’s named after someone as extraordinary as Mike Watanabe. To be recognized in connection with a leader who embodied such vision, passion and humility is truly profoundly humbling. . . . I learned so much about leadership from Mike.”
Interspersed with the award presentations were vocal performances, both energetic and heartfelt, that were well-received by a less-than-capacity audience, which may explain why the evening’s fundraising goal of $200,000 fell short by about $23,000.
Nevertheless, the evening’s lineup of entertainers Janice Javier, a finalist in “The Voice: Philippines”; soulman Leo Mercedez; Filipina sister act 4th Impact (comprised of Almira, Irene, Mylene and Celina Cercado); and co-host Carrere, delivered familiar, mostly upbeat 1970s and ’80s era songs like “In the Stone,” “September,” “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” “Got to Be Real,” “End of the Road” and “Finally,” to name a few titles, with Carrere turning on the torch with numbers like “Aloha ’Oe” and the sisters adding their harmonies on “Lady Marmalade” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
