Miya Iwataki is working with NCRR, Nikkei Progressives and the National Nikkei Reparations Coalition supporting reparations for Black Americans. The post Redress and Reparations: Building Japanese American/Black Solidarity first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

Asian Americans are facing increasingly dire safety conditions in the greater Portland area and throughout Oregon. Recently, a 73-year-old Asian man was brutally attacked and seriously injured while fishing near Waterfront Park. Shockingly, the perpetrator remains at large. In an effort to demonstrate our collective strength and unity, we urge members of our Chinese and […] The post Stand in solidarity against hate first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

By reconnecting with some of my deepest values, I’ve been able to care for my own pain that I’d been avoiding and see that the egregious violence upon Palestinian people is parallel.. The post Kokoro Corner: Values-Centered Living first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

March 9-12, 2025 in Washington, DC Established by JACL in 1984, the four-day annual leadership summit program introduces community leaders from across the nation to the national policy-making arena. Co-convened with OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates since 1994, the JACL/OCA Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference is structured to provide a broad overview of the decision-making […] The post Applications are open for JACL Leadership Summit first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

Last Thursday evening, a man destroyed several windows of the Wing Luke Museum in the historic Chinatown International District (CID) of Seattle, Washington. At the time of the attack, several members of the Japanese American community, including Seattle JACL chapter co-president Stan Shikuma were attending a meeting at the museum for our partner organization Tsuru […] The post JACL Comndems Vandalism at Wing Luke Museum first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

Monday, August 28, 2023, will mark the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin and featured Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. On Saturday, August 26, JACL will join the National Action Network who will be leading the anniversary march, with the theme titled, […] The post JACL celebrates 60 years since the March on Washington, DC first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

Chris Lee is Portland JACL’s former co-President and current Vice President. We interviewed Chris and asked him to share his experiences as a board member.  Chris, when did you first get involved with Portland JACL? I first started attending board meetings in late 2013, but have participated in JACL events for a long time. Before […] The post Chris Lee: Portrait of a Portland JACL Board Member first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

Jillian Toda-Currie Last month, our Vice President, Chris Lee, gave a preview of the JACL National Convention which we both attended for the first time. I want to give an update and summary of what happened, starting with a reflection on the overall experience.  Three ways ‘Rooted in Community’ was demonstrated The 53rd convention was […] The post 2023 National Convention Demonstrates ‘Rooted in Community’ first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

On Saturday, August 26th, a gunman targeted and killed three people specifically because they were African American. This is another one of the countless shootings which occurred this year already, but tragically comes on a time of remembrance for civil rights history.  This attack came juxtaposed on a historically symbolic day for civil rights, where […] The post Jacksonville Shooting Highlights Need to Continue the Work of Racial Reconciliation and Repair as Highlighted by the March on Washington first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more

It’s not the act of doing the exact same things year after year that make traditions special – it’s the intention and legacy behind those acts being passed down which leaves room for traditions to evolve. The post Reflections on Community, Tradition first appeared on Portland JACL ..read more