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.

Venice-West LA JACL Chapter Celebrates Merger with First Installation Luncheon

PHOTO CAPTION: 2017 Chapter Board Members were installed by JACL National President Gary Mayeda. (Top Row) Councilmember James Toma, Amy Watanabe, Carole Yamakoshi, Sharon Kumagai, Ken Ota, Keith Kawamoto, (Bottom Row) JACL National President Gary Mayeda, James Yamamoto, Jean Shigematsu, John Saito, Jr.

Los Angeles, CA - On December 11, 2016, the Venice-West Los Angeles JACL chapter celebrated the official merger of the Venice-Culver and West Los Angeles chapters and installed the 2017 Board Officers.

Chapter President John Saito introduces Keynote Speaker, Hon. James Toma, Councilmember, City of West Covina.

Keynote speaker Councilmember James Toma of West Covina spoke on his personal journey to a career in public service and politics, and the role Japanese Americans and JACL have in the current political climate. Mr. Toma's mom is from Okinawa, Japan and his dad is a sansei from Hawaii, and previously served as Mayor for the City of West Covina, and has been a member of JACL for 20 years.

National JACL President Gary Mayeda shared highlights from National JACL and an outlook for the next year. Mr. Mayeda administered the oath and installed the 2017 officers of the newly merged chapter. The Venice-West LA JACL chapter also adopted the members of the disbanded Marina SCAN chapter.

Gary Mayeda, JACL National President, swears in the 2017 Officers.

2016 VJCC Festival - YAC Taco Booth

Boardmembers Keith Kawamoto and Steven Sharp volunteer for a shift at YAC's Taco Booth.

In years past, the Venice-Culver JACL chapter operated the Taco Booth at the annual VJCC Festival. In 2014, the chapter partnered with the newly formed VJCC Young Adult Club (YAC), and since then have gifted the booth to YAC. Our chapter continues to support YAC and the Taco Booth by volunteering every year. Come get some tacos at next year's VJCC Festival!