| | Dear members: this month's newsletter is packed with local events, international opportunities and information. Please be sure to check them out! | | | | | Japanese Cultural Bazaar Saturday, October 26th, 10 am - 2 pm Location: UCCS - University Center, 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 This four hour event is free to attend, with opportunities to shop among local artisans and vendors, selling unique arts, crafts, decorations, gifts, clothing and more. JASSC also hosts a bazaar section with gently used Japanese goods that members can purchase at a discounted price! (All members get 10% off these purchases~ Vendor sales are separate). The event will be held at the University Center in the breezeway, atrium, and Berger Hall. Parking is free on weekends! Please bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Everybody is welcome! Click here for more details and schedule! | | | JASSC Annual Membership Meeting Saturday, November 30th 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Location: PPLD East Library Annex Room, 5550 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Details and registration click here by November 17th. The Annual Membership Meeting is back! Join our leadership team for this event where we hear from you, and you hear from us. Many members of the board including President Wayne Stout, Vice President Jennifer Basco, and Membership Chair Kaz Nagai, will be present to give a report on this year's progress in many areas. We'd like you to know what's brewing behind the scenes, and also hear about where you'd like to see JASSC go in the future! This year we're hosting a round-table style discussion where you can speak with various committee heads and board members, letting us know your opinions and ideas on things like... - Membership benefits
- Branding and Website
- Communications
- Annual and Monthly Events and Workshops
- Budget and Spending
We're hoping to arrange a small cultural demonstration as well, so please stay tuned for more info. JASSC will provide complimentary refreshments, including delicious and authentic Japanese baked goods from Kazumi Morris. Please join us! | | | JASSC Holiday Party 2024 Sunday, December 8th 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Jun Japanese Restaurant, 3276 Centennial Blvd, Colorado Springs CO 80907 This year's holiday party will be held at Jun Japanese Restaurant (on Centennial, not Dublin!). Prices: - Member (adult) – $20.00
- Member (child 10 and under) – $10.00
- Guest (adult) – $30.00
- Guest (child 10 and under) – $15.00
Please be sure to click here to register by November 30th! Email Info@JapanAmerica.org if you have any special requests or concerns. | | | Conversation Over Cookies The next Conversation Over Cookies event is tentatively planned for Saturday, October 23rd. Watch your email for more details! | | | | Golden Lotus Foundation Asian Heritage Center Holiday Fair Saturday, October 19th, 9:00AM - 2:00 PM Golden Lotus Foundation Asian Heritage Center 1819 West Cheyenne Road Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Vendors wanted: crafts, art/jewelry, baked goods, etc. Contact: Sandy at glfasst1@gmail.com for vendor application, Cynthia Aki at StarRanchCS@gmail.com |
| | | | | | AAPI Senior Resources Workshop Saturday, October 19th, 10AM Location: Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, Room: Penrose Columbine A A free informative seminar designed specifically for AAPI seniors, focusing on healthcare funding, benefit navigation, and the importance of establishing a power of attorney for your future decisions and well-being. Click here to RSVP(From the API-BC newsletter, brought to you by the Asian Chamber of Commerce of Colorado as a part of their AAPI Small Business Initiative.) | | | Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Exhibit Portrait of Nature: Myriads of Gods June 7, 2024 - January 11, 2025 Learn more here | | | Sister Cities International Opportunities Please see these three opportunities from Sister Cities International (SCI). -
The deadline has been extended to apply for the chance to work at the USA Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka World Expo in Japan next year for three or six months. Application period closes on October 15, 2024. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young Americans (ages 19-27)! Here’s an exciting promo video about this opportunity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WALebLOQ5lY. All travel, accommodations, and insurance are fully covered, and participants will receive a monthly stipend. Japanese language ability is preferred, but not required. For more information, and a link to the online application, visit https://sistercities.org/2025worldexpousapavilion. -
There is yet another opportunity to be involved with the 2025 Osaka World Expo! SCI has teamed up with Meridian International Center to help recruit cultural performers and expert speakers for either a short-term or two-month residency in Japan. Applications close November 30, 2024. The overview and application details can be found here - https://meridian.org/news/meridian-international-center-announces-call-for-u-s-performers-artists-and-speakers-for-expo-2025-osaka/. The FAQ can be found here - https://meridian.org/osaka-2025-frequently-asked-questions/ -
SCI is happy to announce the 2025 Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS), inviting youth from around the world to express their creativity through the theme “Friendship: The Heartbeat of Global Peace.” Winning entries will be featured in SCI's global network and receive cash prizes. Deadline is April 1, 2025. Details can be found here: https://sistercities.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u= 1c837221eacb97a08e1abd683&id=f8d5ead9f9&e=def685585c | | | | | | | | | NHK World has expanded their online resources! Watch NHK World Live at www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld, where you can also find hundreds of on-demand episodes of great programming such as Japanology Plus, Bento Expo, Activate your Japanese, and much more! Want to Learn Japanese? Check out their free language resources here, where you can study at your own pace with practical material ranging from beginner to intermediate. Want to learn more about specific regions of Japan? Check out Japan Navigator, where you can discover the charm and depth of regions you didn't know existed. Planning on Visiting Japan? Don’t forget to download the NHK World App, where you can receive breaking news and safety notifications, to better protect yourself in the event of a natural disaster. | | | | | | | Thinking about applying to the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program? Still have a few lingering questions? Or maybe you're just curious about what life is really like living and working in Japan? USJETAA and JETAA USA are teaming up again to bring Aspiring JETs a series of free, virtual Office Hours throughout October 2024 as part of our Tayo-sei (DEI) Program. These sessions are designed to be informal and welcoming- just drop in, ask your questions, and chat with JET alumni and Program Coordinators. You’ll get to ask your questions and hear firsthand experiences from alumni with a variety of backgrounds giving you real insights into the application process and life in Japan. Feel free to join one or all of the sessions! Click on any of the dates to register directly via Zoom, and be sure to add it to your calendar so you don’t miss out! Here is the link to the JETAA Instagram. | | | Member Profile Paul Maruyama | | | Together with Rocky Scott and Thomas James, I founded JASSC in 1998. Rocky, who was then the President of the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation, was our first President; Tom was our second. I served as our Vice-President during that time and became President after Tom’s tenure ended. | | | Our aim in founding JASSC was to promote understanding and friendship between the US and Japan. The way we sought to do that was by bringing cultural opportunities such as Mochi-tsuki, Children’s Day and the Bazaar (later to become the Cultural Festival and Bazaar) as well as Japanese cooking and language classes to the citizens of Southern Colorado. Another way was by our involvement with promoting and hosting the annual John Manjiro Grassroots Summit which was conducted by the Japan based Center for International Exchange (CIE). I served on the Board of CIE for several years and served as the primary US liaison with CIE for over a decade. Colorado Springs has been able to host the Summit twice largely due to the immense volunteer effort of our JASSC members. An additional way I’ve tried to promote Japanese-American relations was that I established the Japanese Language classes at Colorado College. I taught at CC for approximately 25 years and a number of my students went on to live in Japan and teach English through the Japanese government’s JET (Japanese Exchange Teachers) program. My involvement in JASSC has introduced me to innumerable fine people over the past (26!) years since its founding. I recently looked through the earliest JASSC Membership Directory of which I have a copy (2002) and am marveling at the number of original members who are still active as well as the contributions they’ve made to our Colorado Springs community. I will only highlight the exploits of one but there are SO many others listed in that early directory who’ve done yeoman’s work for our organization (Christiane, Kathy, Josie, Naomi and Rayna – you know who you are!) That one is Yoko Hatton who at 92 is proudly our oldest member. Yoko has been a constant volunteer for JASSC. Yoko was recently given yet another honor by the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces (JASDAF) for her many decades of hosting JASDAF exchange officers who come to teach at the Air Force Academy. Yoko always makes sure they are part of JASSC activities!
Do you know a member of JASSC whom you’d like to shoutout? Let us know here! Member profile/shoutout | | | Other Interesting Organizations Want more news? Check out these other organizations supporting Asian Americans in Colorado and beyond!
- Golden Lotus Foundation - The GLF is working hard to build a botanical garden and tea house in Colorado Springs. They are always looking for volunteers, so sign up for their newsletter if you are interested!
- NAJAS - the National Association of Japan America Societies is the hub of all other JAS in the US.
- Japan America Society of Colorado (Denver) - JASC is our closest sibling organization, with most of their happenings located in Denver. They have a community e-bulletin which they send out monthly as well.
- El Pomar Foundation - Elevating Leadership Development Program. The ELD program is run by the El Pomar foundation and creates "greater access and support for people of color in Southern Colorado to tap into their leadership potential for the benefit of community." Their quarterly meetings are free to attend and convene advisory councils for the following groups: Asian / Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and Native American.
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- Asian Pacific Islander Business Community of Colorado Springs - this new organization is building better connections to and awareness of Asian-led businesses in Colorado Springs. The link is to their linktree, which includes a newsletter signup.
| | | About JASSC JASSC web site Send us your news! Let us know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter. Please email the editor, Rayna Lindsey
rayna@japanamerica.org Did you know that you can edit your own address, phone and email information right on the japanamerica.org website? Simply enter your email and password in the upper-right corner and click Login. Don't know your password? Click Forgot Password and the website will help you out. You will also find a secure password-protected online member directory. Use it to look up names, addresses, phone numbers and emails for other members.
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