| | President's Letter August was a busy month for JASSC. I would like to thank Lauren Boyd for managing the Fujiyoshida Student Homestay program this year. And a special thanks to the homestay families. Also, thanks to Kathy Kidd for managing the Annual Membership Potluck event. And thanks to Cynthia Aki, Golden Lotus Foundation, for hosting our event at the Asian Heritage Center. In attendance representing the City of Colorado Springs was Sallie Clark and her husband. We appreciate all who attended, shared food and had fun. Hopefully, everyone had an opportunity to meet and visit with Fujiyoshida students and chaperones. Regards, M. Wayne Stout
JASSC President | | | | | 2024 Annual NAJAS Meeting The JASSC executive team attended the annual NAJAS (National Assoc. of Japan-America Societies) meeting in Portland, Oregon over August 21-23. The event was hosted by JAS Oregon. We met with other JAS leaders, interacted with funders, companies, and prospective partners. Also, the 2024 Annual Meeting was an International Symposium event, which is held in alternating years to bring members together with selected counterpart America-Japan Societies located across Japan. The last meeting was convened in 2022 in Kyoto. Themes for the 2024 Annual Meeting included: - Strategic updates on the U.S.-Japan Relationship
- US-Japan collaboration in semiconductors, with a focus on workforce development
- Evergreening the grassroots by engaging younger age groups
- Forging AJS-JAS collaboration
- Tackling society management challenges
Day #1 - annual board of directors meeting where new staff, executive committee members and newest member society, the Japan Culture Center of Western New York were introduced. Next the focus was on important operating issues and challenges JAS leaders face, including youth engagement, and member-only workshops, thanks to support from the Japan Foundation New York. Day #2 - focused on geostrategic, political and tech investment matters at the heart of the U.S.-Japan relationship, a keynote luncheon with Ambassador Nina Hachigian and remarks by Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada. The afternoon featured panels from funders and newer partners. The JASSC executive team made many new connections and strengthened our presence in NAJAS by attending and engaging with other Societies. Thanks to Eric and Jennifer for their participation. Wayne Stout, JASSC President | | | | | Fujiyoshida Students Visit Colorado Springs
From August 2-7, 13 students and 2 chaperones from Fujiyoshida, Japan stayed with 8 different homestay families in Colorado Springs. The students toured many spots throughout the city including the Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs Cog Railway, and the Olympic and Paralympic Museum to name a few. They also got to see both a Switchbacks and Rockies game during their stay. Upon arrival, the students all participated in a student meet-up activity where they were able to play icebreaker games with people from Colorado Springs. They made tie-dye t-shirts, which all turned out to look great! The students got a couple opportunities to meet Colorado Springs students, which can hopefully become more common in future homestays. Please watch this entertaining video interview that our intern, Joe Nelson, created with a few of the students and their chaperones. Youtube interview
If you would like to be a part of the planning committee next year, please contact sistercity@japanamerica.org.
| | | JASSC’s 2024 Membership Potluck This year’s event was held at the Asian Heritage Center on W. Cheyenne Rd, a nice shaded location with plenty of close-up parking. This year we were able to plan our event so that the Fujiyoshida students and their chaperones were able to join us thanks to member Lauren Boyd’s coordination efforts. We had Cornhole, Bocce Ball and Ladder Ball games. The Fujiyoshida students learned how to play the games, then taught others. During the event, the students also lead cultural workshops and performed a soran-bushi for all potluck attendees. Ralph Archuleta provided the sound system and music when the limited cell service let him. As you know, when driving in the foothills area cell service can be sketchy. This year’s bonus feature was air conditioning inside the building. While many remained outside to eat the smoked meat and scrumptious feast of side dishes provided by members and host families, about an equal number sat inside. Several young people sat on the floor eating and conversing. We didn’t linger as long as usual, because there was another event planned later that afternoon. Members, Fujiyoshida students, chaperones and host families were able to purchase discounted tickets to watch the Switchbacks play at Wiedner Field. Thank you to all who provided food, helped clean up and those working behind the scenes to coordinate the potluck. | | | | | | | | | | | | | Conversation Over Cookies Come practice your Japanese with us! The next meeting is on Saturday, September 21 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm at Library 21C in the CreateSpace. This time, we’ll also be joined by the Colorado Springs Kaiwa Club. Free to all JASSC members! Non-members are welcome to join with $5 donation. Space is limited, so please RSVP Sachiko at s.snow2207@gmail.com. Please indicate if you are a Japanese speaker who is willing to volunteer. | | | JUMP Event JUMP (Japan US military Program) will host this special program to honor those who have served in Japan and will serve in Japan. It is scheduled for November 2, 2024. The JUMP event is sponsored by The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. If you are interested in volunteering for this event or for more information, please contact Wayne Stout at wayne@japanamerica.org | | | | | Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Exhibit Portrait of Nature: Myriads of Gods June 7, 2024 - January 11, 2025 Learn more here | | | 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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