|
|
 |
|
Little
Tokyo Service Center News - February 2010 |
| An Office With a Great View by Bill Watanabe |
Earthquake Country
All Southern Californians are fully aware of the dangers of a major earthquake- unless you arrived here after 1994 which was the last major shaker to hit us (called the "Northridge Earthquake" which was a 6.7 on the Richter Scale). If you've never experienced a major quake up close, it is hard to convey the tremendous power that is released by the earth.
I can still vividly remember the Sylmar Earthquake (6.6 on the Richter) which struck in the early morning on February 9, 1971. I was in bed in my parents' home in the San Fernando Valley just south of Sylmar when the whole house started violently shaking. It was like a 50-foot giant was holding our house in his hands and shaking it as hard as he could. The noise and roar was deafening as every joint, every nail, every piece of furniture was creaking and bouncing and groaning from the stresses and pressure of the extreme shaking. For some seconds, I laid in my bed concluding that it was very likely the house would soon break apart and the ceiling and roof would collapse and kill me.
You may correctly assume that I was not crushed to death in 1971 but in surviving this great natural disaster, I am keenly aware of how a powerful earthquake can tear apart homes, buildings, roads, dams, and anything else built by human beings. Our fragile bodies are least equipped to withstand falling debris.ß
It is inspiring to see many people respond to the tragedy in Haiti with gifts and labors of love and concern. Each of us who reside in the earthquake country we call Los Angeles should be doubly motivated to help the people in Haiti because we know that someday, in a time and day not of our choosing, we will need that help ourselves. |
|
|
|
| How Your Support Makes a Difference |
|
|
LTSC’s Kosumosu Program is a long-term transitional housing program for survivors of spousal abuse and their children. The women who live in Kosumosu have fled abusive relationships with their children. Once in the safety of our 6 unit transitional housing facility, the women are provided with counseling to help them and their children heal from their emotional wounds, job search assistance, personalized independence planning, care-management and help finding permanent housing.
From the very beginning of her stay Ms. W proved herself to be goal oriented and independent. Because of her limited English, Ms. W began attending ESL classes while at the same time searching for a job. She started a part-time job as a language teacher on Saturday mornings and even took a temporary job to bring in extra income. In addition, Ms. W volunteered at her church. While at Kosumosu, Ms. W worked so hard to make a new life for her and her son.
At the time she completed the program, Ms. W was offered a full-time job as a shoe designer at a shoe company, utilizing her artistic skills in the job. Today, she continues to work hard for a better life for her and her son. She recently started a new full-time job as a journalist, has a part-time job as a jewelry designer, and created a web-based portal site. The Kosumosu Program gave Ms. W the tools to break the cycle of violence and thrive. |
|
|
| Did You Know? |
| 2010 is the year of the Tiger. The first day of the new year of the Tiger starts on February 14. 2010 is actually year 4707 in the Chinese calendar. The Tiger is the third out of 12 signs in the cycle of Chinese Zodiac. The Tiger is a sign that represents courage and wards off thieves, fire and ghosts. |
|
|
|
| Video Feature: DISKovery Center |
Established in 1999, the DISKovery Center is a community technology center and a program of LTSC. The center's mission is to build community through digital opportunities. The DISKovery Center provides low-cost or free technology access to the community, offering computer and technology training, free computer public access for members, and an equipment lending program. The DISKovery Center strives to make our services accessible for all users.
View this video to meet some of DISKovery's students. |
|
|
|
| Save the Date: LTSC's 30th Anniversary Celebration Bash |
 |
|
| LTSC is Turning 30! |
|
To commemorate LTSC’s 30th Anniversary, we will be featuring a piece of our history each month in this space.
1996 the LA Tofu Festival is created and draws thousands of people from all over California to Little Tokyo. For twelve years we all ate delicious tofu and soy dishes served by LA’s finest restaurants while enjoying cultural performances, great shopping, Iron Chef Morimoto, tofu eating contests and great bands like Hiroshima and Ozomatli. |
|
|
|
| U.S. Bank Helping Save Affordable Housing |
|
Affordable housing in Koreatown is hard to come by and so when a large affordable housing complex was in danger of becoming market-rate, Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC) approached LTSC to help save the housing and keep it affordable.
LTSC’s Affordable Housing Collaborative and KYCC took on the project and will rehabilitate the buildings. Helping LTSC complete this project is U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank awarded LTSC’s Affordable Housing Collaborative a grant to help fund predevelopment of this 83-unit preservation project. |
LTSC would like to thank U.S. Bank for helping preserve affordable housing in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. |
|
| January Donors – Thank You for Your Support! |
Donations received through January 29th.
Anonymous
Mie Aso
Henry & Suzanne Borenstein
Jeanne Chang
Yi Bing Chen
Wai Chiu
Jean Chung
Shotaro Dofuku
Jeffrey Dohzen
Amy Forbes
Yosh Fukumoto
Julie Ha
Linda Hiji
Hoops for Friends, Inc.
Sachi Imori
Sumiko Inoue
Joe Inouye
Karen Ishizuka
Tomio Ito
Harold & Carol Iwata
Lloyd Kajikawa
Noriko Kajiwara
Dick Kaku
Takeo and Yoshi Kaneshiro
Shinichiro Kato
Paul & Virginia Kawakami
Lillian Kawasaki
Lily Kazahaya
Mark Kiguchi
Nancy Kikuchi
Ikuko Kiriyama
Laura & Byron Lee
Asao & Kimberley Masumiya
David & Diane Matsumoto
Kazuko Matsumoto
Gary Mikuni
Harry Mitsuuchi
Kojiro Mizutani
Gail Momohara
Jeff & Christine Murakami
Yoshiko Nakajima
Coleen Nakamura
Daryl Narimatsu
Nichi Bei Fujin Kai
Nikkei Widowed Group
Kathy Ninomiya
David & Mary Noguchi
Jeri Okamoto-Floyd
Merilynne Hamano Quon
Louise Sakamoto
Glenn & Donna Sanada
Joyce Shimazu
Tak & Roberta Shiroma
Paul & Kay Shishima
Louise Simon
Melodee Smith
Walter & Aiko Sumi
|
Kazutaka Sumida
Frank & Mable Takenaka
Richard & Cathie Tanabe
Bessie Tanaka
Stacey Tanaka
Linda Tanamachi
Glenn Togawa
Keith Umemoto
Shiroko and Sara Urakawa
Alden & Teruko Uyemura
Ken Wada
Ruth Watanabe
William Witte
Craig & Gayle Wong
Karen Yamamoto
Mamoru & Ruth Yamaoka
Gary Yamauchi
Michael & Lily Yanagita
Gary & Akemi Yano
Pamela Yoshida
Ronald & Miye Yoshida
Kuan Yueh Po
In Memory of Kenji Ito
Randall Lee
In Memory of Larry Kazahaya
Diane Kazahaya
In Memory of Saeko Kubota
Diane Rosedale
In Memory of Marian Murata
Tetsuo Murata
In Memory of Judy Nishimoto Ota
Kathy & Mark Masaoka
In Memory of Megumi Dick Osumi
Bill Lee
Martin & Karen Tachiki
In Memory of George K. Sato
Carol Sato
In Memory of Todd Sato
Eugene & Catherine Sato
In Memory of Minoru Yasukawa
Yoneo Narumi Family
In Honor of Tazuko Shibuzawa
Toshi Miyamoto |
Please donate now. Your generosity will be acknowledged in next month's LTSCene.
 |
|
| Donate Your Old Car |
| Unwanted cars that are donated to LTSC bring critical funding to LTSC's services. We will pick up cars in almost any condition in LA and Orange Counties. Proceeds are tax deductible for the donor and can be significant even if the car is old or not running! The call takes less than 5 minutes and contributes to helping our many clients. Contact Mickie at (213) 473-1613 or MOkamoto@LTSC.org to donate. |
|
|
|
| Ways to Help LTSC |
In making a donation to LTSC, you can:
| |
• Make a donation in memory of a loved one
• Make a donation in honor of someone’s birthday or graduation
• Make a stock donation
• Host a fundraiser to benefit LTSC |
|
|
Donate Online, over the phone or via traditional mail.
Contact: Mickie Okamoto
MOkamoto@LTSC.org
(213) 473-1613 |
|
|
|
