LTSCene MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
April 2019 Issue
Ruminations of an Asian American ‘Badass’
Ruminations of an Asian American ‘Badass’
LTSC’s Community Organizing Director Evelyn Yoshimura, who was recognized by HuffPost as one of “8 Badass Asian-Americans We Can’t Overlook This Women’s History Month,” reflects on decades of activism and organizing work in the Asian American community.
+LAB Announces Fellows for Second Annual Artist Residency Program
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2019 artist Fellow traci kato-kiriyama
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) is excited to announce the selection of five artist Fellows for the second annual +LAB Artist Residency Program in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. The creative place-keeping residency will focus on the forces of displacement impacting Little Tokyo.
This year’s program theme, Ending Cycles of Displacement, will explore how creative strategies and artistic interventions can help combat the negative impacts of development, which threaten the future sustainability of the Little Tokyo community. The selected California artists will work in collaboration with community stakeholders as part of a three-month immersive residency to create projects related to the program theme.
Budokan Names New Director
New Budokan Program Director Ryan Lee
LTSC welcomes Ryan Lee of Los Angeles as the new director for Terasaki Budokan, a sports and activities complex currently under construction in Little Tokyo. Click here to read the Rafu Shimpo’s story on Ryan Lee.
Save the Date for Little Tokyo Sparkle
2018 Little Tokyo Sparkle participants
The annual Little Tokyo Sparkle event invites volunteers to come together and clean up the Little Tokyo neighborhood. Little Tokyo Sparkle 2019 will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This year, the group will meet at JACCC plaza and finish at Central and 1st Street for the re-dedication of the Little Tokyo Mural plaques, and to unveil a new plaque honoring the late Nancy Kikuchi, an active community leader and volunteer.
Lunch will be served.
Organizers are looking for sponsors and donations (food, drinks, raffle prizes) as well as volunteers to help with the cleanup (Area Captains) and setup for the event. Additionally, they need volunteers to assist preparation and serving of the food. All are encouraged to spread the word about the Little Tokyo Sparkle 2019.
For more information, please contact Steve (snagano@aol.com)create new email and Patty Nagano (pnagano@aol.com).create new email
Social Services Director Recognized
Director Margaret Endo Shimada
LTSC Social Services Director Margaret Endo Shimada was recognized by the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California as one of five noteworthy Japanese American community leaders for the 2019 Women of the Year Award. Click here to read the full story from the Rafu Shimpo.
Through the Seasons: Lost Japanese Tourist Receives Help from LTSC
LTSC TTS 2019 Spring Edition
In August 2018, a confused Japanese tourist visited LTSC, asking for help to find his missing friend. Read more in the Spring edition of LTSC’s social services newsletter Through the Seasonsopens PDF file (p.1).
Funder Spotlight: Neighborworks America
Grand opening of one of LTSC’s affordable housing communities
LTSC, a member of the NeighborWorks network, received $344,000 in flexible grants from NeighborWorks America. This grant will support LTSC’s affordable housing and community development activities.
With this funding from NeighborWorks, LTSC will be able to continue its work to provide affordable housing for families and seniors with low-incomes throughout Los Angeles. In addition, LTSC will work with the residents in the neighborhoods surrounding our affordable housing communities to increase safety, engagement and community pride. NeighborWorks America is announcing $70 million in grants to its network of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations located around the country. “NeighborWorks America is dedicated to securing that these grants create opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities,” said NeighborWorks America President and CEO Marietta Rodriguez.
In fiscal year 2018, the NeighborWorks network provided 457,000 housing and counseling services; owned and managed 166,900 rental homes; and created more than 41,100 jobs.
Donors
Thank you to all our supporters for your contributions last month!
March 2019 Donors
Ted Akahori
Eiko and Young Amano
Inaye Bell
Elizabeth Burton
Akemi Fujimoto
Anonymous
Lisa Hasegawa
Kelly Takasu
Dick and Pauline Kaku
Jessica Kanai
Alan Kawa
Amy Phillips Kushigemachi and Scott Kushigemachi
Gary and June Masada
Ryoko Masuda
Robert and Teresa Matsushima
The Mermaid
Kinuyo Kay Mori
Erich Nakano and Sandra Viera
Tracy Okida
Nikki Kealalio Sutton
Setsuko Tanaka
Keith Umemoto
Catherine Yen
In Memory of Nagisa Hamasaki
Kiyomi Nakano
In Memory of Emiko Oda Ikeda
Suzy Katsuda
In Memory of Cheung Li
Kelvin Lee
In Memory of George Morimoto
Andre Morimoto and Michelle Morimoto-Pougnard
In Memory of Jeannette Kyoko Sanderson
Emily and Dan Weaver
Terasaki Budokan
Akemi Arakaki and Takao Suzuki
Arroyo Grande Growers Basketball
Laura Blosser and Chris Argyros
Scott Ito and Nan Lee
Chester and Eileen Kido
Jessie Kikuchi and Brent Mori
Ken and Priscilla Mui
Mike Murase and June Hibino
Mickie Okamoto and Geoffrey Tsudama
Grant Sunoo and Emily Maeda
Nikki Kealalio Sutton
Ken Wada
Takeharu Yoshimura
In Honor of Paul and Hisako Terasaki
Karen and Ken Kawaguchi
In Memory of Tetsuo Murata
Leo Bustillos
Kenneth and Chiye Murata
Cooke and Elaine Sunoo
Jan and Brenda Sunoo
In Memory of Denny Sunabe
Gary Mayeda
Carlos Pineda
Andrew Takeda
In-kind Donations
Baby2Baby
Mickie Okamoto-Tsudama and Geoff Tsudama
Bob and Jamie Sanderson
Marsha and Gary Watanabe
Vehicle Donations
Kumiko Huff
Alice Ishigame-Tao and Alan Tao
Masao and Peggy Kushigemachi
Jean Schulz
