February 2018 Issue

Artwork by Suzuko Kosaka

LTSC’s Far East Lounge opened a new exhibition, Happy Cranes, which features origami artwork by seniors in the community. Over 40 visitors attended the opening event. They enjoyed sharing stories, seeing friends and admiring the craftsmanship of the origami artists.

One of the highlights of the event was an appearance by 96-year-old Mariko Oishi, who arrived with friends carrying her newly made set of cranes. Oishi was one of the first origami artists at Little Tokyo Towers to adopt “origamishugei,” an elaborate origami design technique. She explained that her “head became clear” when she started making cranes.

If you have yet to see Happy Cranes, the artwork will remain on display at the Far East Lounge and can be viewed during regular lounge hours until Friday, March 23. However, guests are encouraged to visit during special crane viewing times, which are every Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m..

Click Happy Cranes  for more information.

Lochridge presents at a workshop.

LTSC recently welcomed the organization’s new Small Business Counselor, Mariko Lochridge. The Small Business Counselor provides business counseling services to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Los Angeles County, with a focus on Little Tokyo. LTSC also assists small businesses through its participation in the Asian Pacific Islanders Small Business Program (API SBP).

Lochridge recently moved to Los Angeles from Tokyo, Japan. She was previously a news journalist, covering stories for Reuters and working for the Japanese national network Nippon Television as a breaking news producer. In addition, Lockridge was as an online video and special events consultant for adidas, Volvo, Rakuten and Le Cordon Bleu.

Please contact Mariko Lochridge at mlochridge@ltsc.orgcreate new email if you are interested in learning more about LTSC’s workshops and other services for small businesses.

Creativity Prevents Dementia

Doing arts and crafts can make you feel better. Did you know it can also prevent dementia? Read more in the Winter editionopens PDF file of Through the Seasons (p.8).

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program

Depending on your income level, you may be eligible for free tax preparation services through LTSC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA serves filers with low-to-moderate incomes.

In person assistance is available on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – noon and 1-4 p.m. Please call 213-473-1637 to schedule an appointment.

Filers can also drop off their documents for assistance on Tuesday afternoons.

Click VITA Season for more information.

Financial literacy workshop

LTSC knows that older Asian Americans, particularly those with low-incomes and limited English proficiency, can easily fall victim to financial scams. With support from Citi Community Development, LTSC will educate people about how to avoid senior scams, provide assistance to victims of financial scams and help seniors financially plan for later-life. The program will serve family members and others involved in caring for these seniors who also need to be aware of fraud.

Citi Community Development leads Citi’s commitment to achieving financial inclusion and economic empowerment for underserved individuals, families and communities by working with nonprofit and public agencies across the country to expand access to financial products and services, build sustainable business solutions and forge innovative partnerships.

By providing multilingual workshops, one-on-one sessions with a financial coach and case management services for crisis situations, LTSC is helping seniors protect themselves against financial scams.

LTSC thanks Citi Community Development for its support of this important program.

Resident Services volunteers and staff

LTSC held an appreciation luncheon to recognize the invaluable contributions of its Resident Services volunteer team. Resident Services volunteers provide critical services to residents of LTSC’s affordable housing properties as well as other community members.

The team helps support a range of services that include: educational and recreational activities for youth, financial literacy programs to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency and asset growth, efforts to empower residents through civic engagement, programs for seniors and more.

Thank you to our Resident Services volunteers for their hard work.

Click Resident Services Volunteer opportunities to learn more.

KnowYourRight seminar by LTSC

LTSC held a “Know Your Rights” training at the Angelina Apartments complex, in the Temple Beaudry area of Echo Park, to teach community members how to interact with law enforcement and immigration officials regarding immigration status. The training covered what to do when approached by immigration agents, the police or FBI; how to read a warrant and how to assist someone who is detained at an immigration center or police station.

Lisa Okamoto, an immigration attorney at Immigrant Defenders Law Center, and Isabel Kang, with the Korean Resource Center, contributed valuable support for the event. An Angelina resident also generously provided free catering services.

LTSC is also planning similar workshops at some of its other properties.

Events

February – March 23 – Happy Cranes Seniors’ Origami Exhibition

February – April 2018 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Season

February 10 – Free One-on-One Session With A Financial Planner

March 2 – Everything You Wanted To Know About Estate Planning But Were Afraid To Ask

March 24 – Financial Planning for Younger Families/家族のための ファイナンシャルプラニング

Green Tip

Try to buy products that have as little packaging as possible.

Donors

Thank you to all our supporters for your contributions last month!

January 2018 Donors

Eiko and Young Amano
Anonymous
Dennis Arguelles
Misako Honda
Maki Chaudhuri
Yi Bing Chen and Ming Shan Liang
Jeffrey and Lorraine Dohzen
Mark and Sharlene Hirai
Hoops for Friends
Leslie Ito and Steve Wong
Bruce Iwasaki and Evelyn Yoshimura
Jessica Kanai
Gary Kanemoto
Tay Kawato
Gary and June Masada
Robert and Teresa Matsushima
Meriko Nabekawa and Mitsuyoshi Nabekawa
Kaoru Nakagawa
Mariko Ogawa
Yosuke Ouchi
Frank Soyejima
Ken and Lily Sugino
Anna Mae Tamaki
Keith Umemoto
Betty Yumori

In Memory of Tomiko Akahori
Ted Akahori and Julie Akahori

In Memory of Kazuko Ito
Suzy Katsuda

In Memory of Jeannette Kyoko Sanderson
Emily and Dan Weaver

Terasaki Budokan
Anonymous
Akemi Arakaki
Laura Blosser and Chris Argyros
Scott Ito and Nan Lee
Brent Mori and Jessie Kikuchi
Ken and Priscilla Mui
Mike Murase and June Hibino
Frank Soyejima
Grant Sunoo and Emily Maeda

Bill and Ruth Watanabe Director’s Office Campaign
Seema Agnani
Carole Kakita
National CAPACD

In Honor of the Ito Family
Lisa Okamoto

In Memory of Monica Quan
Darice Mori

In Honor of the Jason and Janice Yamada Family
Margaret and Ken Shimada

Vehicle Donations
Roy Sadakane
Lily Tsurumaki

In-kind Donations
Julie Itahara and Mauricio Gutierrez