June 2017 Issue

Sake at First Street North, Little Tokyo

U.S. Bank presents Little Tokyo Service Center’s 11th Annual Sake & Food Tasting Event:

CLICK HERE

Why First Street North? The First Street North block of Little Tokyo is a critical part of the past, present and future of our historic neighborhood. Home to several iconic businesses and institutions, First Street North is now threatened by forthcoming development on the block. LTSC and community allies seek to highlight the importance of protecting the block’s unique identity. Click First Street North for more information on the neighborhood campaign.

Through LTSC’s creative community development strategy, known as +LAB, the organization will host an immersive, multimedia installation that will inspire you to reimagine First Street North.

Janice Marie Johnson performs at SOLT2

With groundbreaking for the multipurpose sports facility and community center Terasaki Budokan scheduled for August 2017, LTSC’s campaign to generate community excitement and raise remaining needed funds is in full swing.

Friends of Budokan held a second successful ’80s and ’90s themed Straight Outta Little Tokyo bash last weekend. Next up is the Stars for Budokan Enka Concert, a variety show featuring some of the most popular enka singers from Japan. Co-sponsored by the All United States Kendo Federation and LTSC, the concert will have two performances. For more information, visit the Terasaki Budokan.

Finally, remember to buy your Terasaki Budokan Toyota Raffle tickets for a chance to win a 2018 Toyota Highlander. Tickets are on sale for $10 each from now until November 6th. Click Terasaki Budokan for more details.

Lincoln Brown Illustration

Fresh off a transformational gift from the Terasaki Family Foundation in May, LTSC claimed a critical grant from Project Reinvest. LTSC was one of 55 organizations across the United States to receive a $500,000 grant.

Project Reinvest grants were awarded to help stabilize and revitalize communities in areas negatively impacted by foreclosure by supporting projects that will create lasting change and achieve a community need. The Project Reinvest grant will help LTSC transform a vacant lot and an abandoned building into a Little Tokyo community treasure. Thank you to Project Reinvest for supporting Terasaki Budokan of Los Angeles.

We still need your help during the final push to build Budokan. Click Terasaki Budokan to be part of the movement.

Casa Heiwa youth at Fiesta Matsuri (photo by Linda Kranz)

A group of young Casa Heiwa ukulele players wowed the audience with their performance at JACCC’s multiethnic celebration Fiesta Matsuri. The musicians learned to play their instruments through Ukes for Little Tokyo (U4LT), a 20-week program for underserved Little Tokyo residents. U4LT is sponsored by The Annenberg Foundation, JACCC, Ukulele Creations, U-Space, and LTSC.

LTSC staffers at Little Tokyo Sparkle

Keeping Little Tokyo clean and building community spirit is a team effort. In May, a large group of LTSC staffers rolled up their sleeves to sweep sidewalks, pick up trash and remove graffiti, alongside hundreds of other community volunteers. LTSC was also one of the sponsors for the event, which honored the late Nancy Kikuchi.

May was Mental Health Awareness month, and the LTSC’s Social Services department wishes to highlight a related resource for Japanese-speaking families. The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a support group with monthly meetings at the UCLA Wellness Center in Torrance.

For more information, please see the Social Services Newsletter “Through the Seasons” (p.4).

Sumiko Takahashi (center) is joined by LTSC Intake and Volunteer Coordinator Yo Wakita (left) and LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis (right)

Last month, Sumiko Takahashi, a volunteer for LTSC’s South Bay office, was recognized for her outstanding service to seniors. May was Older Americans Month and Sumiko was among those honored at the 52nd Annual Older Americans Recognition Day Awards Program and Reception held at the Los Angeles Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Sumiko has been an essential contributor, helping the South Bay office connect to the Japanese immigrant and Japanese American community. Able to assist clients in English and Japanese, Sumiko has been involved in senior related workshops, conducted voter registration and helped with surveys to assess the needs of Nikkei in the area. Finally, Sumiko is an active member of the Sakura Chorus Group, which brightens the days of seniors by performing traditional Japanese songs at their homes.

From left: Ron Fong, API SBP Executive Director; Kerry Situ, API SBP Business Counselor; Colleen Seto, API SBP Program Manager; Supranee May, API SBP Business Counselor; Victor Parker, SBA L.A. District Director

The Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP) received the 2017 Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award for the SBA Los Angeles District at the 2017 Small Business Awards in May. The API SBP was recognized for its commitment to serving women and low-income Asian American Pacific Islander immigrant entrepreneurs who face cultural, linguistic and financial obstacles. In 2016, API SBP served 2,500 entrepreneurs by providing business counseling and workshop training in various Asian languages and English.

Events

6/10 – How to Choose an Emergency Alert System
6/24 – Stars for Budokan (1 p.m. concert)
6/24 – Stars for Budokan (4:30 p.m. concert)
7/15 and /7/22 – Money Smart for Small Business 
7/21 – 11th Annual Sake and Food Tasting Event 
10/14 – Annual Asian Small Business Expo

Green Tip

Feel the heat? Forget the dryer and hang your clothes outside to dry.

Donors

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

May Donors
Ted and Tomi Akahori
Anonymous
Leslie Furukawa
GBC International Bank
Takahiro Ide
Dr. Kenji Irie
Jessica Kanai
Dr. and Mrs. Iwao Kawakami
Mark Kawauchi
James Kwon
Kathy and Mark Masaoka
Diana and Yoshi Matsushima
Robert and Teresa Matsushima
Garry and Joy Monji
Tsutomu Morishita
Debra Nakatomi and Bob Miyamoto
Erica Namba
Michael and Margie Odanaka
Kaz Ota
Frank and Mable Takenaka
Stacey Tanaka
Diana Tani
Frank Tanji
Keith Umemoto
Dr. Alex Wai
Gordon Yamamoto
Linda and Gary Yamauchi
Gerald and Anne Yee
Tad Yoshimura
Nolan Young
George Yusa

In Memory of Yoshiro Harada
Sharon Harada

In Memory of Jeannette Kyoko Sanderson
Emily & Dan Weaver

In Memory of Nobuko Takigawa
Suzy Katsuda

In Memory of Chor Chai Tan
Marie Tan and Gregory Tan

Budokan of Los Angeles Donations
Akemi Arakaki
Anonymous
California Community Foundation
Cathy Fujimoto
Peter Gee and Jeffrey Helfgott
Julie Akiko Gladsjo
Marsha Hamamoto
Toshio and Toshiko Handa
Teruhiko Higashi
Donna and Russell Hirano
Jacqueline Huey
Lily Ann Inouye
Scott Ito and Nan Lee
Stefanie Kawasaki
Jerro Kiyokane
Harold and Reiko Kobata
Gene Matsushita
Daren Mooko
Adina Mori-Holt and Whitman Holt
Mike Murase and June Hibino
Victor Okada and Candace Lao
Sam Otsuji
Pasadena Bruins
Bruce Saito
Eddie and Karen Takata
Edward and Karen Toguchi
Jonathan Ty and Angela Nishio Ty
Gary, Marsha and Sean Watanabe
David and Michiko Watanabe
Ruth and Bill Watanabe
Kimberly and Damon Wong
Gordon Yamamoto

In Honor of Todd Odagawa
Janette Kuramoto

In Memory of Philip Ito
Chancy and Lynn Pratt
Shelley Yamane Shinmoto and Scott Shinmoto
Betty Yumori

In Memory of Joyce H. Mitsuhashi
Justin and Sharon Kurashima

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

Vehicle Donations
Atsuko and Tadashi Kowta

In-kind Donations
Marsha and Gary Watanabe
Linda Yokoyama
Zakanaka Inc.