Dean Matsubayashi, Our Lasting Inspiration
Dean Matsubayashi, Our Lasting Inspiration
Dean accomplished so much, not just for LTSC, but for the entire Little Tokyo community, for the city of Los Angeles and for communities of color throughout the U.S.
South Bay Workshops
Join us for a free nine-part workshop series for entrepreneurs, small business owners and publicists to receive hands-on training to build businesses and create an effective media outreach strategy. Learn how to get your business off the ground, engage with customers in your community and get noticed by local media outlets, bloggers and influencers!
When: Every Tuesday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. until November 19
Where: Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (1964 W 162nd St, Gardena, California 90247)
More info HERE.
Annual Asian Small Business Expo
Mark your calendars and don’t miss the free Asian Small Business Expo — Sustaining Your Business In A Strong Economy on October 19 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.
This event offers an excellent opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization, and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives.
More info HERE.
Entrepreneurship for Artists
This four-part workshop series is a resource for self-employed artists interested in becoming successful entrepreneurs.
Co-hosted by the Sustainable Little Tokyo Arts Action Committee and the Little Tokyo Service Center Small Business Assistance Program, this workshop series will bridge the gap between small business and a career in the arts. Working to end the “starving artist” stereotype, participants will gain valuable knowledge from our expert speakers as well as foster support within the Little Tokyo artistic community.
Topics to be Covered:
Wednesday, October 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Chris Snyder, Shopify Consultant
TOPIC: Building an e-commerce website to take advantage of print on demand as well as drop shipping services.
Wednesday, October 23, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Bet Tzedek – Will provide FREE legal services for entrepreneurs
TOPIC: Learn about copyrights, trademarks and contracts from lawyers specializing in these fields.
RSVP to mlochridge@ltsc.orgcreate new email or fill out the Google Form here.
Many dream of one day becoming a United States citizen. Before that day comes, there are lots of hurdles a person can face. One such obstacle to citizenship could be the “public charge” rule. In the recent past, a non-citizen is designated a “public charge” if they might become financially dependent on (likely to receive over 50% of their income) the government by receiving public cash assistance, long-term hospitalization, or similar care at the government’s expense. If a non-citizen is deemed a “public charge,” their application for citizenship is denied.
In determining if a green card applicant is a “public charge,” the government has historically looked to see if they are enrolled in any of the following four programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), long-term institutionalization at the government’s expense or General Assistance.
Making it harder for immigrants to get a green card, the current administration recently issued a new rule that dramatically expands the definition of a “public charge.” Set to take effect on October 15, a “public charge” is now defined as an applicant that uses any of the four assistance programs already mentioned, but also the use of non-emergency Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program or Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance.
There might be some confusion surrounding these changes and exactly how it will affect those seeking U.S. citizenship. Reference the below chart (provided by Protecting Immigrant Familiesopens PDF file ) to see how this new rule might affect people in the immigration process and what to do.
New Rule on “Public Charge” and Immigration
Vermont/Santa Monica Project
Santa Monica Vermont Center Rendering
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) is partnering with Los Angeles County Metro Transit Authority for a housing project atop the Vermont/Santa Monica Red Line metro station. The project will consist of 190 residential units for low-income households, with half of those units reserved for families and individuals with special needs. In total, the project will have 15,000-20,000 square feet of commercial and social service space.
Over the last year, LTSC and Metro have worked with community groups to refine the scope and features of this project. This feedback was incorporated into new renderings of the project which you can view on our website. These renderings also take into account the transit operations of the area. LTSC aims to start construction in 2021.
Capital One Supports LTSC
LTSC and Go For Broke National Education Center are partnering together to build 74 units of affordable housing in Little Tokyo. These units will be designated for veterans, working families and homeless families. Go For Broke National Education Center’s mission is to raise awareness about the WWII American veterans of Japanese ancestry who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of American warfare. The Go For Broke Apartments is also a component of Sustainable Little Tokyo’s community vision for First Street North. In addition to housing, the project will have commercial spaces, exhibits, community areas and retail spaces.
LTSC is fortunate to have Capital One as a partner on this significant project. Capital One is committed to working with its nonprofit developer partners to create affordable housing and provides philanthropic support, loans and technical assistance. LTSC would like to thank Capital One for its support of this vital project in the heart of Little Tokyo.
August & September Donors
Thank you to all our supporters for your contributions last month!
Add your name to the list by making a DONATION today.
America Travel Factory
Anonymous
Thomas Koga
Kevin Yamanaka
Dennis Arguelles
Debra Nakatomi and Bob Miyamoto
Consulate General of Japan
Lisa Hasegawa
Takahiro Ide
Michael Ito
Yukiko Kadono
Dick and Pauline Kaku
Jessica Kanai
Alan Kawa
Claire Kitayama
Kiyohara & Takahashi, CPAs
Kizuna
Thomas Koga
Leslie Kon
Vien Le
Gary and June Masada
Kathy and Mark Masaoka
Robert and Teresa Matsushima
The Mermaid
Emiko Miyoshi
Joanne Mukai
Patricia Nakai
Joanne and Mark Nakamura
Vy Nguyen
Sam and Kimie Otsuji
Haruka Roudebush
Brenda Schmidt
Matthew Shima
Nikki Kealalio Sutton
Esther Taira
Kelly Takasu
Rintaro Takasu
Yuka Takeuchi
Chieko Tamura
Stacey Tanaka
Loan Thi Tran and Ngoc Vuong
Keith Umemoto
Mark and Vivien Usui
Hayley Weddle
Kevin Yamanaka
Sally Yamashita
Gerald and Anne Yee
Catherine Yen
Nolan Young
In Honor of Alan Kondo
Leslie Strebel
In Honor of Ryoko Nakamura
Toshiko Muto
In Memory of Dr. Yoshio Akiyama
Natsuko Akiyama
In Memory of Dean Matsubayashi
Iosefa Alofaituli
Anonymous
Karoline Bain
Antonio Barreras
Wendy Chang
Lisa Cummings
Alan Kondo and Akemi Dalvi, Kondo Wealth Advisors
Melany De La Cruz
Thomas Hei
Sabrina and Darin Ishimatsu
Mariko Kahn
Larry Katata
Stacia Kato
Suzy Katsuda
Raymond Kawamoto
Barbara Kim and Derek Li
Joanne Kim
Deanna Kitamura
Steve and Akemi Kayleng Knight
Vanessa Lee
Anonymous
Nancy Lewis
Little Tokyo Historical Society
Low Income Investment Fund
Joanne Uehara Masuda
Kimberly Min
Ann Nakahira
Darren Nakasuji
Margaret Narumi
Farzana Nayani
Wendy Okafuji
Jeri Okamoto-Tanaka
Glenn Omatsu
Audrey Pettyjohn
Kitty Sankey
Carol Sato
Rebecca Shea
Mitsuyasu and Sayaka Shigeta
Sean Spear
Marcia Suzuki
William Teragawa
Terasaki Family Foundation
Karin Wang
Marsha and Gary Watanabe
Steve Yee and Silvia Yoshimizu-Yee
Thomas Yu
Betty Yumori
Matthew Haas
Lloyd and Tazuko Inui
Pauline Louie
Friends at Mithun
Lauren Saunders
Gail Sharp
Jeffrey Tani
Jay Tremblay
Setsuko Tsuji
Mark Yoshida
In Memory of Jeannette Kyoko Sanderson
Emily and Dan Weaver
In Memory of Jerry Schoettel
Suzy Katsuda
In Memory of Rev. Howard Toriumi
Roger and Laura Stephens
Terasaki Budokan
Emilee Adatia
Anonymous
Richard Beal
Laura Blosser and Chris Argyros
Henry Canivel
Samson Chow
Victor K Choy
Kate Curtin
Loana dP Valencia
Kimanh Doan
Mark and Tracey Doi
Ron Dyo
Akira Fujimoto
Steffi Fukunaga
Colleen Hayashi
Cory Hayashi
Kevin Hensel
Jessica Hernandez
Ben and Margie Higashi
Chris Honma
Colleen and Grant Ishibashi
Scott Ito and Nan Lee
Clyde Iwata
Rodney and Bobbie Kajikawa
Robb Kaneko
Gail E Kaneko
Craig Kawamoto
Jean Kenney
Chester and Eileen Kido
Jessie Kikuchi and Brent Mori
Joyce Komatsu
Ryan Lee
Michelle Lesco
Michi Lew
Jane Liu
Margaret Lobo
Nancy Louie
Julie Maetani
Marissa Maetani
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Kelly Mock
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Kay and Nancy Oda
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Pro Doc Kytel
Rafu Shimpo
Robin Vanneman
Cristina Samiley
Wendy Shiihara
Andy Shimazaki
Minako and Robert Ferrante
Sugimoto Family Foundation: George, Ruri, Lisa, Nathan
Grant Sunoo and Emily Maeda
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Akemi Arakaki and Takao Suzuki
Sara Tabita
Carol Amao-Takafuji
Roy T Tanabe
Jean and Ronald Toshima
Stacy Toyota
Russel Tsuda
Ansho Uchima
Elaine Uehara
Ken Wada
Jayne and Gideon Young Family
Carole Zaima
Chris Zellner
In Honor of Andy K. and Keiko Fukui
Alex H. Fukui
In Honor of Chris Naito’s 80th Birthday
Gail and Ed Camacho
Geraldine Hamane
Jane and George Iwanaga
Claudia Kajihara
David Katayama
Rand Kato
Donna and George Lee
Karen Mayer
Lisa and Eric Nakkim
Evelyn Okuda
Kazushi Omura
Faye Tomoyasu
Michelle Yasuda
Ann Yoshihara
In Honor of Kathleen Quin
Robin Vanneman
In Memory of Icy and Janey Hasama
Joyce and Randy Takahashi
In Memory of William Yoshio Ishibashi
Emiko Ishibashi
In Memory of Alice Kikkawa
Kelleen Kikuchi
Pasadena Bruins
In Memory of Susan Onodera Leonard
Hisako (Betty) and Akira Imamura
In-kind Donations
Yasuyo Abo
Minako and Robert Ferrante
Reiko Kondo
Sharon and George Lopez
Miguel Nunez
Marsha and Gary Watanabe
Vehicle Donations
Mizue Ando
Anonymous
Marjorie Berkel
Richard Fujii
Lisa and Joel Hofilena
Seiichi Horiuchi
Jennifer Juarez
Michael Kirihara
Hisako Nasu
