In Touch With JACL

2011 Minidoka Pilgrimage

June 30-July 3, 2011, almost 200 people journeyed to the annual Minidoka pilgrimage. This year was special for two very important reasons. First, the Minidoka Honor Roll was re-established at the entrance to the park.

2011 Oregon Nikkei Endowment Honorees

Dr. Homer and Miyuki Yasui were honored for their tremendous contributions to the community with the Paving The Way Award and Mr. Albert Abe was awarded a new award, The Sakura Award, for his achievements in serving so many Japanese American organizations. All three were instrumental in launching the Oregon ... Read More

Saltzman Disregards Incarceration

While casting his vote in favor of the new Joint Terrorism Task Force resolution, Commissioner Dan Saltzman showed extraordinary disregard for the light of Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII as well as for the testimony of our honored community representative, Henry Sakamoto.

Memorial Tribute to Robbie Tsuboi

This May will mark the first year of the loss of a mentor, visionary, leader, and great friend to all, Robbie Tsuboi. In tribute to all Robbie has done for us the Minidoka Swing Band, Hula School Makani Kolonahe, Friends of Goose Hollow (Goosers), and Unite People will be having ... Read More

Congressional Gold Medal

The exact date for the award ceremony is still pending with the new Speaker of the House, but it will likely be held in November 2011.Nationwide, we have 356 veterans registered and 3,046 family members registered. For Oregon and SW Washington, we have 12 veterans registered to attend the ceremony ... Read More

Minidoka Pilgrimage

Sixty-nine years ago, almost 13,000 people of Japanese- ancestry, many of whom were American citizens, were removed from their homes and sent to a desolate "incarceration camp" near Twin Falls, Idaho. On June 30 - July 3, 2011 former internees, their families, and friends will make a pilgrimage - from ... Read More

JTTF: Still Not Good for Portland

Concerns about the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Portland JACL expressed before the City Council in 2005 remain true today.

Although administrations have changed, the FBI still remains the same.

The following is an Oregonian Op-Ed article written by Portland JACL Co-Presidents Jim Kennedy and Jeff Selby.

Clark Center Loaves & Fishes Grand Opening

Chefs (left to right) Juvenal Molina, Sasha Kaplan, and Kashu Hamada prepared the food for the Clark Center Opening. The Clark Center had its grand opening on Wednesday, January 26th with over 150 people in attendance. The Loaves & Fishes concept is to have the central kitchen cook most of the meals ... Read More

Day of Remembrance

On Sunday, February 20, 2011 Portland JACL hosted and sponsored a Day of Remembrance event that also paid respect to the communities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. In one of the largest gatherings for a Day of Remembrance event in more than ten years, Co-President Jeff Selby warmed up a ... Read More

Sen. Wyden: Congressional Medal for Vets

Senator Wyden presents a replica of Public Law 111-254 to Art Iwasaki. Senator Ron Wyden has begun presenting replicas of the Public Law to local veterans that authorizes the award of the Congressional Gold Medal collectively to 100th Battalion, the 442nd Combat Regiment and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). On December ... Read More