America’s Black Holocaust Museum Director Dr. Robert “Bert” Davis, far right, spoke to JACL attendees and held a discussion/debriefing of the museum’s archives. (Photo: Zara Espinoza)
Meeting in person for the first time in more than two years,
participants at the Wisconsin event engaged in a weekend of activities and business.
By Bridget Keaveney, JACL Norman Mineta Fellow
Bridget Keaveney and Ron Kuramoto take in American Family Field, home of MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers. (Photo: Courtesy of Bridget Keaveney)
The Midwest District Council held its in-person spring retreat in Milwaukee, Wis., on April 1-2, its first in-person gathering in more than two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hosted by the JACL Wisconsin chapter, attendees were treated to a weekend of education, inspirational meetings, fun and Midwestern hospitality.
Representatives from several of MDC’s largest and most active chapters were present, as well two members of JACL’s national staff, Bridget Keaveney and Alexander Shinkawa, and National Youth Representative Sheera Tamura. Ron Kuramoto, president of the Wisconsin chapter and a member of the P.C. Editorial Board, served as the retreat’s main organizer and point of contact, coordinating events and providing participants with various forms of support during their visit to the great city of Milwaukee.
This year’s MDC business meeting and MDC Youth Summit were held at America’s Black Holocaust Museum. The mission of ABHM is to promote “racial repair, reconciliation and healing.” As a sacred place of learning, the museum offers visitors the chance to commemorate and critically analyze the Black Holocaust from “precaptivity in Africa to the present day.”
Donald “Don” Hayashi, president of the JACL Dayton Chapter, takes in the exhibit at America’s Black Holocaust Museum. (Photo: Dave Suyama/JACL Wisconsin Chapter)
“It was both a pleasure and an honor for our JACL Wisconsin chapter to host our MDC chapter colleagues, NY/SC reps and JACL National Fellows here in Milwaukee over the April 1-3 weekend,” said Kuramoto. “We convened at the newly reopened America’s Black Holocaust Museum — a truly inspirational place — were engaged by a lively MDC NY/SC Summit and ended the day at American Family Field, where the Milwaukee Brewers were supposed to play (but sadly, did not). Special thanks also to the Jewish Museum Milwaukee for their special photo exhibit and related events, which is currently running through May 29.”
The exhibit “Then They Came for Me” is currently on display at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. (Photo: Alexander Shinkawa)
For chapter delegates who were unable to attend the retreat in person, a Zoom channel was created to allow both in-person and virtual attendees the chance to listen and present various reports.
MDC District Gov. Eric Langowski not only facilitated the meeting but also offered a report of his own that provided further insight into this year’s upcoming JACL National Convention, set for Las Vegas in August, and the 2022 budget.
Among the items also discussed were two very exciting pieces of new business: the appointments of Lara (Zara) Espinoza as the district’s first Young Professionals Caucus officer and Ayako Tischler as the district’s Youth Chair. The appointments of Espinoza and Tischler were welcomed warmly by all of those in attendance.
“I’m honored to become the first JACL YPC officer on the MDC and to be introduced in one of my favorite Midwest cities — Milwaukee, Wis. As a queer nonbinary multiracial Mexican-Korean-Japanese American person, I’m excited to bring my unique life experiences and intersectional leadership approach to help connect, bridge and build stronger cross-racial solidarity and more sustainable multigenerational communities. Muchas gracias for the warm welcome JACL community!” said Espinoza.
Robert Davis
Following the MDC business meeting was the MDC’s Youth Summit, which was hosted by MDC Youth Representative Kendal Takeshita. This year’s MDC Youth Summit was held at ABHM in the same room as the MDC business meeting. With support from national staff, the NY/SC and the Wisconsin chapter, Takeshita was able to provide youth attendees the opportunity to tour the museum, hear from the museum’s director, Dr. Robert (Bert) Davis, and take part in a discussion and debriefing of museum archives.
“America’s Black Holocaust Museum was an inspiring museum with amazing visuals and storytelling within such a compact space,” said Takeshita. “As one of the only Black Holocaust museums globally, the ABHM tour was definitely an eye-opening experience. Our group discussion was small yet intimate, which was great because no one’s experience or story was shut out from the conversation. We also received a great testimony from Dr. Robert ‘Bert’ Davis, the president and CEO of ABHM. He spoke about ABHM’s mission and how to look at American history from the eyes of the African American.
“What I am looking forward to most,” Takeshita continued, “is how we, as Japanese Americans, can become better advocators for intersectionality so that the histories of marginalized communities do not fall between the cracks of institutionalization.”
Outside of business-related matters, this quarter’s MDC business meeting allowed attendees the chance to socialize and bond with one another in person for the first time in more than two years.
The MDC retreat, the first such in-person gathering in more than two years, offered participants a potluck luncheon that featured numerous delectable dishes. (Photo: Courtesy of Bridget Keaveney)
“Gathering with JACL members and especially youth members from across the country is always extremely special, but it is all the more meaningful for districts like MDC, where member chapters are spread so far apart and the opportunities to come together in community are fewer than we would like,” said Vinicius Taguchi, JACL Twin Cities chapter president. “The JACL Wisconsin chapter made this gathering even more meaningful by emphasizing solidarity with Black and Jewish communities in our mutual fight against ignorance and bigotry.”
To say that members were elated would be an understatement; members shared multiple meals together, visited American Family Field (home of the Milwaukee Brewers) and organized a potluck, which featured every dish imaginable.
“I am eternally grateful to all of the MDC District members who graciously invited me to represent the NY/SC throughout this meaningful weekend. This experience allowed me to reflect upon my intentions for serving on the JACL National Board as it is because of the kindness of each member within the organization that allows me to cherish each irreplaceable moment,” said Tamura.
Added Shinkawa: “It was my first time ever being in the Midwest, and I couldn’t be happier to meet such an amazing group of people. I’m thankful that the MDC was able to accommodate the D.C. fellows at their district meeting and that we had the opportunity to share some of the policy and programming goals that National is working on. The museum was a wonderful and insightful venue as well.”
Overall, the MDC retreat proved to be a great success, fulfilling an ambitious list of agenda items.
Taking in America’s Black Holocaust Museum exhibits are (back row, from left) Alexander Shinkawa (Daniel Inouye fellow), Eric Langowski (MDC governor), Kendal Takeshita (MDC Youth representative), Vinicius Taguchi (Twin Cities Chapter president), Saulkdi Yangh and (front row, from left) Bridget Keaveney (Norman Mineta fellow), Sheera Tamura (National Youth representative), Mika Kennedy (Detroit Chapter), Ayako Tischler (Youth chair) and Haruka Yukioka (Twin Cities Chapter). (Photo: Courtesy of Bridget Keaveney)
