The Annual JACL Fourth of July Picnic will be held at Vlasis Park, 300 Park Dr., Ballwin, Missouri 63011 in Pavilion #1 (closest to the rest rooms) at noon on July 4, 2022. The picnic is Pot Luck and cold drinks will be provided until they run out. The scheduled events will be raffle and trivia and some Chapter announcements. JACL members and friends of JACL are invited.
Alexander Stamper
Alexander Stamper is a graduate of Lutheran High School of St. Charles County. He participated on the school’s robotics team, where he competed at the Worlds competition and provided computer-aided design and programming. Alexander help modify ride-on toy cars for children with mobility needs. Alexander also has participated in an egg hunt for blind children through the city of St. Charles. For JACL, Alexander has worked at the JACL soda booth at the Japanese Festival and his family is a member of the St. Louis Chapter. Alexander’s essay focused on the inclusion and civil rights of LGBT people. He plans to continue seeking leadership opportunities in school and in the community. This fall, Alexander plans to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology and study computer science.
Maya Kim
Maya Kim is a graduate of Kirkwood High School. Besides carrying a full course load of advanced classes, Maya was active in National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll, A Plus Program, MiPA-JEA Honor Roll, the Mental Health Awareness Committee and the Kirkwood Call student newspaper, where she held positions in social media, web editing and as an editorial board member. Outside of school, Maya worked as a cashier, barista, food maker and babysitter. Maya also has done service work for multiple organization and she has worked at the JACL soda booth at the Japanese Festival and her family is a member of the St. Louis Chapter. Maya’s essay was about racism and civil rights, and she cited George Floyd’s death, COVID-19 and anti-Asian hate crimes as pivotal events that help find her voice in human and civil rights. Maya wants to be an advocate for a better justice system that is not prejudiced due to race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Maya plans to attend Ball State University in the fall and will study journalism and criminology.
A memorial service for Kimberly Buckland Stefanoni, daughter of Bruce Buckland, long-time St. Louis JACL member and former Honorary Consul General of Japan, will be conducted in the sanctuary of Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, 9450 Clayton Road in Ladue, Missouri on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm. A reception with the family will follow the service. Ms. Stefanoni passed away December 5, 2021 in Maple Grove, Minnesota at age 49.
NPR article highlights a newly blooming rosebush at Grenada (Colorado) Relocation Center also known as “Amache” where 10,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Dr. Bonnie Clark of Denver University, who spoke at the Missouri Botanical Garden in 2019, is interviewed in the article.
The deadline for submissions to the local 2022 St. Louis JACL Scholarship is arriving soon! Please complete the online scholarship form, if you qualify and are interested. Best of luck to all of the applicants!
Guest violin soloist, Akiko Suwanai, will join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on May 6-7, 2022. A special two-for-one discount is available for this concert.
A farewell visitation will be held to honor the life of Dr. Richard H. Mitchell, husband of St. Louis JACL member Yoshiko Mitchell, on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. The visitation will be at Mother of Good Counsel Home, 6825 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121. Dr. Mitchell passed away on March 25, 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard H. Mitchell Japanese Memorial Fund made payable to the Ikenobo Ikebana Society.
Join this Kaiwa Convo webinar hosted by JACL National Youth/Student Council on April 7, 2022 at 6 PM Eastern Time. All are welcome, but this event will be youth-preferred.
Students are welcome to apply to the local St. Louis JACL Scholarship that is separate from National JACL Scholarships starting April 1 until May 15, 2022. Any current or incoming undergraduates or graduate students at any college, trade school or graduate school may qualify. Preferred consideration will be given to students that participate in current or past events with the St. Louis JACL Chapter. However, the applicant does not need to be a member of the St. Louis JACL Chapter. Applicants must be active in issues of diversity, civil rights, and/or social justice. Applicants cannot apply if they have previously received a scholarship from a JACL Chapter.
The link below will take you to the webpage where you may enter in your scholarship application online. Applications must be completed and submitted by May 15, 2022.
The JACL Appreciation Lunch originally scheduled for March 20, 2022 has been delayed to May 22, 2022 at Hunan Star at 1:00-3:00. The Board of Directors felt that the previous date was too close to the Day of Remembrance Event recently held on February 27, 2022. An email will be sent out to the invitees: St. Louis Chapter members and 2021 Japanese Festival Soda Tent workers. We are sorry for any confusion!
St. Louis JACL 