St. Louis JACL thanks Washington University for their generous grant and all of their partners that made this event such a success. Many JACL members attended the opening on May 17 and then others viewed the gallery on May 18-19. St. Louis JACL members Wendy Roll, Robin Hattori, and Sherry Leitl submitted art and writing that were featured in the exhibit.
InVISIBLE Showcase: Reclaiming of the Asian Gaze will be open to the public on May 18 12:00 noon to 6:00pm and May 19 10:00am to 4:30pm. Please join us for this venue for the display of inspiring products of creative artists and writers. Artwork by St. Louis JACL members will be included! Wildfruit Projects Gallery is located at 4704 Virginia Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63111.
On April 24, 2024 Missouri Botanical Garden Docent Tom Bush led a group of eighteen through the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Japanese Garden to explain the history of the different stone lanterns that have been placed within the Japanese Garden. Mr. Bush provided very interesting details based on years of research.
Students are welcome to apply to the local St. Louis JACL Scholarship that is separate from National JACL Scholarships starting April 22 until May 31, 2024. 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 31, 2024, midnight Central Time.
There will be an event at Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63112 to discuss Asian American Pacific Islander culture that existed during the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. There will be a Fair with artifacts from 5:00-6:30pm and a Panel Discussion from 6:30-8:00. Please join us to learn about these cultures.
St. Louis JACL member Richard “Dick” Shimamoto passed away in St. Louis on March 15, 2024 at age 82. A celebrate of life for Dick and Vicky Shimamoto will take place April 13, 2024 from noon to 3:00pm with a remembrance from 3:00-4:00pm at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., Kirkwood, Missouri. Dick would welcome donations to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Japanese American Citizens League or a charity of your choice.
https://www.boppchapel.com/obituaries/Richard-K-Shimamoto?obId=31048046
Tom Bush will be conducting a tour of the stone lanterns within the Japanese Garden of the Missouri Botanical Garden on April 24, 2024 from 5:15pm-7:15pm. There will be a tram available to assist with transportation during the tour. A booklet with Mr. Bush’s research on the lanterns will be distributed. RSVP to robinannhattori@gmail.com is required as attendance is limited to only 15.
Note: As of April 16th, this event has been filled to capacity. A future event may be planned for a new group of people.
You are invited to join the JACL Midwest District Council Youth Representative and the Kansha Alumni Board for a screening of the film “Manzanar Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust” on Saturday, April 6th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. The screening is open to all ages and will be followed by a youth/young professionals mixer.
The film screening will be hosted at Christ Church of Chicago. Registration is required and you can contact Ayako at mdcyouth@jacl.org with any questions.
The InVISIBLE: A Reclaiming of the Asian Gaze is a multi-day showcase of art on May 17-19. The event requires that that art needs to be formally entered by March 15, 2024 via an online form. The event is sponsored by a grant from Washington University and is being orchestrated by the St. Louis Pan-Asian Collective.
Many different types of works may be submitted. The details of submission process is described in the link below.
Join us for our annual St. Louis Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Day of Remembrance event on February 18, 2024! This year’s topic is Nisei Veterans. The location is The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Road, Des Peres, Missouri 63131. Doors open at 12:30 pm and lunch and coffee/water are provided. Due to limited capacity and meals, we must register all attendees. Please RSVP to Wendy Roll at wendycroll@gmail.com and wait for confirmation that you have been accepted.
St. Louis JACL 