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BS: So I really liked that point about solidarity within the Asian American community in relation to other BIPOC communities. So, as a student that's taken numerous American Ethnic Studies, Asian American Studies, Political Science classes, the concept that keeps recurring in these classes is transformative solidarity, and how each generation discovers like their place in the social --

HP: I love that term. I've never heard of that before and had it put that way.

BS: Yeah, no, no, no. I appreciate that. It's not something I came up with, but it's how each generation discovers their place in social movements of the time. And you kind of touched on it already, but I would like to know, what role do you see the JACL playing in increasing awareness to issues facing like the broader BIPOC community and within these new social movements? So, what direction would you like to see the JACL go in finding its place and navigating?

HP: I honestly, I really don't have much to say on that. I feel like our chapter has always had a pulse on what's been going on and we adjust accordingly. It's very thoughtful, it's very strategic, there's always a budget that's adhered to it. It's kind of like clockwork, to be quite honest. So, I mean, as long as we can continue to sustain that, and give our elders a break, and step up to the plate, I think that's one of the most important things that we're seeing. I mean, you're seeing leaders like Toshiko Hasegawa, just got elected a port commission, that's another avenue worth exploring around clean energy. I mean, we're talking about climate change. That's the, that's also a huge issue. That's a huge movement, and that's also part of the BLM movement. We're also having conversations around -- what was last session that Lillian Ortiz-Self had introduced a piece of legislation that got passed to ban private facilities, detention facility centers. And so seeing Northwest Detention Center and having allyship with like, modern Maru Mora-Villalpando and... what is... I forget the name, she calls it something else now, what is it? Her organization, do you remember Bill?

BT: I can't... you mean the Spanish name? Like La...

HP: La Resistencia. [Laughs] I can never say that word.

BS: Is it La Resistencia?

HP: I'm sorry.

BT: That's it. Yeah, because Stan is always down there.

HP: Yes, I love Stan.

BT: Tsuru for Solidarity is always down there. JACL is always down there.

HP: Yeah, actually what's really funny is that -- talk about like weird community stuff like how tiny this town is -- so, I had finally written an email like a couple months ago being like, I really need to get out of Twitter and getting to do volunteer for Twitter because I just started a new job at the teacher's union American Federation of Teachers. And it was so weird because I was like, "Okay, thanks, Stan. I really loved being able to do that for a while. I'm going to see Tracy later. So bye." And then I saw Tracy, I saw her like two days ago. So that's kind of... it's funny that I get to offset...

BT: Was Tracy in Washington?

HP: She's with AFT. She's not with WEA. Everybody gets that confused. I still don't understand. It's only been two months on this job, but whatever. They're like, "Oh, we're going to session. Have fun." It's like I don't know what's going on. But yeah, it'll be... it's nice to still be connected. Always tethered to JACL in that there are people I haven't seen in so long. Tracy actually was, when I first came to Seattle, my first organizing job was with ROAR.

BT: Raise Our Asian Representation.

HP: Which is a terrible name. ROAR?

BT: Raise Our Asian Representation.

HP: Raise our API Representation, so terrible. So glad that changed. But she was on the board of ROAR. And so, I got to know her and Akemi. And I know Akemi, she's not here anymore, right? She's in Cali?

BT: Half the time she's here, half the time she's in LA.

HP: Okay, yeah. And who else? Wasn't there, George? And the Nanette? Nanette Faulk was a part of that. So, it was... it's sort of weird. Kind of had that, a lot of full circle moments, even during a pandemic, right. It's pretty incredible.

BS: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. And thank you for your insight on that. That's really helpful and interesting to me as well.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2021 Seattle Chapter JACL. All Rights Reserved.