JACL Honolulu’s QUILT Fellowship Program: Building Innovative Leaders of Tomorrow

JACL Honolulu’s QUILT Fellowship Program’s inaugural cohort will begin gathering in January 2024. Through the QUILT Fellowship, selected fellows will connect with civil rights advocates, social justice activists and other community leaders. Fellows will attend workshops from January 2024 to April 2024 where they will learn skills in board service, community organizing, grant writing, and project implementation. 

Fellows will work closely with JACL facilitators to prepare detailed plans for capstone projects. They will then work on individual or group projects, 3-12 months in duration, to forward the JACL Honolulu chapter’s commitment to civil rights and social justice. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend for their participation in the fellowship as well as funding for their individual or group projects. Individual and group projects will be presented at the 2024 JACL Honolulu annual gala.

How can you help?

We welcome your support of our efforts to build the next generation of community leaders. You may make a donation at Givebutter or by emailing us at JACLHon@gmail.com.

This program was made possible in part by long-time supporter, social justice advocate, and textile artist Ellen Godbey Carson.  She has donated one-of-a-kind quilts, pictured here. These beautiful quilts were lovingly designed and made from dozens of vintage kimono silks and fabrics she collected. More information on how to obtain these one-of-a-kind quilts will be provided at the 2023 Distinguished Service Awards Gala, Saturday, November 18, 2023; by emailing JACLHon@gmail.com or at our Givebutter site.

***Each quilt has a sleeve on the upper back side to easily hang the quilt.  For longevity of your quilt, keep it out of direct sunlight and do not wash it (dry clean only).

(1) Murasaki (immediately below)  Medium (26”w x 34”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics has a cacophony of purples and violets, including flowers, fans, birds, arrows and intricate shibori fabrics.

(2) Kouyou (autumn leaves) (immediately below) – Medium (30”w x 35”h), this collage of small pieces of lovely vintage kimono fabrics celebrates the beauty of autumn, including flowers,  flying cranes, people in the past, and intricate shibori fabrics.

 (3) Ikigai (Joy in life) (immediately below) – Small (25”w x 35”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics evokes the purpose and joy in life, and includes flowers, flying cranes, and intricate shibori fabrics. 

 (4) Murasaki (immediately below) – Medium (26”w x 33”h) – this collage of small kimono fabrics has a cacophony of violets and purples, including flowers and intricate shibori fabrics.

(5) Ikigai (joy in life) (red & white, immediately below) – Medium (27”w x 35”h) – this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics evokes the sense of purpose and joy in life.  Its 16 squares depict a kimono of red and white auspicious patterns, including folding fans, flying cranes, kanji characters, gold leaf, floral, arrows, and intricate shibori fabrics.

(6) Ikigai (joy in life) (black & red, immediately below) – Medium (27”w x 35”h) – this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics evokes the sense of purpose and joy in life.  Its 16 squares depict a kimono of black and red auspicious patterns, including waves, people in the past, kanji characters, foliage and intricate shibori fabrics. 

(7) Ikigai (joy in life) (immediately below) – Medium (27”w x 35”h) – this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics evokes the sense of purpose and joy in life.  Its 16 squares depict a kimono of black and red auspicious patterns, including waves, flying cranes, mari balls, kanji characters, arrows, and intricate shibori fabrics. 

(8) Ikigai (joy in life) (immediately below) – Medium (27”w x 35”h) – this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics evokes the sense of purpose and joy in life.  Its 16 squares depict a kimono of black and red auspicious patterns, including waves, flying cranes, forest scenery, kanji characters, flowers, village scenery, hand-stitched gold embroidery, and many intricate shibori fabrics.

(9) Ikigai (joy in life) (immediately below) – Medium (27”w x 35”h) – this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics evokes the sense of purpose and joy in life.  Its 16 squares depict a kimono of black and red auspicious patterns, including waves, folding fans, kanji characters, flowers, gold flake, and intricate shibori fabrics.

(10) Samurai (immediately below) – Medium (32”w x 42”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics recalls the honor of the samurai, with many fabrics from men’s kimono, scenes of Mt. Fuji, scenes from old village characters, dragons, calligraphy, birds, eggplant, bamboo sculpture, and intricate shibori fabrics. 

(11) Ikigai (joy in life) (immediately below) – Small (28”w x 40”h) this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics celebrates long life and success, with striking red, black and white colors, and includes calligraphy, mari balls, folding fans and intricate shibori fabrics.

(12) Murasaki (immediately below) – Medium (31”w x 44”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics has a cacophony of purposes and violets, including flowers, temple and garden scenes, origami cranes and intricate shibori fabrics.

(13) Kouyou (autumn leaves) (immediately below) – Medium (31”w x 41”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics celebrates the beauty of autumn, including flowers, maple leaves, flying birds, a temple and intricate shibori fabrics.  

(14) Kouyou (autumn leaves) (immediately below) – Medium (31”w x 40”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics celebrates the beauty of autumn, including flowers, maple leaves, flying cranes (tsuru), and intricate shibori fabrics. 

(15) I’ve Got the Blues for Japan (immediately below) – Medium (31”w x 40”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics has a cacophony of blues, including Mt. Fuji, village life, peacock feathers, ocean waves, and intricate shibori fabrics.

(16) Murasaki – Medium (31”w x 46”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics has a cacophony of purples and violets, including flowers, grapes, an embroidered obi, and intricate shibori fabrics.

(17) Arashi (stormy) – Medium (31”w x 42”h), this collage of lovely vintage kimono fabrics has gray and maroon colors, flowers, a geisha, and intricate shibori fabrics.

Recap: A Decade After 9/11

On September 10, 2011, JACL-Honolulu Chapter and Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii held a special event, “A Decade After 9/11: Acknowledging the Harms, Learning the Lessons, and Shaping the Future.” Event co-sponsors included ACLU of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Peace and Justice, Hawaii People’s Fund, and NAACP Hawaii.

The forum opened with an invocation by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong of First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, followed by a video presentation of the 2003 Day of Remembrance, produced and directed by Cynthia Gates Fujikawa. A panel discussion was moderated by attorney Ellen Godbey Carson and featured Hakim Ouansafi of the Muslim Association of Hawai‘i, author Tom Coffman, and UH law professor Mari J. Matsuda.

Mr. Ouansafi spoke about his experiences as a Muslim American after 9/11 and noted the better experiences of Muslims in Hawai‘i compared to the experiences on the mainland. Mr. Ounsafi attributed much of it to the lasting sad memories here of the wrongful persecution and ensuing incarceration of over 300 Hawai‘i Japanese (aliens and Americans) in camps in Hawai‘i and over 1500 in mainland camps during World War II. Mr. Coffman discussed his research on ethnic relations in Hawaii before World War II and the role of inter-ethnic social connections as a way to greater understanding and respect. Prof. Matsuda spoke about the critical need for more education and dialogue in the areas of economic justice, religions, and peace.

KITV Coverage of 9/11 Event

Hawai‘i Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

Last October, President Obama awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM), the nation’s highest civilian award, to the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service. A ceremony is being planned in Washington, DC to honor these veterans. Another ceremony will be held locally for those unable to travel to Washington.

The Hawai‘i ceremony is tentatively planned for December 17 & 18. Information will be posted on our website as it becomes available. For more information on the Washington ceremony, go to www.nationalveteransnetwork.com.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE*

SATURDAY, December 17
10:00 or 10:30 am – Parade through Waikiki
12:00 to 2:00 pm – CGM Banquet at the Hawai‘ i Convention Center
SUNDAY, December 18
Morning – service at Punchbowl to honor veterans who have already passed

* There will be a formal announcement following the approval of the CGM Events Joint Resolution by Congress.

A Decade After 9/11

 

Acknowledging the Harms, Learning the Lessons & Shaping the Future

Saturday, September 10 • 10 am – 12 noon

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i

 
Presented by JACL-Honolulu and the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. Please join us to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11 with a video presentation and speaker panel with Hakim Ouansafi (Muslim Association of Hawai‘i), Tom Coffman (author, The Island Edge of America) and Mari J. Matsuda (Professor of Law, William S. Richardson School of Law), facilitated by Ellen Godbey Carson (JACL member and attorney). The panel will explore the experiences of the Muslim American community in Hawai‘i, racial tensions during wartime, and current events related to social justice.

All are welcome. Admission is free; refreshments served. RSVP is not required, but we would appreciate it for a head count. Please email jaclhon@gmail.com.