Overnighter to DC 2010

I went to Washington D.C. on Thursday morning and came back on Friday night.  I was there to meet with fellow grantees from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.  It was a much different experience from 6 1/2 years ago when I went to DC.  Very nice, unseasonably warm weather.  I stayed near Georgetown so I was able to walk there for dinner. There was a Trader Joe's there that I walked inside just to check it out.  No problems with parking as I would expect from Trader Joe's because there isn't any.  Everyone there looked like a young professional, no shopping carts, everyone had a hand-basket for their things--I guess everyone lives within walking distance.  I walked over a mile looking for a place to get a good healthy salad and never found anything.  I ended up at a fancy Indian restaurant for some so-so Indian food. 

On Friday morning, two fellow grantees and I, shared a cab over to the Barbara Bush Foundation's office for their Grantee Training for the 2010-2011 grantees.  We were able to meet the other grantees from around the country.  Our Little Tokyo Service Center Family Literacy program was 1 of 9 (and the only one from the West Coast) from across the country that was awarded this year!

We were each asked to make a 10 minute presentation of our program, so I put together a Powerpoint to describe all the various aspects of our Family Literacy program.  After lunch, we were able to break up into small groups to talk about things like Recruitment, Retention, Sustainability, Curriculum, Program Design and Assessments.

It was very cool to learn about and meet (mostly) women who run these inspiring Family Literacy programs from urban neighborhoods in places like Chicago and Miami, to very rural communities like the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Northern Michigan, and the Dakotas.

Our meeting finished relatively early so with my map (and my rolling suitcase) I walked over to the White House.  I wanted to see if I could see Michelle Obama's organic vegetable garden on the South Lawn.  I was able to see it, but from a pretty far distance (it's behind me to my right at the corner of the photo).  I went to the White House Visitor's Center eager to find info about the First (Black) Family in the White House-- but was disappointed to find that it is really an outdated historical display with no sign or mention of the Obama's.  The most recent stuff I saw was from the Eisenhower years.  Lots of stuff about the building and gardens in the early days.  I was able to find some Obama stuff for my daughter Maiya at a t-shirt vendor parked a few blocks from the White House--an Obama family postcard and key chain for $1.25.  I also went over to Lafayette Park and found Conchita still there--she has been the White House's closest resident since 1981.  Same signs and photos from my first trip in 2004.

It was a long commute trip for just one night.  But all in all, a productive trip to D.C.

We Can. We Will. (NBPM#17)

I post this in solidarity with UCLA students arrested and even tasered while protesting a 32% fee hike today. As background, I wrote this poem back in the depressing days of Bush in office, before I had ever heard of Barack Obama and his "Yes, We Can" slogan, after attending the 2007 Manzanar Pilgrimage and Manzanar After Dark program.
We Can. We Will.
dedicated to and inspired by mari, traci & tad

Today in the sun, my 2 year old ate watermelon and collected rocks at Manzanar. Too hot for a 2 year old, I thought. Tonight, After Dark, I witnessed the passion, heat & intensity of 250 people both young and old, eager to learn, hear, share, speak, heal…

Then later in the after-madness, I heard my sistah Mari say:

The president is never going to listen. To. Me.

Maybe not.

But We.
We have power.
We can change things.
We have the power.
We can start a boycott.
We can start ethnic studies.
We can rise up in the fields.
We can sit down at the front of the bus.
Not because we’re tired, but because enough is enough.
We can stop a jail in Little Tokyo.
We can fight redress.
We can write a poem.
We can make a film.
We can write a column.
We can. We will. We have the will.
We can start a letter writing campaign.
We can do our own petition. Online, myspace, mass email, in the paper.
We can organize the students, Nikkei, JA, Hapa, Latino/a, Chicano/a, Black, Muslims, gay, straight, transgender.

Mari also said:
It’s not just me.
There are a lot more people like me behind me.
They’re going to come here.
They’re going to be asking questions.

(It’s not a threat. It’s a fact.)

We have the power. We have the Baka guts*.
We can. We will.

4/29/07
manzanar, ca.

* Baka guts in reference to Manzanar Committee Chair Sue Kunitomi Embrey's family phrase about having the courage and guts to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what it is (baka in Japanese is stupid/idiot).

(NaBloPoMo#17)

Grace on Living for Change (#29)

Maiya Grace with Big Grace in April 2007

Here is an excerpt from Grace Lee Bogg's new article in the Michigan Citizen (Nov. 30-Dec. 6):

"Two weeks ago in my first post- election column, I wrote that I will not be among those organizing or participating in protest demonstrations against Obama’s actions or inactions, trying to hold his feet to the fire. Neither will I wear a hair shirt, regretting that I voted for Obama instead of Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney whose policies are more in line with mine.

That is because my support for Obama was never based on his policies or promises which, with few exceptions, are not that different from those of other Democrats. From the outset my eyes were on the people at his rallies, especially the youth who, inspired by his persona and his eloquence, shed the fears instilled by the Nixons, Reagans and Bushes since the 60s and, imbued with a new hope, began organizing on his behalf.

For me, not just Obama’s victory but that transformation of “we the people” from Fear to Hope, from passivity to activity, from looking on as spectators to participating as citizens was what was so historic about this period.

As I wrote last week, “Every time Barack insisted that it was not about him but about us, we were reminded of our potential for becoming a better people and a better country. When he talked about change we can believe in, and we shouted back “Yes we can,” we were discovering the room for growth in ourselves.”

Now that the campaign is over, let’s not turn all our attention to the Oval Office, constantly comparing Obama and his actions or inactions with FDR and the New Deal, refusing to face the reality that our time is not the 30s. and forgetting the millions who were transformed during the campaign and who need to continue this process of transformation into active citizens if we are to save our planet and ourselves.

Instead of throwing billions at the economy in order to get our financial system working again, we need to take steps, however small to begin with, towards creating a local sustainable economy that enables us to work, eat, and take care of our families, bring the neighbor back into the ‘hood. and slow down global warming. Together we can create a local food system, local health clinics, local safety and security committees – and happiness."

Dear Barack (#15)

President-Elect Obama (now that has a nice ring to it) is hard at work getting this country back on track, but he’s counting on input from all of us. I just signed a congratulations card to Barack Obama from MomsRising - Breadmakers and Breadwinners.

I also wrote in to share my vision for where President-Elect Obama should lead the country. Here's a note and the photo that I sent to Barack Obama tonight. It's not real eloquent, but it is from the heart and from the top of my head.

Dear Barack Obama:

Congratulations! Continue with the ideas that together we can help to change social policies for families. End the War in Iraq and find ways to help save the planet. Continue to listen to women and families. It's not just the middle class, but low-income families in our cities and rural areas around the country that need a change, to survive and thrive. Also, I'm sure you know about Prop. 8. in California. We need your help to repeal Prop.8 for marriage equality. Best wishes to you and your beautiful family in your new job!

Jenni

Now here's your chance to give your input, from the bottom up: http://www.change.gov/yourvision

Coming Soon on NaBloPoMo #16-#30: Joy's Red Egg & Ginger party and HomeWalk 5K for Homeless from earlier today. Still on the back blogger: Zoe & Rockett's Bday, Kyle's Bday, Granny Franny & Zeyde Don's visit... and more.

Sweet victory, bitter disappointment (#5)

Image and t-shirt design: Mike Murase

Never have I felt so emotional on election night... we have a new president! So happy for Barack Obama, his beautiful family, and all the people who believe in the message of hope and change. He sure has his work cut out for him after 8 years of Bush's failed administration, years of lies, arrogance and deceptions. But I have hope that Obama will provide leadership and good policies for the next 4 years. I hope that he can end the war in Iraq, and push through some of his ideas.

There has been a lot of talk about the first African American president and people's amazement at "never thought I'd see the day" is really touching. But I also like to think of my new president as a Hapa dude from Hawai'i who grew up eating Botan rice candy and has an Asian American sister named Maya! They never say that in the media, why not? :)

But, the night was also tinged with bitter disappointment in 52% of Californians who voted for Prop (H)8. It is completely inconceivable to me that people would vote to eliminate rights to people to marry, would vote to discriminate against gays and lesbians, would vote to invalidate the union of over 10,000 couples in California since May 2008. We're talking about people's right to get legally married to the people they love. I think even Jesus would have been for marriage equality. I would love to hear from people who voted yes, because I just don't understand it.

Vote tomorrow (#3)

Jenni & Maiya say, "Vote 4 Obama!"

Yesterday was a fun day. We went for cousin Kyle's 6th Bday party at Pump It Up. Maiya had a great time. I gorged on pizza and felt it the rest of the day. Afterwards we went to my mom's house to celebrate me & my brother Darin's bday (40th!) - hopefully someone will share photos since my camera battery was not charged. Maiya had a tantrum of epic proportions that started at my mom's and finished at home. Remind me not to interrupt a nap after going to a party place again. Anyways, it ended with a little laughter and a lot of cuddling. Tomorrow the birthday continues with the Korean Spa with Laura and dinner and shopping with Lily. Well, folks I got lots of backblogging to catch up for NaBloPoMo, so stay tuned after the election.

My Birthday Wish (#2)

Man, I keep thinking that I'm 40, but really as of today, I am 44 years old, born in the same year as Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin. I told Maiya the other day, "You know how you're almost 4? Well I'm almost 44!" She said, "Oh, wow." I still feel 30 and some might say that I look it, although less and less, as I see more and more gray hairs every day. I'm not the skinny mini of my college days, and I seem to injure myself at the gym with some regularity. Anyways, happy 44th to me. You know what I want for my birthday, don't you?

No on 8. Donations to Great Leap. Vote for Barack Obama in 2 days. Not asking for a lot, but asking for everything.



NaBloPoMo#2.

Yes We Carve (NaBloPoMo#1)

Check out the Yes We Carve website. People are posting their Barack-O-Lanterns right and left.

Credit: Amber Koenig-Dehn of Santa Cruz, CA

Oh, and I decided I don't have enough things to stress me out in life and I really needed some more things for my To Do List, so I decided to do NaBloPoMo08 again this year, which means that I will be blog posting every day this November for National Blog Posting Month. I must be nucking futs.

Obama: Surreal tonight

Obama's speech tonight in Denver was incredible. It really blew me away. On the 45th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. The crowd in the stadium was unbelievable and amazing. If you didn't see or hear it, I've linked the text of the speech above.

"Change happens because the American people demand it – because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time."

Peace. Out. Vote.

Michelle Reads Olivia!

Here's an AP Photo of Michelle Obama reading "Olivia," one of Maiya's favorite books!

Here's an article about her. I'd be so happy to see her family in the White House.

Twittering my day away

I made a To Do list, 2 pages long of things I need to do, including taxes, house stuff, Manzanar, Great Leap, JACS, etc. I did nothing today. I did spend much of the day reading Obama - The Audacity of Hope. It's got me feeling inspired.

I also hung out with Maiya in the backyard. At the moment, she is napping. I also spent way too much time on Twitter. You can see it on the column at right.

On another note, happy 41st to TonyO!

If Preschoolers Could Vote...

Wednesday night at dinner:
MG: Mommy, I don't like Barack Obama.
JK: Really? Why not? I like him.
MG: I don't like him.
JK: Oh. Well do you like Hillary Clinton?
MG: No.
JK: Uhhh... (pause) do you like John McCain?
MG: No, I don't like him either.
(Jenni and Tony let out a sigh of relief and look at each other across the table.)
JK: Oh ok, well maybe you like Cynthia McKinney? Daddy voted for her.
MG: No.
JK: Well, who do you like?
MG: AUNTIE KEIKO!!!! (Big smile)

Hahahahahaha.

Thursday morning:
As we're running out the door, Maiya pulls the newspaper out which is sitting on the end table and opened to a photo of Barack Obama pointing and speaking.
MG: Mommy, I don't like Barack Obama.
JK: Why? He's running for President. I voted for him.
MG: He is a bad man. His eyes are mean.
JK: Maiya, his eyes look like that because he's talking about Hope and Change.

I mean, really where does this come from? Too much background TV? Kids at preschool? Honestly she caught me off guard that she even recognized his picture in the paper. Yesterday was the first time I ever talked to her about him, when I was showing her his myspace page. Well, I guess I have to take a deep breath and be proud that my child will have thoughts and ideas that are different from mine, but I really didn't think it would be the 2008 Presidential primaries. I better get to work on some age-appropriate politicking, so she can make an informed preschooler's decision.

Here's Barack Obama's stand on Education. It's actually pretty refreshing.

FWIW

For what it's worth, I took a little quiz, and this is who they say I should vote for based on my responses of the issues. Never heard of Mike Gravel before, but a quick glance at his website confirms that the quiz is fairly accurate for me.

84% Mike Gravel
82% Dennis Kucinich
72% Barack Obama
71% John Edwards
68% Joe Biden
67% Chris Dodd
66% Hillary Clinton
65% Bill Richardson
38% Rudy Giuliani
33% Ron Paul
33% John McCain
29% Mike Huckabee
26% Mitt Romney
14% Tom Tancredo
14% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

On another completely unrelated note, there is a new show on Nickelodeon about a Chinese American preschooler that starts in February. We don't have cable, but it will be interesting to see if it's a good show or not. It's called Ni Hao, Kai-Lan.