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Tokyo Service Center News - March 2010 |
| An Office With a Great View by Bill Watanabe |
Are you one of the shrinking numbers of persons who haven't seen Avatar yet? Maybe you are holding out - but after having seen it, I have to say the movie is a true "game-changer" in the field of special effects and a really "new" viewing experience.
| The story reminded me a little of "Dances With Wolves" meets the "Whale Rider"! The "little guys" in this story are the indigenous inhabitants on a far-away planet (who are actually blue humanoid creatures about 15 feet tall!) who live in simple harmony with nature. The "big bad guys" are the powerful forces who want to push the little guys out of the way in order to grab the mineral riches lying beneath their homes. And a hero arrives to rescue the natives - this is a somewhat old and familiar story line so nothing really new here. |
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But as I was watching the film, I sensed a connection with the story because of our efforts to preserve our neighborhoods against powerful economic forces. I thought about how we are working every day to empower people to improve their lives. I wondered how do we, as part of the "little guys" in our community, overcome the powerful threats represented by unwanted gentrification and not get pushed out of the way?
The movie has a happy ending for the tall blue Navi people. With the help of our many friends and supporters, I hope our real-life struggles will also have many happy endings! |
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| How Your Support Makes a Difference |
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Angelina Preschool Parents Get Involved
Ed Reyes at Temple Beaudry meeting. |
In January 2009 when 4 year old Roberto Lopez, Jr. was murdered in his Echo Park neighborhood, the reality of gang violence hit close to home. “Robertito,” as he was affectionately called, had just started attending LTSC’s Angelina Preschool with his sister Janet.
Angelina Preschool is located in the Angelina Apartments, an affordable family housing project built and managed by LTSC. Angelina Preschool staff and parents quickly organized, gathering donations in shoeboxes to help the family with funeral expenses. LA City Councilmember Ed Reyes’ office organized the Temple Beaudry Community Group to provide information about services and encourage the community to get involved in their neighborhood. |
Since last year, mothers from the Angelina Preschool’s Family Literacy program have gotten involved in the community meetings, met with local police officers, toured LA City Hall, and were recognized at a recent City Council meeting. A few weeks ago, the Temple Beaudry Community Group held a meeting in the Angelina Community Room, commemorating the one-year anniversary of Roberto’s death. Through this tragedy, Angelina Preschool parents have become more aware of their role in creating a better neighborhood for their families.
LTSC thanks Councilmember Ed Reyes’ office for their ongoing support and concern for the Angelina community. |
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| Did You Know? |
Did you know that there’s a “White Day” in Japan that follows Valentine’s Day?
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Valentine’s Day in Japan is celebrated by females who present homemade chocolate gifts to males as an expression of love. There are various chocolates given on that day- “Honmei-Choco” is reserved for the “special one” and “Giri-Choco” or courtesy chocolate is given to bosses, co-workers, friends and family.
In 1978, the National Confectionary Industry Association created “White Day” on March 14th as an “answer day” to Valentine’s Day. On White Day, men reciprocate with gifts (chocolate or otherwise) to their honmei and giri-choco givers.
Happy White Day!! |
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| Save the Date: LTSC's 30th Anniversary Celebration Bash |
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| LTSC is Turning 30! |
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To commemorate LTSC’s 30th Anniversary, we will be featuring a piece of our history each month in this space.
| In 1998 LTSC completed renovations to The Union Center for the Arts. One of the earliest Japanese American Christian church structures built in Los Angeles, this church was a community center for many Japanese pioneers to Southern California, and also served as a gathering site for Japanese and Japanese Americans being taken to World War II internment centers. In the 1970’s, the church congregation relocated and the aging building suffered in the ensuing years from neglect. After the $3.5 million renovation the old church is now home to the nationally renowned East West Players Theater, which has featured many acclaimed shows, attracts over 30,000 visitors annually and contributes greatly to the nightlife of Little Tokyo. The Center also houses a thriving art gallery and the nonprofit Visual Communications media group. |
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| The Ahmanson Foundation Helping LTSC Preserve Affordable Housing |
The Professional Housing and Development Apartments “PHD Apartments” is an 84-unit apartment complex in the Koreatown area that provides affordable housing for low-income families. Affordable housing in Koreatown is becoming scarce. So when Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC) found out that PHD Apartments was in danger of losing its affordability they approached LTSC. The owner of the project had an expiring contract with HUD to subsidize rents for low-income residents, and they intended to end the subsidies. To save the affordability of these units, LTSC and KYCC took on the project.
Assembling the financing for this project was especially challenging during the current economic crisis – and at the crucial moment, the Ahmanson Foundation came through with a generous grant to complete the financing we needed. The Ahmanson Foundation serves Los Angeles County by funding cultural projects in the arts and humanities, education at all levels, health care, programs related to homelessness and underserved populations as well as a wide range of human services. By supporting non-profit organizations that demonstrate sound fiscal management, efficient operation, and program integrity, the Foundation strives to enhance the quality of life and cultural legacy of the Los Angeles community.
LTSC would like to thank The Ahmanson Foundation for its dedication to helping preserve affordable housing in Los Angeles. |
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| February Donors – Thank You for Your Support! |
Donations received through February 23, 2010.
Icy & Janey Hasama
Janice Hibino
Vivian Isaradharm
Henry Itow
Joanne Kato
Emiko Kawamura
June Kuramoto
Cheung Li
Kojiro "Happy" Mizutani
Dean Okamura
Eric Scheetz
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Junko Chuman Thompson
Isami Tsuji
Keith Umemoto
Gary & Marsha Watanabe
Susie Wong
Ken & Sandra Yamashiro
Etsuko Yoshioka
In-Kind Donations
Y Furuya |
Please donate now. Your generosity will be acknowledged in next month's LTSCene.
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| Donate Your Old Car |
| Unwanted cars that are donated to LTSC bring critical funding to LTSC's services. We will pick up cars in almost any condition in LA and Orange Counties. Proceeds are tax deductible for the donor and can be significant even if the car is old or not running! The call takes less than 5 minutes and contributes to helping our many clients. Contact Mickie at (213) 473-1613 or MOkamoto@LTSC.org to donate. |
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| Ways to Help LTSC |
In making a donation to LTSC, you can:
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• Make a donation in memory of a loved one
• Make a donation in honor of someone’s birthday or graduation
• Make a stock donation
• Host a fundraiser to benefit LTSC |
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Donate Online, over the phone or via traditional mail.
Contact: Mickie Okamoto
MOkamoto@LTSC.org
(213) 473-1613 |
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