June 7, 2017 International Examiner

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

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June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 1

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Frank Irigon honored by King County Council for four decades of social justice activism

By Chetanya Robinson IE Assistant Editor On May 22, long time activist and community leader Frank Irigon was presented the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service by the King County Council that honors people who have improved the lives of communities in King County. At the beginning of his brief speech at the podium, Irigon said he was proud to have served in jail in 1980 in the very same building—the same place where Gordon Hirabayashi was jailed in 1942 for resisting the forced incarceration of Japanese citizens after World War II (and who in May this year, was honored by a plaque in the King County Courthouse).

In 1980, Irigon was arrested and jailed for protesting what he saw as a racist admissions policy by the UW—but his career in social activism spans both before and afterwards. Born in the Philippines and brought to Washington at a young age, Irigon served in the military and used the GI Bill to attend college, eventually earning BA and MSW degrees from the University of Washington. At the UW, Irigon was the first Asian American student to serve on the UW student government (ASUW).

While a student activist in the early 1970s, he advocated for the CID community and API issues, including demonstrating for low-income housing in the neighborhood,

Frank Irigon presented with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service by King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski on May 22, 2017. • Photo by Chetanya Robinson

against the Vietnam war and against the construction of the Kingdome in the neighborhood, among other issues.

In a 2013 column in the International Examiner, Irigon wrote: “I was radicalized by the idealism of the Kennedy brothers, fueled by the anger of students against the Establishment.”

Irigon co-founded and frequently wrote for the Asian Family Affair newspaper

during its 14-year run. He recently served as executive director of Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse.

Now retired, Irigon continues to fight for social justice issues such as income equality, equity in the justice system, public education and racial justice.

Around 60 people filled the council chambers to honor Irigon and other

recipients of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal. Councilmember Rod Dembowski, who represents Council District 1, introduced Irigon and presented him with the award.

“There are few more deserving of this honor than Frank, known to many as Uncle Frank,” Dembowski said. “He is a tireless advocate, a humble agitator, who is quick to raise his voice to call out injustice. While Frank is well known in the Asian Pacific Islander American community for his work, many King County residents have been positively impacted by his constant diligence in protecting our civil rights.”

In a brief speech, Irigon addressed the current political climate and what it means for his 40 years of activism.

“I am a U.S. citizen and served our country honorably in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968,” he said. “But all of this means nothing in today’s political climate, where I can be stopped because of the color of my skin or my last name.”

Irigon urged people to keep in mind the words of Pope Francis, who while speaking about the crisis of migrants and refugees said: “We cannot lose our sense of fraternal responsibility. The defense of human beings knows no barriers. We are all united in wanting to ensure a dignified life for every man, woman and child who is forced to abandon his or her own land.”

CIDBIA has plans for renewal, Residents, affordable housing advocates raise concerns over CID upzone at city hall seven-day sanitation, new lighting

By Cliff Cawthon IE Contributor

and large concerned about displacement in the neighborhood.

On the evening of June 1, residents and advocates from the ChinatownInternational District packed the City Council chambers to voice their concerns over the proposed Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) Upzoning plan. The 5:30 p.m. public comment period—more accessible to many—brought a diverse and wide-ranging crowd, who were by

The proposal put forth before the City Council’s committee would further upzone parts of the CID neighborhood while implementing the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements under the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA). Residents were concerned that the changes UPZONE: Continued on page 5 . . .

By Kamna Shastri IE Contributor

This summer, the Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) will submit a renewed budget proposal that will help shape the neighborhood as it works towards a more vibrant future. The renewed plan for the CIDBIA’s budget and goals is years in the making. Established in 1994, the organization has provided funding for neighborhood events, sanitation upkeep, and public safety measures.

owners, non-profit leaders, and residents— met to reflect on the neighborhood’s goals and urgent issues facing the district. A few areas of focus rose to the top of the neighborhood’s list of priorities: sanitation, public safety, marketing the district, and business retention and community advocacy.

In the seven years since, strides have been made in many areas with the help of grants and sponsorships; lighting has been added to dark alleys, security cameras have been installed, business vacancies have decreased by 5%, street signs have been translated into In 2010, stakeholders in the community— multiple languages—improvements that have everyone from local businesses, property

CIDBIA: Continued on page 5 . . .

2 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE OPINION

Understand what socialism means for some Asian immigrants

By Sian Wu Guest Columnist It’s something we see often here in Seattle—candidates and parties embracing socialism, particularly while riding the very valid and important movements in resistance to Trump. But as socialist themes become popular tropes and codes for ultra-liberal, I can’t help but face it with a healthy dose of skepticism.

While many other young social activists might have a dimmer memory when it comes to socialism when put into widescale practice, many of us with Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian backgrounds are much closer to Socialism’s history of leading to oppression. The Communist governments born out of socialism have often led to government-first policies and wars that sacrificed the lives of many civilians.

The memories are still fresh. Sometimes 1970s, 1980s-fresh.

Will the child of a Chinese immigrant, who saw all the earthly possessions of her parents and grandparents thrown out into the street, teachers mocked and put on display and even killed for voicing dissent, want to sign up for a party with the same philosophy? Or maybe you aren’t trying to recruit them anyway.

When people talk about the need for increased benefits and the need to take care of all people, from all classes, and curb corporate abuses, that doesn’t have to equal socialism. At the same time, the United States has already benefited from many policies and programs based inpart on socialist thinking. But in order for progressives to be truly inclusive, and engage all of us in a productive political conversation, we need to understand the collective histories of immigrants’ home countries and associations with political philosophies.

Understand that recent lived experiences and horrible memories will result in specific associations with a political party. Being able to choose socialism as your philosophy of choice is inherently a

IE STAFF

Established in 1974, the International Examiner is the only non-profit pan-Asian and Pacific Islander American media organization in the country. Named after the International District in Seattle, the “IE” strives to create awareness within and for our APA communities. 409 Maynard Ave. S. #203, Seattle, WA 98104. (206) 624-3925. iexaminer@iexaminer.org.

privilege from living in a free and demoI also see a problem with the forcratic society. profit, capitalist model, where the U.S. Understand that undoing that shell of government can reap billions of dollars nationalism and loyalty to a charismatic in profits from interest off student loans.

Communist leader can take years, even Where corporations can sell junk food, decades to break apart. Living in the prescription drugs and fossil fuels at United States, it’s possible that pursuing the detriment of public well-being. entrepreneurship and a better standard But for the Seattle progressives who of living for one’s kids and grandkids are flippantly using socialist symbols accelerates that process. That’s a good in protest signs, I wonder how many thing, but becomes confusing when a of you know a family who was ripped new Americanized brand of socialism is apart by the Korean War or have spoken to Chinese immigrants who lost family touted as the best path forward. members to famine or work camps, and Even more baffling is when American are struggling to understand their own society romanticizes socialism, or at history after decades of propaganda? least a particular era of communist or I did rally on May 1 in solidarity socialist history—without full knowledge with the working class and laborers of of the connotations and associations.

For example, there’s a trendy Chinese the past and present from all over the restaurant in Portland called “Danwei world who have built the U.S. Socialists Canting, co-owned by James Kyle, who and socialist-leaning progressives. This spent some time living in Beijing. The danwei is a “work unit”—a way for Communist China to organize urban residents and government-controlled housing, schooling, health care and, yes, food. The system also required citizens to obtain permission from their danwei to travel, marry, and divorce and enforced the one-child policy—power that wasn’t lifted until the early 2000s. What does this restaurant have to do with the oppressive system from which it took its name?

Nothing, and that’s the problem.

Similarly, it’s common for people to plaster Che Guevara’s face on T-shirts and posters as a ubiquitous symbol for revolution and progressiveness. But how many people actually know anything about his history, what he did and his impact? Do they one hundred percent agree with his philosophy and actions?

Or do they just like his face as a symbol because it looks trendy?

EDITOR IN CHIEF Travis Quezon ASSISTANT EDITOR Chetanya Robinson

COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER Lexi Potter

COPY EDITOR Anna Carriveau

lexi@iexaminer.org

BUSINESS MANAGER Ellen Suzuki finance@iexaminer.org

CVA COORDINATORS Ngoc Dinh Heidi Park

editor@iexaminer.org

news@iexaminer.org

ARTS EDITOR Alan Chong Lau arts@iexaminer.org

CONTRIBUTORS Cliff Cawthon Kamna Shastri Sian Wu Aya Bisbee Linda Ando Devin Cabanilla

Correction In the May 17, 2017 article, “Mayoral race crowded, Murray makes way,” the last name of Washington State Rep. Jessyn Farrell was mispelled.

The IE regrets the error.

Filmmaker Daïchi Saïto at Cafe Presse the night before his show at Northwest Film Forum in April 2017. Before turning to experimental cinema, Saïto was a student of literature and philosophy in the United States and of Hindi and Sanskrit in India, and the influence of these interests can be detected throughout his transfixing body of film work.

Originally from Japan, but resident in Montréal for more than a decade, Saïto has become a force to be reckoned with since turning to avantgarde cinema, not only as a filmmaker but also as a curator, a teacher, an author (his first book, Moving the Sleeping Images of Things Towards the Light, was published in 2013), and as the co-founder of Montréal artist collective Double Negative. • Courtesy Photo

The idea that an American or European-style of socialism is inherently better—more reasonable, more common sense—implies disempowerment and the demonization of Asian governments and people in general.

IE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ron Chew, President Gary Iwamoto, Secretary Arlene Oki, At-Large Jordan Wong, At-Large Edgar Batayola, At-Large Lexie Rodriguez, At-Large Peggy Lynch, At-Large Nam Le, At-Large

isn’t a missive against your efforts, your ideals, and your work. I’m just pleading with you—if you want to boost your numbers, diversify your base and include Asian immigrants and their families among your constituency, put some effort into understanding the stories and the histories from which they are fleeing.

You may need to change your messages, your look, your name, if you want to reach all of us.

Melissa Hellmann Nina Baldwin Sharon H. Chang Brenda Neth Roxanne Ray Yayoi Winfrey Laura Bernstein DISTRIBUTORS Joshua Kelso Makayla Dorn Maryross Olanday Rachtha Danh Antonia Dorn Kristen Navaluna Kat Punzalan Eli Savitt DIGITAL MEDIA INTERNS Kai Eng Cathy You

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IE COMMUNITY

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

OCA—Greater Seattle board members Connie So (left) and Frank Irigon (right) with renown photographer Corky Lee (middle). The Seattle Public Library, in partnership with OCA, hosted a popup display on May 28, 2017 of Lee’s work at the Central Library. The event was part of a celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month— Lee was also featured as a guest speaker. He discussed his work documenting the Asian American experience, and a selection of images from his exhibit “Chinese Americans: Inclusion/ Exclusion,” which was on display. For almost 40 years, New York based photographer Lee—who refers to himself as the “undisputed unofficial Asian American photographer laureate”—has captured iconic images of Asian Pacific Americans in political movements and social contexts. • Courtesy Photo

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 3

4 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE OPINION

Alex Tizon’s final confession offers reflection on our own history and duplicity

By Devin Israel Cabanilla IE Columnist The following is a commentary on Alex Tizon’s The Atlantic story, “My Family’s Slave.”

As a young historian, I take time to revisit scenes as they were in old Seattle.

Often I try to compare current events to past ones. I’ll also imagine them locally with notable people. In my passing thoughts on the 1950s, I saw a brown guy who was stumbling in town on a damp day of light fog and drizzle.

His breath was labored. He had a lung disease. What little air he had felt extra thick and caustic. The usual bogged aroma of nearby mud on Yesler street barely had a scent for him. The man slowly slumps to the damp ground. One foot goes forward, a dropped knee slides, his face slaps in the pavement—there lay another dishevelled street pauper.

written history on his own family’s experience with Philippine peasantry. His latest and final Atlantic piece is titled “My Family’s Slave.” If you’ve read it, you’ll know about the three generations of his family that exploited a girl in poverty across two countries. Her name was Eudocia Tomas Pulido. More intimately she was called Lola. His family’s livelihood and affluence were lifted on the back of her cultural bondage as a Filipina katulong servant. She served them through adulthood, beaten and unpaid. Without excuses, she was a house slave. Tizon writes of his Lola Eudocia: “She wasn’t kept in leg irons, but she might as well have been.”

Some say Carlos Bulosan was found on the steps of City Hall. I like to believe that my fellow Ilocano man’s struggling steps may have been for one last trip to the library. Bulosan’s obituary printed on September 13, 1956 reads less romantically, his last gasp was at Harborview hospital on the 11th.

Carlos’ life was noted as being a writer of incomplete works, and a child of Philippine peasants.

The Pacific Northwest’s Filipino American community has expressed denial, shock, anger, revulsion, and compassion at Tizon’s personal story. Many Filipinos I have spoken with in recent days protest have said that they have treated their own katulongs warmly and fairly. Others indicate that bondage exists in Filipino society because the West ingrained it into Philippines culture. Yet we forget that there were traditions of indenturement inside the islands before first contact. And Filipinos also speak with firm indignation when Black Americans point in dismay at Tizon’s story and the cultural practice of servants still used by Filipinos. To that I say, “Yes, let people criticize us.”

Other writers since then have made their lives and struggles in Seattle. The late Alex Tizon was one too. In contrast between Bulosan and Tizon, the former is an old hero, and the latter a new pariah. Tizon has shocked us recently with a

It is a terrible duplicity that we carry when we proudly shout and admire the writings of Carlos Bulosan while intentionally ignoring the prose and complicity of Alex Tizon. It is a subjective arrogance I see when we choose one writer’s

highlight on American injustice and fail to feel the memoir of Filipino family crimes against humanity presented by another.

Whether or not katulong servants are culturally distinct and different than chattel slavery does not avert from the fact that it is still a form of exploiting people in poverty. I feel that the truth is, we admire Bulosan because he says idealistically that America’s dream is in our hearts; yet Tizon is derided because he reminds us pessimistically that Filipino hearts are still clutched by nightmares.

Culture has bad and good elements.

For those of us who understand and live in two worlds, especially us Asian Americans, we must decide. Choice is a privilege afforded to us by wealth and American expression. Knowledge is a privilege. We have received and champion the values of feminism, equality, human rights, and environmentalism exposed to us. These values are not exclusive to the West, but we do have the liberty to express them in ways not allowed elsewhere. Culture is not static. Filipino culture is not untouchable, as much as American culture is not. I would ask that people concerned in the wake of Lola’s story not fear the shame of an imperfect cultural practice. Instead, reveal the bad for what it is.

and frustrated me in my recent personal reflections. I don’t feel the hopeful poetry of Bulosan anymore. I feel the fallen muck my Filipino forefathers stood on with their katulongs and utusans at their feet. I am not questioning the validity of non-Filipino arguments anymore. Instead I am looking at the ground. I am looking at who’s back I am standing upon in America. Did I have advantages because my family katulongs afforded us privilege? Am I standing on Bulosan’s body?

Yes. Yes I am.

Lola Eudocia is one among many at the bottom that our world uses in its structure. We stand on the class platform above them. No matter how much time has passed, and how much modern refinement we cultivate, we have not yet cleared away the past culture that entangled us. The people who are left exploited must be sought out, and the katulong practice that we have endeared must be refashioned.

First, we must lay down in humility and find those on the ground who we have not acknowledged are put down serving us. Even Alex Tizon realized this duplicity in his life, if anything his love and regret for Lola are a call for us to fall on our pride and remove this shame.

Tizon and Bulosan both saw what was happening at the bottom to people.

During these past days since the tragic In Memoriam—Eudocia Tomas Pulido. story was published by The Atlantic, we have been confronted by Tizon’s “When they are gone no moon in the unsettled soul and Lola’s bittersweet sky is lucid enough to compare with the fortitude. Like Tizon, the complexity of light they shed when they were among the cultural obligations, modern morality, living.” and generational shame have confused —Carlos Bulosan

Humor, humble, and pride: Making the best of it inside The following is a contribution from the Asian Pacific Islander Group at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, WA. As the Asian Pacific Islander Group (API Group) at Coyote Ridge Correctional Center, we identified four areas that we wanted to write about for this essay: (1) humor, (2) being humble and taking pride in yourself, (3) prison programs, and (4) making the best of any situation. This provides an overview of some of the views and experiences of our group.

A sense of humor is important and is good because it reduces stress. As one of our members said, we don’t want to see any fighting in a family. Everyone needs to be happy in a family and humor helps to make that happen.

Being humble and taking pride in yourself are also important. Being humble means not feeling like you have to prove yourself. It’s a willingness to walk away from a conflict.

At times, even when you know you can win, you choose not to. In prison, being humble also means putting aside former loyalties to gangs or other groups, and finding a more positive brotherhood in the API Group. This

provides us with a family in prison and encourages us to improve ourselves with education and job training.

Taking pride in yourself means respecting the neighborhoods, cultures, and nations that we came from. It is about having love and fond memories of family and friends, like going to the beach in Hawai‘i with a sister and nephews, or going to the bar with your uncles in West Seattle.

The biggest obstacle the API Group faces are policies that prevent some members from taking educational programs in prison.

For example, a person with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer is not allowed to participate in any education activities. We would like all of us to have the opportunity to obtain a GED or associate’s degree and take vocational classes— accounting; welding; graphic design; and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). These classes help the participants in getting a job when released, but also changing the mindset of that individual, being empowered to earn a living instead of being in the streets.

In addition, besides the ICE detainers, inmates with long sentences are also not

allowed to take educational programs because the Department of Corrections feels they will not be able to use the skills acquired from the classes. This policy should be changed because of the way educational programs can help prisoners develop themselves and become more positive members of the prison community.

English language learning courses should also be added. Ultimately, the biggest thing coming from these programs is, as statistics have proven, reducing the recidivism rate of incarcerated felons.

Lastly, when we think about making the best out of any situation, several things come to mind. We believe that we have to be optimistic with what the future holds.

Also, having a better communication with our loved ones will take the pain and stress away. Making the best of the situation is also using our time wisely, having a happy state of mind, and being mindful with our surroundings. Plus, it’s important to keep yourself busy, stay out of the way of the drama and negativity.

Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together (F.I.G.H.T.) was started by a group of Asian & Pacific

Islander (API) men who were at one time incarcerated in the Washington state prison system. F.I.G.H.T. is a direct outgrowth of the organizing that many of us did through different API groups in different prisons. This organizing built deep bonds of unity among us. Together we learned about our own diverse cultures and political histories, life experiences, and perspectives. We also created cultural celebrations featuring various forms of traditional arts, like language, music, and dance.

Upon being released, we stayed committed to continuing to support each other, whether inside or outside of the prison system. We support both current and formerly incarcerated APIs through mentoring, advocacy, outreach, and political education.

We encourage each other to embrace positivity, compassion, strength, hope, confidence, and building healthy lives and healthy communities, while breaking the cycle of mass incarceration. For more information, visit www.ghtwa.org.

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 5

IE NEWS

City Council invites community to further discuss upzoning on June 9 . . . UPZONE: Continued from page 1

to the historic neighborhood and the surrounding area would create a deluge of development opportunities that would push out small businesses, longtime lowincome residents, and compromise the historic character of the CID. The City Council’s MHA proposal is intended to directly deliver affordable housing to the city’s most vulnerable residents by requiring developers to make seven percent of the units in their residential buildings affordable. In commercial developments, five percent of the units would need to be affordable. If developers choose not to make any affordable units in their building, they have the option to pay into a fund toward building more affordable housing.

Artist and activist Cynthia Brothers, who has been organizing with the CID coalition, testified at the public hearing that the CID community has been a lifeline to her family, who came here from Hong Kong. “It’s a pretty similar immigrant story to many who have come and settled in Seattle,” Brothers said. “The ID is a place where my family has worked in, received services, gone there for food—a cultural hub.”

Toward the end of the public hearing, bination of low incomes and the large progroups like the InterIm CDA as well as portion of renters in the neighborhood.

A number of those residents echoed the CID Coalition reiterated their calls City Council candidate Jon Grant in for the City Council to slow down and calling for a 25-percent affordable housing rethink this process, albeit proposing mandate. Grant testified in the Council different solutions.

chambers citing his experiences as the executive director of the Tenants Union of Washington. Before his testimony, he spoke about what he sees as the urgency Brothers added that the CID is the only of implementing the MHA Upzone in the place where her grandmother can go to correct way. receive culturally sensitive services. A “Right now the city is only asking for common refrain from CID residents and seven-percent affordability requirement, activists at hearing was the importance of which means we’re going to be losing maintaining formal and informal support more affordable housing than gaining,” networks and services.

Grant said. “I think we need a much Another resident, Tiernan Martin, agreed that those concerns were valid but stressed the importance of the MHA upzone as a tool that shouldn’t be overlooked.

“The neighborhood desperately needs more affordable housing,” she said. “I fear that if we don’t take advantage of this and if we don’t add this as another tool in our toolkit, then we’ll be too late, and then the development cycle will just play out as it usually does, and the neighborhood won’t get enough affordable housing.”

higher affordability mandate so we can maintain the amazing diversity in the International District and people can still call it home.”

The city has identified the CID and the Central Area as two places that are at particular risk of residents being displaced. According to 2010 U.S. Census data (computed by Statistical Atlas for neighborhood estimates), the CID has one of the lowest median incomes of any Seattle neighborhood, at around $25,000 per year in 2010. Seattle’s median income These measures did not dissuade the as a whole was close to $70,000 in 2010, crowd at the City Council chambers from and is now over $80,000. their concerns about being displaced due The neighborhood is also overwhelmto rising costs, and the accompanying ingly comprised of renters. Many residissolution of the community support dents see rigorous affordable housing network developed by residents in the CID. measures as the only solution to the com-

At the City Council, representatives of various organizations offered gentle criticism and praise to the council for its latest plan.

According to the City’s staff analysis, the proposed MHA Upzone plan would create 6,000 affordable units of housing out of the 20,000 that are projected to be built across the city. The MHA Upzone plan would allow developers to build to the maximum height allowed under the plan.

In exchange, they would be required to either build a percentage of new affordable units, or pay into the city’s affordable housing fund. In addition, according to city staff testimony, the developers would have to acquire development rights for projects that encroach onto historic properties.

They would also have to make some form of environmentally friendly, “green street” improvements, or create a privately-owned public space (P.O.P.S.) for residents to enjoy.

. . . CIDBIA: Continued from page 1

renewal, sanitation services will be offered seven days a week ensuring daily cleaning of the neighborhood, removal of needles, and increased the safety and accessibility of the biohazards. Other sanitation goals include neighborhood, according to CIDBIA. frequent pressure-washing of sidewalks and But the new budget proposal for the graffiti removal.

CIDBIA would potentially allow for more Next, the funds will strengthen public tangible progress in the neighborhood through safety measures, including crime reporting, a stable source of funding. The main change tracking, training, and outreach opportunities. shifts the CIDBIA’s assessment plan from The public safety budget will also support the assessing individual businesses to assessing public safety coordinator position, a placement properties when collecting funds. Previously, which came from recommendations made CIDBIA staff would personally visit each by Mayor Ed Murray while reflecting on the business in the neighborhood. It was often a public safety task force conducted last year challenge to keep track of which businesses in the neighborhood. Current funds from the had opened and closed, especially if they were city will finance the position for two years not located at a storefront. With the renewal until funding is depleted from the city budget. of the CIDBIA, property owners—called However, a consistent position is integral to “ratepayers”—will be assessed by square creating the network needed to address the footage and appraisal value of their property. neighborhood’s quality of safety. The renewed Based upon those factors, each property CIDBIA budget would allow the safety owner pays into a common pool used to fund coordinator position to remain even after efforts toward bettering the community. those two years are up.

Prioritizing safety and sanitation The bulk of the proposed $575,000 budget—around $220,000—will go toward sanitation, keeping the neighborhood squeaky clean. Currently, Recology CleanScapes is contracted for sanitation services four days a week. With the proposed CIDBIA

When asked if a 25-percent affordability requirement was too high, he balked at the idea, and cited rent-control and affordability measures in New York City and San Francisco. However, rent control and rent stabilization are currently banned in Washington State.

Doris Koo of the Yesler Community Collaborative spoke in support of the proposed MHA implementation and upzoning plans, citing the City Council’s willingness to work with her organization in the past.

Quynh Pham, Board Chair of Friends of Little Saigon, strongly emphasized that the implementation of the MHA upzone needs to coincide with the continued commitment with the Equitable Development Initiative. plans to strengthen ties with the media and tourist organizations to help promote the CID neighborhood for visitors to enjoy and appreciate the community. As they continue to host their annual events, such as Dragonfest and Lunar New Year celebrations, they would also work with partner organizations to host events and regular activities.

Lei Ann Shiramizu and Tom Kleifgen have been in the neighborhood for over 10 years. Their store, Momo, is at the corner of Jackson and Maynard Avenue, in historic Japantown. They hope that future changes and marketing efforts will highlight parts of the neighborhood beyond King Street, bringing shoppers and visitors to businesses on Jackson and East Main. Kleifgen said he’d like to see “a lot less of King Street for sure, it’s a much bigger neighborhood.”

“All of us want the same thing, a thriving ID and for all of our voices to be heard,” said Leslie Morishita, InterIm CDA Real Estate Development Director.

Morishita urged the Council not to “steamroll” their recommendations, referring to their 2011 Upzoning and affordability recommendations.

The CID Coalition’s proposal was far more extensive. Irissa Chen, a young resident of the CID, shared her fears that under the plan, the CID would become merely a “taste of the exotic” for the wealthy. Chen demanded that the Council enact a moratorium on “nonaffordable development”—or residential and commercial development that doesn’t meet the median incomes of the CID itself—as well as an economic study overseen by the community to determine a more inclusionary approach, an expansion of the International Special Review District (ISRD) boundary to cover the CID west of the freeway (i.e. Little Saigon).

Overall, public testimony was divided between people cautiously approving the proposed MHA upzone, or demanding a re-approach to the plan. After public comment, Councilmember Rob Johnson invited members of the public to return on Tuesday, June 9 at 9:30 a.m., when the committee will discuss the proposal again. Councilmember Johnson, Herbold, O’Brien and Sawant (absent on the day), urged community members to engage them further on the issue.

decision-making processes around quality of life and policy changes, communicating the neighborhood’s issues to community stakeholders, City staff, and council members.

This capacity for advocacy is crucial as development becomes a reality in the district.

“We understand that development is going to happen here, we really want to shape it,” Timmer said. “We advocate a lot for policies in the city … talking with developers and saying here is what the community is saying [and] here is what is really valuable to the people here.”

Priorities such as sanitation and public safety are a twofold asset to the neighborhood’s plan for improvement; clean, safe streets will not only help create a comfortable environment for residents and visitors, but will also contribute to business Shiramizu, who also serves on the retention, which is important in keeping a CIDBIA’s board echoed the same sentiment, robust, historically rich neighborhood in a saying, “We need help bringing more positive thriving state. attention to this side of the street.” Shiramizu “We don’t want to be overrun by “We feel that it’s really important, really said that some of the first businesses to sign developers… we are really doing everything valuable to have a direct connection to the onto the BIA’s renewals were properties on we can to make sure that businesses and police department, to the correct people at Jackson street. people in this district stay in this district the mayor’s office or any department that we and sanitation and public safety really just need,” said CIDBIA executive director Jessa Advocacy and Development add value to that and make sure that those Timmer.

The CIDBIA takes on the responsibility businesses stay and those people stay,” Another focus of the budget is to market of representing the neighborhood in Timmer said. and advertise the neighborhood. The CIDBIA

6 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE ARTS

Earwig Studio benefit brings multiracial artists together in resistance

By Sharon H. Chang IE Contributor “It’s about to get moody in here,” said Don Farwell, audio engineer and owner of Earwig Studio in Wallingford, just before flooding his studio’s live room with pink and blue fluorescents. His words could not have been more meaningful. Last Friday, Farwell hosted the political launch of Seattle pop/rock quartet Warren Dunes and release of their single “War Cry.” The room was packed with a diverse crowd of over 50 people for Earwig’s first ever in-studio concert and benefit.

I dare you to tell us not to sing When we’re riding on the pendulum’s next swing, I wonder what the future’s gonna bring Your crooked wing.

—Warren Dunes, “War Cry” Warren Dunes—comprising Julia Massey and her husband Jared Cortese, Jared’s brother Dominic Cortese, and bassist Matt Deason—was formed about a year ago with unique vision. “When the [presidential] election came around we were all just reeling,” says Massey. “It became immediately apparent that many organizations were either going to partially or completely lose funding.” Massey says her and fellow players wanted to become artists who make a difference. They decided half of all Warren Dunes proceeds would go to organizations serving vulnerable populations chosen by members of those populations. ““Who has the finger on the community pulse,” explains Massey, “gets to decide where the money goes.”

To that end, their Friday night launch at Earwig prominently and purposefully featured two Black acts, acoustic artist Reggie

Garrett and progressive soul band Gentlemen of Leisure. Proceeds went to the Urban League of Seattle, a local Black organization chosen by Gentlemen of Leisure frontman and rapper Chris Blount.

Don Farwell, who is mixed-race Japanese American, donated his time and space, which allowed more money to go to the beneficiary. Earwig Studio represents one of very few people-of-color-owned-and-run recording studios in the city. Farwell says he told Warren Dunes if he was going to host the fundraiser it was very important to him that it center on people of color. “Last thing I wanted was all-white performers and an all-white audience raising money,” he says.

“That’s not how change is going to happen.

Black voices need to be heard.”

The goal of uplifting Black voices Friday evening was profoundly realized. Singersongwriter Reggie Garrett opened the night with a stunning acoustic set that included his Black Lives Matter song “So Far Away.”

“In his hand he flashed a gun,” Garrett sang, “or could it be you only thought you saw one?” Garrett recently penned the song, he told the audience, because he did not hear a lot of musicians in his genre writing about the movement. A single tear rolled down his cheek when he finished performing it.

And you don’t know just who I am And you never really gave a damn.

Still I can’t believe that you shot me dead So easily.

—Reggie Garrett, “So Far Away” Over the last few years, Garrett says, seeing so many protesters wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts and holding resistance signs all over the country, he has wondered, “Is this what it’s going to take for people to finally start figuring it out?” But Garrett is

get people out here and have everybody here for a common purpose.”

I’m becoming everything I knew I’d be.

I’m doing everything I’m proud to do.

Cause I can be Great and powerful.

—Gentlemen of Leisure, “Great & Powerful”

Reggie Garrett playing at the Earwig Studio benefit • Photo by Sharon H. Chang

encouraged and feels people are indeed finally starting to see “it’s not just me; it’s not just you; it’s not just them—it’s all of us.”

Following Garrett, Gentlemen of Leisure played an energized, dynamic set—their first performance in Seattle. The band comprises old friends Chris Blount and Sphinx Akashaa Duncan, originally from New Orleans, as well as drummer Pope James, keyboardist Skylar Jones, and cellist and singer Jennifer Hasson.

Chris Blount, father of two, says he picked Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as the night’s beneficiary because he wanted to support Black Lives Matter and especially local Black youth. “I really want to promote positivity because I feel kids need to see positive reflections of themselves,” Blount says. “I’m big on building towards the culture and promoting education . . . and protecting the culture.”

Gentlemen of Leisure guitarist, singer and frontman Sphinx Akashaa Duncan, also a father, concurs. “For me it’s about not giving in to all the negativity,” Duncan expounds. “Showing that we can be a force for good in spite of the things that are happening out there. … It’s fantastic to be able to

The night, of course, closed with headliner Warren Dunes who filled the room with their passion, talent, and unbelievable precision. Yet despite many years of performing, this benefit launch at Earwig Studio, says seasoned musician Julia Massey, is like nothing she has ever done before. The commitment and dedication to a cause in solidarity with others made it something really special. “I was floored with how well it went,” she beamed post-show.

“If people in [the] audience haven’t seen people of color perform—which happens a lot in Seattle,” she adds, “then I hope it opened their minds to support artists from different backgrounds.”

Gentlemen of Leisure will be opening for the Susan Harper Conspiracy, August 10, at the Sunset Tavern. Warren Dunes will be playing at Folk Life this Sunday as part of “Ball of Wax: Songs of Protest” presented by KEXP. Massey says shows like this are a lifeline right now as well as a reminder that art is protest. “In the stressful times,” she says, “beautiful art cannot be muted, cannot be stopped.”

Reggie Garrett agrees. “Any chance we get to sort of push back against the bullshit, the stuff that’s been unleashed by this administration, the changes that are happening in the world,” he says, “is a good thing.”

Reggie will Folk Life this coming Friday night, 8:30 p.m. on the “Backporch Stage.”

Artist Jill Beppu goes beyond the surface to celebrate strength

By Brenda Kay Neth IE Contributor Artist Jill Beppu has a love for crows and the natural world. My first experience with her came through this connection, as we sped late one afternoon in her car toward the UW Bothell campus in search of the flock.

Two others came with us in the caravan, and as we waited by the sports field on the campus, there seemed to be no end to my impatience. Where were they? Rumor was that this was the place in Bothell they came every night. Corvids of every variation and caw, fluttering in the twilight to roost as a group in the massive trees surrounding the field.

Only a few were showing up, straggling in thin dark lines on the edge of the horizon.

Just as it seemed hopeless, the twilight darkened by the crowd of crows edging out the clouds and sun. They covered the skies and roof of the library building, then settled down en masse upon the playfield. Many lined up in exact rows, awaiting their turn to rise up and find a place among the trees.

I was totally dumfounded by our luck.

We, as the “Corvid Patrol,” were capturing a surreal moment where evolution outnumbered any misfortune, perseverance called out beyond the darkness.

Crows Roosting

Beppu, as an artist, reaches through into this realm with her ceramic training. Her recent exhibit at the UW Tower (free to all) displays “Crows Roosting at Bothell” through mediums of paint, rice paper, and plain brown paper. In a recent interview, Beppu said that the paper and paint were continually reworked. Both a monotype print and painting reflect her intense love for corvids, and although she had been working on the painting since 2013, Beppu said it did not find a finishing point until the latest adventure at the UW Bothell campus.

“Everything is surface, nothing heavy or deep. I am just a potter with no kiln.” Beppu commented.

Beppu uses clay like strokes in other pictures celebrating edible saltwater fish and looming heron in turquoise, orange and red. She said haiku has also been used with her paintings, and she has done public art murals for such clients as Lake City.

Beppu has a Master’s Degree in Art from the University of Washington as well as a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State. She also graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute. For her, what has made the greatest impact on her life, as well as her art, was her work as an arts administrator and membership on the steering committee for a project at the Pike Place Market.

Beppu spoke of the Japanese-American farmers who, before World War II, had a large presence within the Pike Place market, selling their produce and other agriculture wares. But because of the incarceration as a result of Executive Order 9066, these farmers were removed, stalls emptied, and the life of their contributions lost. Beppu said that it was during the redress for these crimes that the Japanese American Citizens League put out an international call for artists. The goal would be to commemorate contributions of the Japanese American farmers through public art at the market.

Beppu said the project began in 1996, but would not find its completion until the unveiling on February 19, 1999. She started a website for the project, which she said is now maintained as an artifact.

“We persevered. The art persevered. It was not just one, but many,” Beppu said.

“What we started with was so grassroots.”

Beppu added the project’s financial backing came through the many individual contributions made, as well as through grant monies.

Artist Aki Sogabe received the nomination and created four porcelain panels honoring the farmers. “Song of the Earth,” “Song of Farmers,” “Song of Joy,” and “Song of Sorrow” commemorate the Japanese-American farmers who lost their livelihood and freedom.

“Against all odds, we put it up,” Beppu said. “The Japanese farmers are back.”

She said the four panels are above the brass pig in the center of the market. For Beppu, the work behind those public art panels symbolizes the efforts of community strength and spirit. She compared that same spirit to that twilight space in Bothell, when thousands of crows, coveting the skies, finally came home to roost.

Beppu’s art will be at the UW Tower until the third week of June. Admission is free.

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 7

IE NEWS

Seattle’s Filipino community grapples with ‘My Family’s Slave’

By Melissa Hellmann Crosscut On Wednesday, May 24, some 15 people filtered into the archives room of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) located in the basement of a girl’s middle school in Central Seattle. They pulled up chairs to a table in a room lined with filing cabinets and colorful posters advertising local Filipino-American political candidates—David Della, Velma Veloria, Maria Ambalada—as well of dozens of cultural events.

Nearly everyone was Filipino or of Filipino descent. They ranged in age from twenty-something to in their 80s.

The multigenerational group gathered to discuss The Atlantic cover story, “My Family’s Slave,” by the late Alex Tizon. The story is a poignant account of the author’s family’s indentured servant, a Filipina named Eudocia Tomas Pulido, who was referred to as “Lola” or “grandmother” in Tagalog.

Tizon’s parents inherited Lola and they brought her with them from the Philippines to the Seattle area. She endured years of abuse. The story went viral and elicited a range of reaction from praise to condemnation.

Tizon, a former Seattle Times reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize, was respected in Seattle’s FilipinoAmerican community and some who came Wednesday knew him. (The story was published posthumously; Tizon died unexpectedly in March).

The story shed light on more than just the persistence of modern-day slavery, some pointed out. For many, it spearheaded a multi-generational conversation about class, the treatment of women, and the history of servitude within the Filipino community and the Filipino diaspora.

Some younger attendees even noted that it helped crystallize their sense of identity.

Devin Cabanilla, 36, who was born in the United States, said shock about the story helped him realize “how American I am” because he thinks the servitude

FANHS Secretary Devin Cabanilla (center) Facebook livestreams a community discussion about My Family’s Slave, a story published by The Atlantic in June 2017. • Photo by Melissa Hellmann for Crosscut.com

highlighted in the article is still accepted by earlier generations of Filipinos.

Cabanilla spread four sticky notes on the table and asked participants to write down words that captured their thoughts and feelings about the author, Filpinos, Lola, and the media’s response to the story. The group launched into a tell-all discussion spanning more than two hours that unearthed revelations about servants in their own family’s past.

The discussion about Lola elicited the most evocative responses. On the sticky notes, people wrote “shame,” “sadness,” “trapped” and “heartbreaking.”

But some of the older people who had emigrated from the Philippines said they weren’t shocked by Tizon’s story. Thelma Sevilla, 71, moved from the Philippines to Seattle when she was 7 years old and said Lola’s story reminded her of her own. Sevilla

recounted a childhood of handwashing diapers for her stepmother and serving a servitude role in her own home.

The group also discussed the history of katulongs (“helpers”) in the Philippines as a form of social welfare.

Servitude was a means of survival for many in the lower classes who would till land or cook and clean for those in the higher classes in exchange for food and shelter.

“In the Philippines, there is no social welfare system,” said Annie Galarosa, 66, who was born in the Philippines.

“You might think of it as really bizarre or inhumane … [but] even the poorest person has a katulong because it’s a way to allow that person to actually survive.”

For those who were first or secondgeneration Filipino-American, the cultural context didn’t make Tizon inculpable. “I think he was meaning to be well-intentioned,” said Bianca

Recuenco, 21, a junior at the University of Washington. But she conceded that “it’s hard for me to … not think of it as enslavement.”

Cabanilla said the article has served as a “lightening rod topic” that has brought together Filipino-Americans from across generations in a way that he’s never seen before. Routine car rides to the grocery store are no longer silent, he said; he discusses the story with extended family members. It was through these conversations that Cabanilla learned that his own paternal grandfather had several katulongs in the Philippines.

“It’s careless to claim cultural privilege as a way to avert the guilt and the shame,” Cabanilla said, adding that the historical context doesn’t justify the exploitation of people.

As an activist who is seeking to transform American society, he added that it would be hypocritical to not analyze the ills in his own heritage.

Cabanilla said the evening discussion marked a cultural moment of reflection for the community rather than a call to action. He hoped participants who were members of human rights organizations would be encouraged to collaborate with each other—a second meeting happened the following week and was streamed on Facebook Live.

As the meeting ended, theology graduate student Carlo Nakar led the group in a prayer for Lola, who died in 2011 at the age of 86.

“Every heart that is in Lola’s situation right now, we pray that you give them mercy and relief,” Nakar said.

With bowed heads, the group responded: “Amen.”

The first discussion can be viewed on Facebook at: https://www. f a c e b o o k . c o m /d e v i n . c a b a n i l l a / videos/10155127960290801. To view the second discussion on Facebook, visit:https://www.facebook.com/devin. cabanilla/videos/10155149905480801.

This story originally appeared at Crosscut.com.

An explanation of Seattle’s $1 million legal defense fund for immigrants

By Chetanya Robinson IE Assistant Editor In April Seattle City Council approved a $1 million legal defense fund for immigrants who can’t afford legal assistance. The legislation, sponsored by Council members Tim Burgess and Lorena González, allocates money to community organizations through a grant from the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. Community organizations must apply for this grant in a competitive process; if approved, the fund will allow them to hire immigration attorneys and

legal staff for immigration cases in the Seattle or Tacoma immigration courts.

The money will come from the City’s General Subfund, and any unused funds will carry over into the next year. While the fund so far only covers the year 2017, Councilmembers González and Burgess are looking at how to continue to fund legal defense for immigrants in refugees in the next budget cycle.

The Seattle area is home to around 150,000 undocumented immigrants.

The legal defense fund came about as a response to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on immigration, and

their interpretation by the Department of Homeland Security, that would greatly expand the number of people targeted for deportation. As a result, more and more immigrants will likely need legal help, according to the website for the fund.

Shortly after the fund was approved, an article in Seattle Metropolitan magazine examined how far a $1 million fund could go in helping those battling immigration cases. Jorge Baron, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, told Seattle Metropolitan that each deportation case costs between $5,000 and $10,000 to defend. Assuming this, the

fund could defend between 100 and 200 people each year.

The Seattle Metropolitan article notes that in 2016, the Seattle Immigration Court completed 2,979 cases, while the Tacoma Immigration Court completed 1,883 cases.

The website for the fund notes that it won’t be available to individuals directly.

Those who need legal help should either contact an immigration attorney or a pro bono legal service such as the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (253-383-0519) or Colectiva Legal (206-931-1514).

8 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE COMMUNITY

Asian Hall of Fame shines national spotlight on 2017 awardees

By Nina Baldwin IE Contributor The Asian Hall of Fame was established by the Robert Chinn Foundation in 2004 as the only event of its kind to bring a national focus to the personal achievements of Asian Pacific Americans who contribute to the American experience and continue to inspire the next generation.

The 2017 Asian Hall of Fame was held May 13 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, honoring the following individuals: Johnny Damon, Daniel Dae Kim, Duy-Loan Le, and Sonita Lontoh.

Each honoree spoke about their life, their gratitude for all they have been able to do, and their vision and willingness to continue to contribute to the future. It was inspiring to see and hear how humble they were in being acknowledged, and how thankful they are to be trail blazers for the next generation.

Johnny Damon spoke of his life growing up and his love for his family, which he says comes from his mom and a little tidbit he jokingly bragged about: His Mom calls his brother “Boy” and she calls him “Sweetheart.” Damon created the Johnny Damon Foundation that helps disadvantaged youths, wounded warriors, the Boys and Girls Club, and many others.

For all that he’s accomplished with his life, he said the foundation where he gives back and makes a difference in so many lives, both children and adults, is what has the most meaning in his life now. Damon resides now in Florida with his wife and eight children.

Daniel Dae Kim said he was honored that his sister was there to give his introduction.

She said she was very proud of him and all he has done and continues to do with his life.

Kim—who was born in Busan, South Korea and raised in New York and Pennsylvania—said he discovered acting while a student at Haverford College. After college, he moved to New York City and began his career on stage, performing in classics such as “Romeo and Juliet,” and many others. He then enrolled at New York University’s Graduate Acting Program where he earned his Master’s Degree, and as the story goes the rest is history.

He is currently the executive producer of his production company 3AD, which was established in 2014. 3AD is committed to storytelling that integrates characters and cultures that are underrepresented in today’s media. He has received many awards, most recently a Broadway Beacon Award for his role of Siam in the Tony Award winning production of “The King and I.” Kim said he was humbled to be in Seattle to be recognized for all that he has done and all that he continues to do.

Sonita Lontoh is Vice President of Strategic Markets at Siemens, Digital Grid and is a technology executive with expertise in the Internet of Things—loT, “Smart” Connected Energy/Devices, and Green Technology. Sonita was inspiring, sharing her life, her dreams, and her hopes for the future for all. Her work has allowed her to influence the intersection of technology, policy, and business. She shared with me that while attending college it was very apparent the field she was in was predominantly male because there was a man’s restroom on every floor but the women’s restroom was only on every other floor.

We laughed and said, look how far we’ve come. “It is a great honor to be selected as an honoree for the 2017 Asian Hall of Fame,” Lontoh said. “ I don’t view it as an honor for myself, but as an honor for the hard work, commitment ,and trailblazing that has been done by so many Asian American brothers and sisters.

Duy-Loan Le is an accomplished Semi-Conductor Industry Expert and in 2002 she became the first Asian American and the only woman to be named Texas Instrument Senior Fellow, the highest elected technical title. She holds

24 patents and has received many prestigious awards including Pink’s Top 15 Women in Business, Asian American Engineer of the year, U.S. Congressional Recognition for Civic Leadership, and an induction into the Women Technology International Hall of Fame.

Le arrived in the United States when she was 12 years old and spoke no English.

At the age of 16, she was valedictorian at her high school. Through her incredible accomplishments she shows everyone what’s possible if you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it. I enjoyed listening to her talk about life.

She is very funny and uses her humorous personality to talk about work, family, and life. She left the audience with this: “What you do matters. Who you are matters even more.”

If you ever get the opportunity to meet Damon, Kim, Le, or Lontoh in person, be sure to take it. I was not only impressed by all they have accomplished but by their sense of humor, their desire to help others, and their humility.

Karen Chinn, president of the Robert Chinn Foundation and the daughter of Robert Chinn, spoke about the honorees and why they were chosen.

Robert Chinn founded the United Savings and Loan in 1960, the first Asian-owned bank in the United States.

In honor of their father, the family established the Robert Chinn Foundation in 1986, to continue his work of helping the community. The Asian Resource Center was built in 1994 to provide a location in the Chinatown International District for meetings, classes, community activities, athletics, and special events.

With the sale of the Asian Resource Center in 2014, the foundation has transitioned into a grant-based philanthropic organization, which supports programs and initiatives that lead to the enhancement of the civic, economic, educational, and cultural quality of life.

The foundation funds non-profit organizations in the areas of art, culture, health, and youth development, which serve diverse communities.

The Robert Chinn Foundation gave away $207,000 in the 2015–2016 year to 30 organizations in the categories of art, culture, youth development, and health care.

Nina Baldwin is the COO of Pallino Restaurants, the author of Helping Women Succeed in Business, and is a contributor for Ardent for Life Magazine.

3 Reasons to Use Your Democracy Vouchers

By Annie Tran Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission

ing to receive your Democracy Vouchers (and your vote).

This is an opportunity to get to know the candidates and ask them about their positions on issues that are important to you.

Did you receive $100 in Democracy Vouchers from the City of Seattle earlier this year? You may be wondering what I should do with these Democracy Vouchers now that the final list of candidates has been announced.

Here are 3 important reasons to use your Democracy Vouchers.

1. The Democracy Voucher Program provides a new opportunity for Seattle residents to participate earlier in the elections’ process.

On average, only about 1-2% of Seattle residents donate to local candidate campaigns.

The Democracy Voucher Program is the new, first-of-its-kind public financing program that allows Seattle residents to participate in the elections’ process earlier. Seattle residents can give their four $25 Democracy Vouchers to candidates running for City Council or City Attorney. This year, Democracy Vouchers may not be given to Mayoral candidates – the program will expand to fund the Mayor’s race in 2021.

You can choose to give all your four of your Democracy Vouchers to one candidate, or split your vouchers among multiple candidates.

To be eligible for Democracy Vouchers, you must be Seattle resident who is at least 18 years old, and be either: a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident (“green card holder”).

It’s still not too late to apply for your Democracy Vouchers! The application is available 15 languages on seattle.gov/ democracyvoucher or call (206) 727-8855 to request an application. Registered voters should have automatically received their Democracy Vouchers.

Can’t find your vouchers? Or did not receive your Democracy Vouchers?

Request replacement vouchers by e-mailing democracyvoucher@seattle.gov or calling (206) 727-8855. Language assistance is available.

2. The Democracy Voucher Program encourages interaction between candidates and Seattle residents Now that almost all Seattle residents have $100 in Democracy Vouchers, candidates are more likely to be in community, knocking on doors, hosting candidate events, hop-

3. Using Democracy Vouchers is easy!

It’s easy to use your vouchers - to assign your Democracy Vouchers, write the name of a participating candidate on each voucher, sign your name, and the date.

You can decide to give all your four of your Democracy Vouchers to one candidate, or split your vouchers among multiple candidates.

To return your vouchers, you can: Give them directly to a candidate’s campaign, Mail your vouchers using the postage paid envelope included with your vouchers, Take a photo of the front and back of each voucher, and e-mail the photos to democracyvoucher@seattle.gov, or Drop-off your vouchers at one of the Customer Service Centers around Seattle You have until November 30 to use your vouchers. Find the complete list of participating candidates at seattle.gov/ democracyvoucher.

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 9

IE COMMUNITY

Announcements Hack/Diversity And Inclusion Volume 2

Forum on the Philippines at Nagomi Diverse City LLC will be holding an Tea House

event to discuss and build innovative solutions to multiple issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. This year’s event will take place on June 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., inside of Uber’s Headquarters located at 1191 2nd Ave #1200, Seattle, WA 98101.

On May 24, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, Philippines. This declaration, opposed by a handful of members of the Philippine Congress, was done for national security reasons in the fight against Isis-linked forces. A forum sponsored by Legacy of Equality, Leadership and Organizing (LELO) proposes the following questions: Will Duterte’s martial law spread to the whole nation?

What of the over 9,000 extra-judicial killings? What is the relationship between martial law, the war on terrorism and drugs?

The event will feature thought leaders from companies and organizations such as Capital One, Uber, Greater Seattle Business Association, Ada Developers Academy, and more. The event will address topics including women in tech and veterans. “We’re reaching out to multiple organizations influential in the area of technology and other career The forum will be held at the Nagomi fields and providing spaces for diverse Tea House, 519 6th Avenue South in the communities to participate, and we en- Chinatown International District on courage everyone to come and engage June 8 from 6:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. with us,” said Cheryl Ingram, CEO of Speakers include: Diverse City LLC. • Rene Cruz, Editor of Inquirer.net, To register for this event, visit: https:// diversityandinclusion-june.eventbrite. the official website of the Philippine com. For more information about the Daily Inquirer, and co-editor of the upHACK contact the event team at part- coming University of Washington publication—”A Time To Rise: Collective ners@smdiversity.com.

Memoirs of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP).

Hing Hay Park Construction update

On Wednesday, April 19, members from the Friends of Hing Hay Park, Seattle Police Department, and other community partners from the ChinatownInternational District met with Seattle Parks and Recreation project manager and design team to evaluate the level of light in the park. The group met after dark in the park to assess the amount of light from newly installed artistic lighting and ambient lighting from the neighborhood. The goal of the meeting was to determine if the current lighting situation provided enough light for the community to feel safe at night and if we could open the park to the public before the installation of the light poles.

The City updated the community in April stating that the light poles were delayed due to deficiencies and are being replaced by the manufacturer. The City anticipates the replacement light poles to be delivered and installed in June. The overall sentiment of Friends of Hing Hay Park is that the newly installed artistic lighting is impressive, but it isn’t enough to provide a feeling of security without the illumination from the forthcoming light poles. The group’s recommendation is for Seattle Parks and Recreation to wait until the light poles arrive and are installed before opening the park to the public. Seattle Parks and Recreation will open the park after the poles are installed.

For project updates, visit: http://www. seat tle.gov/pa rk s/about-u s/cu r rentprojects/hing-hay-park For more information, contact: Kim Baldwin, Project Manager at Seattle Parks and Recreation (kim.baldwin@seattle.gov)

• Mila De Guzman, author of the book, “Women Against Marcos – Stories of Filipino and Filipino American Women Who Fought a Dictator” and member of San Francisco’s Filipino American Human Rights Alliance.

• Cindy Domingo, Member of Akbayan International Committee, LELO and Co-editor of “A Time To Rise: Collective Memoirs of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP).

• Rick Rocamora, award-winning social documentarian photographer with his latest book, “Blood, Sweat, Hope and Quiapo.”

Hing Hay Coworks two-year anniversary party on June 14 Hing Hay Coworks is a nonprofit collaborative and productive workspace serving freelancers, boutique firms, and start-ups who value meaningful partnerships, creative exploration, and bringing ideas to market. They are a growing community of diverse entrepreneurs in

the cultural, creative, and tech sectors who see opportunity working with the Asia Pacific Rim community.

Lao’d and Clear—Seattle Hosts 4th National Lao American Writers Summit

For almost a decade, the Lao American Writers Summit (LAWS) has brought together hundreds of creatives and community builders from across the nation to convene and raise visibility of the Lao American experience.

This year, the 4th LAWS will be hosted Kin On hosts “New to Medicare” Work- in Des Moines, WA on June 23 and 24 at Highline College, with the theme of shop being “Lao’d and Clear.” The greater Kin On will be hosting a workshop to proSeattle area is home to one of the most vide information for new Medicare patients. active Lao communities in the nation.

This workshop is geared to those who are The two-day summit will include currently enrolled as beneficiaries or considering enrolling in Medicare. Topics may writing workshops, community panels, include the following: Original Medicare vs. gallery exhibitions, a resource fair, and Medicare Advantage Plan, how to choose a a spread of Lao cuisine. Keynote speakdrug plan, premium payments, how to use ers include Krysada Panusith Phounsiri the Medicare website. Bring your Medicare and Saymoukda Vongsay. Phounsiri is related questions and Kin On’s Medicare the author of Dance Among Elephants, expert will be available to help. The event is published by Sahtu Press in 2015, hailfree, but it’s requested that those interested ing from San Diego. Vongsay of MinneRSVP. apolis, is an award-winning poet, playThe workshop will be held June 23, Fri- wright and community activist. day, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m at Kin The event is free and open to the On Community Center (4416 S Brandon St, public, but seats are limited. To register Seattle WA 98118). For more info, contact 206.556.2237 or healthyliving@kinon.org. and learn more, visit www.laowriters. org.

Hing Hay Coworks is holding a two-year anniversary party on Wednesday, June 14 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 409B Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104. Celebrate with karaoke, board games, beer and cocktails, and an ice cream social.

10 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

COMMUNITY VOICES

Breast health outreach: An unknown pain brought ICHS health worker closer to patients Pathways to Health

By International Community Health Services

One day Veronica Kim felt a mysterious pain in her breast. A jab that was gone in a few seconds. Time passed. For several weeks, she thought nothing more about it.

Then, the pain returned. Sharp, furtive and worrisome.

As a health advocate for International Community Health Services (ICHS), Kim had spent more than two decades working with women to prevent and treat breast cancer. It wasn’t that, however, but an ache that ultimately led to a double mastectomy, that brought her head on with the feelings and needs of her patients. It isn’t as a health provider, but as a cancer patient and survivor, that Kim has discovered a deeper level of empathy and understanding.

“Before, most of my work was focused on delivering a service. I was proud to help patients,” Kim said. “Now that I have been through every treatment myself, I am better able to address fears and questions, and stand more closely by patients throughout the whole process.”

Kim holds herself out as testimony to the importance of regular breast health exams, perseverance and a strong belief system.

Veronica Kim, ICHS’ Women Preventive Health Services coordinator, has worked many years with the Washington State Department of Health’s Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program, which offers free preventative cancer screenings and follow-up treatment to those who are eligible. • Courtesy Photo

Rooted in Chinatown with ICHS Kim started her job as a family health worker in 1995, when ICHS was still a small clinic in Seattle’s Chinatown. When the CDC offered funding for a program to increase breast cancer screenings for Asian Pacific Islander (API) immigrant women, Kim was tasked with reaching out to the community. With language, cultural, and economic barriers, Kim initially found it difficult to gain women’s trust and understanding.

“I am also an immigrant,” Kim said.

“I understand that coming here is very difficult. For a new immigrant, a woman’s health was often last on the list of priorities. Also, traditional Asian medicine is not as focused as Western medicine on preventative health. Women would say, ‘I have no symptoms, I feel healthy, so why do you want to do testing on me? Is this an experiment?’”

difficulties her patients must face firsthand. Likewise, a recent change that made reconstruction surgery a Medicarecovered benefit, even if several years have passed since a mastectomy, struck a deeply personal chord. Kim strongly believes that breast reconstruction can help ease recovery and assist with emotional healing.

Kim continues to give breast health advice and education, but now she pushes patients even harder to be their own best advocate.

“Don’t ignore what your body tells you,” she said. “I worked to educate the public for more than 20 years, but I found out no one is safe from breast cancer. Luckily, I was diagnosed with a tiny calcification at a very early stage, so it was easy to cure and fully recover. Early detection is the best protection. If you feel you do not have access to the services you need for preventative exams, ask.”

Veronica Kim (left, holding ICHS sign) with an ICHS fundraising team supporting the 2017 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Susan G. Komen Puget Sound has been a major supporter of ICHS’s breast health A monthly self-exam and annual education and outreach for more than a decade through the provision of community grants. • Courtesy Photo mammogram are essential to wellbeing, said Kim. She’s also quick to remind patients who discover they have breast Kim worked to enroll women in the mastectomy and reconstruction in the same cancer that they are not alone. She and program, eventually coming to serve as day. Five days in the ICU and eight weeks many others are there to help the entire the “ears, eyes and mouth” for local API of recovery,” she said. “I was so nervous way. women. Her work to ensure translation, but did not want to scare my family. Alone, interpretation and education empowered I prayed I would wake up afterwards.”

About ICHS her patients to make informed decisions When Kim woke up in the ICU, “I was Founded in 1973, ICHS is a nonabout their health. “I see myself as a so thankful and had a deep respect for the kind of Helen Keller for the immigrant medical team and staff. Belief and trust is profit community health center offering affordable primary medical and dental community,” she said. “I helped forge a very important.” care, acupuncture, laboratory, pharmacy, vocabulary so these women could have behavioral health WIC, and health dialogues about their health.”

A deeper connection education services. ICHS’ four full-service “Our Breast and Cervical Cancer Health medical and dental clinics—located in Patient’s view of the system Program and Health Education staff are Seattle’s International District and Holly In December 2015, Kim experienced totally devoted to reaching out to women Park neighborhoods; and in the cities of an episode of severe breast pain that came to make sure they have the right screening Bellevue and Shoreline—serve nearly and went in five seconds. This happened and if needed, treatment,” said Teresita 29,000 patients each year. As the only twice more, unconnected to any injury Batayola, ICHS CEO. “Veronica’s desire to community health center in Washington or bump she could discern. Every month, help women is a true calling. She built our primarily serving Asians and Pacific practicing the advice she gave women, program to what it is today. Her personal Islanders, ICHS provides care in over 50 Kim performed a thorough breast self- story now connects her in an even deeper languages and dialects annually. ICHS exam. Each time, she failed to locate any way to all the women who have benefited is committed to improving the health of spot that was painful or unusual. and will benefit from our program.” medically-underserved communities by After the third bout of breast pain, Kim says her approach to her role at providing affordable and in-language Kim knew she needed a mammogram. ICHS has “totally changed.” She is more health care. For more information, please Over the next year, she underwent every emotionally connected, as she knows the visit: www.ichs.com. diagnostic test available, returning again and again after negative or inconclusive results. After multiple mammograms, biopsies, an ultrasound, and an MRI, doctors found a calcification, a small calcium deposit that is usually benign. On their recommendation, Kim underwent a lumpectomy, which removes part of the breast so cells do not spread or become cancerous; and then another, after finding another calcification and positive results for cancer. After her six-month follow up, Kim faced more biopsies and, possibly, another lumpectomy. But by this time, the tests and intensive procedures had taken a toll. She felt distrustful of the medical system. She did not want any further lumpectomies.

Kim sought a second opinion at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and the UW Medical Center. After some tough decision making and with the support of her family, and the SCCA and UW medical teams, she decided to get a bilateral mastectomy, a surgery that completely removes both breasts.

“I was very fearful about the 12June 4, Veronica Kim led a fundraising team from ICHS to join thousands of pink-clad breast cancer hour surgery, which included a bilateral On survivors and supporters for the Susan G. Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure. • Courtesy Photo

IE ARTS

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 11

Here Lies Love brings to life the restoration of democracy in the Philippines

By Roxanne Ray IE Contributor One of the Seattle Repertory Theatre’s latest offerings explores the subject of democracy onstage, while depicting the controversial rise and fall of Imelda Marcos, the spouse of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Here Lies Love, a play by David Byrne of the Talking Heads and Fatboy Slim, is about the non-violent restoration of democratic rule in the Philippines in 1986. The play has been extended through June 18.

Under Ferdinand Marcos, 3,257 people were killed by the military over a period of 10 years from 1975 to 1985, according to American historian Alfred W. McCoy. An estimated 35,000 were tortured, and some 70,000 were arrested.

The path to the role of Imelda Marcos— spouse of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos—was a long one for actor Jaygee Macapugay. “I’ve been a fan of Here Lies Love long before I was ever cast in it,” Macapugay said.

“In 2010, my good friend Dave Iskra told me about a concept album by David Byrne, about the life of Imelda Marcos. I bought the album and loved it.”

Many auditions later, Macapugay was finally cast as understudy to seven roles in the show. “Booking Here Lies Love was a lesson in never giving up!” she said.

Now that she has been cast in the lead role of Imelda Marcos, Macapugay says her favorite aspect of her character is her complexity.

“Imelda was, and still is, an extremely controversial figure among Filipinos,” Macapugay said. “She is venerated by some, despised by many others.”

This complexity is found throughout the show, as the other main historical figures in the show also had their supporters and detractors. Actor Mark Bautista reported mixed feelings about his character, Ferdinand Marcos, while considering his favorite aspects about the man. “I am in awe of his intelligence and bravery, going through all his ordeals in life and yet remaining strong,” Bautista said. “I admire his love for his mom and for Imelda.”

But Bautista also acknowledges the other side of Marcos. “It’s a challenge for me balancing his weaknesses from his strengths as a person and as a political leader and that thin line between being bad from good and conveying it through acting,” he said.

The main antagonist to Marcos likewise embodies both popularity and hatred. “I play Ninoy Aquino and he is the rebel leader against the Marcos government,” said actor Conrad Ricamora. “I like how he is concerned with giving power to the people and not to politicians.”

And yet, the reactions of the audience to Aquino’s strengths were varied. “I remember during the last run we would have very opinionated audience members,” Ricamora said. “One time and older woman during the show shouted out ‘scoundrel!’”

Beyond the complexity of characterization, Macapugay reports additional challenges in portraying a historical figure, rather than a fictional character. “As an actor, my job is to live truthfully under imaginary, given circumstances,” she said. “However, with the role of Imelda Marcos, the circumstances were very real, and at times her views on those

Seattle Repertory Theatre’s Here Lies Love has been extended through June 18. • Courtesy Photo

circumstances caused anger and celebration.

My job was to find the humanity in Imelda Marcos, just like any other role.”

Actor Ricamora agreed that Aquino’s legacy offered further challenges for an actor. “Making someone who is so iconic and worshipped as a hero” was difficult, he said, “and thinking about him as a human being with flaws, not just a hero.”

On top of these character-related challenges, the show’s setting is exceptionally demanding. “Here Lies Love is different from any show I’ve ever done, and probably ever will,” Macapugay said. “It’s a musical set in a real dance club, a 360-degree experience where platforms open, close, and change shape, with an audience who are mainly on their feet, basically as club-goers.”

Ricamora echoes those sentiments. “It’s a completely immersive experience where we perform in and around the audience, and

there’s also 360-degree video,” he said. “It’s unlike any show I’ve ever been a part of.”

But audiences who saw the show in London can expect some surprises. “This Seattle show is a bit different from the one in New York and London,” Bautista said. “Primarily because we’re using a proscenium-type theatre, and we added something to the choreography and staging.”

Audience members have the option of seating, however. “Now that we’re in Seattle, we’ve also incorporated a lot more seating, from tiered gallery seating on both sides of the club, to more traditional balcony seating,” Macapugay said. “The challenge as an actor is to play to all four walls, from the dance floor to the top of the balcony, while maintaining the intimacy of the storytelling. Through careful staging, we hope we’ll be able to give love to everyone in our audience.”

And this hope is what inspires Macapugay the most. “To get paid doing what I love to do is a dream come true,” she said. “It’s extremely difficult to choose a life as an actor – the instability, the rejection when you don’t book the job, the lack of good and challenging material.”

But now, Macapugay says all the effort and past disappointment has been worth it. “Here Lies Love is my dream show,” she said. “It’s the hardest work I’ve ever done as a professional actor, yet it’s also the most fulfilling work to date.”

‘Here Lies Love’ runs through June 18, at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer Street, Seattle. For more information, visit www.seattlerep.org/Plays/1617/HL/Synopsis.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 Arrive at 6:30 p.m., forum begins at 7:00 p.m.

Nagomi Tea House, 519 6th Ave S, Ste 200, Seattle, WA 98104 CO-SPONSORS: ACRS—Asian Counseling & Referral Service APACE—APIAs for Civic Empowerment APICAT—Asian Pacific Islander Community Action Team CACA—Chinese American Citizens Alliance Friends of Little Saigon Helping Link ICHS—International Community Health Services Interim CDA—Community Development Association JACL Greater Settle - Japanese American Citizens League OCA—Organization of Chinese Americans TASVEER VFA—Vietnamese Friendship Association WASITRAC—Washington State and India Trade Relations Action Comittee 2017 MEDIA PARTERS: International Examiner Northwest Asian Weekly Seattle Chinese Post

12 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE ARTS

SIFF: Finding Kukan a personal film for Robin Lung

By Aya Bisbee IE Contributor She was an activist, a playwright, an actress, a cook, a pilot, a filmmaker, and a woman who did not put up with the status quo. Li Ling-Ai was a second generation Chinese-American who produced an Academy Award winning documentary in 1941, but was never formally credited.

She pushed boundaries, and fought for what she believed in, and yet have any of us heard of her? I myself had not heard about her until learning of Robin Lung’s documentary, Finding Kukan.

Robin Lung, a filmmaker from Hawai’i undertook a seven-year project to uncover the story of Li Ling-Ai. Finding Kukan follows Lung’s journey to retrace the life of Li Ling-Ai and recover her lost film, Kukan.

Kukan was a documentary shot by Rey Scott in China during WWII and the Japanese occupation. It was produced by Li Ling-Ai and inspired by her desire to inform Americans of the atrocities being committed in China and her lifelong struggle to dispel racist stereotypes against Chinese and Chinese Americans.

After attending a screening of Finding Kukan at the Seattle International Film Festival, Lung discussed her initial desire to create a documentary about a powerful woman, and a woman of her own ethnicity.

As a fourth generation Chinese American woman and a filmmaker, the process of making Finding Kukan was one that was quite personal. I had the opportunity to sit down with Lung to learn more about the film and her story.

Aya Bisbee: Could you talk a bit about your experience as a Chinese American woman growing up in Hawai’i?

Robin Lung: Growing up in Hawai’i, my teachers, newscasters, those all around me were primarily Asians.

Therefore, I never thought about my identity as an Asian American until I went to the mainland to study at Stanford University. When I came to the mainland, I was seen by others first and foremost as a Chinese American woman, and I had to come to terms with this new way of being perceived.

AB: How did you become drawn to this story and to Li Ling-Ai? As a Chinese American woman and a filmmaker, what did this story mean to you?

RL: I wasn’t really looking for a role model, but then she became one and the more I found out about her, the more that I almost, not consciously, but unconsciously started following in her path.

media. Newspaper articles don’t exist or historians writing about women and minorities often don’t exist. Li Ling-Ai’s story wasn’t as well documented as Rey Scott’s story, for instance. Finding out her story was really difficult and then so much of it was missing still. That was really one of the huge obstacles that I had.

An insight that I had was that Li Ling-Ai chose career over marriage. At that time, women were either at home taking care of children and their husband, or they were single. There was no option. I think one of the ways women’s stories get carried forward is through their children. And their children pay attention to their lives and then it’s almost like an oral history that gets carried forward. A lot of times children actually document the stories of their mothers. In this case, Li Ling-Ai didn’t have any child to do that. She did have nieces and nephews who actually kept letters and helped me research her.

But a lot of the nieces and nephews had no idea about her career with Kukan or her past. So all these tantalizing facts that I want to know like how Li Ling-Ai met Eleanor Roosevelt, what happened during the White House visit, all these questions that I still have, she’s not alive to answer those and there’s no documentation that I could find.

AB: What kind of barriers do you think Asian American filmmakers face today and how does this compare to the time when Li Ling-Ai was producing this film?

RL: I think filmmaking in general is difficult. It’s difficult for any filmmaker.

I can’t speak for all Asian American filmmakers, and I think every filmmaker has a different experience. But I can say that for myself, because I chose to feature an Asian American woman as my main character, and a relatively unknown Asian American woman, it’s been more difficult to get funding, and it’s been more difficult to get screening and broadcasting because the assumption of broadcasters and programmers is that if the film is about an Asian American woman, that only Asian American women would be interested in it. Which is kind of, not logical thinking.

I grew up watching lots of films about Caucasians, right? And I loved those films and I watched them over and over again. I think if you have a great story, the story will pull you in no matter what. And I think what’s really been heartwarming for me is that across the board, these audiences that are of any ethnicity or any gender, they’ve all responded well to the film. So I think the film, the story, is really a universal story that people are connecting with.

AB: Your film was a really impressive AB: Were there any stories of Li undertaking. Could you talk about Ling-Ai that intrigued you and that you highs and lows you encountered in the wish you had time to explore further? process and how you overcame any RL: She went on to become a cooking challenges you faced? instructor and she continued to lecture.

RL: I think the very first obstacle Some of the people that have been in our that I faced was that there wasn’t audiences have been her former cooking enough information. I think this is very students. They all say, she didn’t only typical of women’s history and minority teach cooking, she taught about life. She history in general because women and was quite a powerhouse, even in her older minorities haven’t been focused on by the years. mainstream historians or the mainstream

for a fictional character. That character’s name is Lily Wu. She is a female detective in a series of vintage mystery novels written by an author named Juanita Sheridan. I had read these books when I was thinking of making a new film and I fell in love with this fictional character that was supposed to be based on a few real life women. I never found out whether or not Li Ling-Ai was one of those women, but because I was searching for women in the ’30s and ’40s who had traveled in New York and in Hawai’i and who were college educated and really independent, I came across Li Ling-Ai. I came across her memoir called Life is for a Long Time. That’s the memoir that had Aya Bisbee (left) and filmmaker Robin Lung (right). • a little paragraph about Kukan in it. So it Courtesy Photo was kind of like following a detective trail One of her friends said she put together that led me to Li Ling-Ai in the first place. a cookbook that never got published. Then I had to keep following the trail to And it was a cookbook that was a satire uncover the story. cookbook. So it was half a manual of AB: What is the next step with this traditional Chinese sexual practices, like film for you? How can we follow your with drawings and everything, and then continued work on this story? recipes to go along. For each instruction, RL: The story of Finding Kukan is still there would be a recipe. Her friend said, like, “in this practice, there’s no time for in process because it is kind of a personal tea, but in this practice, there’s time for a story. My story with the film, and with tea break and this would be a great thing to Li Ling-Ai continues. People can follow serve” or something like that. (laughter). it by checking into our Facebook page I think she was way ahead of her time. and our website. So the easiest thing is Now, I think it would be a big hit, but back to go to the website: findingkukan.com. then, it was like nobody wanted to publish Another thing is to put Chinese subtitles on the film and bring my film to China. it because it was too naughty.

That will be really interesting to see the AB: If Li Ling-Ai was alive today, Chinese reaction to my film. And then I’m what would you like her to know or also working on an adaptation of the film what would you like to ask her? for a fictional film treatment.

RL: I would have a hundred questions *** for Li Ling-Ai, if she were alive today.

Conclusion: After the screening of And I think that I would be a little scared by her. Because I think she would be on Finding Kukan over Memorial Day my case for not knowing my Chinese weekend, Lung stressed the importance history, and not learning the language. of memory. As I reflect on and explore But there are so many questions I would my own identity as a multiracial, multilike to ask. She was so tough and put on ethnic, Japanese-Taiwanese-American, I a tough exterior. I think one of the things have come to realize the importance of my I would really want to know is what roots and understanding where and who I created that tough exterior. What are the come from. Back home in Seattle for the things she really had to battle with and summer, I am spending time where my the personal stories? What did she really family has lived for three generations and feel when she was being interrogated at am putting together some oral histories Ellis Island? She was a U.S. citizen with from family members, focusing on my a passport and she was being interrogated Japanese-American grandmother whom I like a criminal. What did that feel like? never had the chance to meet, but whose How did she battle that? Those kinds of name I carry forward. Lung’s film was a things are things that I would like to ask beautiful demonstration of the power in stories and the urgency for us to remember her.

AB: What is the legacy of Li Ling- and tell the stories of our community.

Learning about the determination of Ai? Why is it important for the world to Li Ling-Ai through a time in which she know about her story?

RL: To me, Li Ling-Ai represents the faced sexism and anti-Chinese racism is artist activist. She was using her art and inspiring and reminds me of all the Asian her storytelling to change the world to American women who paved the way for be better. I think that so many artists are my generation and for young people today. working on that and doing that. We all At the same time, the film is a painful need inspiration from people from out reminder of the way in which the history past who have done that and succeeded in of Asian Americans and the prolific lives that. I think that’s the legacy she leaves us. of Asian American women have been That it is possible to be both an artist, an overlooked and forgotten through time.

Finding Kukan not only teaches us about activist, and a woman. the life of Li Ling-Ai, but it also says so AB: At the screening, you mentioned much about the marginalization of people reading a series about a detective of color, and women of color in society, character that was based off of Li Ling- and in history, media, and memory.

Ai. Could you speak more about that?

RL: I came across Li Ling-Ai because I was searching for the real life inspiration

Linda Ando contributed to this story.

IE ARTS

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 13

Fred Korematsu Speaks Up: A gift for young readers and young activists

By Tamiko Nimura IE Contributor In our time of artistic and political resistance, Fred Korematsu Speaks Up

by Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi, with illustrations by Yutaka Houlette, is a rare gift for young readers and parents of young activists-in-the-making. With a combination of poetic free verse, poignant illustrations, and a variety of historic photographs, the book provides multiple avenues into the story of Fred Korematsu.

I was fortunate to speak with co-author Yogi via e-mail.

International Examiner: Your author biography states that your parents were incarcerated during World War II; is this what drew you to this project? How did you get involved?

Stan Yogi: Both of my parents were incarcerated during WWII—my mother in Manzanar and my father in Jerome—so my family’s history definitely motivated me to share Fred Korematsu’s story.

But there was another impetus for me to co-write the book: Fred Korematsu is one of my heroes. Without family or community support, he challenged the Constitutionality of the forced removal and mass incarceration of Nikkei.

To stand up against the government at that time and in the context of WWII took tremendous courage. I first heard Fred speak in 1983, soon after his judicial vindication. I was a student at UCLA, and Fred visited the campus to talk about his case. I was struck not only by his remarkable story but by his quiet dignity.

He did not have a big personality. But he clearly was a strong man who spoke simply and with the power of someone who had withstood daunting challenges with great humility. Years later, I met him through my work at the ACLU of Northern California, which defended him during WWII. He never forgot that the ACLU of Northern California stood by him, defying the national ACLU’s order that the Northern California affiliate drop Fred’s case.

I wish I could take credit for coming up with the idea for the book, but that belongs to the founder and now retired publisher of Heyday, Malcolm Margolin. He thought it a children’s version of Wherever There’s a Fight, a book I co-wrote about the history of civil liberties and civil rights in California, would inspire kids. That idea morphed into a series of books, “Fighting for Justice,” which Fred Korematsu Speaks Up is launching.

IE: The format of the book is somewhat unusual—a more poetic (picture-book) way of telling the story, with a more textbook approach to providing context. What made you decide to divide the book this way?

SY: The format of the book (poetic biography with separate historical/social background sections) was the idea of my co-author, Laura Atkins. That strategy for organizing the book was a terrific way to deal with two challenges: (1) telling Fred Korematsu’s life story in a compelling yet documentable way and (2) making the book accessible to kids, especially reluctant readers.

In terms of the first challenge, I learned through working on this book that profes-

sionals in the children’s book world (editors, librarians, educators) expect biographies written for children to be engaging as stories and factually accurate. Consequently, dialogue, references to emotions, and details about thoughts and actions— the ingredients of a good story—all have to be documented.

This expectation makes sense in theory but becomes a challenge for authors writing about deceased individuals who didn’t leave a trail of letters, diaries, interviews, and other records.

Lorraine Bannai, author of the excellent biography Enduring Convictions: Fred Korematsu and His Quest for Justice, very generously shared with Laura and me her research materials. And Eric Paul Fornier, director of the award-winning documentary Of Civil Wrongs and Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story, gave us a transcript of the film. Still, Fred didn’t talk much about his inner life. So, Laura and I faced a challenge in bringing Fred’s biography alive, while also being able to document and cite references for details.

The free verse format allows us to tell Fred’s life story in a compact manner with documented details to enliven the story.

The free verse format also makes the book more accessible to kids who might not be attracted to a traditional prose biography.

The separate biographical and contextual strands in the book allow different readers to access the book in different ways. More reluctant readers and those only interested in Fred’s life can read the biographical sections. Kids who are interested in the learning about the historical and cultural context of Fred’s life can read the background sections, too.

Laura and I were very fortunate to work with an extremely talented and passionate editor at Heyday, Molly Woodward, who helped us energize the book with visuals, timelines, definitions, and thought-provoking questions that not only contextualize Fred’s life but also connect the experiences of Japanese Americans to other groups.

And Yutaka Houlette’s illustrations speak to children and offer other access points to Fred’s story.

If it takes a village to raise a child, it took a village—at least in this case--to create a children’s book.

IE: Was it difficult to write a “legal story” about court cases for kids?

SY: Translating the legal history into something understandable to kids was a challenge. We intended the book for fourth and fifth graders. Kids that age are just learning about civics and the courts.

So, we couldn’t get too detailed about the intricacies of the legal history. Nevertheless, children have a keen sense of what’s fair and what’s unfair. Sticking to core points of unfairness—like Japanese Americans were imprisoned even though they didn’t do anything wrong and the

fact that the government’s attorneys lied to the Supreme Court during WWII— conveys the injustice of what happened to Fred and to Japanese Americans.

IE: What’s been the response to the book looked like so far, especially from kids? What do you hope they take away from the book?

SY: Heyday launched the book on January 30, Fred Korematsu’s birthday which is observed in several states as “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution.” We also timed the book’s release to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. Within three weeks of publication, the first print run of 3,000 sold out.

We believe that happened, in large part, because Fred’s story is so relevant to our current political context.

This new political era of “alternative facts” and “fake news” is impacting kids.

How can they distinguish between fact and fiction? Who can they believe? Whose voices are being suppressed or censored?

For example, an Arkansas legislator

introduced a bill to ban Howard Zinn’s writing from public schools.

Since late January, Laura and I have spoken to nearly 3,000 elementary and middle school students in California.

(And we hope to speak with students across the country, including Seattle).

We’ve been inspired by their responses to our presentations. Most had never heard of Fred Korematsu or the incarceration of Japanese Americans. They’ve been fascinated by Fred’s story and shocked by the details of the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans. They also make connections between the Japanese American incarceration and the current administration’s targeting of Muslims and immigrants.

Laura and I hope that Fred Korematsu Speaks Up will help kids understand that they can take action and stand up for what is fair; kids can make a difference in their schools and communities by speaking up for justice, just like Fred.

After speaking at the Fred T. Korematsu Elementary School in Davis, California, three students wearing head scarves told Laura and me that their mosque had been vandalized. This was a troubling incident, but they beamed when they explained how they had organized a fundraiser at their school to generate money to clean the mosque.

Stories like this inspire Laura and me.

14 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

IE ARTS

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

A Different Gender in a World of Traditions

By Elvis Irizarry IE Contributor “Beauty is something that burns the hand when you touch it.” ― Yukio Mishima, Forbidden Colors

in the form of Wakashu, a personality that was either women or man and of service to the important figures of Edo’s high society.

Distinguished by the small shaved spot on the top of the head and clothing of sheer ambidexterity by some standards, the wakashu were definitely amongst the demimonde of the period—alongside Kabuki actors, geishas and other acceptable outcasts.

This quote certainly came to mind as I graced the various rooms and galleries of this quite stark yet refreshing exhibit enOne print that conveys such a concept is titled A Third Gender: Beautiful Youths in “Wakashu with a Shoulder Drum,” a color Japanese Prints, organized by the Royal woodblock piece (late 18th – early 19th cenOntario Museum, Toronto, and currently tury) by Hosoda Eisui (active 1790—1823). at the Japan Society in New York City.

The work is unique in that it is produced in This exquisite showcase of over 70 the format of ōbuki-e (“large head picture”), prints details the lives and mores of the stressing the beauty aspect of the image.

Wakashu, male youths that served as an This is apparent in the exquisite details of important part of life within the royal hier- the hairstyle, eyebrows, kimono and the archy of Japan’s Edo period (1603 to 1868). shoulder drum, common in Noh theatre proWith much taking place in the spheres of ductions – thus, a combination of sensuality, the global LGBT movement, nothing can preciseness and color. be more contemporary than what I saw in The second section, Desiring Wakashu, this exhibition—a period where liberties of gender and sexual expression were al- the ideology of the ruling shogunate was lowed and accepted as a way to explore the on social harmony through strict hierarchal overall human condition. The works here structures, those being of class, age and provide an inkling of what these freedoms gender. Such an order gave way for outcasts, such as Kabuki actors and prostitutes, meant in Edo-period Japan. to shine amongst the smart set of the higher The exhibition consists of four sections: classes as celebrities. The Wakashu was Identifying Wakashu in Edo Culture, quite desired and considered the best repreDesiring Wakashu, Transgendering Tra- sentation of beauty in Edo society. dition, Celebrating Youth and Dramatis Entitled “Two Wakashu, One Playing Personae: Performing Gender in the Edo Shakuhachi,” dated 1782 by Torii Kiyonaga Period.

(1752—1815) this color woodblock pillar The first section, Identifying Wakashu has two images in unison yet distant in their in Edo Culture, relays on the establishment stares; it is suggested that this may be due to of Edo (known today as modern Tokyo) by the possibility that the one with the instruthe shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu as a base for ment is a government spy musically coerchis headquarters and as a result, turning a ing its listener, who is a possible outlaw on small village into one of the world’s most the run. Nevertheless, one cannot take away popular urban centers at the time. With the beauty of the work, plus the sexual amprosperity came a society where sex and biguity between these two figures, gender was a requisite for further advanceThe third section, Transgendering Trament within such realms, not only for men and women but for adolescent males as dition, Celebrating Youth, presents the well. Thus a “Third Gender” was created daily life of the Wakashu in the manner of

Kaian (Megata Morimichi) (1813—1880), “Dancing in a Kabuki Performance,” 1800s

the mitate-e (parody pictures), where the viewer learns of the different stages of gender through the guises of youth, beauty and health, thus representing a somewhat symbol of vitality in its various presentations of dress, style and care-free playfulness

after female actors were banned in 1629 yet in turn, they were banned to perform these roles in 1652, thus giving way to male actors to portray the form of onnagata and by the 18th century, personifying the ultimate representation of the ideal feminine beauty.

The color woodblock print “Youth on a Long-Tailed Turtle” as Urashima Tarō,(pictured) done in 1767 by Suzuki Harunobu (1725—1770), is a fantastical rendition (based on a legend) of a wakashu fishing while on top of a large turtle. The color and imagery of both subjects are quite profound in its execution to finite detail; the dark tones of color work majestically within an image of a dark seascape and somberlooking setting sun.

This ideal is greatly evident in the work “Dancing in a Kabuki Performance,” done

by Kaian (Megata Morimichi) (1813— 1880), created sometime in the 1880’s.

Nicely executed on silk, the scenario is of a Kabuki performance where five figures are dancing in a sensual, rhythmic fashion: two figures (dressed in red and green) are portraying wakashu, while the other two are women. The only male in the scene (known as otoko) danced in a fighting manner, yet The final section, Dramatis Personae: engaged in a very festive manner.

Performing Gender in the Edo Period covers Overall, A Third Gender: Beautiful the tradition of Kabuki Theater and the pre- Youths in Japanese Prints is a captivating sentation of the Onnagata: male actors who and provocative show that with bring about would concentrate in performing female delight and further curiosity for all interroles, and its effect on the cross-dressing ested. and gender aspects that became the norm The exhibition will be on view at Japan in the Edo Period. Notable to say that the Society (33 East 47th Street in New York) till wakashu did take upon playing these roles June 11th.

Seattle International Dance Festival—A Celebration of the human spirit

by Roxanne Ray IE Contributor

is from Nebraska and of English and German which we live and the people that inhabit descent. “SIDF embraces a deeply humanistic it,” he said. philosophy that I believe stems from my own Sometimes practical details make these The year 2017 marks the twelfth year of the upbringing and biracial heritage,” he said. mind-expanding goals challenging. “Visas,” Seattle International Dance Festival, led by Because of this broad appreciation, Kham- Khambatta emphasized. “There is no doubt, Cyrus Khambatta, artistic director of Kham- batta finds it impossible to prioritize favorite the most challenging aspect of the festival is batta Dance. The schedule includes 16 days of aspects of the festival. “SIDF is a celebra- the visa process. This year was even more difperformances, workshops, and a free outdoor tion of the human spirit in all its colors, and ficult than others.” community event called Art on the Fly. the more individual events people attend, the The extent of this particular hurdle has reOne of the dance companies scheduled to more likely they are to benefit from the multi- ceived more attention lately. “Bringing interperform is Sapphire Dance Creations, led by faceted all-encompassing world of art-mak- national artists with the necessary visas is a artistic director and choreographer Sudar- ing,” he said. “Attending SIDF is like looking hugely complex, costly and arduous process,” shan Chakravorty, hailing from East India. through a kaleidoscope as it is turning and Khambatta confirmed. “It requires extensive Sapphire Dance will present Ekonama – The reveling in all the different colors, shapes, and communication back and forth with the artBeginning at the End, a piece that combines patterns.” ists gathering information and materials, and classical Indian Chhau martial arts with conKhambatta and his team of curators work justifying to our government why the artists temporary dance. “The festival represents the hard to showcase the variety of dance. “Any should be allowed to enter the United States to rich and diverse cultures of the world and each curating has some inherent biases that are perform. It is one of the most time-consumyear looks to find a part of the world it has not present in the panelists who are overseeing ing, intricate, and painstaking aspects of the previously represented,” Khambatta said. the process,” he said. “But I believe our pan- festival.”

This focus on diversity is very purposeful els do an excellent job considering each artThis barrier is not only legal, but also finanfor Khambatta. “SIDF has split bills, with at ist’s work within the environment in which it cial. “In years past, we relied on outside legal least two different artists work each evening, is created.” assistance to accomplish this task, but now to allow audiences to examine the creation of As artistic director, Khambatta’s goal we are bringing in too many international artart within different cultural contexts,” he said. is to expand horizons. “The festival ists and we can’t afford that so we did it all This mirrors the cultural and ethnic back- hopes that the audience will gain insight internally,” Khambatta reported. “The U.S. grounds experienced by Khambatta, whose into their own cultural experience as well government just raised the cost of each of the father hails from Mumbai, while his mother as a greater understanding of the world in visas for artists coming to the country, and by

now everyone is aware of the additional layers of scrutiny being applied due to political reasons.”

Beyond these obstacles, the sheer logistics of travel can be daunting. “When you factor in that Seattle is geographically distant from just about everywhere on the planet, save Canada and Mexico, the added travel and time costs add an unavoidable layer of complexity,” Khambatta said.

But Khambatta’s goals go far beyond the successful annual festival that he has developed with donors, supporters, and international artists. “I think there is a great lesson in banding together to use existing resources to create something better than the sum of its parts,” he said. “I want to export the lessons learned from creating SIDF to help other artists in communities do festivals of their own.

I aspire to connect like-minded festivals and develop a thriving network of co-created, cosupported programming.”

Seattle International Dance Festival runs from June 9 to 25 at Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, and other locations in Seattle. For more information, see http://www.seattleidf.org/performances/.

IE ARTS

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 15

Films: Didi’s Dream is psychadelic, SIFF offers colorful Asian cinema

By Yayoi L. Winfrey IE Contributor With the Seattle International Film Festival going full force, there are a lot of movies to be seen on SIFF screens through June 11. There are also several new theatrical releases.

One of them is Didi’s Dream, a TaiwanChina production. In a galaxy far away, Chun Mei (Dee Hsu) makes soup noodles in a state-of-the-art space station filled with neon, psychedelia, and friends in glittering metallic costumes.

Depending on her mood, Chun Mei’s soup changes flavor, and after she’s dumped by her lover it’s downright bland. But just as a handsome astronaut gets her attention, Chun Mei awakens and becomes Didi (Dee Hsu), a comic actress who can’t catch a break as a dramatic performer. Instead, she’s constantly being sent to audition for commercials where she has buckets of water lobbed at her, or feature films where she plays a vampire who’s beaten bloody because she won’t die.

Didi’s kind and supportive boyfriend (Jin Shijia) does his best to encourage her, but she feels defeated especially when she learns she has a major health issue.

Meanwhile, Didi’s celebrity sister, LingLing (Lin Chiling), is a glamorous star whom she had a falling out with years ago. But when the tabloids suddenly air accusations that LingLing’s dating a married man, her PR team decides the two sisters should make a movie together to circumvent the gossip. Didi is torn between finally getting recognition co-starring in a big budget

period piece or not giving in to LingLing.

And, of course, there’s that little matter of a huge disease that’s beginning to affect her. So Didi dreams of a faraway galaxy, psychedelia, glittering metallic, and a soup that an astronaut would enjoy. Directed by former TV show host Kevin Tsaii, this film stars his ex co-host, Dee Hsu, a hugely popular actress in both Taiwan and China.

‘Didi’s Dream’ opened June 2 at Regal Cinemas Meridian 16. *** In the sweeping period piece God of War, General Qi Jihuang (Vincent Zhou) goes after Japanese pirates infiltrating China’s coastline in the 16th century. After his superior, Commander Yu (Sammo Hung), is unsuccessful in his campaign against them, Qi patiently cuts through excruciatingly bureaucratic red tape to locate and train local miners to become fierce soldiers. He even outfits them with new shields that actually deflect bullets.

Meanwhile, the pirates, a gang of unruly ronin, are led by strategist Kumasawa (Kurata Yasuaki) and a temperamental high-ranking samurai related to the shogun, Yamagawa (Koide Keisuke). Because of his upbringing, Yamagawa is unbelievably aghast at the ronins’ low-class behavior not getting that they’re in it for the money and not the honor. This Ming Dynasty epic is told through several significant battles, but also spends some time with General Qi at home with his tough-minded wife (Wan Qian), who can swing a sword as well as any man. Her skills come in handy later when Qi is forced to leave his hometown of Xinhe

under her watch as he attacks the pirates in Taizhou. Hong Kong director Gordon Chan mixes martial arts with historical facts, shooting lots of close-up, hand-to-hand battles with a cast from China, Hong Kong and Japan.

‘God of War’ opened June 2 at Regal Cinemas Meridian 16 and at SIFF. *** Meanwhile, over at SIFF, the intriguing Soul on a String from Chinese director Zhang Yang makes a remarkable appearance. Guori (Zerong Dages) belongs to a Tibetan tribe that mandates a family’s son must exact revenge on any man who kills their father. The problem is that Guori keeps killing the wrong men, all who share the same name as the one who murdered his dad. Now the wrongly killed men’s sons must come after him and his brother Kodi (Lei Chen) for payback.

At the same time, another man with the same name, Tabei (Kimba), a hunter, kills a deer and finds a sacred stone in its mouth before being struck by lightning. After he’s brought back from the dead by a lama, Tabei’s told to deliver the bead to the Lotus Master at a holy mountain shrine in order to absolve his sins. As he makes his way there, Tabei is joined by a woman, Chung (Quni Ciren), whom he uses for sex and her cooking skills while she proclaims true love and a desire to have his child. She, in turn, finds a mute dwarf, Pu (Yizi Danzeng), who uses his psychic abilities as a GPS unit. At the film’s opening, a little girl says she wants to reincarnate as a deer before falling from a cliff. Upon landing, she begs for “a palm print of the Lotus Master.”

Unravelling like a slow-paced western, this film is ostensibly about a spiritual quest.

Nonetheless, it features a man in cowboy hat with a German shepherd crossing the limitless open spaces in pursuit of Tabei.

Two others want to steal the sacred bead from him, while the two brothers have their own reasons for stalking Tabei. Lingering shots of the majestic Tibetan countryside are nothing less than stunning.

‘Soul on a String’ screened at SIFF on June 2 and 4. *** From China, comes “The Door”. An auto mechanic, Cheng Tianle (Jiang Wu), lives in a world full of color, but he’s unhappy. His work is drudgery and big-shot customers with money and status tell him off with a warning: “Don’t go beyond your depth.”

At home, he and his wife seem unable to conceive the child he desperately wants, although both have been tested and proved to be fertile.

One drunken night, he meets an old man who slips him an old fashioned key that opens a door in his apartment. Suddenly, Tianle’s world is black and white, yet so much richer. Finding himself the CEO of an automobile company, he is served gourmet food which doesn’t suit his palate like the simple porridge he’s used to. His office is high-tech, his garage filled with luxury cars, and gorgeous women are now attracted to him. But so are bullies, gangs, and thieves.

Now, Tianle must decide if he was better off in his world full of color.

‘The Door’ screens at SIFF on June 8 and 9. Visit www.siff.net for more info.

16 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

IE ARTS

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

Films: ‘This Is Not What I Expected’ a rom-com for foodies, catch docs ‘Stories of a Generation’ and ‘Halmoni’ online now

By Yayoi Winfrey IE Contributor

women for not looking like supermodels or being man-less.

shown before and we felt that the strongest way to interact with our digital audience would be through the power of film. We wanted viewers to be present during his reunion with his grandmother. We wanted them to feel, experience, and endure some of the hardships which undocumented immigrants face everyday.

Another so-called “one China” film, the movie features first-time director Derek Hui, (from Hong Kong), heartthrob actor Kaneshiro (who’s Japanese Taiwanese), and the charismatic Zhou (hailing from Beijing).

IE: How long did it take to complete the film?

‘This Is Not What I Expected,’ in Mandarin with English subtitles was screened at AMC Pacific Place 11 in May. Halmoni

*** This is Not What I Expected

There’s an old saying that goes: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

That is, if you’re an unmarried woman desperate to land a husband—an archaic concept that should be banished along with the word “spinster.” But in the feature film, This Is Not What I Expected, seducing a man by cooking for him is the expectation.

Lucky for her, the young woman feeling pressured to marry is professional chef Gu Shengnan (Zhou Dongyu). One of several cooks at the Rosebud Shanghai Hotel, which happens to be on the acquisition slate, Shengnan works magic with food. She also has a conceited, callous boyfriend in the hotel’s manager (Tony Yang), who dumps her, body-shaming her by complaining about her plain looks and invisible curves.

Stunned, Shengnan frets over her appearance even though she’s charming, cute and likely the best chef in China. With her tattooed forearms, tousled hair, illfitting clothes, chaotic apartment and loyal dog, Boss, she’s an eclectic creature with a culinary gift. Yet the message that sinks in is that she’s a failure because at 33, she’s without a mate.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the acquisition group, Lu Jin (Kaneshiro Takeshi), makes an inspection of the hotel. A germaphobe, and extremely persnickety about the dining experience, Jin is prone to boiling ramen with a stopwatch to assure the correct tenderness of the noodles. He also indiscreetly spits out anything that doesn’t impress his picky taste buds.

Rejecting every dish the hotel serves him, Jin is ready to exit when he tastes Shengnan’s special spaghetti. Not only does he uncover poetic musings simply by inhaling its fragrant ingredients, but he’s overwhelmed with emotion, too—something alien to the wealthy misanthrope.

When Shengnan is ordered to prepare more exclusive dishes for Jin, she complies and Jin is genuinely moved by the exquisite cues he receives from them; like the dish featuring squid ink that Jin believes broadcasts Shegnan’s disappearance like a squid upon releasing its ink. On a quest to meet the mysterious chef, Jin is stunned to discover that she’s within his range.

With high production value, 1970s Afro-funk style music and the chemistry between Zhou and Kaneshiro, this romcom is entertaining for foodies. But it clings to outdated cultural norms like humiliating

Stories of a Generation

For a more serious topic, check out Stories of a Generation, a new short film series on YouTube featuring the Chinese American experience. Creator and director Ty Ng recently spoke with the International Examiner about it.

International Examiner: What inspired you to create this series?

Ty Ng: Chinese history is told in movies in China, yet the history of Chinese in America is very limited in U.S. mainstream media and cinema. Asians have a history of over 200 years in America; and, although as a group they’ve become an accepted part of today’s mainstream, it wasn’t always that way. The experiences of the generations before are far different than the lives we live today.

*** Another documentary free to view online is the timely Halmoni—the story of Ju Hong, an undocumented immigrant activist and resident of the Bay Area. He first gets the public’s attention when he interrupts President Barack Obama during a speech, urging him to stop deportations. When Ju learns his grandmother who helped raise him has developed Alzheimers, he’s determined to visit her one last time in South Korea. After securing special permission, he leaves behind his undocumented mother and sister for an emotional reunion with his beloved “halmoni” (grandmother). Below, director/producer Anna Oh answers some questions.

International Examiner: Why did you feel that a documentary was the best tool for your message?

Anna Oh: We wanted to show an intimate side to Ju’s life that’s not been

Oh: It took about two years. I graduated a quarter early from UC Davis in March 2014 and followed Ju to South Korea for about 20 days of filming. The hardest and longest part was editing after we returned to the U.S. Thankfully, we had help from several amazing mentors along the way which helped us push through and finish the film.

IE: What is the single most important take away you’d like for your audience?

Oh: While we hope to encourage and inspire other undocumented and immigrant community members, our primary audience is actually people who may be unfamiliar with U.S. immigration laws and/or the struggles that undocumented immigrants face in America today. We hope to introduce viewers to the realities of being undocumented in the U.S. and the heartbreak of being separated from your family.

Watch the film here: https://vimeo. com/213793631.

IE: What do the stories reveal?

Ng: With every story, there are the elements of immigration, social and legal injustices, racism, discrimination, adversity and triumph. Who we are, as a collective race and as Americans, is the story being told.

IE: What does the series look like?

Ng: I wanted to create a short film series that told these stories, and to do it in a modern format that is convenient to how people consume content today. Each episode is approximately 15 minutes, with a new episode released each month.

Although the first three or four episodes focuses on Chinese Americans, subsequent episodes will be expanded to all Asian ethnicities in America.

IE: And, what’s your story?

Ng: I was born in Hong Kong, immigrated to New York City, lived in Southern California and am now based in Arizona. I hope to be able to travel to major cities and capture stories throughout the country.

Check out Episode #1 currently on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6JJyAg9vsJU.

June 3 – 30: City of Seattle invites you to vote on how to spend $2 million

By Seattle Department of Neighborhoods The City of Seattle is asking the community how to spend $2 million of the City budget on park and street improvements across the city. Through Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks & Streets, community members can vote on projects in their Council District from June 3 through June 30.

The projects were selected from nearly 900 ideas submitted last February by community members across Seattle. Those ideas were narrowed down by community members to 8-10 projects in each of the seven City Council Districts. Ranging from improved intersection crossings to better park accessibility, you can view all the proposed projects at www.seattle.gov/ yvyc.

Now, it is time to VOTE! Cast your vote now through June 30 by coming to an in-person polling site or vote online. The projects that receive the most votes will be funded by the City and implemented in 2018. Paper ballots will also be available at all community centers and libraries. For more details and how to vote, visit www.seattle.gov/yvyc.

IE NEWS

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 17

At design meeting, CID residents concerned about 14-story project

By Laura Bernstein IE Contributor The International Special Review District (ISRD) met on May 23 in the Bush Hotel.

About 80 members of the public attended to express their thoughts about an upcoming 14-story development in the neighborhood.

The 230,000-square-foot project is located at 616 8th Avenue S and will comprise seven floors of hotel space, six floors of apartments, two floors of condos and three floors of belowgrade parking.

Throughout the evening, people discussed how historical, political, class-based and racially complex forces collide in Seattle’s land use decision making processes. For over two hours, volunteer design review members and activists engaged in a contentious meeting.

The outcome of the hotel project is unclear, but the organizers’ efforts have already shifted the conversation, and will surely have an impact on the future of land use in the ChinatownInternational District (CID).

The history of the CID is deeply connected to the history of land use rights and wrongs in Seattle. For generations, activists from communities of color have fought for cultural resiliency in the face of land use decisions that often seem intentionally confusing. Long ordinance numbers, indecipherable acronyms, and jargon-filled discussions serve to further exclude many people from helping shape the future of their communities.

The Chinatown-International District contains a National Historic District on the National Register “to promote, preserve and perpetuate the cultural, economic, historical, and otherwise beneficial qualities of the area, particularly the features derived from its

not invested in our community,” said Arista Burwell-Chen, a neighborhood resident and activist with the CID Coalition.

Abby Lawlor, Strategic Research for Unite Here! Local 8, asked: “Who will work, live and visit the neighborhood? Will the jobs created from this hotel go to people in the neighborhood?” Activist Omari Tahir-Garrett spoke of “gentrification as genocide” and drew parallels to the fights for Africatown.

He warned that CID would face the same pressures if they don’t do something “before it is too late.”

Highlights from the design review Rebecca Frestedt, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods ISRD Coordinator. • Photo by Laura Bernstein board’s comments: Asian heritage,” according to the City of Seattle. The ISRD is comprised of volunteers and led by a staffer from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The ISRD may be limited in its scope and authority to deny a permit to the 14-story development. One speaker pointed out that the authority for final review comes from Department of Neighborhoods Director Kathy Nyland.

Highlights from the design presentation: A design presentation from Studio19 Architects focused on the location for the parking lot entrance, a shadow study, a list of community organizations they had connected with, and the building’s exterior texture and color.

They faced interruptions from organizers who were upset about the term “Asian aesthetic.”

The International Examiner reached out to Studio19 Architects for slides from their presentation, and to ask follow up questions, but received no response.

The ISRD board members expressed concerns about the pedestrian experience, community safety, and suggested changes to the opacity of the hotel restaurant’s In December 2016, Cynthia Brothers, an ac- kitchen. Board members faced interruptivist with the CID Coalition, wrote an article tions to normal proceedings from those in for the Seattle Globalist about the new proposed attendance.

14-story development and its possible impacts With 50 projects in the pipeline and on the neighborhood. The piece, titled “Will Mandatory Housing Affordability Grandma have a place in the new Chinatown- (MHA) legislation under review for the International District?” was intended as a call CID, the Seattle City Council may conto action. The group “Humbows Not Hotels” sider amendments to increase the authorformed shortly afterward. Now called the CID ity of the ISRD board for future projects.

Coalition, the group is engaged in extensive The developer of the project on 8th and community organizing and lobbying efforts Lane hopes to begin the project this sumto shift the city’s policies around land use for mer, with the hotel likely to be a Springcommunities of color. They have identified the hill Suites Marriott. The CID Coalition is project at 8th and Lane as a symbol of develop- asking for the project to be denied, an imment done wrong. pact study to be completed, a moratorium “It is imperative for us to preserve the cul- on market rate development, and a public tural heritage of our community, otherwise it hearing before the ISRD makes its final will simply turn into a taste of the exotic for recommendations. people who do not share our values and are

Highlights from the public comment section:

18 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

Arts & Culture Asia Pacific Cultural Center 4851 So. Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98409 Ph: 253-383-3900 Fx: 253-292-1551 faalua@comcast.net www.asiapacificculturalcenter.org Bridging communities and generations through arts, culture, education and business.

Friends of Asian Art Association (FA3) P.O. Box 15404 Seattle, WA 98115 206-522-5438 friendsofasianart2@gmail.com www.friendsofasianart.org To advance understanding, appreciation and support for Asian arts and cultures, the Friends of Asian Art Association provides and supports programs, activities and materials that reflect the arts and cultures of countries that make up the broad and diverse spectrum of Asia.

Civil Rights & Advocacy Organization of Chinese Americans Asian Pacific American Advocates Greater Seattle Chapter P.O. Box 14141 Seattle, WA 98114

COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

Homeownership Services

Professional & Leadership Development

HomeSight 5117 Rainier Ave S Seattle, WA 98118 ph: 206-723-4355 fx: 206-760-4210 www.homesightwa.org NMLS#49289 HomeSight creates homeownership opportunities through first mortgage lending, down payment assistance, real estate development, homebuyer education, and counseling.

Housing Services

Executive Development Institute 310 – 120th Ave NE. Suite A102 Bellevue, WA Ph: 425-467-9365 edi@ediorg.org • www.ediorg.org EDI offers culturally relevant leadership development programs.

WE MAKE LEADERS InterIm Community Development Association 310 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 Ph: 206-624-1802 Services: 601 S King St, Ph: 206-623-5132 Interimicda.org Multilingual community building: housing & parking, housing/asset counseling, projects, teen leadership and gardening programs.

Kawabe Memorial House 221 18th Ave S Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-322-4550 connie.devaney@gmail.com We provide affordable, safe, culturally sensitive housing and support services to people aged 62 and older.

Fostering future leaders through education, networking and community NAAAP Seattle services for Asian American Queen Anne Station professionals and entreP.O. Box 19888 preneurs.

Seattle, WA 98109 Facebook: NAAAP-Seattle info@naaapseattle.org Twitter: twitter.com/naaapwww.naaapseattle.org seattle

Senior Services

www.ocaseattle.org

OCA—Greater Seattle Chapter was formed in 1995 and since that time it has been serving the Greater Seattle Chinese and Asian Pacific American community as well as other communities in the Pacific Northwest.

It is recognized in the local community for its advocacy of civil and voting rights as well as its sponsorship of community activities and events.

Education

Seattle Chinatown/International District Preservation and Development Authority ph: 206-624-8929 fx: 206-467-6376 info@scidpda.org Housing, property management and community development.

The Kin On Team is ready to serve YOU! www.kinon.org

Immigration Services

Senior Services Southeast Seattle Senior Center 4655 S. Holly St., Seattle, WA 98118 ph: 206-722-0317 fax: 206-722-2768 kateh@seniorservices.org www.sessc.org Daytime activities center providing activities social services, trips, and community for seniors and South Seattle neighbors. We have weaving, Tai Chi, indoor beach-ball, yoga, dance, senior-oriented computer classes, trips to the casino, and serve scratch cooked lunch. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30-4. Our thrift store next door is open Mon-Fri 10-2, Sat 10-4. This sweet center has services and fun for the health and well-being of boomers and beyond. Check us out on Facebook or our website.

Social & Health Services Asian Counseling & Referral Service 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-695-7600 fx: 206-695-7606 events@acrs.org www.acrs.org ACRS offers multilingual, behavioral health and social services to Asian Pacific Americans and other low-income people in King County.

APICAT 601 S King St. Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-682-1668 www.apicat.org Addressing tobacco, marijuana prevention and control and other health disparities in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs GA Bldg., 210 11th Ave SW, Suite 301A Olympia, WA 98504 ph: (360) 725-5667 www.facebook.com/wacapaa capaa@capaa.wa.gov www.capaa.wa.gov Statewide liaison between government and APA communities. Monitors and informs the public about legislative issues.

Denise Louie Education Center 206-767-8223 info@deniselouie.org www.deniselouie.org

Offering home visiting services for children birth to 3 and full & part-day multicultural preschool education for ages 3 to 5 in the International District, Beacon Hill and Rainier Beach.

Grammar Captive 409B Maynard Ave. South Seattle, WA 98104 206-291-8468 tutor@grammarcaptive.com www.grammarcaptive.com Speak better. Write better. Live better. Improve your English language skills with a professional language consultant at a price you can afford. Learn to write effective business and government correspondence.

Improve your reading, conversation, academic writing, and IT skills.

Washington New Americans Program OneAmerica 1225 S. Weller St., Suite 430 Seattle, WA 98144 Are you a lawful permanent resident? The Washington New Americans program can help you complete your application for U.S. citizenship. Low-cost and free services available – please call our hotline or visit www.wanewamericans.org.

Phone: 1-877-926-3924 Email: wna@weareoneamerica.org Website: www.wanewamericans.org Keiro Northwest 1601 E Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122 ph: 206-323-7100 www.keironorthwest.org rehabilitation care | skilled nursing | assisted living | home care | senior day care | meal delivery | transportation | continuing education | catering services

Homelessness Services YouthCare 2500 NE 54th Street Seattle, WA 98105 206-694-4500 info@youthcare.org www.youthcare.org

Working to prevent and end youth homelessness with services including meals, shelter, housing, job training, education, and more.

Cathay Post #186 of The American Legion Supporting veterans for over 70 years Accepting new members—contact us today to learn more! (206) 355-4422 P.O. Box 3281 Seattle, WA 98144-3281 cathaypost@hotmail.com

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Legacy House 803 South Lane Street Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-292-5184 fx: 206-838-3057 info@legacyhouse.org www.scidpda.org/programs/legacyhouse. aspx Services offered: Assisted Living, Adult Day Services, meal programs for low-income seniors.

Chinese Information & Service Center 611 S Lane St, Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-624-5633 fax: 206-624-5634 info@cisc-seattle.org www.cisc-seattle.org Creating opportunities for Asian immigrants and their families to succeed by helping them make the transition to a new life while keeping later generations in touch with their rich heritage.

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Social & Health Services

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Since 1935

Tai Tung Restaurant International District Medical & Dental Clinic 720 8th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98114 ph: 206-788-3700 email: info@ichs.com website: www.ichs.com

Banquet Facilities - Catering - Delivery

Bellevue Medical & Dental Clinic 1050 140th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98005 ph: 425-373-3000 Shoreline Medical & Dental Clinic 16549 Aurora Avenue N, Shoreline, WA 98133 ph: 206-533-2600 Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic 3815 S Othello St, Seattle, WA 98118 ph: 206-788-3500 ICHS is a non-profit medical and dental center that provides health care to low income Asian, Pacific Islanders, immigrants and refugees in Washington State.

7301 Beacon Ave S Seattle, WA 98108 ph: 206-587-3735 fax: 206-748-0282 www.idicseniorcenter.org info@idicseniorcenter.org IDIC is a nonprofit human services organization that offers wellness and social service programs to Filipinos and API communities.

Parking & Transportation Services 206-624-3426 transia@aol.com Merchants Parking provides convenient and affordable community parking. Transia provides community transportation: para-transportation services, shuttle services, and field trips in and out of Chinatown/International District, and King County.

Come Enjoy the Oldest Chinese Restaurant in Town!

655 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 622-7372 Mon-Thurs 11am-10:30pm Fri-Sat 11am-12am Sun 11am-10pm

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Answers to this puzzle are on Wednesday, June 21.

June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017 — 19

20 — June 7, 2017 – June 20, 2017

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