VOL 35 NO 5 | JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

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VOL 35 NO 5

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

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FASHION Japanese street wear to inspire creativity? » P. 9

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Young girl’s old suitcase teaches world children about Holocaust

Jayapa poised for Congress?

Fumiko Ishioka watched and chatted as George Brady played travel Scrabble with his adult daughter, Lara Brady, in between press interviews at the Hyatt House Hotel on Jan. 22. Ishioka is a Japanese national and George Brady has lived in Toronto, Canada, since 1951.

Brady is also a Holocaust survivor — the only one from his immediate family to leave Auschwitz alive.

Ishioka and Brady have known each other for years now. The two are linked across continents due to Brady’s history and Ishioka’s interest in it. They were in Seattle promoting “Hana’s Suitcase,” a

Sen. Pramila Jayapal

Photo by Alabastro Photography

By Emiri Aoki and Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

{see HANA cont’d on page 12} George Brady and Fumiko Ishioka sign copies of “Hana’s Suitcase” for students at Sanislo Elementary in Seattle, Jan. 20.

API leaders tackle local communities’ considerations and concerns at briefing

{see APIC BRIEFING cont’d on page 13}

On Jan. 21, Washington state Sen. Pramila Jayapal announced her congressional bid in Washington state’s 7th district, in hopes of succeeding U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, who is retiring and vacating {see JAYAPAL cont’d on page 15}

Vietnamese man dead from Jungle shooting

By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly

By Staff Northwest Asian Weekly

Photos by James Tabafunda/NWAW

With the general election set for Nov. 8, Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) leaders join presidential candidates in making sure key issues are brought up for public debate.

There are 11 specific community programs and services the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) has identified as being of critical importance to APIAs, especially newly arrived immigrants and refugees.

It held a King County community briefing on Jan. 21 at Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS).

APIC Co-chair and ACRS Executive Director Diane Narasaki said the event would cover a

By Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Co-chair and Asian Counseling Referral Service Executive Director Diane Narasaki at an APIC community briefing Jan. 21

Keiro Northwest Chief Operating Officer Janice Deguchi at an APIC community briefing Jan. 21

Pierce County Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Chair and Asia Pacific Cultural Center Executive Director Lua Pritchard at an APIC community briefing Jan. 21

Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Co-chair and Equity in Education Coalition Board President/Cofounder Tony Lee at an APIC community briefing Jan. 21

A deadly shooting occurred at a homeless encampment at Airport Way and South Atlantic Street in a greenbelt adjacent to the I-5 freeway, known as The Jungle, on Tuesday night, Jan. 26, around 7:15 p.m., according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD).

One of the victims, James Q. Tran, 33, was found dead at the scene. Other victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center.

Jennine L. Brooks died at the hospital. The three remaining victims, who are still unidentified at the time of this report, are {see SHOOTING cont’d on page 6}

The Inside Story NAMES IN THE NEWS APIs making a splash locally » P. 2

■

COMMUNITY NEWS Streetcar running!

Sort of. » P. 7

A&E Play remixes “Hamlet” Korean-style » P. 8

COMMENTARY It’s time to close the achievement gap! » P. 10

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

■ names in the news WGU ranks as a top educator of people of color in nursing

Photo from ELAN

Bellevue’s Kelsey Schmidt is Miss Washington USA 2016

A group photo of ELAN fellows

Photo by Jerry and Lois Photography

Diverse magazine covers

Kelsey Schmidt, of Japanese American heritage, is Miss Washington USA. Schmidt took the post after former Miss Washington USA Stormy Keffeler resigned this month due to controversy surrounding a DUI arrest.

Schmidt earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Scripps College and is currently a pre-doctoral fellow at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington. She volunteers for the Make-AWish Foundation.

Schmidt will be crowned Jan. 30 at the Beauty | Brand | Believe Expo in Redmond. 

For the second year in a row, Western Governors University (WGU) was among the top producers of nursing degrees awarded to people of color, according to a recent issue of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.

WGU ranked fourth in the nation in volume of nurses with minority backgrounds who earn their WGU Chancellor Jean bachelor’s and master’s degrees Floten from the university. Currently, WGU Washington — the state-based affiliate of the national university — has more than 1,500 students enrolled in its nursing program statewide.

“WGU Washington is committed to maintaining and enhancing the diversity of our student body and nursing program,” said Jean Floten, chancellor of WGU Washington. 

Heather Kawamoto joins network for equity in early childhood Heather Kawamoto and joined the Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN) to advance racial equity in early childhood systems. Kawamoto is the Puget Sound

Educational Service District’s equity in education program manager.

ELAN is a focused effort across 20 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, composed of 38 fellows who work at the state or county level in the areas of health, early learning, Heather Kawamoto and family support.

Other Washingtonians joining ELAN include Evette Jasper, Jill Sells, and Bianca Bailey. 

Phillip Yin vying for Washington state lieutenant governor seat Phillip Yin, a Bellevue resident and Yakima native, is running for Washington state lieutenant governor. “I know we can make Washington the most familyfriendly, job-creating, and innovative state in the country,” Yin said in a release.

Yin previously worked for Bloomberg Television and CNBC Phillip Yin Asia as a business/political anchor and was also a senior portfolio manager and strategist for Unifund. He has and undergraduate business degree from the University of Washington and an International Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University. 

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ community NEWS

King County Council declares January Human Trafficking Awareness Month On Jan. 19, the Metropolitan King County Council declared January Human Trafficking Awareness Month in recognition of the ongoing effort to call attention to this form of modern day slavery.

“In order to stop the scourge of human trafficking in our county, we need a coordinated and unified response,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, a co-sponsor of the proclamation. “I am glad to see so many organizations come together today to raise awareness, share resources and work together to end this despicable practice.”

Protecting the survivors of human trafficking has been a focus for King County since the murder of Susan Blackwell, her unborn child, and friends Phoebe Dizon and Veronica Laureta, all mail-order brides from the Philippines.

They were killed by Blackwell’s estranged and abusive husband in 1995 inside the King County Courthouse. Along with the forced servitude case of Helen Clemente in 1999 and the murder of mail-order bride, Anastasia Solovieva-King in 2000, King County has been active in collaborating with the state legislature

in finding ways to reduce trafficking and aid the survivors of trafficking.

Washington state is known as a national leader in the fight against slavery and human trafficking, being the first State in the country to criminalize human trafficking in 2003.

As a member of the state legislature, Councilmember Kohl-Welles worked with former State Rep. Velma Veloria in creating the first state anti-trafficking task force in the Country in conjunction with 2002 legislation which provided protections for foreign brides who go through international marriage brokers “The murders of the three Filipina women inside the King County Courthouse started the anti-trafficking movement in our state,” said Veloria. “This proclamation is a reminder to us all that human trafficking is not just a local problem, it is an international issue.”

Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in King County also work closely alongside the Washington Anti-Trafficking Network (WARN) who since 2004 have brought together a coalition of nongovernmental organizations that

provide direct services to survivors of slavery and human trafficking in Washington state and assist them on their path to restoration and recovery. That effort has grown through the establishment of the King County’s Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (“CSEC”) Task Force to help ensure the safety of young people who are survivors of sexual exploitation.

“Human trafficking is not limited to commercial sex work. It occurs in every industry including agriculture, construction, salons, and small businesses,” said Kathleen Morris, Program Manager at Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN). “Creating awareness about how to identify and report cases of human trafficking provides the public with the knowledge they might need to help those who experience human trafficking.”

A 2013 report from the U.S. State Department identifies nearly 47,000 men, women and children trafficked and forced into different forms of slavery, such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, debt bondage, and forced marriages each year worldwide. 

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

3

USCIS seeks comments for visa programs

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that would modernize and improve certain aspects of employmentbased nonimmigrant and immigrant visa programs.

USCIS is also proposing regulatory amendments to better enable U.S. employers to hire and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

USCIS aims to: Clarify and improve longstanding agency policies and procedures Better enable U.S. employers to employ and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment based immigrant visa petitions (I-140 petitions), Improve job portability

for certain beneficiaries of approved I-140 petitions, Clarify when individuals may keep their priority date to use when applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence, Allow certain highskilled individuals in the United States in certain nonimmigrant statuses to apply for one year of unrestricted employment authorization, Establish a one-time grace period during an authorized validity period of up to 60 days for certain high-skilled nonimmigrant workers whenever their employment ends.

The public has until Feb. 29 to comment.  To submit comments, visit regulations.gov or email USCISFRComment@dhs. gov. (Reference docket number USCIS-2015-0008 in the subject line of the email.)

asianweekly northwest

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

■ national news

State cherry growers talk supply, demand, and industry challenges

By Mai Hoang Yakima Herald-Republic

Photo by Ben Hua

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Demand for Northwest cherries was strong last summer, but the supply wasn’t always there.

While more than 19 million 20-pound boxes of Northwest cherries — most from Washington state — were shipped in 2015, a majority of the boxes were shipped in June as the hot weather prompted an earlier harvest for all varieties, including cherries that typically came later in the summer.

Cherry shipments peaked on June 25, nearly a month earlier than in 2014. The result: There were record shipments in June, but a drastic year-over-year decline in shipments in July, typically a high-selling month for the industry.

By July, there wasn’t enough supply to meet retailers’

demand, said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission and Northwest Cherry Growers.

“These retailers have a thousand products (to choose from),” he said during a presentation before growers, shippers and others in the cherry industry Jan. 15. “When they hear, `I’m sorry, I’m sorry, we don’t have enough fruit,’ they start to shift.”

Thurlby and colleagues at Northwest Cherry Growers outlined the marketing challenges and opportunities for cherries during the annual Cherry Institute. The event at the Yakima Convention Center drew more than 400 early registrations and was expected to attract about 550 attendees by day’s end.

Keith Hu, who oversees international cherry promotions, {see CHERRY cont’d on page 10}

■ WORLD NEWS

Filipino Miss Universe winner says next dream is to be a Bond girl

WA Chinese Lanuage and Arts Competition Registration Deadline: March 2, 2016 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m., March 20, 2016 Chief Sealth International High School Photo by Marktanoja78

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The reigning Miss Universe has her eyes set on her next big dream: being a Bond girl.

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach returned home to the Philippines for the first time since her crowning — and that awkward moment when host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as the winner instead of her. She said Jan. 24 she’s using the intense attention she got after that controversy to focus on her causes like fighting HIV and AIDS. “I’m using the attention to talk about my causes. Now, I have everybody’s attention,” she said.

She told a news conference that she plans to be tested for HIV publicly in New York to encourage other people to be tested, including in the Philippines, where HIV cases have risen alarmingly in recent years.

Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo was briefly crowned Miss Universe at the pageant in Las Vegas last month before Harvey returned to center stage to apologize and announced he misread the card, which had Miss Philippines as the winner and Colombia as the first runner-up.

Asked about her plans after her reign, Wurtzbach said she would consider possible job offers in the United States, adding: “I might be the next Bond girl, who knows?

So, we’ll see, that’s the next dream.”

Many international actresses have been cast alongside actors playing British agent James Bond and are popularly known as “Bond girls.”

Wurtzbach, 26, has worked as an actress and model in the Philippines before winning the crown. The Miss Universe pageant is a big deal in the Philippines, where two other women have brought home the crown before her, with the last one winning in 1973.

On Jan. 25, Wurtzbach met President Benigno Aquino III, a bachelor who is rumored to have gone on a date with her before. She’ll receive a citation from the Senate for her vic-

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

tory then join a motorcade around Manila that will end with a fireworks show.

Wurtzbach told reporters she was so overwhelmed with her triumph that she constantly checked on her crown in the initial days and even took a nap beside it but decided not to do that again because she might break it.

“God forbid that would happen, the Filipinos are gonna kill me. I haven’t even done my homecoming yet,” she said, repeatedly touching the diamond-studded crown. 

Age Divisions:  Grades K-2  Grades 3-5  Grades 6-8  Grades 9-12 Competition Categories:  Group Poetry Recitation  Individual Poetry Recitation  Public Speaking  Story Telling  Drawing  Chinese Singing  Talent Show  Chinese Chess  China Knowledge Bowl  Chinese Language Arts For more information, please visit www.culturalexploration.org

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

■ WORLD NEWS

5

Suicide of student Taiwan elects first triggers protests over female president and rejects pro-China party castes in southern India TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen as its first female president Jan. 16, handing her pro-independence party its first majority in the national legislature and rejecting the China-friendly party that has led the self-governing island for eight years.

The result should be deeply unsettling to China, which may respond by further reducing Taipei’s already limited ability to win diplomatic allies and participate in international organizations.

In a statement issued after Tsai’s win, the Chinese Cabinet’s body for handling Taiwan affairs reaffirmed its opposition to Taiwan independence, but said it would work to maintain peace and stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

“Our will is as strong as a rock, our attitude unswerving on the principal matter of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Taiwan Affairs Office said.

Voters concerned that Taiwan’s economy is under threat from China and broadly opposed to Beijing’s demands for political unification resoundingly chose Tsai over the Nationalists’ Eric Chu, a late replacement for his party’s original candidate who was seen as alienating voters.

Tsai said her victory was a further show of Taiwan’s ingrained democracy and its people wish for a government “steadfast in protecting this nation’s sovereignty.” She too pledged to maintain the status quo with China. She said both sides have a responsibility to find a mutually acceptable means of interacting, while adding that Taiwan’s international space must be respected.

She said she would correct past policy mistakes, but warned that “the challenges that Taiwan faces will not disappear in one day.”

Chu resigned from his party’s leadership to take responsibility for the massive loss.

In the final tally, Tsai won more than 56 percent of votes, while Chu had 31 percent and a third-party candidate trailing in the distance. Outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou is constitutionally barred from another term.

Making Tsai’s task easier, her Democratic Progressive Party won 68 seats in the 113-member national legislature that has been traditionally dominated by the Nationalists, who took 36 seats, with the rest won by independents and smaller parties. Illustrating the extent of their defeat, the Nationalists had won 64 seats four years ago. The new legislature convenes next month while Tsai is set to be inaugurated in May. The United States, Taiwan’s most important ally and source of defensive arms, congratulated Tsai.

“We share with the Taiwan people a profound interest in the continuation of cross-Strait peace and stability,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

Tsai said one of her top priorities would be to unite Taiwan in order to gain strength and respect from abroad.

Addressing a thin crowd of a few hundred supporters at his campaign headquar-

Photo by David Reid

By Christopher Bodeen and Ralph Jennings Associated Press

Tsai Ing-wen

ters, the Nationalists’ Chu said: “We failed.

The Nationalist Party lost the elections. We didn’t work hard enough.” He followed his concession speech by making a long bow.

Reflecting unease over a slowdown in Taiwan’s once-mighty economy, undeclared voter Hsieh Lee-fung said providing opportunities to the next generation was the most important issue.

“Economic progress is related closely to our leadership, like land reform and housing prices. People aren’t making enough money to afford homes,” Hsieh said.

Tsai has proposed to open 200,000 units of affordable housing in eight years. Her party suggested in May that Taiwan’s laws change to raise wages and cut work weeks from 84 per two weeks to 40 in one.

Tsai also reaffirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty claim over East China Sea islands also claimed by China but controlled by Japan.

She said Taiwan would also work to lower tensions in the South China Sea, where Taiwan, China and four other governments share overlapping territorial claims.

Tsai said she work to recruit talented people to her cabinet, increase the competitiveness of Taiwan’s exportoriented economy and safeguard the food supply following a series of scandals.

Her win will introduce new uncertainty in the complicated relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, which claims the island as its own territory and threatens to use force if it declares formal independence.

“Taiwan and China need to keep some distance,” said Willie Yao, a computer engineer who said he backed Tsai. “The change of president would mean still letting Taiwanese make the decision.”

Tsai has refused to endorse the principle that Taiwan and China are parts of a single nation to be unified eventually. Beijing has made that its baseline for continuing negotiations that have produced a series of pacts on trade, transport and exchanges.

Observers say China is likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach, but might use diplomatic and economic pressure if Tsai is seen as straying too far from its unification agenda.

In its statement, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated its insistence on the “one China principle.”

“We are willing to strengthen contact with any political party or social group that agrees that the two sides of the Strait belong to one China,” the office said.

Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945, and split again from China amid civil war in 1949. 

HYDERABAD, India (AP) — Shouting slogans and holding placards, hundreds of students on Jan. 19 angrily protested the death of an Indian student who, along with four others, was barred from using some facilities at his university in the southern tech-hub of Hyderabad.

The protesters accused Hyderabad University’s vice chancellor along with a federal minister of unfairly demanding punishment for the five lower-caste students after they clashed last year with a group of students supporting the governing Hindu nationalist party.

Police are investigating whether actions by the officials contributed to the 26-yearold doctoral student’s death, which they say was a suicide. He had been a member of a group representing Dalits, the lowest caste in India’s Hindu caste hierarchy.

The demonstrations in Hyderabad drew nationwide attention, with TV channels running updates throughout the morning.

The students have boycotted their classes and were holding a sit-in in the university.

“We want justice,” they shouted as scores of police stood by.

Police detained eight students overnight

Jan. 19 following day-long protests on Jan. 18.

Rohith Vemula `s body was found hanging in a hostel room, weeks after university authorities barred the five students from staying in the students’ hostel or using the library or other facilities. The five had been living in a tent outside the gate of the university since their suspension on Dec. 21.

University officials had cleared the five Dalit students in a preliminary inquiry into the clash, but reversed that decision in December and ordered that they be suspended.

The protesting students say the university’s decision to punish the five was due to pressure from federal minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who sent a letter to the Education Ministry demanding action against the Dalits.

Although caste discrimination was outlawed soon after India’s independence from Britain in 1947, it remains an influential force in Indian society. The government has worked to reverse the discrimination by setting quotas for jobs and university spots for different castes. 

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

■ COMMUNITY calendar SAT 1/23–MON 4/11

SAT 1/30

WHAT: Ai Weiwei’s “Fault Line” exhibition WHERE: San Juan Islands Museum of Art, 540 Spring St., Friday Harbor INFO: sjima.org/exhibitions/ ai-weiwei

WHAT: OCA Greater Seattle’s 21st Annual Golden Circle Awards WHERE: Joy Palace Restaurant, 6030 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

RSVP: http://bit.ly/1BysMZz

THRU THU 1/28 WHAT: Hari Kondabolu at Theatre Off Jackson, comedy WHERE: Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 7 p.m.

COST: $15–$18 INFO: facebook.com/ harikondabolu

THU 1/28 WHAT: Louis Kahn Preview Party WHERE: Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue WHEN: 7:30–10 p.m.

COST: Free for members, $15/ nonmembers INFO: bellevuearts.org

FRI 1/29 WHAT: World Dance Party, “Celebrate Diversity” WHERE: Filipino Community of Seattle, 5740 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 6–9 p.m.

INFO: worlddancepartyseattle. org WHAT: Celebrate Lunar New Year with Seattle Parks and Recreation WHERE: Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

COST: $12 INFO: seattle.gov/Parks/ Seniors

WHAT: AAJA 30th Anniversary Gala and Lunar New Year Banquet WHERE: The Wing, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 6–9 p.m.

INFO: facebook.com/ events/1948632308695410 WHAT: Education Roundtable on Student Discipline WHERE: El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 1–3:30 p.m.

INFO: capaa.wa.gov WHAT: Artist Martha Rosler’s community talk, “Housing is a Human Right” WHERE: The Seattle Public Library, Central Library, 1000 4th Ave. Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle WHEN: 7–9 p.m.

INFO: 206-386-4636 WHAT: Asian/Pacific Islander Blood Drive & Bone Marrow Registration WHERE: Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Rd. N.E., Redmond WHEN: 1–7 p.m.

COST: free REGISTER: required, tinyurl. com/nkzrgr2, 206-556-2274

SUN 1/31 WHAT: Celebrate Asia WHERE: Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle

WHEN: 4 p.m.

COST: $29+ INFO: seattlesymphony.org WHAT: Lion Dance performances at Uwajimaya WHERE: Uwajimaya in Seattle and Renton WHEN: Seattle at 1 p.m., Renton at 3 p.m.

INFO: uwajimaya.com WHAT: TAP-SEA Presents: Lunar New Year Dinner Celebration WHERE: Ho Ho Seafood Restaurant, 653 S. Weller St., Seattle WHEN: 6–9 p.m.

COST: $25/early bird, $30/ regular, cash preferred

TUEs & WEDs, 2/2– 2/17 WHAT: “Do It For Umma,” a surreal comedic detective story WHERE: Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., Fl 2nd, Seattle WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $5–$10 INFO: annextheatre.org

THU 2/4 WHAT: Story Time WHERE: The Wing, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

INFO: wingluke.org, 206-6235124 WHAT: ArtXchange Gallery presents, “S’Agapo: Expressions of Love,” a group exhibition featuring a number of APIs WHERE: ArtXchange Gallery, 512 1st Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 5–8 p.m.

INFO: 206-839-0377, info@ artxchange.org, artxchange.org

THU 2/4–2/25 WHAT: “A Boy Named Soo,” transgender Korean adoptee printmaker’s exhibition WHERE: Gallery4Culture, 101 Prefontaine Pl. S., Seattle WHEN: 6–8 p.m.

WHERE: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 12 p.m.

COST: $25 INFO: asiapacificculturalcenter.org/ tasteofasia

FRI 2/5

SUN 2/7

WHAT: TSA Chinese New Year Banquet WHERE: Ocean Star, 605 7th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 6–8:30 p.m.

COST: $20/person INFO: mkt.com/TSAUW/tsachinese-new-year-dinner

WHAT: International Community Health Services Lunar New Year 5K run/walk WHERE: Mercer Slough Nature Park, Bellevue WHEN: 9:30 a.m.

COST: $25–$40 INFO: www.ichs.com/5K

WHAT: Luncheon, “Five TaxCutting Strategies for 2016” WHERE: Shanghai Shanghai Restaurant, 989 112th Ave. N.E. #205, Bellevue WHEN: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

COST: $20 INFO: conta.cc/1KFHBO4

SAT 2/6 WHAT: Lion Dance and Lunar New Year Fair WHERE: The Wing, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

INFO: wingluke.org, 206-6235124 WHAT: Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents Tea Experience: Taiwan WHERE: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 10 a.m.

COST: $10 INFO: asiapacificculturalcenter.org/ teaexperience WHAT: Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents Taste of Asia, cooking lesson: Taiwan

■ world news

Coconut trees are no longer considered trees in Indian state, now are palms

By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar Associated Press

PANAJI, India (AP) — Coconut trees are no longer considered trees in the tropical Indian state of Goa, where authorities have reclassified them as palms to allow farmers to cut them down more easily.

Officials said they dropped the cocus nucifer from Goa’s official list of trees in order to help coconut farmers cull old or ailing stands without having to deal with red tape. But environmentalists and the state’s opposition lawmakers are incensed, and accuse the state of catering to industry and developers.

“The move will not benefit farmers as much as it will help real estate and corporate interests chop coconut groves for development of plots and setting up industrial units,” opposition legislator Vijai Sardesai said.

The state’s forest minister, Rajendra Arlekar, defended the decision to amend a 1984 law forbidding the felling of certain trees without permission, saying coconut trees shouldn’t

have been listed at all.

“We have only corrected the anomaly in the act,” Arkelar told state assembly members last week.

Goa produced more than 1 million coconuts in 2013 from groves sprawling over 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres) in the western resort state, a holiday hotspot known for its sandy beaches lined with the iconic, swaying palms.

Even before the coconut tree became a background fixture for tourist photos it was an important part of local lore thanks to the usefulness that earned it the Sanskrit name of kalpvruksha, which means “a tree that fulfils all desires.”

Pulp scraped from coconut shells is an essential ingredient in the region’s traditional fish curries and meat stews. The sap from the trunk, known as toddy, is a popular drink, while fermented toddy is used as a yeast substitute in baking, and distilled toddy is a favored brew. Many homes also use the hollowed shell as a serving ladle. They weave

the fronds into roof mats and use the sturdy wood to build homes.

“If permission is not needed to cut coconut trees, then naturally there will be more concrete,” environment activist Claude Alvares said.

Environmentalists along with several local media outlets demanded that the state’s coalition government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, reverse the decision.

In an editorial Jan. 19, Goa’s Herald newspaper accused Modi’s party of being “lost in the woods” and said those who will benefit most from the reclassification “are those who want to build huge housing estates and hotels and establish breweries and beer factories.”

The state’s highest elected official, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, said he was not worried about coconut groves disappearing.

“We Goans love coconut trees. We will never cut them,” he told the Associated Press.

“Those who are opposing the amendment ... are resorting to emotional blackmail.” 

MON 2/8 WHAT: UW School of Drama celebrates and honors the Northwest Asian American Theatre WHERE: UW, Meany Studio Theatre WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: free INFO: drama.washington.edu/ performances WHAT: Northwest Language and Cultural Center’s 5th annual Lunar New Year celebration and blessing WHERE: Cultural Center, 5024 Langley Rd., Langley WHEN: 4–6 p.m.

TUE 2/9 WHAT: Asia business forum, “2016 Economic Outlook for Asia’s Big 3 — China, Japan & India” WHERE: Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

COST: $15–$20 REGISTRATION: abf-1-2016. eventrite.com

{SHOOTING cont’d from page 1} suffering from gunshot wounds and were in intensive care as of Wednesday morning.

SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole said SPD have leads they are pursuing, and there are two persons of interest in the shooting they are seeking out.

They believe the shootings were very targeted and that people at other homeless camps do not need to fear a similar incident.

At a press conference at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said he issued an emergency order to expedite the creation of two safety zones, parking lots in Ballard and one in South Seattle, for homeless people living in their RVs or cars.

Murray said The Jungle “has been unmanageable and out of control for almost two decades.”  Staff can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ community news

7

Bye post office, hello double-sized Hing Hay Park

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

First Hill Streetcar begins service with soft opening and free rides on Jan. 23

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

Demolition takes place at the former United States Post Office building on Sixth Avenue.

Hing Hay Park will expand into this site.

A streetcar picks up passengers in Seattle’s Chinatown on Jan. 26.

Travelers on the First Hill Streetcar were able to ride for free on Saturday, Jan. 23, during a promotional service period. Conceived as a link between Seattle’s Link Light Rail at its Capitol Hill station and King Street Station adjacent to the International District, the First Hill Streetcar has undergone testing over the last several months to ensure the streetcars are safe to use.

Streetcars run every 10–15 minutes and cost $2.25 per adult per fare. Day passes are $4.50 for

adults, and the streetcars accept payment through ORCA cards or through a paper ticket purchased at pay stations on streetcar platforms. Children 5 and under ride for free.

According to its website, a grand opening and community celebration will follow the promotional service period in the coming weeks.  A map of the streetcar route can be found online at seattlestreetcar.org.

Demolition has started at the site of the former International District branch of a United States Postal Services (USPS) post office on Sixth Avenue and King Street. (The post office has not moved far. It’s now at 409 Maynard Ave. S.) USPS’s lease expired in 2013.

Seattle Parks and Recreation Department had purchased the site and decided to expand the adjacent Hing Hay Park.

The planned park expansion will double the size of the park.

Designed by SvR Architecture, a local firm — with Turenscape, a firm based in Beijing — the expanded Hing Hay Park will feature a welcoming gateway in its southwest corner, terraced landscaping, and places for small and large gatherings.

Construction is expected to be completed late spring. 

THANK YOU!

From Chinese Wushu & Taichi Academy For 20 years, your tremendous support and guidance for the Chinese Wushu & Taichi Academy has given us a smooth journey.

Our anniversary celebration started with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei's workshop on Jan. 14-17 at the International District/Chinatown Community Center. It was a huge success.

We are grateful for Grandmaster Chen's presence and teaching.

Grandmaster Chen is a 19th generation descendant of the Chen’s family and a 11th generation direct-line inheritor of Chen’s Taichi. We would like to thank all those who attended the workshop, including masters and students. Their love and support touched us deeply.

Our sincere thanks to the followings: Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei ▪ Long Kung Tin Yee Association ▪ Sen Poy Chew ▪ Vincent Chiu ▪ President Jun Zhou and Ms Aihua Liao of Confucius Institute of UW ▪ Master Viola Brumbaugh of Wise-Orchid Martial Arts ▪ Master Byron Hartman of Bay Area Chen Zhenglei Taijiquan Association ▪ Master Ning Wang of Wang Ning Chen’s Taichi Academy ▪ Manager Zhonghua Chu of Microsoft ▪ Principal Larry Fung of Titan Electricity ▪ Master Blake Emery of Boeing Company ▪ Principal Dong Ma of Northwest Chinese Language School ▪ Lori Van Norman ▪ Kellen Cheng and Allen Wong of International District Community Center ▪ Assunta Ng of Northwest Asian Weekly/Seattle Chinese Post ▪ World Journal ▪ Singtao Daily China Press ▪ WeSeattle ▪ Seattle Chinese Radio ▪ Chinese Seattle News ▪ Seattle Bin ▪ John Yii ▪ Duke B ▪ Yuxi Hong ▪ Rong Sen Zhang ▪ Bohan Bing *Names not listed in particular order

Chen Taichi followers gave Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei a warm welcome in the Seattle/ID Community Center

Chinese Wushu & Taichi Academy 709 1/2 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98104 206-749-9513 chinesewushutaichi.com

Chinese calligraphy from Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei as a congratulations gift to disciple Master Yijiao Hong for her 20 years contribution to Taichi teaching.

CWTA 20th Anniversary June Lecture & Performance Wednesday, Jun. 1 ▪ 6–8 p.m. ▪ UW, Kane Hall

Speaker: Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei Special guest: China Taichi Queen - Master Jiamin Gao Host: Chinese Wushu & Taichi Academy LLC & China Chen Village Chen Zhenglei Taichi Training Center Sponsor: Confucius Institute of UW

asianweekly northwest

8

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

■ arts & entertainment Playwright remixes Hamlet with feminist themes and lots of ajummas If Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet were played by a female Korean American protagonist, what would that play be like?

“Do It For Umma,” a tragi-comedy written by local playwright Seayoung Yim, explores this very idea.

In October 2014, Yim took a playwriting class from esteemed playwright Stephanie Timm, who challenged students to write a revenge tragedy. Instructions included writing a visitation scene with the victim as a ghost, in addition to creating roles for women since Elizabethan revenge tragedies focus heavily on men.

Yim’s research on the genre led her to a cornerstone of Western drama: Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Intrigued by the relationship between Prince Hamlet and his father, Yim superimposed her own experiences of being Korean American onto the “Hamlet” plot, portraying the complex relationship between the Korean American daughter and her immigrant mother.

“I’m inspired by how immigrant moms are required to navigate and balance two completely different cultures,” said Yim. In her play, Prince Hamlet is the character Hannah, whose recently deceased mother returns to haunt the Korean convenience store she once owned, to shame and cajole her daughter into avenging her suspicious death. Fueled by humor and revenge, Hannah is on a mission to gain her ghost mother’s approval while protecting her family’s honor under the strangest circumstances.

Photo by Ian Johnston/Dangerpants Photography.

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

Hannah (a reimagined Hamlet figure) is played by Skye Stephenson.

Reframing the Asian and Asian American female narratives Yim has always been drawn to attractive and powerful female characters, influenced by her own mom’s strong personality and the Korean dramas she watched as a child.

“When you hear ‘badass Asian female,’ most people don’t think of the old, Asian immigrant who doesn’t speak English as being badass,” said Yim. “Society doesn’t view or frame their narrative that way. This play reframes these everyday people.”

In “Do It For Umma,” Hannah’s mom’s story is reframed through her convenience store, which serves as the equivalent of King Hamlet’s kingdom. Hannah’s mom ruled over her store with an iron fist, and the store is the domain that Hannah must protect after her mother’s demise.

After conducting stage readings for “Do It For Umma,” Yim successfully pitched the show to the Annex Theater in Seattle during their annual call for proposals, which brings bold, new productions to the forefront of Seattle’s theater world. “Do It For Umma” is also a notable selection for

this theater, given its predominantly white audience.

“We were initially preoccupied with what white people would think of our show, since the script is filled with Korean words and cultural references,” said Sara Porkalob, the show’s director.

Porkalob, who also acts in and writes her own works, was drawn to the script for its affiliation with Annex Theater and the desire to direct a show with a nuanced understanding of the Asian family dynamic.

“You have an obligation to do a story like this justice, when it reflects on the experiences of your community,” said Porkalob who is of Chinese, Filipino, and Hawaiian descent. Yim and Porkalob were careful to consider the representation of Asian and Asian American characters, using potential stereotypes in the script to inform directing choices or anticipate how the audience may interpret a certain line.

“As an Asian body moving on the stage, it is very difficult to remove your race from the presentation of the characters,” said Porkalob. “But we can’t remove that from who we are. And at some point, you have to ask: How does that matter? Do we need to explain who we are? Do we even care?”

The answer is no. The duo decided to be unapologetic about the source material, with Porkalob urging Yim to add even more Korean words and phrases to the script. The eight-person cast, which consists of just one male and one non-Asian actor, were given voice recordings to properly pronounce Korean phrases or monologues for scenes {see UMMA cont’d on page 14}

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

9

a primer

By Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

A GLOSSARY In Tokyo, one can see a variety of street fashion worn by young urbanites. Like any other place, trends have come and gone, but here are some of the more well-known women’s fashion subcultures in Japan:

In honor of our inaugural Year of the Monkey Fun Fashion Show to be held at House of Hong on Feb. 6, here’s a rundown of the fun, flirty, and often wackiness that is Japanese street fashion!

GOTHIC LOLITA — a dark, romantic look that borrows from Victorian or Edwardian fashions, sometimes with parasols!

SWEET LOLITA — sweet, feminine, childlike, and often over-the-top frilly and pastel in color DECORA — a lot of bright, bold colors and cutesy accessories all over the body, from hair clips to wallets to necklaces to pins GANGURO — really deep tans combined with bleached blond hair, white eyeliner, and miniskirts GYARU — influenced by the West, very glam, with tanned skin and billowy surfer girl wigs

Images by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

inspired?

Email us pictures of your Year of the Monkey-inspired garments for a chance to be featured at our fashion show on Feb. 6

RSVP@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM

Lunar New Year Fashion Show and Dinner

福

Celebrate with Style

See how Chinese culture inspires fun and creative costumes in the Year of the Monkey!

Vote for your favorite model or dress at the dinner Presented by Northwest Asian Weekly and Foundation

Time: 6–9 p.m.

Place: House of Hong Restaurant Date: Feb. 6 $500 a table, $600 with your company logo.

For tickets, call 206-223-0623. $50 a person before Feb. 4 $55 a person after Feb. 4

Mail to: Northwest Asian Weekly 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 ATTN: LNY Fashion Show and Dinner Name: ___________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________________

If you would like to be a model, call 206-223-0623

Fax: _____________________________________________________

http://bit.ly/1OBR5f5

Email: ___________________________________________________ Organization: _____________________________________________ Title (if applicable): _________________________________________ Name of guests: ___________________________________________ _________________________________________________________  Mastercard

 Visa

Card no.: _________________________________________________ Exp. date: ____________ Signature: ___________________________

SPONSORS:

Buckley & Associates ▪ Seattle Family Regional Center Ying Kam Chan Eng Fidelity Accounting Tax Service Ron Chow Faye Hong ▪ Bob Santos ▪ Lee & Lee, PS Walsh Design ▪ Dr. Douglas Louie ▪ Gei and Matt Chan Kwan Louie Zhou Nam Jerry and Charlene Lee ▪ Mimi G. Gates Real Homes Realty ▪ China Harbor Restaurant

asianweekly northwest

10

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

OPINION

■ editorial

A report released this week by the New American Leaders Project, a nonpartisan organization, found that fewer than 2 percent 500,000 seats in state and local offices nationwide are held by Asian Americans or Latino. There is a clear disparity in representation here, as these voters comprise 20 percent of the U.S. population.

The report goes on to recommend three practices to close this representation gap that we wholly agree with: • •

•

Recruit more Asian American and Latino community activists and leaders for specific seats.

Community-based organizations, unions, and candidate training organizations must expand their investment and support of these new candidates, as well as new elected officials.

Advocacy groups, funders, and other stakeholders need to create and engage in new tactics that promotes more inclusion in all levels of government.

{CHERRY cont’d from page 4} noted several successes during the 2015 cherry harvest.

Those successes came despite several challenges, including a strong U.S. dollar that made cherries more expensive and supply challenges due to the earlier harvest.

Nearly 31 percent of the 2015 crop was exported, similar to past years. Top countries were Canada, China and South Korea, but shipments to Vietnam grew, a reflection of increased promotions there.

Hu highlighted successful promotions, such as a contest with an online shopping site in China where shoppers had a chance to win

One of our front page stories this week is about a woman who left her home and family at the age of 16, traversing an ocean and continents to settle in the United States by herself.

Today, Pramila Jayapal embarks on a Congressional bid for Jim McDermott’s vacated seat.

In Names in the News this week (page 2) we featured another Asian American vying for elected office, Phillip Yin, a man with a varied professional background, spanning news, business, and finance. This week, Yin announced he is going to run for state lieutenant governor.

We need more elected officials who look like Jayapal and Yin. There are many ways to encourage and support new leaders of color.

Donate to the campaigns of those who speak to you — no amount is too small. If you cannot donate money, consider donating your time by volunteering to knock on doors or

diamonds with a cherry purchase and a popup store in South Korea that attracted 8,500 visitors in the last week of June.

And, overall, retailers abroad have been improving their displays of Northwest cherries. “Our displays are getting bigger in every country,” he said.

The big challenge for cherry exports in 2016, as in other industries, is ongoing economic decline in China. Not only is China a top importer of Northwest cherries, but economic declines could impact other top cherry importers, such as South Korea.

But Hu also noted long-term trends in China that could benefit the cherry industry, such as continued growth of the

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

APIs and Latinos Americans are underrepresent in all levels of government — this has to change now

at events. There is no shortage of ways we can help our chosen candidates.

Adults can also plant seeds early and suggest to young children of color that they, too, might explore careers as leaders in government. 

middle class over the next 15 years.

In the meantime, Northwest Cherry Growers are looking at new markets. Hu said efforts are underway to get a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund a trial promotion in thePhilippines.

James Michael, who oversees cherry promotions in North America, talked about domestic marketing opportunities.

The majority of cherry buyers in the U.S. are occasional buyers who may opt to buy just one bag or package of cherries every season. In 2015, there were about 82 million single purchases of the product.

Michael said getting Northwest cherries featured prominently in a variety of media,

including national food and lifestyle magazines, websites and popular food and lifestyle blogs, will be key in getting additional sales out of single-purchase buyers.

If those buyers bought just one more bag, that would equal 164 million units.

Combined with purchases from more frequent buyers, U.S. shoppers could potentially buy 202 million units of Northwest cherries.

That equals 28.4 million boxes, well above the amount of Northwest cherries harvested in 2015 and even above the record crop of nearly 23 million boxes in 2014.

“There’s still incredible promise at home,” Michael said. 

Women as Bridge Builders

Making a Difference

honorees

Camilla Mejia

Former Vice President of Multicultural Club, Jackson High School

Evelyn Yenson

Executive Retired

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 ● China Harbor Restaurant ● 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

(It’s Thursday, not Friday!)

sponsors

Maha Jahshan

Policy & Program Specialist, Office of Immigrant & Refugees

Tonya Knox

Agency Field Recruiter, State Farm Insurance

Hilary Stern

Name: ___________________________________________________

Founding Executive Director, Casa Latina

Address: __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________________ Fax: _____________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________ Organization: _____________________________________________ Title (if applicable): _________________________________________ Name of guests: ___________________________________________ _________________________________________________________

Christina Fong

Maria Durham Co-founder, Viva La Musica Club

Wendy Zheng

Rita Zawaideh

Anne Nguyen

Paula Houston Chief Executive Officer, Senior Services

Mahnaz Eshetu Executive Director, Refugee Women’s Alliance

Leslie Harper-Miles

Margo Myers

 Mastercard

Multicultural Engagement Director, Swedish Medical Center

Board of Directors, Salaam Cultural Museum

Executive Director, Alexander Hamilton Scholars

Senior Executive Project Mgr., King County Government

 Visa

Card no.: _________________________________________________ Exp. date: ____________ Signature: ___________________________

emcee

Principal Lecturer, Management Dept., UW

Deborah Cano-Lee Co-founder & Board President, WA Indian Civil Rights Commission

Principal Margo Myers Communications

WOC CO-CHAIRS: Bonnie Miller & Rosario Carroll PLANNING COMMITTEE: Elizabeth Younger, Connie Sugahara, Diane Martin, Francine Griggs, Kathy Purcell, Leny ValerioBuford, Assunta Ng, Shoko Toyama, Rosa Melendez, Lourdes Sampera Tsukada, Sonia Doughty, Sylvia Cavazos, Kiku Hayashi, and Winona Hollins Hauge LUNCHEON PRICING: Discounted price of $35 if purchased by Jan. 9. Full price of $45 after Jan. 9. Walk-ins $50. Student price of $25 with I.D. before January 9; $30 after Jan. 9; student walk-ins $35. No tickets will be mailed; confirmation is by e-mail only. $350 for a table. To sponsor the event including logo online and print and table is $1,000.

Men are welcome! MAKE RESERVATIONS: To purchase tickets, go to http://bpt. me/2483641, or call us at 206-223-0623, fax the above form to 206-223-0626, mail a check to Women of Color Empowered, P.O. Box 3468, Seattle, WA 98114, or email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com. For more information, visit womenofcolorempowered.com.

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

11

OPINION

■ commentary

It’s time to listen — It’s time to close the opportunity gap

By Frieda Takamura and Sili Savusa For Northwest Asian Weekly

Frieda Takamura

Sili Savusa

One of our core values as a country and state is providing the best opportunity for our next generation to succeed; this means all children regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or other defining characteristic.

Unfortunately Washington has been failing. Studies have repeatedly shown that throughout Washington we have seen persistent achievement and opportunity gaps that exist between our students of color and the student population as a whole.

The term “opportunity gap” is a term used to describe the structural issues within our education system that can hold back our students. There are many issues that factor into student success. Poverty and parent involvement certainly play huge roles in determining how well a student does in school, but when a consistent 20–30 percentage point gap in student achievement exists between students of color and white students, other factors must be examined.

We have seen that opportunity gaps have narrowed through careful analysis and use of data, targeted strategies to provide equal opportunities to all students, and meaningful partnerships with communities and families. Now is the time to take these ideas and implement them in a holistic way across the state to foster student success.

Crafting a plan for student success

This year the legislature is once again considering a comprehensive plan to address institutional inequities that run deep in our schools. The plan, based on the work of the Education Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) and stakeholders, is in the form of House Bill 1541 and Senate Bill 6192, authored by Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos and Sen. John McCoy.

for all students. Over the past five years, as a result of much research and community engagement, the committee has put forth a comprehensive plan on how to better meet the needs of students of color, regardless of their backgrounds.

The recommendations build upon the assets that our students of color bring to school. Some of these recommendations include promoting the cultural competence of educators, the recruitment, hiring and retention of educators of color, endorsing educators in English Language Learner (ELL) instruction, strengthening transition

Republican legislators have dropped their own legislation that ignores the work of stakeholders from communities of color.

These legislators are now telling leaders from the Asian and Pacific Islander communities, the African American, the Latino, the Native American and other ethnic communities who have studied the issues exhaustively, that they, the legislators, better understand the institutionalized racism, disparate educational opportunities, and different treatment experienced by students of color than those who have experienced it first hand.

The EOGOAC, a legislatively mandated committee formed in 2009, comprises representatives from the state’s three ethnic commissions, federally recognized tribes and the legislature. The committee is tasked with advising lawmakers on the best ways to improve educational outcomes for children of color throughout Washington.

The core goal of the committee is to put forth a set of recommendations on how we break down barriers to better achieve equity

TAITUNG

programs for students, and improving the collection of student demographic and performance data for students of color.

Although these recommendations have passed the House of Representatives, they have repeatedly stalled in the State Senate for multiple years despite repeated attempts by committee members and allies to pass this comprehensive approach to better meeting the needs of our students.

Listening to those who understand it best

What is even more concerning, is that despite a lack of participation in the crafting of the recommendations, during this current session, Republican legislators have dropped their own legislation that ignores the work of stakeholders from communities of color. These legislators are now telling leaders from the Asian and Pacific Islander communities, the African American, the Latino, the Native American and other ethnic communities who have studied the issues exhaustively, that they, the legislators, better understand the institutionalized racism, disparate educational opportunities, and different treatment experienced by students of color than those who have experienced it first hand.

Let’s be clear: Ultimately stakeholders from the EOGOAC believe that our public education system is good. When it fails our students, it is not about intent — it is about impact. However it is critical that we look to better our schools in a holistic way, not just with piecemeal band-aid approaches that tinker on the edges instead of truly addressing the systemic problems.

It’s time for legislators to listen — for the sake of our children and for the sake of equal opportunity for all.  Frieda Takamura is a former educator who serves as the Asian community representative on the EOGOAC. Sili Savusa is executive director of the White Center CDA and the Pacific Islander community representative on the EOGOAC. They can be reached through info@ nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

12

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

Photo by Alabastro Photography

play adapted by Emil Sher and based on Karen Levine’s book of the same name, performed at the Seattle Children’s Theatre through Feb. 7. “Hana’s Suitcase” depicts the true story of how Ishioka and Brady met. Hana was Brady’s sister, and she did not survive Auschwitz.

A suitcase arrives In 1999, Ishioka was a teacher and curator at the Holocaust Education Resource Centre in Tokyo.

(Today, she is the organization’s executive director.) Inspired by a guest speaker and Holocaust survivor, Ishioka’s young students start a newsletter, and Ishioka began searching for personal items that once belonged to children of the Holocaust, for the education center — a search that led to an in-person visit to Auschwitz to make a personal request.

A year later, a small suitcase arrived at the education center. On the side of the suitcase was the name, birth date, and designation of its owner: Hana Brady, born May 16, 1931, a waisenkind. Waisenkind means orphan.

Ishioka’s students wanted to know more. Ishioka began writing letters to Holocaust museums, concentration camp sites, and education centers around the world, searching for information about Hana’s life. “It’s important to educate young children about the dangers of prejudice and discrimination — and how to fight against it, to teach them the value of compassion,” said Ishioka.

A museum gave her a piece of information. Hana lived in Terezin, Czechoslovakia, before she was killed.

Searching for answers In 1933, two years after Hana’s birth, Hitler came to power in Germany. Anti-Jewish laws, known as the Nuremberg Laws, were passed two years later in 1935. Restrictions on Jews became more and more strident. By 1940, when Hana was 9 and George 12, the children were banned from attending school. In 1942, when Hana was 11, she and

Photos provided by George Brady

{HANA cont’d from page 1}

From left: Lara Brady, George Brady, Fumiko Ishioka, and Emil Sher on Jan. 20

George were sent to Theresienstadt (Terezin in Czech), also known as the Theresienstadt Ghetto, a Nazi concentration camp in Sudeten, the German-occupied part of the Czech Republic.

In the same year, their parents, Marketa and Karel, were killed within months of each other, in Auschwitz.

Though Hana and George were not allowed to be educated, children in the camp secretly studied and made art. Although most pieces were destroyed during World War II, more than 5,000 drawings were hidden, and then later found.

Among the pieces were five paintings by Hana, which helped lead Ishioka to George.

During a visit to England for work in July 2000, Ishioka stopped over in Terezin and the Jewish Museum in Prague. A curator showed her a list of Nazi deportation records, of more than 90,000 names. Ishioka found Hana’s name and — to her surprise — she also found the name “George Brady.”

There was a mark on his name, indicating that he survived.

“I thought he may be still alive!” said Ishioka. With hope and excitement, she returned to England and visited another museum to find someone who could connect her to George. Her persistence paid off.

She eventually received George’s contact information.

Japan’s infamous history Japan was allied with Germany during World War II and has its

own violent and grisly history of the mass murders of Chinese and the sexual slavery of Korean women. For decades after the war, Japanese institutions downplayed its role and war crimes carried out in World War II. Education about the Holocaust is not consistently taught to children in school.

The Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Centre was founded in 1999 to broaden the understanding of the Holocaust.

“It is a slow and complicated process,” Ishioka said in a release.

Notably, Japanese children at the center are eager to learn about Hana.

Last year, Alain Lewkowicz, a French Jewish journalist who studied Japanese attitudes toward the Holocaust, told the Times of Israel in an interview that contemporary Holocaust education in Japan cautions against extreme nationalism — being blindly obedient to one’s country. Lewkowicz stated that the position is bold to take in a society that is known for being very conservative and hierarchical.

Living and surviving When Ishioka contacted him for the first time, George Brady was surprised.

“A Japanese woman, who was not even born during the war, was studying about my sister. It was the most unusual thing to me.”

He told her about his childhood.

Since they were not allowed to go to school, George and Hana used to play together — behaving the way siblings sometimes do.

Hana Brady as a young girl

Hana and George Brady as children, holding a doll

George admitted that they argued and squabbled at times — but grew very close when their world started to become claustrophobic.

The last time George saw Hana was before he was sent to Auschwitz in September 1944, at the age of 16. Hana followed in October. George would leave Auschwitz months later in January 1945, when he was almost 17.

When asked why he was spared, George kind of smiled. He quipped, “Do you have two days?”

Then he attributed his survival to random luck.

“It took me a long time to get home,” he said. He had to go through Poland, the Ukraine, and Hungary before finally arriving back in his hometown. There, he found that none of his immediate family was waiting for him. No one survived.

He said it took him a long time to move past the tragedy enough to function. He said that he decided to live a successful life, so that his family would be proud of him. He started a wholesale business, traveled internationally, and settled in Toronto for 65 years, where he married and had four children — three sons and one daughter.

led to a book, which led to Emil Sher’s play.

“The Holocaust and hope do not seem to be able to exist at the same place at the same time, but this book ends with hope,” said Sher.

Sher is also Jewish, and his mother is also a Holocaust survivor.

After the play’s premiere in 2006, “Hana’s Suitcase” has been performed all over the world.

“What makes this story important and beautiful is the fact that Fumiko is not Jewish,” said Lara Brady. “She is Japanese, born after the war. Nevertheless, she spent so much time and energy on finding and telling this story to the world.

[This story] connects two seemingly unrelated different time phases, countries, and religions, telling us that what we have in common is more important than what divides us.”

“It has been incredible to travel around for 15 years to tell the story,” said Fumiko in an interview, with a smile. “Regardless of their country, religion, or culture, children are touched by a life of just one girl.

They start wondering what they would do if they face the same kind of prejudice and discrimination in school or their community.” 

Hana’s suitcase

“Hana’s Suitcase,” at the Seattle Children’s Theatre, will run through Feb. 7. For more information or to buy tickets, visit sct.org.

After meeting, Ishioka and George Brady traveled around the world telling his and Hana’s story.

When a news story about them was printed in a Canadian Jewish newspaper, Levine, a radio documentary producer, created a documentary about Hana’s suitcase, which

Emiri Aoki and Stacy Nguyen can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT King County is requesting Proposals from qualified firms interested in providing engineering and design related services for the renovation of three buildings for the King County Roads Services Division. Work will be focused on developing energy efficiency alternatives and designing to achieve LEED certification.

The Request for Proposals, all addenda and current document holder’s list are available at http://www. kingcounty.gov/procurement. The County will not mail, ship or fax RFPs and addenda.

Interested firms must register with the County at time of download and ensure that a valid contact email address is given. Notification of addenda will be sent to the registered email address. Failure to register will result in the Proposer not being notified of any addenda, which may result in rejection of the proposal.

The estimated price of Phase I of this contract is $400,000 to $500,000. The total estimated price of all remaining phases is $1,500,000 to $2,000,000.

The period of performance for Phase I is estimated to be five (5) months. The period of performance of all remaining phases is estimated to be two (2) years.

Contract Title: Design Services for B, D, and H

Building Renovation Number: E00397E15 Proposals due: February 19, 2016 Time: 12:00 p.m.

Pre-proposal Meeting: February 4, 2016 Time: 11:30 a.m.

Location: 155 Monroe Avenue NE, Renton, WA 98056, C Building large conference room SUMMARY OF WORK: This work is to provide all necessary engineering and design related services to renovate buildings “B”, “D”, and “H” at the King County Roads Services Division Renton Maintenance Facility located at 155 Monroe Avenue NE. The Consultant shall incorporate green building principles, practices, and materials into the design per King County’s Green Building Ordinance (Ordinance 16147) in pursuit of LEED gold certification.

SUBCONSULTANT OPPORTUNITIES: Provided for informational purposes only, following are subconsulting opportunities that may be available on this Contract: structural/architectural engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering.

SCS UTILIZATION REQUIREMENTS: The Consultant shall ensure that at least 14% of the Contract Price for all Work, as amended, shall be performed by King County Certified SCS Firms over the life of the Contract. Evaluation points for meeting and/or exceeding the SCS utilization requirements will be provided to each proposer responding to this requirement. King County will not evaluate the proposal and will not execute a contract with a Proposer who does not commit to meet at least the SCS utilization requirement as stated above.

QUESTIONS: Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to Tina Davis, Contract Specialist via email at tina.davis@kingcounty.gov or via telephone at 206-263-2939, TTY Relay: 711. The Proposer may be requested to submit the question in writing. No verbal answers by County personnel will be binding on the County.

This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

13

Predictions and advice for the week of Jan. 30–Feb. 5

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Skepticism looms large from where you stand.

For once, you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

Dragon — Without warning, something has caught your fancy. If it is fun, then by all means give yourself permission to delve deeper.

Monkey — In the interest of streamlining the process, you may be required to jettison some of your usual practices. Embrace this change rather than resisting it.

Ox — One by one, everything seems to be falling into place, further proof that you have made the right decision.

Snake — While small annoyances don’t seem to amount to much individually, they can certainly add up. Likewise, the same is true of many good things.

Rooster — Once the excuses disappear, you are left with nothing to hide behind. Step forward and take charge of what comes next.

Tiger — The brightest star doesn’t necessarily last the longest. Make your choice based on more than just one factor.

Horse — Wisdom is a byproduct of time and experience. It should give you an advantage over those who are not as well versed as you.

Dog — Though you might lag behind initially, your persistence will allow you to make up much ground very quickly.

Rabbit — Is there someone that you really want to see? Instead of leaving it to chance, make it a point to schedule a meeting.

Goat — Striking out more than you care to admit?

Perhaps you need to be in a different game, one better suited to your strengths.

Pig — Any lingering doubts should soon be swept away, as you begin to realize what a great opportunity you have in your hands.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

{APIC BRIEFING cont’d from page 1} legislative agenda, as well as scheduled events for 2016, and then welcomed the diverse group of community members.

“It’s a really important year for us to make sure that our community is informed and ready to go, whether it’s becoming naturalized for those who aren’t yet citizens or for those who are citizens and are eligible to vote but haven’t yet registered to vote,” she said.

A video of a speech given by Mee Moua, the first Hmong American woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2002 followed. She is currently the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Washington, D.C. Moua shared her experiences after arriving in the United States as a 9-year-old with her family in 1978.

At a rally against anti-Muslim rhetoric, she said, “Too often, I’ve had to hose down racial slurs that were written on our driveway and garage door, sometimes with mud, but many times with urine and feces. We were targeted because our neighbors saw us as American enemies from Vietnam.”

“I call on each and every one of us to make our voices heard, so we can shut down this ugly rhetoric and insure that we are all equal and protected and respected Americans.”

For the last 20 years, APIC has organized its annual Asian Pacific American (APA) Legislative Day for community residents to gather in Olympia and meet with the governor

and state legislators. This year’s APA Legislative Day will be different.

“We are bringing a leadership delegation, and the reason is because we are saving our thousands of community members for a statewide civic engagement event [on] Sept.

15 in the Tacoma Dome,” Narasaki said.

Until then, she urged the APIA community to call the legislative hotline (1-800-562-6000) on APA Legislative Day, Jan. 26, and said, “Even if you’re not going with us physically, you can still contact our legislators and our governor to let them know whether you support the legislative agenda and support specific issues that are especially important to you.”

“And if you don’t know who your legislator is, that’s OK. You can still call that number and ask them, and they’ll tell you and you can leave a message for your legislators on that important topic.”

APIC Co-chair Tony Lee began the discussion of the legislative agenda by pointing out a paragraph in the APA Legislative Day 2016 Statement of Principles, which commends Governor Inslee’s recent statement about welcoming refugees fleeing such war-torn countries as Syria.

Lua Pritchard, chair of the Pierce County APIC, followed Lee and rallied support for a $1.5 million Asia Pacific Cultural Center. She said 100 out of the center’s 200 housing units would be for APIA senior and low-income residents and that the center would “represent all of us.”

“Each of our countries would have [its] own suite, 600-square-feet of your own country,” she said about the

center’s 47 cultural suites. “We’re modeling it after the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii.”

Some of the other issues in the legislative agenda include climate change, the achievement gap in education, naturalization services, dental coverage for elderly and disabled adults, and continued funding for the Washington Telephone Assistance Program.

Janice Deguchi, Keiro Northwest chief operating officer, talked about the issue of nursing home acuity, which would impose monetary penalties on nursing homes that allow people with Alzheimer’s disease, persistent mental illness, and dementia to remain in or be admitted into its resident mix.

She said, “The problem with that is that sometimes, when these patients are discharged, they really are needy (of skilled nursing care from a clinical perspective).”

Another issue in the legislative agenda is voter registration. Lee pointed out that in most countries, a voter can register on the same day he or she votes so “the more you shorten it (from 29 days in advance in Washington state to 11), you’ll have more people voting.”

A brief question-and-answer session ended the event.

“As we know, our vote is our voice,” Narasaki said.  For more information about the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, visit apicwa.org.

James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasian weekly.com.

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

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{UMMA cont’d from page 8} entirely in Korean.

The presence of ajummas is another way the show has refused to compromise. Although ajumma can be used to respectfully address an older Korean lady, it can sometimes be derogatory toward older, unwed Korean women. As a conscious decision to reclaim the word, a chorus of ajummas are featured in the show and function like a chorus in a Greek tragedy, narrating or relating character reactions to the audience. This reframes ajummas as authoritative women in control, Porkalob explained, while giving the chorus an identity.

Dramatizing mother/daughter dynamics

Skye Stephenson (“Hannah”) with Maggie Lee (“Mrs. Yi”)

At the end of the day, “Do It For Umma” is a story that explores the layered identity of being Korean, American, and female, with a mother–daughter relationship at its heart.

“I wanted to make Umma compassionate because she

says some horrible things to Hannah that are motivated by love,” said Yim. Writing this play was an entry point for Yim to analyze her relationship with her mom and to answer questions about

her mom’s history, such as examining the circumstantial and political forces that shape immigrant families.

Creating complexity around Umma’s character has helped her reframe her mom’s life story and, Yim hopes, the tough love mentality of other Asian immigrant parents.

Humor has also been a primary way to explore the play’s complex issues, ranging from race to gender politics.

“With all the drama and murder sleuthing happening, the stakes are so high for the characters,” said Yim. “I wanted to explore these issues as I see it, but I also wanted it to be true to the Korean American experience and spotlight the highs and lows of a family’s history. And that’s where the comedy shines through.”  “Do It For Umma” runs at the Annex Theatre from Feb. 2–17 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.annextheatre.org/2016-season/offnight/do-it-for-umma.

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016

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{JAYAPAL cont’d from page 1} All sale lasts from Friday 1/29 to Thursday 2/4 1221 S. King St., Seattle ∙ 206-720-0969 Monday—Sunday: 8 a.m.—8 p.m. www.lamsseafood.com NOW AVAILABLE LUNAR NEW YEAR ITEMS

A tweet from Pramila Jayapal on Jan. 22, a day after she announced she will run for U.S. Congress

For more information, visit pramila forcongress.com.

Stacy Nguyen can be reached at editor@ nwasianweekly.com.

Be a follower visit nwasianweekly.com

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other endeavors.

“I’m running for Congress because now is the time for a bold progressive fighter,” Jayapal said.

While living in the district is not a requirement for a Congressional seat, Jayapal told The Stranger and The Seattle Times that she will move to the 7th district if elected.

According to a 2014 MSNBC report, of the 535 members serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, only 81 are women. Of those 81 women, only 31 are women of color, according to the Center for American Woman and Politics.

“We need to fight not for the 1 percent, but for working men and women,” said Jayapal in her release. “Not for austerity, but social security. Not for deportations and breaking up families but building stronger middle class families. Not for private schools, colleges and prisons, but public education, college debt relief and criminal justice reform.” 

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his seat after 14 terms. Jayapal is currently serving her first term as state senator for Washington’s 37th district (from south of Capitol Hill to Skyway and downtown Renton), also her home of nearly 20 years.

“I came to this country when I was 16 years old,” Jayapal said in release. “My parents used all the money they had to send me to school in America because they knew it would give me the best shot at a bright future. They believed that the American Dream was for everyone, not just the rich and powerful.”

Jayapal was born to a Hindu family in India and attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC at age 16, after moving to the United States by herself. After a stint on Wall Street as a financial analyst, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Northwestern University. After working in the private sector for a year, Jayapal found her calling and pursued social justice work. Her passion for it only increased following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

Five days after the attacks, Jayapal founded Hate Free Zone (now called OneAmerica), to advocate for Arab, Muslim, and South Asian Americans targeted with hate crimes and discrimination following the attacks. Notably, Jayapal organized a press conference in the wake of the attacks and the very first elected official she ever spoke to was McDermott, according to a Seattle Met story. McDermott encouraged her to form Hate Free Zone.

Jayapal served as OneAmerica’s executive director until 2012. OneAmerica has expanded its mission since 2001. It now helps immigrants participate in civic life, push for policy changes, increase the capacity of immigrant organizations, among

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Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents

Chinatown-International District Lunar New Year Celebration Kids’ Parade Contest ▪ Saturday, February 13, 2016

DIAMOND SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

COMMUNITY SPONSORS

JIM DOANE GOLD SPONSOR

Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • Noon—1:15 PM — Registration (each contestant gets a number) • 1 PM — Line up (outside NW Weekly’s office, 412 Maynard Ave. S., Chinatown/International District) • 1:15 PM — Judging begins • 1:30 PM — Parade begins • 2:10 PM — Parade winners announced • Contestants must be present at the announcement of results.

• Finalists will be lined up in numerical order.

• All contestants will receive a fortune cookie.

Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest. If register before February 11, contestants will get a prize after the event. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave. S. • Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 15 minutes prior to parade.

Rules/Guidelines: • Kids ages 14 and under can participate in the contest • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • Kids will be given a contestant number for the order of Parade lineup • Kids attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria.

• Prizes will be awarded to First ($100), Second ($50), and Third ($25) Place Winners, plus many other prizes.

• All decisions made by competition judges are final.

• Winners and finalists’ photos will be in NW Asian Weekly/Seattle Chinese Post print and online on Feb. 18.

WHAT: Kids’ Parade Contest WHERE: 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle EVENT DATE: Saturday, February 13 DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Noon on February 13

Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Children’s Parade Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 Name: ________________________________________________________________ School Name:____________________________________________ Age:___________ Phone: ________________________________________________________________ E-mail: ________________________________________________________________

Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations. Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@ nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2016