Natsumi for J-Sei!

So here we are at the last stretch of a Month of Giving for an organization I joined relatively recently and am deeply committed to. We succeeded in hitting our goal but I still want to reach out to you.

Over the past few years, I have had the incredible opportunity to become involved in the J-Sei community. The pandemic, the social climate, all made me aware that I needed to be a part of something that was about shared values, a regenerative community and honour the stories of people and places I care for deeply. People and places that may often be overlooked; to value a place that feels safe because of the ways in which we are “seen” but also in the ways we consider one another. This was the grounded sound place. 

J-Sei is an organization that started at the heel of the civil rights movement, inspired by a climate of social change, influenced by the likes of the Black Panthers.  This place was born out of a belief that there should be a place where we could care for our elders in a more whole way. (remember that at this time, most of these Nikkei elders were people who had been incarcerated during World War II and had been greatly impacted by this). The fact that J-Sei is thriving in the way that it is through senior services and its cultural programming rooted in Nikkei traditions for over half a century now is a testament to the tremendous power that exists here. A power that comes from a collective experience and commitment to one another.  

I can not say enough about the profound ways in which I have been moved by the work of this community (just give a few minutes with me in person and I can talk your ear off), but this is a non-profit like no other. For someone who grew up in the Bay Area around many non-profits, I had become jaded in many ways but I have been continuously surprised by the way in which J-Sei operates and the caliber of phenomenal people that make up this community. The work feels authentic, regenerative and a result of this brilliant spirit. 

As you may know about me, I am a pursuer of relationships and connections especially as a way in which to engage with the world and embody my values. I am interested in what's around me, the people that make up the world in which I participate and the people who have paved the way for me in more ways than I can see.

I started as a volunteer in the kitchen (see video) where I helped pack the lovingly made meals for the seniors.  I have since worked alongside so many interesting people with rich stories and varied backgrounds. My brother’s second grade teacher (who worked in Berkeley Public schools for over forty years), the owner of the tennis/running shop where I bought my first pair of fancy running shoes for a track meet in fifth grade, my family’s home and shop’s landlord, my dentist who I have seen for over three decades, the person who my family has bought fish from since I was eight, the artist who’s show I went to at BAMPFA with work that moved me so, the list is endless.  (Truthfully, I am mostly just trying to hide how awe- struck and inspired I am from their stories). It feels like mutual aid in action, a live history lesson of the east bay/bay area and a place that celebrates one another in the different phases of our lives. 

Please consider giving so that the organization can continue providing important services and strengthening connections among us. 

As I have come to believe in most things, all of the work and joy is right in front of us and all around us. We just need to take the time to look closer and more thoroughly. 

I look forward to participating in this community together with you in some way- Thank you~! 

Yours. 

Natsumi Iimura