Here's a last-minute notice for the 2009 San Francisco Community Leadership Conference, which will be this Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at SF State's downtown campus. The conference is put together by Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), and will feature a keynote by SF Board of Supervisors President David Chiu. Go to Leap.org for more registration details and info on the conference!

Register NOW for the 2009 San Francisco Community Leadership Conference "Be the Change, Be a Leader" and join us on Saturday, March 28th for a stimulating day of leadership development and networking.

Whether this is your first time or if you've come to this conference before, it's an opportunity to:

-develop and hone your leadership skills so you'll always be a valued member of any organization
-prepare for, and even create, new personal or professional opportunities
-acquire tips on how to continue growing as a leader during this economic
crisis
-learn more about the importance and benefits of being civically engaged and involved in the community.
-get insight on "next step(s)

Don't miss out on this high value, high impact conference! For the low price
of $50 for General Audience, $25 for Nonprofit Organizations, and $10 for
Students, you'll get leadership development training and materials and FOOD -
breakfast & lunch!

DATE & TIME
Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 am
to 5:00 pm

LOCATION
San Francisco State University - Downtown Campus
835 Market Street (next to Westfield Mall) San Francisco, CA 94103

**Register online HERE**

For more details on workshops, trainers, speakers and directions CLICK HERE

SF Community Leadership Conference FACEBOOK page

CLICK HERE for info on public transportation, directions, and parking

Made possible through a grant from The James Irvine Foundation

HYPHEN Magazine Party - 6 in the City

More extra-curricular socials for ya next Friday, coming from our friends at HYPHEN magazine. If you've been to any of their issue release parties in the past, you know you're in for a great party! This time, HYPHEN is celebrating their 6th year of existence; quite an accomplishment for an indie print mag put together by volunteers. Do check out the magazine and their website at http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/, and come out to the party to support independent Asian American media!

RSVP at Going.com or Facebook

HYPHEN is turning 6...that's like 30 in independent magazine years!
Celebrate with us.

Six in the City
Friday, March 27th, 2009

9pm-2am @ club six, san francisco
$10, $20 w/ a subscription (50% off) 21+

*free subscription to first 50 guests! (courtesy of IW group)

music ~ fashion ~ art ~ cake ~ photobooth fun ~ prize giveaways

Performances:
The Invisible Cities
Denizen Kane

Fashion:
Vintage Joy

DJs:
DJL! ~Nako (Popscene) ~ Rav-E (Nonstop Bhangra) ~ Citizen
Ten ~ DJ Esquire ~ PaulDon'tPaul

Live Art :
Alex Chiu ~ Luis Tinoco

Sponsored by:
IW Group
The Laugh Box

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - March 2009

Hey everyone, we've got a lot of great stuff coming up this month, but first off, let's quickly give recognition to some of our members for their contributions at our February events. A huge THANK YOU goes out ot those of you who volunteered at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance on February 22, 2009. Special thanks are also in order for Lisa Masai, Rylan Sekiguchi and Misono Allen for their hard work on the program booklet! We'd also like to say GREAT JOB to Ali Kagawa and Corey Jamieson for helping put together an incredible weekend up at Tahoe for Nakayoshi's first ski trip last weekend, and thanks goes out to all our drivers as well. Hope you guys all had a great time! Make sure to check out all the pictures from our events on our Facebook Group page and the Nakayoshi online photo gallery.

This month we have a few fun things going on in connection with the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), as well as an opportunity to volunteer at the Nichi Bei Times' Tofu Festival later in the month. Let us know if you can make it out, and as always, bring a friend or two with you! Also, watch out for the unveiling of an updated Nakayoshi website coming soon at www.nakayoshi.org! You can take a sneak peek of the new site here.

In this update (new events in bold):
3/12-19/09 - Volunteer at SFIAAFF
3/13/09 - Monthly Social: Tokyo Sonata screening at SFIAAFF, Dinner and Karaoke after
3/14/09 - Happy Hour with Filmmaker Tad Nakamura and Hapihour.org
3/22/09 - Volunteer at Nichibei Times Tofu Festival
3/29/09 - Nakayoshi Monthly Meeting

March 12-March 19, 2009: Volunteer at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF)

The 27th annual SFIAAFF, which showcases the best Asian and Asian American films from around the globe, takes place March 12-22, 2009 in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose. The SF portion of the festival runs from March 12th to the 19th.

Come volunteer with Nakayoshi at the SFIAAAFF! Benefits include:

• Vouchers for festival screenings
• Meeting film industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts
• Official Festival T-shirt
• Volunteer Appreciation Party
• Working off parking or traffic tickets incurred at various cities throughout the Bay Area through Project 20
• Hanging out with your super cool friends at Nakayoshi!

How to volunteer with Nakayoshi at the SFIAAFF:
1. Register with Nakayoshi by e-mailing nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com with your name and e-mail. Any questions about volunteering at the festival should be directed to the Nakayoshi e-mail address above.
2. Register with the Center for Asian American Media's Shiftboard at http://www.shiftboard.com/caam. Be sure to write "Nakayoshi" somwhere in the "Why would you like to volunteer for our festival" section.


Friday, March 14, 2009: Monthly Social - Tokyo Sonata (and dinner and karaoke after!)

Thank you to those of you who have reserved your tickets to the movie screening. We sold out! In case you weren't able to score one of our tickets, don't worry, we have a fun night planned after the movie as well! We hope that you can join us for dinner and karaoke in SF Japantown following the movie. A late dinner following the movie will be at Cafe Mum's at 10:00pm to be followed with karaoke action at DoReMi at 11:15pm. Let us know if you can make it by emailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

Schedule - Friday, March 14, 2009

• 5:30pm-6:00pm: Optional ticket pick-up time, Anderson Bakery (inside the Kintetsu Building in the Japan Center mall)
• 6:00pm-6:20pm: Meet in front of Sundance Kabuki Theater. If you are not at the theater by 6:30, we will be forced to give up your ticket! This is a SFIAAFF rule, and we cannot make exceptions!
• 6:30pm: Seating for Tokyo Sonata begins
• 6:45pm: Tokyo Sonata screening begins
• 8:45pm: Tokyo Sonata ends, hanging out begins (feel free to invite your friends, but please RSVP to nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com so we know to look for you!)
• 10:00pm: Dinner @ Cafe Mum's (inside Hotel Tomo) for hungry people
• 11:15pm: Karaoke @ DoReMi Music Studio

Saturday, March 14, 2009: Happy Hour with Filmmaker Tad Nakamura and Hapihour.org

Our friends at Hapihour.org have generously added Nakayoshi as co-hosts along with Dale Minami, Yuri Kochiyama, Audee Kochiyama Holman, Marjorie Fujiki, Diane Matsuda, Eddie Wong and Keith Kamisugi of their happy hour at A5 Steak Lounge to celebrate the screening of young JA Tad Nakamura's newest film, "A Song for Ourselves" at SFIAAFF. Tad will be at the happy hour in person for those of you who'd like to meet him! The event is free with no-host bar. Food will be available for order in the lounge.

More information on the happy hour and Tad's film can be found on the Nakayoshi blog at www.nakayoshi.org. Also, check out the movie's blog at: http://asongforourselves.blogspot.com

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Where: A5 Steak Lounge, 244 Jackson, St., San Francisco
Time: 6:30pm
Make sure to RSVP on Facebook or evite.com!


Sunday, March 22, 2009: Tofu Dessert Competition and Festival Volunteer Event

Join Nakayoshi as we volunteer at the Nichi Bei Times' first Tofu Dessert Competition and Festival! The festival will take place on Sunday, March 22nd at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) in Japantown. It will include a tofu dessert competition, a tofu nutritionist talk show, tofu games, and a haiku contest.

The Nichi Bei Times will donate 50% of the proceeds from this event to the Nihonmachi Little Friends, a community-based, Japanese bilingual and multicultural childcare organization. Nihonmachi Little Friends provides quality and affordable childcare services while incorporating Japanese language and curriculum into their programs. To learn more about the Nihonmachi Little Friends, please visit: www.nlfchildcare.org.

If you would like to volunteer for this event, please e-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com with the shifts that you would like to sign up for. Lunch will be provided for those who can volunteer the whole day.

Just want to attend this event without committing as a volunteer? Tickets are available pre-sale and at the door. Please see prices listed below. For more information about this event or to purchase pre-sale tickets online, please go to: http://www.nichibeitimes.com/e/tofu_festival.html

Date: Sunday, March 22, 2009
Time: 2:00-4:00pm (see below for volunteer shifts)
Where: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Ticket Prices: Pre-sale - $10; At the door - $12; Children 3 and under - Free
Volunteer Shifts: E-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to sign up!

• 11:00am-2:00pm (6-8 volunteers) - Event set up (lunch provided to all-day volunteers)
• 2:00pm-4:00pm (8 volunteers) - Event support (ticket takers, vendor booth assistants, Haiku panel assistant*)
• 4:00pm-6:30pm (6-8 volunteers) - Event clean up

*need someone who can read and write in Japanese

Sunday, March 29, 2009: March Monthly Meeting

Have ideas for fun socials or volunteer opportunities? As always, we'd love to see new and old faces at our monthly meeting to give us feedback and help us plan future Nakayoshi events and activities! Come on out and get involved!

Date: Sunday, March 29, 2009
Location: National JACL Headquarters, 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog and website and http://www.nakayoshi.org, or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Tokyo Sonata / March '08 Social Event

Hello all!

We'll be attending the screening of "Tokyo Sonata" this Friday (the 13th) evening. Unfortunately, all tickets for the movie are sold out. BUT, we have our Social Event for March 2008 afterwards that's open to all! Here's the schedule for the night:

6:45pm - 8:45pm: "Tokyo Sonata" at Sundance Kabuki
8:45pm - 10:00pm: Mingle / Socialize
10:00pm - 11:00pm: ( Late) Dinner at Mum's
11:15pm - 1:15am: Karaoke at DoReMi

If you are planning to attend Dinner and/or Karaoke, please send an RSVP to nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com so we know to expect you. Looking forward to seeing you all again and have a great rest of the week!

Nakayoshi Ski Trip 09 wrap-up

We skiied, we boarded, we drank, and we formed alliances in the tribe by the campfire.

Needless to say, good times were had at the 1st Annual Nakayoshi Ski Trip on February 27-March 1. But it didnt come without its flaws and next year we will be better prepared with lodging, organizing and (what emily calls) "structured fun".

THANK YOU to all 27 of you fun people that attended. Shout out to Berkeley NSU for joining in the group ticket rate (otherwise we would all be less $22) and for sharing in the festivities Saturday night.

A very extra special thank you to all the carpool drivers (organized by Atsushi), and the cooking crew (headed by Megumi, Aileen and Sam!) Check out our ski trip memories here: http://picasaweb.google.com/nakayoshi.ncwnp/2009NakayoshiSkiTripNorthstar?feat=email#

Bummed that you missed out OR cant wait to hang out with us again? Not to worry- the Social Committee (atsushi, matt & ali) are now furiously planning a super fun summer Nakayoshi camping trip! More news to come.

Tofu for Tykes

On Sunday, March 22, Nakayoshi will yet again be flexing a little of its volunteer muscle over in San Francisco's Japantown, this time in support of Nihonmachi Little Friends, a Japanese, bilingual and multicultural childcare organization committed to providing quality and affordable childcare services. Join us as we help raise funds for this vital community organization through a one-of-a-kind event: a tofu matsuri.

Actually, a "Tofu Dessert Competition and Festival," to be exact. Organized by the Nichi Bei Times and held at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (1840 Sutter Street), this extravaganza will run from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and include a tofu dessert competition, a tofu nutritionist talk show, tofu games, and a tofu haiku contest. That's a lot of tofu.

Nakayoshi is looking for volunteers to pitch in for one or more shifts (and anyone who covers all three gets lunch):
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Set up
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Event support
4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Clean up

Hit us up on Facebook or in the comments to let us know you're in.

Or, if you'd rather attend the festival as a regular guest, you can do so for $10 online or $12 at the door. Bring the little ones, too -- they get in free if they're 3 and under.

Gary Locke and the Progressive APA Dilemma

When I found out that Gary Locke was nominated to be Secretary of Commerce, I felt a weird sensation wash over me. With every APA blog post, every APIAA organization press release, and every APA podcast singing praises upon the Governor, my heart sunk. The reality is that I may be the only one in this small APA blogosphere who hesitates to happily welcome a third Asian American to President Obama's cabinet--I'm so torn.

It's a dilemma because in truth, I am actually happy that Governor Locke may become the nation's second APA Secretary of Commerce. He was a solid Governor of the State of Washington and a committed social progressive. Governor Locke is also committed to his APA roots--from his 1997 speech to the AAJA:

"And we have to remember that America belongs to all of us - not just to those whose families have been here longest, or to those who have connections, or to those who never suffered the indignity of slavery, exclusion, or defeat."

I also have no problems with a Governor who worked within the constraints of a Republican "no new taxes" policy as a centrist.

I may have a problem with the Governor's response to George W. Bush's State of the Union address when he enthusiastically connects Saddam Hussein to WMD's, but I see a role model in someone who can say:

"We will fight to protect a woman's right to choose and we will fight for affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity in our schools and our workplaces. Above all, we will demand that this government advance our common purpose and not pander to narrow special interests."

on national TV.

So where's the beef?

It comes down to this: Like President Obama, Governor Gary Locke supports free trade.

As a card carrying member of the DLC, Governor Locke's trade policies fall firmly in line with the status quo. The Wall Street Journal (ugh) profiles Locke as a supporter of NAFTA and China's entry into the WTO.

Why is this a problem? A 4-point answer.

• Progressives don't support free trade because Progressives don't support a 6 year old child earning 14 cents an hour, working 16 hours a day, enduring 110 degrees heat in a sweatshop in Burma.

• Progressives don't support free trade because Progressives hate it when a laid-off American auto worker holds back tears to tell his daughter that she can't go to college. He has no job, but the corporation has a new manufacturing plant in Mexico.

• Progressives don't support free trade because we know that "race to the bottom" trade policies result in wages that haven't gone up since 1968.

• And Progressives just don't believe in the WTO. Period.

The biggest problem is that the Office of the Secretary of Commerce is directly involved in executing the administration's trade policies, which are no doubt those of the free trade kind.

I have great respect for Governor Locke's character, work ethic, and progressive social agenda. Not to mention an incredible life story. I would have loved to see him as the Attorney General or a high-level member in the Justice Department. Maybe even as a Vice President. Hell, I would have donated triple the money I gave to Obama if it was Locke who was up against John McCain. (Although, Locke probably wouldn't have my vote during the primaries, if I could vote in a Democratic Primary.)

But this is the reality of things. The bottom line in Progressives Trade Policies 101 is fair trade over free trade.

Governor Locke is a great APA. He's surely no Elaine Chao. In fact, it's probably a mistake for me to mention those two on the same line of text. But he's not the one Progressives need in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce. Even though I, as an Asian American, desperately want him there.

Happy hour with filmmaker Tad Nakamura and Hapihour.org

More great stuff coming up in connection to the SFIAAFF. A big thanks goes out to Keith Kamisugi and the rest of the folks with Hapihour.org, who are hosting a free happy hour reception on Saturday, March 14 at 6:30pm at A5 Steak Lounge in SF for Tad Nakamura and his new film, "A Song for Ourselves." Make sure to RSVP on Facebook or evite.com for your chance to meed Tad Nakamura! Hope you guys can make it!

Originally posted at: http://hapihour.org/2009/03/happy-hour-a-song-for-ourselves-a-film-on-chris-iijima/#more-405

Happy Hour: “A Song for Ourselves” a Film on Chris Iijima


Nakamura Sundance Interview on CNN TRT: 9 min. from Tadashi Nakamura on Vimeo.

Dale Minami, Yuri Kochiyama, Audee Kochiyama Holman, Marjorie Fujiki, Diane Matsuda, Eddie Wong and Keith Kamisugi invite you to join us for a special happy hour on Saturday, March 14, from 6:30 p.m. at the new A5 Steak Lounge, 244 Jackson St., San Francisco, to celebrate Tad Nakamura’s, A SONG FOR OURSELVES, a moving tribute to pioneering singer and activist Chris Iijima. RSVP on Facebook or evite.com.

In the film, colleagues, friends and family reminisce about his life and commitment to peace and justice, from his early days in New York to his final years in Hawai’i.

Director Tad Nakamura will join us that evening. His previous film, YELLOW BROTHERHOOD, was awarded Best Documentary Short at the San Diego Asian Film Festival and has also been screened in numerous film festivals around the country.

The event takes place at the new A5 STEAK LOUNGE, a sleeker, more modern version of a steakhouse, blending the vibe of a cocktail lounge with an old-school steak palace. Special thanks to Steve Chen for having us that night.

The event is free with no-host bar. Food will be available for order in the lounge.
The film is showing during the 27th Annual San Francisco Asian American Film Festival in mid-March.

Read a review of the film on BeyondChron.com.
------------------------

Additionally, here's an interview done by Asia Pacific Arts of the UCLA Asia Institute with Tad on his new film: http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/090220/article.asp?parentID=104913

White on Rice at SFIAAFF

Along with so much of the good stuff going on that you might want to check out at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival this month, here's a plug for the movie "White on Rice". Friend of Nakayoshi Tim Koide worked on some of the music in the score of the film, and has let us in on a reception prior to the screening at the festival where you'll get a chance to meet director Dave Boyle and some of the cast as well! Speaking of the SFIAAFF, have you guys signed up to volunteer with Nakayoshi yet?

Here's a little on the film:

White on Rice takes a comedic look at a Japanese immigrant family coming to terms with romance, parenting and middle age as they adjust to American culture. Director Dave Boyle’s second feature stars Hiroshi Watanabe (Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima), Japanese pop singer Nae, and James Kyson Lee (Heroes).

Find out more about this film and tickets for the screening at the movie's website: http://www.whiteonricethemovie.com/

Below is a link to a reception being held at the Kabuki Theatre on March 17th at 5:30 pm for the World Premier of "White on Rice". The event is free but requires registration to attend. If you are free, please join us and register for the reception at: http://www.iyemonchaevents.com/
.
For more info on the SFIAAFF, go to: http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/

Sneak Preview of Nakayoshi's Official Website

Nakayoshi is finally expanding our online presence and working diligently on launching http://www.nakayoshi.org/ on April 1st, 2009!

Bringing Nakayoshi Member Misono Yokoyama Allen onboard as our very own Webmaster, she is working diligently on building a website that is informative and resourceful for Young Professionals interested in being part of Nakayoshi.

Make sure to check back on April 1st, 2009 to see the brand new site and take a look around! We'll have the most recent event updates, Nakayoshi Core Profiles, videos and picture albums from past events, and more...

until then..

check out a sneak peak of Nakayoshi's new homepage

Let us know what you think! We're looking for feedback, so if you feel like you love it or maybe somethings missing, leave us a comment! We're waiting to hear from you!

See you all April 1st!