No one understands the importance of civil rights better than those who were interned because of Executive Order 9066. EO 9066, as it is called, was an action taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that sent over 100,000 people “of Japanese Ancestry” to relocation centers during most of World War II. To honor those citizens in our community who paid a personal sacrifice EO 9066, the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) will hold a Day of Remembrance event at Portland State University’s George C. Hoffmann Hall on Sunday, February 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The program will examine historical and current threats to civil rights in America. More…

I recently met with Jeff Selby, the new Portland JACL president. He is enthusiastic about his new position and I am convinced he has the talent, drive and energy to accomplish great things for Portland.

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Jeff Selby is an Army brat who started his involvement with the JACL at the tender age of seven in 1976, the inaugural year of the Hoosier JACL Chapter. He says those years helped him learn and understand the importance of two things: pride in Japanese and American cultures, and the importance of civil rights for all. His late father was a JACL President and as the newest president of the Portland Chapter of the JACL, Jeff is proud to continue that legacy. More…

There has been a lot happening at Richmond this fall/winter. Principal Kathryn Anderson has taken an already outstanding immersion program and elevated it to even higher levels of achievement and success. The future is bright for this extraordinary school. More…