The Center is a proud community partner of this year’s Tadaima! Community Virtual Pilgrimage program coordinated by Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages (JAMP).

TADAIMA! A Community Virtual Pilgrimage

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, each of the annual pilgrimages to sites of wartime Japanese American incarceration have been canceled. These pilgrimages provide important educational and community-building opportunities for descendants of the camps, the Japanese American community as a whole, and the wider public.

March 16, 2020 (updated 4.28.20)

The Center CLOSED through MAY 31st, due to extended “Stay At Home” Order

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced the extension of the order requiring all residents to stay at home, leaving only for certain essential activities like getting food/supplies, seeking medical treatment or to provide essential services. Therefore, the Center programs and activities will remain suspended and its offices will close through May 31, 2020.

Please see most recent updates from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) here; the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) here; and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) here.

It is believed that the implementation of these severe measures will protect the health of vulnerable populations and help delay the rates of transmission of the COVID19 virus and reducing illness and death.

Although we are apart,
we are a COMMUNITY at Heart!

We know that many individuals consider the Center as a second home so we want you to know that you are not alone during this time. You are a member of the Center family and your health and well-being are our highest priority. We will continue to engage with you via our social media platforms (facebook and instagram), website, email and upcoming quarterly newsletter The Center. Please feel free to reach out to us by emailing, calling (response time may be delayed) or responding to our posts on social media.

As we receive further advisory notices, we will notify all of you as soon as we can.

Please be safe and take care!

The Center
(415) 567-5505 / info@jcccnc.org

*Similar orders are in effect across the Bay Area, including in Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties and the City of Berkeley.

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March 12, 2020

The Center Announces a Temporary Suspension of Programs and Activities

Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an updated statement indicating that all non-essential professional, social and community gatherings should be postponed or cancelled for at least the remainder of the month of March.

This directive includes gatherings of all sizes and ages, particularly for those individuals who are at a higher risk (Please click here for the notice from the CDPH).

It is believed that the implementation of these severe measures will help delay the rates of transmission of the COVID19 virus and reducing illness and death.

The Center will therefore suspend all regularly scheduled activities and programs, and workshops/special events until the end of March. We want to make sure that we do our part to keep everyone who walks through our doors safe and healthy during this period of uncertainty and into the future. However, during this time, our offices will remain open Monday-Friday, (9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), and will be temporarily closed on the weekends.

We know that many individuals consider the Center as a second home so we want you to know that you are not alone during this time of postponement. Please feel free to reach out to us by calling or emailing or responding to our posts on social media.

As we receive further advisory notices, we will notify all of you as soon as we can.

Please take good care.

The Center
(415) 567-5505 / info@jcccnc.org

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March 11, 2020

On March 6, 2020, the SF Department of Public Health issued recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including but not limited to:

*limiting outings for vulnerable populations (this population includes people who are 60 years old and older and people with certain health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and weakened immune systems); and
*to not attend large gatherings unless it is essential; and
*to not attend events or gatherings if sick

The Center will regularly review all events and classes to determine if changes or cancellations are required and will provide all updates on our website, social media and posted throughout the Center.

We will also continue to provide hand washing capabilities; will frequently clean tables, chairs, handrails and door knobs on a frequent basis, and find ways to create physical space to minimize close contact.

If you wish to stay at home during this time of uncertainty, we will be happy to reimburse or credit you for any class that you have registered for during this time.

Our concern is the safety and health of all who frequent the Center.

Please feel free to contact us about your concerns or comments.

We thank you for your cooperation and assistance.

Sincerely,
The Center

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Message previously sent to Program Participants on March 6, 2020:

What the Center is Doing to keep our Members, Participants and Visitors Safe

We know that many people are concerned about the coronavirus (COVID-19).  We are too, so we are taking special precautions at the Center to make it as safe as possible for everyone who enters our doors.

Specifically, this is what we have done and will continue to do:

• The Center is professionally cleaned every weekday.  This is a practice we have implemented for many years.
• However, we now have included some additional steps to double clean and disinfect everything that individuals come into contact with such as chairs, tables, benches, faucets, toilets, sinks, and door handles. We have also reinstalled paper towel dispensers in all bathrooms to make sure that hands are properly dried before leaving the room.
• The Center staff will work with our professional cleaner to wipe down and disinfect tables and chairs after each class and have ordered a hand sanitizer station to be utilized upon entering and exiting the Center.
• Disinfectant foam/gel hand sanitizer pumps will be available for use as well.

Here are things you can do to help us in offering the safest environment possible:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands with soap and water regularly.  It has been recommended that you wash your hands for 20 seconds.
• Alcohol hand sanitizers can also keep your hands clean when you do not have access to a place to wash your hands.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Please stay home when you are sick or show any signs of not feeling well.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you use a tissue, wash your hands afterward.
• Clean and frequently disinfect objects that you bring into the Center, or upon entry, please use the disinfectant wipes.

We realize that everyone is very worried about this serious health outbreak, so we wish to reassure you that we will use our best efforts to make our Center a safe and healthy place now and in the future.

As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.  We can be reached by phone at (415)567-5505 or by email at info@jcccnc.org.

Since its inception, the JCCCNC has remained committed to the preservation and promotion of Japanese American cultural and historical heritage. The following page defines cultural heritage and describes its importance.

Definitions:

• Culture is a group’s values, traditions, art, etc.
• Heritage is a group’s history of their values, traditions, achievements, etc.
• Cultural heritage is the expressive lifestyle that is passed down from generation to generation

Cultural heritage is both tangible and intangible. Tangible elements include: art, memorabilia and artifacts, clothing, food, physical spaces, products, agriculture, landscapes, buildings, and photographs. Intangible elements of cultural heritage include: customs and traditions, values and beliefs, language, achievements, history, religion, activities, and skills.

Cultural heritage can only be successfully preserved if individuals value and subsequently transmit culture to the next generation. Cultural heritage is important because it is a core element of an individual’s identity. Additionally, it increases feelings of belonging and access to groups or communities; it preserves history and culture; and it is a direct connection to the past and an individual’s ancestors. When individuals enjoy, understand, value, and care about their cultural heritage, it can be passed on to other generations, allowing for its future observance and practice.

The Nikkei Photo Contest was born from the idea that cultural heritage requires sharing. Through the contest, the JCCCNC hopes to further its mission of preserving and promoting Japanese American cultural heritage.

The “Heritage Cycle,” originally created by Simon Thurley and developed by cultureindevelopment.nl, represents the cycle of cultural heritage. The ”Heritage Cycle” outlines an integral piece of cultural heritage. It drives the point that heritage must be understood, valued, cared for, and enjoyed in order to be shared. The JCCCNC hopes to encourage individuals to explore their cultural heritage so that they may better understand, value, care, and enjoy it.