'Talking About Im/migration' - Japanese Dialogue

Saturday saw the first dialogue session of the Alliance’s ‘Talking About Im/migration’ project, held by the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society. The event was a great success, with over 30 guests, CJAHS members and project members coming together to discuss experiences of im/migration and ethnic identity amongst Chicago’s Japanese and Japanese-American communities. Japanese tea and sweets were served, before participants moved on to discuss a fascinating range objects they had brought to discuss - from a rice bowl to a daruma doll, books of Japanese art to‘Su Doku for Dummies’ – as well as simply sharing their stories and experiences.

The group included both Japanese citizens living in Chicago and Japanese Americans, both young and old, and the diversity resulted in interesting and thought-provoking discussion, as well as providing the CJAHS with inspiration for future programming and outreach.

Participants’ comments:

“I had an amazing time and a very insightful discussion”

“Very provocative, very interesting”

“I liked talking to people who I had never talked to about topics what we don't talk about”

Meet Justin

Hi, I am interning with the Cultural Alliance until September 2009. This summer with the Alliance I am working on the development of a joint services plan for our core members. I am also working with the Field Museum on crafting a civic engagement program for our members.

I graduated in May 2009 from Columbia University in New York City with a B.A. in History. Over the past summers, I have worked with the National Endowment for the Humanities in its Federal-State Partnership office and also with the Illinois Humanities Council. With the IHC, I compiled a resource database that was used in the Council’s 2008-2009 year-long series All Consuming: Conversations on Oil and Water.

In October, I will start at Oxford University, pursuing M.Phil and D. Phil degrees in early modern European history. My main scholarly interests are in seventeenth-century English cultural and intellectual movements, particularly the relationship between literary history and gender relations.

Away from academia--and trying as much as possible not to sound like a Lonely Hearts ad—I scuba dive and play club-level tennis. And, owing to Chicago’s active summer life, my cultural calendar while I’m here will certainly be full!