Pasadena Heritage will be hosting Susie Ling, Professor of History and Asian American Studies at Pasadena City College, and Bryan Takeda, the founder of Kansha Pasadena (“kansha” means gratitude in Japanese), as they present “Japanese American Stories from Pasadena,” an online event on Sunday, May 23, 2 to 3 p.m.
The presentation, in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, is free, but Pasadena Heritage suggests a donation of $15 to help support Pasadena Heritage’s education and advocacy efforts.
Born in Taiwan and raised in the Philippines, Professor Susie Ling has been exploring the ethnic history of the San Gabriel Valley for years. She has spoken about the history of African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans in Monrovia in many venues.
Ling volunteers for the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, the Monrovia Latino Heritage Society (MLHS), and the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group.
Bryan Takeda is extremely active in the Japanese American community as is evidenced by his extensive list of programs and organizations. He also worked as the first Program Director for the U.S.-Japan Council, under Irene Hirano Inouye from 2009 to 2012, and is most proud of their efforts in response to the great east Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in March 2011.
Kansha Pasadena is Takeda’s most recent project which strives to honor, preserve, and share the unique history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Greater Pasadena area by researching and documenting family histories, personal stories, cultural sites and historic buildings.
To register for Sunday’s webinar, visit https://tinyurl.com/ujzppj4.