Tour our ongoing exhibition Common Ground: Heart of a Community with our experienced and knowledgeable docents.

Can American soldiers be ordered to participate in military actions which they believe are morally wrong?

Japanese American World War II military resisters and a diverse number of American Iraq War resisters were punished by military authorities for their answers to this question.

Dr. Shirley Castelnuovo will talk about her new book, Soldiers of Conscience: Japanese American Military Resisters in World War II, which explores this question and be available for book signing. Dr. Castelnuovo will also moderate a conversation with Iraq military resisters and World War II Japanese American military resister, Cedrick Shimo.

Join the cast of Cold Tofu at the Edamame Lounge as they improvise scenes and music to create a complete 40-minute show! A headline lounge singer will thrill you with (made up) songs that you know and love, while the lives of the Edamame Lounge patrons unfold before your very eyes and in their own (improvised) karaoke favorites.

FREE ALL DAY

Enjoy a day of family fun that explores shared traditions within the Asian American community. November's theme is drumming.

Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together.

All day craft activities: Feel the beat and make some noise by decorating your own spinning drum and constructing a gobbling turkey. Plus, make an origami turkey just in time to decorate for Thanksgiving!

11:00 PM – Doors open.

12:00 PM – Drum Circle with drumtime (1 hour)

1:00 PM – Progressive Taiko performance

1:30 PM – Drum Circle with drumtime (1 hour)

2:30 PM – Poongmul performance

4:00 PM – Doors close.


About our Friends:

drumtime

John Lacques has devoted his professional life to using music as a tool for empowerment and transformation. With Drumtime, John combines his unique talents and expertise as an educator, professional drummer and theater artist, to facilitate drum circles that encourage and support others to become creators—not just of music, but creators of joy, health, success and community. Through Drumtime, John offers drum circles customized to service the needs and goals of businesses, organizations and institutions. He has also developed and implemented a number of programs for youth, including circles for incarcerated youth and at-risk teens as well as after-school and conflict resolution programs. He also creates rhythm circles for adults and children with special needs. John has facilitated hundreds of drum circles. From corporate events, trainings and team building, to large public festivals, retreats and conferences, he brings to each circle an energetic, responsive and nurturing method of leading. His standards of musical excellence ensure that participants experience the thrill of making truly good music together, literally transforming play into achievement.

For more information about drumtime, go to http://www.drumtime.net/

Progressive Taiko

Progressive Taiko (or ProTa) is a small ensemble of taiko performers with a diverse background in arts, musical composition, and community campaigns and projects. ProTa’s musical background stems from mixing traditional Japanese drumming with contemporary influences such as Jazz and Hip-Hop. This music is used to help support relevant community issues within the Japanese American and greater Los Angeles Community.

The mission of ProTa is to spread cultural awareness, support community issues, and educate the greater community through progressiveness in thought and artistic expression.

Poongmul

KCAG was formed on the UCLA campus in 1990 by a group of Korean American students who felt the need for an organization through which students can come to know more about Korean heritage and traditional culture. Hanoolim would not only set an example by excellence in academics, but also by involvement in action regarding social and political issues in the Korean American community. Throughout our 17 years of existence, we have built a strong presence both on and off campus through the four branches of our organization. Poongmul (Korean Traditional Drumming), Open Forum, Korean Culture Night, and EASTAP-East Asians Striving Towards Academic Progress, and for the continual building of strong leadership. Hanoolim operates not just by meetings, but through programs and events, traditional and new, that require active participation of the members to build a special family-like characteristic of our organization and to enrich their experience at UCLA.

2008 Target Free Family Saturday schedule

December 13 – Artfully Yours

2009 Target Free Family Saturday schedule

February 14– Be Animated!

March 14 – Say Cheese!

April 11 – What's Cooking?

Other Family Events at the National Museum

December 6: Pink Dress Puppet Show

January 3: Erika-San by Allen Say

January 4: Oshogatsu (New Years) Family Festival *FREE ALL DAY

Come join us for an exciting gallery talk with a curator and artists Dominique Moody and Haruko Tanaka.

FREE!

A night of performances and videos by a selection of CCF fellowship recipients in one of LA's historic theaters, now converted into an arts center that is home to CCF fellow Sara Velas' recently completed panoramic painting installation, The Efflugence of the North.

Please note, Vaudeville Night will take place at The Velaslavasay Panorama, which is located at: 1122 W. 24th St. Los Angeles, CA 90007.

From American Concentration Camp to Battlefield 1942-1945

During World War II, Stanley Hayami, a 16 year-old Heart Mountain prisoner, aspiring artist-writer, dedicated Nisei son, and later a 442nd RCT veteran, began a diary chronicling his thoughts and optimistic hopes for a “United Nations of Earth.” Joanne Oppenheim, author of Dear Miss Breed, will share her interviews with Hayami's family and friends and her research from the National Museum's collection of his diary, art, and recently found letters.

The book is available for sale through the Museum Store. Order online or call toll-free at 888.769.5559.

Read an interview with the author: Hopes, Dreams, and Courage Under Fire: Stanley Hayami, Nisei Son

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series -- Screening of 'Alcatraz Is Not An Island'

When a small group of Native American students and “Urban Indians” began the occupation of Alcatraz Island in November 1969, they sparked a movement joined by thousands, retaking “Indian land” for the first time since the 1880s. This historic event altered U.S. Government Indian policy and programs, and how it forever changed the way Native Americans viewed themselves, their culture and their sovereign rights. Discussion to follow the screening with Dr. Troy R. Johnson, author of AIM topics and Chair of American Indian Studies at California State Long Beach.

This historic event altered U.S. Government Indian policy and programs, and how it forever changed the way Native Americans viewed themselves, their culture and their sovereign rights.

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series is a FREE monthly film series located in downtown Los Angeles at the National Center for Preservation of Democracy. The film series was established to provide quality documentaries by and about Indigenous people of the Americas, and bring together a central gathering place where discussion and awareness of issues can be shared with the Native community and its supporters.

The film series is held at the National Center for Preservation of Democracy located at 111 North Central Avenue, between 1st Street and Central Avenue, in downtown Los Angeles. The NCPD can be reached via train, bus, or parking in the area (pdf for directions). Films will begin at 7pm, and it is advisable to arrive at least 15-20 minutes prior for seating.

The film series is hosted by Lorin Morgan-Richards and Tahesha Knapp-Christensen and is sponsored by the following organizations:

The Japanese American National Museum
The National Center for Preservation of Democracy
The Southern California Indian Center, Inc.
Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center
Hecho de Mano
Nahui Ohlin

For more information about the film series please visit www.myspace.com/nafilmseries
or by email at nafilmseries@aol.com

Relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with National Museum docents.

$8 Members; $13 non-members, includes Museum admission. Comfortable walking shoes and clothes recommended. Weather permitting.

Create beautiful Christmas and New Year’s cards for everyone on your list.

$8 Museum members; $13 non-members, includes Museum admission and supplies.