Janice Munemitsu, author of The Kindness of Color, and Tommy Dyo, Asian American and Pacific Islander advocate and Little Tokyo historian, will explore the “leftovers” that shaped their respective family lifestyle, habits, emotions, and underlying trauma as a result of the World War II incarceration and postwar resettlement years. They will reflect on the generational inheritance of perseverance, interconnectedness, and survival “gambatte" of their families.
Janice is a Sansei; all ten of her Issei and Nisei family members were incarcerated in the Poston concentration camp in Arizona. Tommy’s family members’ experience spans from Santa Anita temporary detention center in California to the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming, the Gila River concentration camp in Arizona, and the Crystal City Department of Justice internment camp in Texas. Both of their grandfathers were unjustly arrested and incarcerated at the Lordsburg and Santa Fe Department of Justice internment camps in New Mexico. Together, they hope their conversation will facilitate greater understanding, promote healing for others, and cultivate kindness
Bios
Janice Munemitsu
Janice Munemitsu is the author of The Kindness of Color, the history of her family’s incarceration and their farm’s connection with the landmark federal court case, Mendez v. Westminster, which led to the desegregation of California’s public schools in 1947—seven years before Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that led to the desegregation of public schools across the nation. She has a BS and MBA from USC and an MA in Spiritual Formation from Biola University. She has a private practice as a spiritual director.
Tommy Dyo
Tommy Dyo leads Epic Movement and has years of experience in advocating for the AAPI community as well as consulting for the Asian American Leadership Center. One of his passions is sharing the history of Little Tokyo on a walking tour. Tommy has a BA in Communication from Cal State LA and an MA in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.