NCPD@JANM
The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum
The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum (NCPD@JANM) convenes and educates people of all ages about democracy to transform attitudes, influence culture, and promote civic engagement. NCPD is a place for dialogue about race and social justice, where visitors can examine contemporary and historical frameworks, including the Asian American experience.
NCPD@JANM envisions an enduring American Democracy where all people have the right and responsibility to participate.
Utilizing JANM’s historical collection of artifacts, stories, and cultural perspective, NCPD explores the rights, freedoms, and enduring fragility of democracy, helping to build bridges and find common ground between people of diverse backgrounds and opinions. Working at the nexus of community, arts, and social justice, NCPD surfaces solutions for the most pressing issues facing democracy.
GET INVOLVED
NCPD@JANM will relaunch in 2023 with a range of thought-provoking new programs. Join our mailing list to stay informed!
Upcoming Projects
Arts Writing Fellowship
NCPD@JANM is thrilled to announce the Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship. This year’s inaugural fellowship provides two $5,000 unrestricted awards to promising writers who are focused on art criticism and/or reporting about the visual, performing, or media arts.
Upcoming Events
Comedy Night: Democracy on the Rocks...with a Soda Chaser
Sunday, May 28, 2023 • 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Comedy has always played an important role in social commentary. Satire and parody in poetry and prose have been important ways for people to express their approval as well as their dissatisfaction with the government. In a democratic society it is an important form of self-expression. Join us for an evening of provocative fun and laughter with some of the leading comic voices today as the Democracy Center partners with Let’s Be Honest for “Democracy on the Rocks…with a Soda Chaser.”
NCPD Civic Season Celebration
Saturday, June 24, 2023 • 6 p.m.
Join us for an evening of summer fun on the JANM Plaza as the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy celebrates Civic Season.
Please check back for more details and tickets.
Recent Projects
Artist Fellowship—An American Vocabulary
An American Vocabulary: Words to Action was a collaborative project by visual artist Audrey Chan and rapper jason chu. This set of flashcards and exhibition portrayed figures, events, and practices rooted in community, care, and action.
Artists At Work in Los Angeles County was produced by THE OFFICE performing arts + film and made possible with generous support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Asian Arts Initiative, and the Ford Foundation.
Kalief Browder Box
NCPD@JANM hosted Coby Kennedy’s Kalief Browder: The Box to commemorate Black History Month in Los Angeles. These sculptures invited viewers to examine themes of colonization, oppression, subjugation, privilege, Black middle-class labor, the decline of industry, as well as Black power, pride, and joy.
Fighting for Democracy
Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We, the People”? was an experimental exhibition that features seven real people and traces their stories throughout the pre-war, World War II, and post-war periods. This self-guided storytelling format was made possible through the generous support of The Boeing Company and the U.S. Army Center for Military History.
Past Events
- How to Report on Health in Any Beat (5/18/23)
- Addressing the Roots of Antisemitism Within Marginalized Communities (5/16/23)
- JANM Book Club: ac•tiv•ist with Warren Furutani (2/25/23)
- Bringing An American Vocabulary: Words to Action into the Classroom (1/21/23)
- An American Vocabulary: Words to Action Unveiling (10/8/22)
- Screening and Q&A—Who Killed Vincent Chin? (7/14/22)
- Screening and Q&A —The Race Epidemic: Resurgence of the Yellow Peril (10/14/21)
- Author Discussion—When Can We Go Back to America? with Susan Kamei (9/25/21)
- Screening and Q&A—100 Years from Mississippi (9/12/21)
- One Year Later: Gender & Anti-Asian Violence (6/3/21)
- Not Yo’ Butterfly with Nobuko Miyamoto (ft. Quetzal Flores) (7/10/21)
- Health Care—A Conversation Determined by You (SoCal Solutions) (6/19/19)
- Crime and Policing—A Conversation Determined by You (SoCal Solutions) (5/22/19)
- Common Ground: A Screening & Dialogue On New Muslim Cool (1/28/10)
- The True Patriot (10/9/08)
- Global Jazz at the National Center: Iraida Noriega & Trio (5/4/07)
- Eric Alterman, "Is Democracy in America Even Possible?" (3/6/07)
- LA Freewaves 2006 presents Screening and speak out: Media that Matters and other youth videos (11/18/06)
- Town Hall Los Angeles presents Nadine Strossen, President, American Civil Liberties Union (11/16/06)
- Loose Ends: Los Angeles Government in the 21st Century (10/25/06)
- Community Advocates, Inc. presents "Critical Issues Seminars: Beyond the Boundaries" (10/5/06)
- Town Hall-LA: How Education in California Really Works (7/14/06)
- A Place at the Table (Un Lugar en La Mesa) (6/24/06)
- Town Hall on Student Issues: Students Speak-Out. Live Broadcast (3/31/06)
- Town Hall Los Angeles at the National Center: U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (1/11/06)