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Contact: Diane Tanaka
310-222-5709
GO FOR BROKE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION TO
HOST NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ORAL HISTORY TRAINING WORKSHOP
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
Session to Introduce Interview Techniques,
Basic Camera Operation to Preserve Life Histories of Japanese
American World War II Veterans
TORRANCE, Calif. (March 15, 2005) - As the Go
For Broke Educational Foundation strives to preserve the stories
of all living Japanese American World War II veterans through
its Hanashi Oral History Program, it is in constant need of volunteers
to implement its goals. Through Hanashi, volunteers are trained
to conduct interviews from A/V equipment set-up and operation
to interview techniques. Hanashi will host a free, training workshop
on Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural
and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC). The session,
which is the first conducted by the Hanashi program in San Francisco,
appeals to those interested in participating as a volunteer crew
member, providing an overview of the program structure, interview
techniques and video camera operation/audio recording techniques.
The training will conclude with a special screening of “A
Tradition Of Honor,” produced and created by the Educational
Foundation that features 40 oral histories from its Hanashi archive.
The documentary chronicles the story of the segregated Japanese
American units from World War II, the 100th Infantry Battalion,
442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service
through personal accounts and rare archival footage.
The training session is being sponsored by UPS and begins promptly
at 10 a.m. with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. Beverages
will be provided and lunch will be served. Please RSVP by April
6 as space is limited and lunches must be ordered. Contact Steven
Itano Wasserman, Hanashi Program Manager, at (310) 222-5705 or
hanashi@goforbroke.org
to RSVP and for more information. The JCCCNC is located at 1840
Sutter Street, Suite 201 in the Japantown district of San Francisco.
In 2005, Hanashi is scheduled to conduct 100 interviews nationwide.
No experience is required to volunteer for the following Hanashi
crew positions: interviewers, videographers, audio technicians,
and catalogers. The Hanashi volunteers travel - expenses paid
- throughout the U.S. to interview veterans, as well as conduct
local interviews. Upcoming interview trips and events include:
Fresno interviews, April 15-17, Sacramento interviews April 29
- May 1, San Francisco June 3 - 5, to name a few.
The Educational Foundation’s Hanashi Oral History Program
records the life histories of WWII Nisei veterans and currently
the archive has more than 535 interviews. In addition, 200 interviews
are accessible on the Educational Foundation’s Web site,
www.GoForBroke.org, along
with a comprehensive historical section, interactive maps and
other content that utilize oral history interviews. The archive
is also used to create educational materials such as “A
Tradition of Honor” documentary and teacher’s guide.
In addition, its Resource Center provides more extensive information
not available on the Web site, offering the opportunity for anyone
to inquire and further research the Japanese American World War
II veteran experience.
In 1999 Japanese American World War II veterans built the Go
For Broke Monument, which would become an eternal tribute to the
heroics of the segregated Japanese American units: 100th Infantry
Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, MIS (Military Intelligence
Service) and the many other men and women who served overseas
during World War II. The Monument is located in downtown Los Angeles
at Temple and Alameda streets. Today, under a new generation,
the Go For Broke Educational Foundation continues to carry the
torch through educational initiatives to perpetuate this important
American story. For more information, visit www.GoForBroke.org
or call 310-328-0907.
