AIISF Newsletter / December 2020
A Message From AIISF's Executive Director
Dear AIISF Friends and Family,
First of all, I want to thank all of you who have made a contribution this year to support AIISF’s efforts and those of you who have already donated to AIISF’s end of year campaign. This campaign is one of our two major fundraisers (the other is our annual gala) that support our programs and operations throughout the year.
We know that 2020 has been especially hard. Every single one of us has likely been directly affected or knows someone who has been affected by the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who will be navigating this holiday season for the first time after losing a family member or friend to the pandemic as well to those who have lost a job or are experiencing financial hardship. We hope that 2021 brings increased stability, security, and health for all of us. Please stay connected with us and show your support by helping to spread the word about AIISF and our efforts: follow us on social media, leave a comment or share our posts, or ask a friend “Have you ever heard of Angel Island?”.
As we close out this year, we want to invite you to reflect on how far we have come together in preserving the buildings at the former US Immigration Station at Angel Island and the important work that so many of you have supported through the years. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing some memories from current and former staff and board. You can watch mine by clicking HERE. We hope that these “reflection videos” are a reminder of how far we have come together and that they inspire us to continue to work together to uplift the important histories and stories of Angel Island and immigration to the US.
Wishing you and your family a happy, safe, and reflective holiday season.
Ed
Reflections 2020 / AIISF’s Legacy Milestone
Featuring Daniel Quan (Architect and Exhibit Designer)
Daniel Quan, Architect / Exhibition Designer, Immigrant Heritage Award Honoree, 2018
This year we wanted to reflect on the moments we are thankful for and show gratitude to the people, causes, and organizations that are important to us. We asked friends of AIISF to share their favorite memory of the immigration station. Through these videos, we hope their messages bring a renewed sense of appreciation for the work your donations have helped support over the years.
About AIISF’s Legacy Milestone
Daniel Quan is an interpretive planner, exhibition designer and architect with over forty years of experience interpreting our natural and cultural worlds through designed environments and exhibitions. Daniel is a licensed California architect and founder of Daniel Quan Design. He has built a national reputation with projects at Point Reyes, Yellowstone, Valley Forge, the California State Capitol, Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield, and Angel Island Immigration Station.
Mr. Quan was instrumental in helping AIISF’s restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station. AIISF continues to advocate for funding to restore, preserve and interpret the immigration station.
Virtual AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibition
Every year, December 1st is recognized as World AIDS Day, a day to remember those who have passed from the epidemic and to honor those who are living with HIV. Our neighbors at the National AIDS Memorial Grove (their offices are just down the hallway for AIISF) launched their first-ever, 50-state AIDS Memorial Quilt virtual exhibition. AIISF is proud to be a partner and to include sections of the Quilt in our AIIM virtual exhibition. Similar to how liver flukes, tuberculosis, and ringworm were medical conditions that were once used to prevent immigrants at Angel Island from entering the US, HIV also was previously considered as grounds for inadmissibility.
Limited Window to Provide Public Comment on Blue and Gold Fleet Service
It has come to our attention that the Blue and Gold Fleet has submitted a request to permanently stop their ferry service between San Francisco and Angel Island as well as between San Francisco and Tiburon. This would mean that the only way to get to Angel Island would be to drive to Tiburon and take the Angel Island Ferry. At AIISF, we are concerned that without any direct ferry service from San Francisco to Angel Island, visitation to the island (when it is safe to do so) will drop dramatically and will negatively impact preservation and education efforts. It is estimated that half the visitors who go to Angel Island have taken the Blue and Gold Ferry. The CA Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to make their decision in the coming week.
If you would like to submit a public comment to CA Public Utilities Commission about this, you can do so at:
https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:65:0:ADDPC:NO:::
Please reference Application A.20-09-004 and A.20-09-005 in your communication.
You Could Be Featured in the AIIM Virtual Exhibit
The permanent exhibits in the Angel Island Immigration Museum highlight some of the intersections between public health and immigration. For the virtual exhibition, we are collecting stories from immigrants or persons with immigrant heritage (from any racial/ethnic group) that describe their personal experiences of xenophobia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These stories will help capture an important moment in American history. If you'd like to submit for consideration, please click the link below.
Deadline to submit is December 31, 2020
Submit Your Story Here!