AIISF Newsletter / June 2022
A Message From AIISF’s Executive Director
Before we shift our attention to the month of June and celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, World Refugee Day on June 20, and Pride, l wanted to share that AIISF’s small-but-dedicated staff coordinated 19 different presentations, in-person events, and tours during May in honor of Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month!
We partnered with Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative, API Legal Outreach, APA Heritage Foundation, former AIISF Board President Felicia Lowe, former AIISF Executive Director Eddie Wong, and many others on a series of events to recognize the 140th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Images above from left to right: Wreath laying ceremony at Chinese Immigrant Monument (photo courtesty of Katherine Toy); Felicia Lowe at Exclusion/Inclusion Digital Projection at Fort Mason (photo courtesy of Jeffrey Chin); Attendees at Stronger Together for Inclusion Event at Portsmouth Square.
We gave several presentations and panels, including Chinese American Heritage Foundation, American Heart Association, Washington University in St. Louis, CAAMFest40, Warner Bros – Discovery, and Guidewire.
If you missed our May 11th program with our colleagues at the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, then watch this recording. And check out this Home Learning Program for Kids that we co-sponsored with Angel Island State Park.
Over Memorial Day Weekend, we installed our newest feature: a map of the site during World War II made from over 28,000 LEGO bricks. All of us at AIISF would like to express our deep thanks to Johannes, Kenny, and Nick of the Bay Area LEGO Users Group (BAYLUG) for volunteering over 424 hours to help imagine and build the 4-foot x 6-foot map.
Our efforts also garnered significant media coverage with 14 news stories! Angel Island was the cover story for Preservation Magazine, the leading magazine sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We were also featured in stories by ABC, Bay City News, ChinaQW, East Wind Ezine, IFENG News, J Magazine, KPIX, KTSF, NBC Bay Area, San Francisco Chronicle, Sing Tao USA, and World Journal. Check out some of these additional stories here.
One of the reasons we have been able to expand our efforts is that our team has grown! Please join me in warmly welcoming our two newest staff: Administrative Coordinator Angelo Racelis who most recently worked at the Chinese Historical Society of America and Program Manager Danielle Wetmore who comes to us after nearly a decade at the Tenement Museum in New York City.
Our ability to continue this high level of programming, exhibits, and communications is dependent on your support. Please consider joining us on June 30 for Eats Meets Wine, our main fundraiser for the year. Or contribute to our fund-a-need to support the costs of classroom field trips to Angel Island.
Wishing you health and safety,
Edward Tepporn
AIISF Executive Director
P.S. With an expanding team, we have outgrown our old office. Please note that our new mailing address is 870 Market Street, Suite 901, San Francisco, CA 94102.
RSVP for "Eats Meets Wine", AIISF's 2022 Virtual Fundraiser!
Join us on Thursday, June 30 for a delicious fundraiser benefitting the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation! This year, guests have the option to order meals from Michelin-starred Niku Steakhouse with wine-pairing from Appellations Cellar AND/OR order meals from Shef.com (an online marketplace for local, food safety certified home chefs)!
We hope that you will also tune in for our virtual program at 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern from the safety and comfort of your own home. Or get a group of friends together for a small "dine, wine, and watch" party!
Meat and vegetarian menu options available. Niku Steakhouse and Appellations Cellar delivery only available in the Bay Area. Shef.com delivery available in the Bay Area, LA, Chicago, NYC, and Seattle. For more information, click here! Or email us any of your questions to info@aiisf.org!
Newest Members of the AIISF Staff!
We are excited to announce the newest members of our team. We asked our Program Manager, Danielle Wetmore and Administrative Coordinator, Angelo Racelis to share a few words to introduce themselves!
Danielle Wetmore, Programs Manager
"I am thrilled to join the ranks of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation! This work means a lot to me as the child and grandchild of immigrants and as a passionate historian and educator. I spent the last ten years living, working, and studying in New York City, but my roots are here in the Bay Area. While in New York I earned my MA in American Studies and worked at the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The Tenement Museum has a collection of programs for English Language Learners and the opening question we posed for the entire group to answer was always: what is one thing you like about living in New York City and what is one thing you don’t like? My answers were always that I loved the diversity of food options and that I hated the weather in winter. By coming on as the Program Manager for AIISF, I get to continue to educate others and uplift the stories of immigrants, have access to a diverse community (and the great food that comes with the people!), and winter won’t be so terribly cold and snowy! I look forward to getting to know many of you through events and programs. If there is particular programming you are interested in having please reach out, I would love to involve as many people as possible to continue to build on the robust community you all have already created."
Angelo Racelis, Administrative Coordinator
"It is exciting to be part of of an organization that puts immigrant stories and experiences to the forefront. As someone who is relatively new to the United States, learning about the contributions that immigrants have given the country throughout history has been inspiring. The successes of many immigrants and their perseverance despite the odds often times being stacked against them has been encouraging. But through my work at AIISF, I've also been able to learn about the complicated past the United States has had with its immigration policies. I look forward to learning more about how I can be an advocate for AIISF's mission and to be an ally of the community it serves. I am very grateful to be part of this team!"
Donate to Our Fund-A-Need for Our Field Trip Scholarships!
This year we are looking to replenish our Field Trip Scholarship fund which helps to cover the costs for Bay Area teachers to bring their students out to the Angel Island Immigration Station.
To date, we have supported visits for nearly 1,000 students. 100% of donations made to the fund-a-need campaign are used to support field trip scholarships, with priority given to classes from Title 1 schools.
LEGO Model of Angel Island on Display Now!
Inside the historic WWII Mess Hall, we've installed a LEGO model depicting the immigration station from 1941 to 1946, when it was converted into a prisoner of war camp and also used to temporarily incarcerate over 700 Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the West Coast.
We'd like to give a special shoutout Bay Area Lego Users Group (BAYLUG) for their incredible work! And thank to to all the volunteers and visitors who helped build "trees" for planting on the model.
This installation is a permanent addition to our Taken From Their Families: Japanese American Incarceration on Angel Island During WWII exhibit.
Volunteer on Angel Island During California State Parks Week!
Help spruce up Ayala Cove near the ferry dock on June 18 by cleaning and removing invasive plants as we get ready for summer! Wear layers, bring gloves and bring your water bottle!
RSVP to tours.angelisland@parks.ca.gov for ferry info. Project will be held between 10:30am-1:00pm (ferry timing varies depending on ferry choice from San Francisco or Tiburon).