AIISF Newsletter / January 2022
A Message From AIISF’s Executive Director
Happy new year! I hope that you had a restful and festive holiday.
We are starting 2022 with a bang and are looking forward to the ribbon-cutting and opening of the new Angel Island Immigration Museum building on January 22, 2022! The event will mark the first time the hospital building will be open to the general public. It is also the 112th anniversary of when immigrants first arrived at the station. Please tune in as we celebrate this momentous milestone for AIISF, CA State Parks, and the site.
Since we did not have the opportunity to host our gala last year, we will take this opportunity to present our 2021 Immigrant Heritage Awards during the ribbon-cutting program. We will be honoring the Angel Island Immigration Station Historical Advisory Committee (AIISHAC). AIISHAC is the group that fought to keep the site from being demolished in the 1970s. We will also be presenting the Spirit of Angel Island Awardposthumously to CA State Park ranger Alexander Weiss, the proverbial “spark” that catalyzed the community-organizing efforts to save the station.
We are also excited to be growing our team at AIISF! Please share the job descriptions with anyone that you think might be interested. With additional hands on deck, we look forward to increasing and expanding our onsite and virtual exhibits and our program offerings.
This will no doubt be an exciting year. We hope that your 2022 aims (or resolutions) include visiting AIIM!
Cheers!
Edward Tepporn
AIISF Executive Director
AIIM Virtual Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
After closing its doors 75 years ago, the former immigration hospital is reopening as the new Angel Island Immigration Museum (AIIM)! We invite you to join us as we mark this occasion with a free virtual presentation and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Saturday, January 22, 2022
11:00 am to 11:45 am PST (virtual program)
12:00 pm PST (AIIM opens to the public)
AIISF will also be presenting two awards:
2021 Immigrant Heritage Award
Angel Island Immigration Station Historical Advisory Committee (AIISHAC)
2021 Spirit of Angel Island Award
Ranger Alexander Weiss (posthumously)
Due to the rise of COVID-19, we will be broadcasting this event online in lieu of inviting large groups to attend the ceremony in person. Please note that trams, bike rentals, shuttles, and the Angel Island Café are unavailable if you plan to visit the museum. They will resume service on February 5, 2022 (weather permitting). For guests who wish to visit the AIIM, we encourage you to plan your trip ahead of time by visiting our website or contacting us with questions. Please note that while the rest of the site is open from Wednesday through Sunday, the AIIM building will initially be open on weekends only.
Careers with AIISF
We are looking for two dynamic persons to join our team at AIISF. Please help us spread the word.
AIISF supports California State Parks in the stewardship and interpretation of the 14.3-acre site, including the Detention Barracks Museum and Angel Island Immigration Museum. Through programs, exhibits, marketing, and outreach, the Foundation increases the public’s awareness of the Immigration Station and raises funds to preserve and restore its historic structures for future generations to enjoy.
WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS
Administrative Coordinator (full-time)
Program Manager (full-time)
Tribute Wall 2021
In 2021, we received numerous donations honoring those who have made a difference in our lives and memorializing those we have loved and lost. Each tribute gift is presented on our website, where the public can discover the names of these inspiring individuals for years to come. To learn how you can contribute to our 2022 tribute wall, click here.
Partner Events
ARRIVALS at the Katonah Museum of Art (Katonah, New York)
ARRIVALS presents perspectives on moments of arrival, confronting ideas of belonging, othering, storytelling, the memory of ancestors, displacement, race, resilience, and perseverance.
The exhibition briefly discusses the experiences of immigrants on Angel Island and features art from Flo Oy Wong. If you are in the area, we encourage you to visit the exhibition before January 23!
What Does It Mean to Be An American Workshop for Teachers and Parents (Online)
On January 22, 2022, at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET, our friends at the Mineta Legacy Project will host a free one-hour Zoom webinar to spotlight key features of their What Does It Take To Be An American? curriculum.
Berkeley Poetry Festival's Lifetime Achievement Awards (Berkeley, CA)
On Sunday, January 23rd at 3 pm PT, the City of Berkeley will be honoring Genny Lim with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Berkeley Poetry Festival.
Among her many accomplishments, Genny co-authored Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants and Angel Island 1910-1940 with Him Mark Lai and Judy Yung.