Someone has to go first -- might as well be me!
Greetings! I'm Jim Bower, senior manager for web development at the Japanese American National Museum, and producer of the Discover Nikkei website. I'm an art historian and librarian who became involved in cultural technology projects through 20 years with the Getty Trust here in Los Angeles. I came to the Japanese American National Museum as a web consultant on their Boyle Heights exhibition, and joined the Discover Nikkei team in December 2003. I've been on staff since November 2004, working not only on Discover Nikkei, but also the website for the new National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (www.ncdemocracy.org), and the National Museum's own website (www.janm.org). Sleep, as they say, is for wimps. Now that Discover Nikkei is open, I'm excited and interested to learn about the people who visit this site -- to find out what interests them, whether they found the site useful and enjoyable, and in what directions they think the site should grow. I welcome your comments through the Community Forum or, if you'd prefer to contact me separately, at jbower@janm.org. Who's next? Hola, Me llamo Natalia y soy una Nikkei Argentina que vive en Los Angeles, California. Me gustaria compartir y intercambiar ideas y opiniones sobre la identidad Japonesa Latinoamericana. |
My name is Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda. I am the new Web Editor of the Japanese American National Museum. I'm a yonsei born, raised, and almost all of my life a resident of Los Angeles County in California. Well, I consider myself a yonsei, but I've come to learn that everyone 'counts' differently -- some by the maternal line, some by the paternal line, some by whichever has been here longest, etc. I decided to call myself yonsei in honor of my maternal grandmother who was born in Southern California in 1908. She's the grandparent that I spent the most time with growing up, and so had the most influence on me.
I come from very large families on both sides, and so family has always been a major influence. Family get-togethers are some of my most fondest memories of growing up -- the cousins, the food, the camaraderie, the volume (many of my relatives do not fit the quiet Asian stereotype!).
Although I've only recently joined the Web Development unit at the National Museum, I have been on staff since April 1995 in the Museum Store. Until very recently, I was primarily responsible for processing and running the Store's mail order operations. This included the creation, maintenance and updating of the Museum Store Online (www.janmstore.com) and the Store's email communications. I have actually brought the Online Store with me to my new position, and have additionally taken upon the editing duties of the Museum's other sites - www.janm.org, www.DiscoverNikkei.org, and www.ncdemocracy.org.
It's a whole lot to learn and do, but I'm so excited by this opportunity! Working at the Museum, and within the local community feels like being part of an extended family. Now that I'm part of the Discover Nikkei team, it's like my family is even further expanding. I'd love to get your feedback, or to just hear from you. I check this site daily (usually several times throughout the day), so please post your comments! Or, if you'd rather contact me directly, my email is vmurakami@janm.org (I'm even more compulsive about checking email!).