"L.A. Area Wildfires Recovery – Women Respond" Event Held

On March 19, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, in collaboration with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), hosted “LA Area Wildfires Recovery – Women Respond,” exploring the unique role of women in disaster preparedness and response and reflections on the recent wildfires which have affected a large cross-section of society in the Los Angeles region.
 
The panel moderated by Kenyon Mayeda, Chief Impact Officer of JANM, included panelists Joanne Nowlin (Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region), Kristin Fukushima (Executive Director, Little Tokyo Community Council), and Yumiko Mori (Founder, Comachiplus).
 
Master of Ceremonies Mia Russell, Director of Special Initiatives at JANM, opened the event with remarks on behalf of the Museum. Deputy Fire Chief Albert Yanagisawa of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Risk Reduction Bureau and Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Kenko Sone made additional welcoming remarks.
 
The panelists shared their individual experiences in disaster preparedness and recovery at the local, national, and global levels. Ms. Nowlin reflected on the Red Cross’ expertise in large-scale national responses, while also emphasizing the key role of local community engagement. Ms. Fukushima highlighted the Japanese American community’s strength in mobilizing quickly in times of crises, citing examples from the COVID-19 pandemic and LA wildfires. Ms. Mori, who joined the panel virtually, described her successes in establishing community cafes, hosting evacuation center management workshops, and partnering with a local festival with a 300-year history to help better integrate women and marginalized communities into disaster preparedness planning.
 
The panelists also reflected on the impact of women in the field, recalling the founder of the American Red Cross, the current leadership of women at various levels of government in the Los Angeles region and the Japanese American community, as well as the growing impact and inclusion of women’s voices in disaster prevention and planning in Japan.  
 
Following the program, guests enjoyed a reception featuring Japanese food and beverage, including donations of sake from Kubota Sake USA, Inc. and of tofu desserts from Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc.