LONG BEACH – Each year the Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award is presented to individuals in the Grace First Presbyterian and Long Beach Japanese American community who exhibit “outstanding creativity and self-sacrifice in extending God’s love to others.”
This year, the award was given to Joyce Okazaki, a crucial voice in the education of Japanese American internment, and David and Stacy Rosales, pillars of the Grace First Presbyterian Church community.
The award was established in 2002 by the Sugiyama family to honor the work of Kimi Sugiyama. Throughout her life, she was a leader in the Japanese American community, using her knowledge of law to help Japanese workers and immigrants receive the rights they deserved, and founding what would be known today as the Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center. Her devotion to the community was filled with kindness and God’s grace. The Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award reflects the presence of this devotion and altruism in the community today.
Joyce Okazakiworks toward a future with greater justice and reflection as she shares her experiences with individuals and generations unfamiliar with the injustice that was the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Living through being incarcerated in Manzanar, and the aftermath of the U.S. government’s actions towards Japanese Americans, she transformed her experience into education, going on to become an outspoken, dedicated voice in the ongoing challenge of keeping history alive and inspiring younger generations to learn from mistakes of the past. Okazaki makes it her personal mission to reach out to individuals and organizations, speaking out about Japanese American concentration camps to make sure they use language that is accurate and respectful to the experience of Japanese Americans.
David and Stacy Rosalesare vital members of the congregation at Grace First Presbyterian Church. Members since 1984, Grace First would not be the same without them. Stacy helps people wherever and whenever she can, assisting with childcare and memorial services alike, showing that God’s grace can reach us at all points in life. From haircuts to computer repair, David does it all. Always looking to serve, he takes care of the needs of countless people in the community that can often be overlooked. While David and Stacy dedicate much of their time to bettering the world for the people around them, they do so without seeking recognition – saying that God gives us talents to serve him, truly living into the dedication and altruism that the Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award represents.
The award lives and breathes through the benevolence and faith of its recipients, who have dedicated themselves to bettering the community.
Tamlyn Tomita to Be Keynote Speaker for Ventura County JACL Installation LuncheonDreamHack Valencia group drawJANM Mourns Passing of Trustee Thomas YukiImmortals beat Liquid in Austin‘Together’: A Community Conference on Mental Health and WellEthereum Disrupt Venture Capital With CoinbaseNew Year's Day Brings Hopping Good TimeOpera Santa Barbara Presents California Premiere of ‘An American Dream’Michael Paulo Hosts Jam for MauiRemembering Those Who Passed in 2022 Little girl receives a doll with a prosthetic leg like hers, cries tears of joy Draco Malfoy's new dad style is terrifyingly muggle Daughter's home from school and dad has already reached his limit Lyft driver Shaquille O'Neal confuses unsuspecting passengers with terrible disguises Powerful portrait series brings visibility to trans professionals Jon Snow thinks men also face sexism in Hollywood Behind Donald Trump's yuge love/hate relationship with the media This bighorn sheep got a photoshop battle that will haunt your dreams Can the dad from 'Modern Family' make detergent cool? Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris' love story is over? Baby, just say no!
0.1401s , 9847.5 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【?? ??? ??】Recipients of Kimi Sugiyama Human Service Award Named,Global Hot Topic Analysis