JACL DC

The JACL-DC chapter is excited to present the second post in our blog series, Meet Our Board. As a way to introduce you to our 2017 board members, this series will feature posts from members throughout the year. The first blog was from our youngest board member, Christie Mori. Be sure to keep checking back for future posts from these individuals who are here to serve the DC chapter. 

Greetings JACLers! My name is Craig Shimizu and I’m an at-large member of the JACL DC Chapter board. Originally a Bay Area native, my path to DC wound through the University of Southern California for undergrad before a short stint as an Army officer took me to the swamps of Georgia. After a detour to Afghanistan in 2013, I came to Washington in the fall of 2014 to work in the JACL National office as the Daniel K. Inouye Fellow. I currently serve as a JACL Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow in the office of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

John F. Kennedy once quipped that “Washington is a city of southern efficiency and northern charm,” but I’m eternally inspired by the remarkable people and organizations that advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in our nation’s capital. It’s been an amazing experience to work with community organizers, policy experts, military leaders, and members of Congress to tackle some of the most pressing issues affecting our community and our nation.

As May comes to a close, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and also join us on Sunday, May 28^th for the 69^th Annual JACL – JAVA Memorial Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery. I look forward to seeing you there!