Re-Imagining A New World:

RE-IMAGINING TAIKO

• Stories

• Shared Resources

• Video Diaries

  • Activism Interviews

  • Gatherings

  • Discussion Topics

History

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

RE-IMAGINING A NEW WORLD was a series of virtual gatherings over the span of 4 weeks in the summer of 2020, made urgent by COVID-19 pandemic and the BLM, anti-racism movement. The program welcomed participants to join in a virtual practice to address racism, anti-blackness, systemic oppression and activism together as a Taiko Community. 23 taiko thought leaders facilitated unique topics that were personally relevant and authentic to each of them. Over 200 participants committed to one topic, and over the course of three sessions, practiced and deepened the work together in a small group.

The space was created as an opportunity to learn, grow, and build practices of awareness, so that we could all begin to move together against the systemic oppression that has impacted all of our lives.

Each gathering followed the same format:
- Beginning Plenary with everyone organized by Karen Young & Michelle Fujii (with guest speakers)
- Break-out Groups led by Topic Facilitators
- Closing Plenary with everyone

FACILITATED TOPICS:
1. TaikoPEACE: Partnerships in Empathy and Creative Empowerment led by PJ Hirabayashi & Iris Shiraishi
2. Centering Taiko Values Against the Influence of White Supremacy led by Roy Hirabayashi & Sydney Shiroyama
3. Discuss the Police led by David Wells
4. Anti-Blackness in the Taiko Community and Asian American Community led by Jen Weir
5. Cultivating Group Dynamics through a Social Justice Lens led by Young Park
6. People of Tint. What Tools Can Your White Half Bring to the Table? led by Karen Falkenstrom
7. Eating Bitter, Tasting Sweet led by Tiffany Tamaribuchi
8. Exploring/Expressing Identity through Drawing Meditation led by Yurika Chiba
9. Giant Steps: Art and Social Change led by Stan Shikuma
10. How Do We Lead with Empathy in the Global Healing of Anti-Racism? led by ManMan Mui
11. How can we be in the movement and conversation with our older generations? led by Ian Berve & Vicky Zhang
12. Liberation from Internalized Racial Oppression led by Michelle Fujii
13. Orientalism in Taiko led by Joe Small
14. Self-Awareness as a Platform for Living Values: Recognizing and Leveraging Feelings and Beliefs that Motivate and Sustain Activism Practices for White Allies led by Olga Ehrlich
15. The Marathon Sprint: Leadership for the Long Haul for the API (Asian/Pacific Islander) Community led by Karen Young
16. The Personal Politics of Taiko led by Linda Uyehara Hoffman & Deborah Wong
17. Unpacking Whiteness and Privilege to Engage with Authentic Allyship and Conversation in White Spaces led by Amy Naylor
18. Topic #18 NEW!! Solidarity 101 for Beginners: Building Consciousness and Taking Baby Steps led by Izumi Sakamoto
19. 日本人の人種差別との距離感 led by Toru Watanabe