UPCOMING EVENTS

Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 led to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII. Every year, the Japanese American community in Chicago comes together to commemorate E.O. 9066 as a reminder of the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all.

After Japanese American incarceration came mandatory “resettlement.” What was it like to be forced to leave your home, deny your heritage, and start over? At Day of Remembrance 2023, we will host the world premiere of Full Spectrum Features’ Resettlement: Chicago Story, a short historical film and educational website that explores how people of Japanese ancestry beat the odds and remade their lives after their wrongful incarceration during WWII.

Resettlement: Chicago Story tells an intergenerational story of the Yamamoto family several years after camp, as they struggle to rebuild their lives and make ends meet through their family dry cleaning business. The film’s companion immersive learning website builds upon both the characters and historical events of incarceration and resettlement introduced in the film to create the “world” through which viewers can engage with facts, figures, and important social themes that extend from this history.

After the film and website premiere, Reina Higashitani (film director and professor at the New American Film School, Arizona State University) and Dr. Helen Cho (professor of Asian American Studies, Northwestern University) will discuss their engagement with Resettlement and how they approach this unique history as filmmaker, media scholar, and educators.

This year’s DOR event will also focus on accessibility. Audio Description, Open Captions, CART (Live) Captioning, and ASL Interpretation will be included throughout the program. The venue and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible with ramps, elevators and electronic doors throughout the building.

The event will be held from 1:30 – 3:00 pm at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. It is free and open to the public. Masks are required. Register at bit.ly/DOR2023 Partner Code: DOR2023

Before the event, from 12:00 – 1:00 pm at the Chicago History Museum, Full Spectrum Features will host a workshop for teachers on the history of Japanese American incarceration and resettlement. An honorarium is available for teachers. Limited space available. Email ashley@fullspectrumfeatures.com to register.

Full Spectrum Features will host a premiere reception at the Chicago History Museum from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Refreshments and appetizers will be included; potluck contributions are welcome. 

Visit chicagodor.wordpress.com for more information. This event is sponsored by the Chicago Japanese American Council, Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, Japanese American Citizens League – Chicago Chapter, Japanese American Service Committee, and Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago.