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

During this year’s program “Japanese American Incarceration: Healing Histories Across Generations,” join us we explore what it means to heal from traumas of the past. Lisa Doi, president of the Japanese American Citizens League Chicago Chapter, moderates a conversation with Jami Nakamura Lin, author of The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir, and Dr. Donna Nagata, researcher of intergenerational impact from Japanese American incarceration. Dr. Nagata explores the concept of individual and cultural trauma through her decades long research on the Nisei, Sansei, and Yonsei generations following Japanese American incarceration. Lin similarly asks “How do we learn to live with the things that haunt us?” in her speculative memoir The Night Parade. 

Free; RSVP required.

This event is sponsored by the Chicago Japanese American Council, the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, the Japanese American Citizens League – Chicago Chapter, the Japanese American Service Committee, and the Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago. 

Children's Program
Sunday, February 18th, 2024 from 2–4 p.m.
An interactive children’s program, “Healing Through Generations” will occur at the same time as the main event offering interactive stations to learn and connect with incarceration history. This program is for preschool through 6th graders and their caregivers. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Youth ages 7th grade and up can attend individually. Free; RSVP required: https://chicagodor.wordpress.com/

Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past
Saturday, February, 17th, 2024 from 2:30–4:30 p.m.
“Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past”; a workshop on intergenerational conversations for the Nikkei community. This event will be at the Japanese American Service Committee. Advanced registration required: https://bit.ly/dor2024intergenconvos

*Please note: 

• This event will take place in CHM’s McCormick Theater with additional seating in the Morse Genius Chicago Room on the second floor where the program will be livestreamed and projected. Reserved seating in the theater is for those who require accommodations (e.g., wheelchair accessible seating, seating near the ASL interpreter, etc.). All other seating in the theater is available on a first-come, first-served basis until full. At that point, all additional visitors will be directed to the Morse Genius Chicago Room.  
• Masks are required in the theater. They are also required during the reception unless eating or drinking. For all other areas of the Museum, masks are optional but highly recommended. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.