Spring 2013 interns with Dennis Kamakahi (center bottom). Interns from left: Sara Schreck, Emilio Eusebio, and Esther Jones.

By Emilio Payne Eusebio, Spring 2013 intern

Hello all! My name is Emilio Eusebio and I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.A. in History. I spent half of my time working at the National Museum of American History (NMAH) and the other half working at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC).

At  NMAH, I worked with Curatorial Assistant Noriko Sanefuji by handling and cataloging artifacts, researching, and transcribing different interviews.  I learned a great deal about the Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation which was one of the first major companies of sushi in the United States. I also researched the paniolo cowboys and the slack key guitar. One of the most memorable events I attended was the donation ceremony of Dennis Kamakahi’s slack key guitar.  It was an amazing experience because interviewing him was the culmination of all my research on the slack key guitar and Kamakahi himself. I also enjoyed hosting a private tour at NMAH of Asian Pacific American artifacts to a few guests because it gave me an opportunity to express all the knowledge that I had learned.

At APAC, I assisted Initiative Coordinator Lawrence-Minh Davis in the completion of the banner exhibition I Want The Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story. I handled license agreements, image procurements, assisted with video interviews, and more. My work with the exhibition revolved mostly around intellectual property. The experience I gained regarding intellectual property is particularly valuable because I plan to go to law school in the future. Overall, my experience working at the Smithsonian has been great and I would encourage other people to have an internship here as well.

From left: Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa being interviewed by Krista Aniel at the Pearl Gala, filmed by Mark Wolf.

By Emilio Eusebio, Spring 2013 intern

At the 2013 Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala, I assisted our team while we filmed and conducted interviews for our upcoming exhibition: I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story. The traveling exhibition consists of 30 banners and an app that will tell the stories of many different Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). The Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala brings together different leaders of the APA community, supporters, entrepreneurs, and public policy makers who highlight APA involvement in politics and prepare for the new administration.[1]

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center staff attended the Gala because it was a great opportunity to meet and interview some of the biggest and important leaders in the APA community. Our team consisted of Lawrence Minh-Bui Davis, Noriko Sanefuji, Krista Aniel, Krishna Aniel, and videographer Mark Wolf. We asked our interviewees many different questions for our exhibition such as “What does it mean to you to be APA?” and “What does it mean to be American?”

A few of the interviewees include Secretary Norman Mineta, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, and Deepa Iyer. I assisted our team by  making sure no one interrupted the interviews and had every interviewee sign our release agreement.  The experience was  surreal and I’m very proud to have been a part of it.

Intern Marie Ramos (right) with other APAC staff and interns.

Aloha! My name is Marie Antonette Anamong Ramos, and I am the 2012 Francis & Sarah Sogi Fellow at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. I am majoring in Ethnic Studies with a minor in Filipino Language and Culture at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa and will be graduating in May 2013.  My main responsibilities at APAC revolved around #apa100, an upcoming online exhibition that tells the Asian Pacific American experience through 100 milestone objects, events, sites, images, sounds, and videos. As a project assistant, I secured materials for the exhibition from both the Smithsonian and outside cultural organizations and institutions across the nation.

In addition, I conducted independent research that examined the art form of Spoken Word as a site for identity construction amongst Asian Americans. I interviewed and analyzed the works of the following poets: G Yamazawa, Asia Samson, and Regie Cabico. This project was important to me because I do volunteer work with a couple of high schools in Hawai’i that have recently started a Slam Poetry club on their campuses. These schools have a predominantly Asian American student population.

To sum it up briefly, this fellowship fosters growth on multiple levels: professional, academic, and personal. I have gained valuable experience in public programming, curatorial work, and project management. Ultimately, I hope to take the skills and knowledge that I acquired at APAC and implement them in my work with the various communities that I serve in Hawai’i.

Interns Madeline Sumida and Marie Ramos at the Congressional Gold Medal Tour Press Conference, September 13, 2012.

My name is Madeline Sumida. I recently graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.A. in History. While I did not study Asian American history in college, my Japanese American heritage sparked my interest in the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.  This internship has exceeded my expectations of expanding my knowledge of Asian American history and present day issues. Now, I feel more connected to my roots and inspired to become more active in bringing attention to the experience of an often overlooked and misunderstood minority group.

One of my projects included searching for photographs to be used in an upcoming exhibition highlighting Asian American history. Through my research, I learned about diverse  immigrant Asian ethnic groups at a level of detail that I never encountered in school.  I also learned about the curatorial aspects of working at the National Museum of American History as I cataloged artifacts for upcoming exhibitions on Chinese take-out and Japanese American cowboys in Hawaii.

This internship also improved my research and analytical skills while I worked on my individual project. I explored the topic of Asians in the United States military, focusing my time frame of interest on World War II and the present day. Through analysis of historical context, newspaper and journal articles, demographic data from the Department of Defense and West Point, and interviews with individuals either in or closely associated with the military, I wrote a paper that provides a basis for future studies of Asian American soldiers. The Smithsonian provided the opportunity to go to the Nisei Congressional Gold Medal conference, where I was thrilled to meet veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. To see the medal in person meant a great deal to me because my grandfather and his brothers served in the Military Intelligence Service and the 442nd.

The excitement and variety of the Smithsonian internship transformed my personal and professional growth. The real-world experience of working in an office and interacting with such dedicated staffers whets my appetite for the next experience. I look forward, too, to seeing the exhibitions that we worked on!

Interning this past Fall semester at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) has truly been a one of a kind experience. I worked with curator Masum Momaya on the upcoming exhibition Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation, as well as the development team. This provided me with a rich and well rounded intern experience. Working with both the curator and development staff, I was able to see that no matter how much they differ; one could not exist without the other. With each day came a new opportunity to learn, whether it was working on image licensing forms, attending meetings, or assisting with fundraising outreach. It is rewarding to know that I was able to contribute to Beyond Bollywood, an exciting, relevant, and important exhibition.

In addition to my internship duties, my research project focused on the personal reactions of Asian Pacific Americans during the 2012 Presidential and Congressional elections. My research was based on surveys, polls, news articles, reports, interviews, and panel discussions. Being an APAC intern allowed me to attend various panel discussions and events where I was able to conduct interviews to supplement my analysis and research.

APAC fosters a community of growth and innovation that allowed me to understand how each role in this organization is necessary. I learned about how the Smithsonian Institution impacts not only Washington D.C., but the world at large. This internship was an invaluable experience that allowed me to see the direct impact of my hard work and dedication within the APA community.

Click on the image to view more photos.

By Sara Schreck, Spring 2013 intern

The Indiaspora Inaugural Ball was a success and a chance to highlight Indian American accomplishments and presence in America under a long-deserved spotlight. Various VIPs glided along the red carpet and spoke into waiting microphones. It was a great debut party for Indian Americans, who—at 3 million strong—are becoming a political force in U.S. politics.

Among the VIP guests were Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate India Caucus; Congressman Joseph Crowley, co-chair at the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans; the Honorable Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to the U.S.; and Congressman Ami Bera, a newly elected member from California. Indian Americans from all fields were represented such as technology, politics, government, academia, and business.

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) was asked by the founder of Indiaspora, M.R. Rangaswami, to promote another first for Indian Americans: the Smithsonian Indian American Heritage Project, an initiative about an American story yet to be told—that of Indian immigrants and their descendants. The Project is anchored by a groundbreaking exhibition, Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation. This exhibition takes visitors beyond the spectacle of Bollywood cinema, which is globally popular. Exotic and romantic stereotypes of India are broken by a rich history of Indian immigration to the U.S. and numerous ways in which Indian Americans have shaped America. Beyond Bollywood will open at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in late 2013.

The President did not attend the ball, but his half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng (wife of Konrad Ng, APAC Director) made a surprise appearance. “It is certainly a reflection of how important India is and how important Indian Americans are to the fabric of this nation. I would just like to celebrate all of the contributions—artistic, political, and so much more of the community,” she remarked. A video clip of her response can be viewed here at 04:25.

APAC staff and interns were available at an information table to answer questions and introduce the exhibition to ball attendees. There was also an opportunity for attendees to enter a sweepstakes to win a private exhibition tour of Beyond Bollywood. A banner featuring an iconic photograph of the first Asian American Congressman, Dalip Singh Saund (with then Senators John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson) was near the table for guests to pose with. To see photographs from the evening, click here.

To learn more about the Smithsonian Indian American Heritage Project and Beyond Bollywood, please visit http://apa.si.edu/indianamerican

While federal funding is a mainstay of the Smithsonian, the Asian Pacific American Center receives no direct funds from Congress and relies on financial donations to fund its initiatives, including the Indian American Heritage Project. If you would like to make a donation to the Project, visit http://indianamerican.si.edu/donation.asp. It is fast, easy, and secure!

Fall 2012 interns: Marie, Emily, and Allia.

My name is Emily Vallerga. I recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz, double majoring in Italian Studies and  Anthropology. I have interned with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center for about three months and it has been a truly amazing and irreplaceable experience. One of the greatest things I will take away from this internship is how I can apply what I studied in school to a real-life job scenario. I quickly realized that many of the skills I learned in college, such as email etiquette, researching techniques, data compilation, critical thinking, analysis, and interpersonal skills are invaluable parts of a working environment. I used these skills on a daily basis and they have only improved.

As an intern, I worked closely with Masum Momaya and the exhibition Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation. I came on board as a research intern, which means being responsible for updating statistics and data, filling in blanks of the exhibition script, and conducting research on the yoga section of the exhibition. I have learned the process of presenting my research to a wide audience that is not strictly academic, what a design meeting looks like, and where many of the items in the exhibition will be coming from. Overall, this experience has been eye-opening and allowed me to see the many possibilities an Anthropology degree has to offer.

Teacher’s Night 2012. Click for more photos.

By Marie Ramos, Fall 2012 intern

On September 28, 2012, the annual Smithsonian Teachers’ Night took place at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, that is home to the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum. Over 3,700 educators registered this year with many more eagerly waiting in line to get their hands on free classroom-ready resources. Both the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum were open for all to explore, allowing us to direct people over to APAC and NPG’s exhibition Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter.

It was exciting to see so many of our educators fired up about the Smithsonian. We distributed all of APAC’s education and program materials (brochures, pens, and flyers) before the end of the night. Even with all of our stuff gone, teachers continued to approach our table to sign up for our e-Newsletter. It is clear that people are interested and they want to know more about Asian Pacific American history, art, and culture.

For those interested in signing up for our e-Newsletter, you may day so by clicking here.

1882 Project reception recap, September 19, 2012. Photos by Marie Ramos. Click for more images.

By Marie Ramos, Fall 2012 intern

Last July, former Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program intern Sam Gerstle blogged about the passage of House Resolution 683 (H. Res. 683) and Senate Resolution 201 (S. Res. 201), that formally expressed regret for the discriminatory policies of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. As one of the new APAP interns, I had the honor of attending the reception to celebrate this momentous occasion, hosted by the 1882 Project at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. The 1882 Project is a collaborative effort by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Committee 100, the Japanese American Citizens League, the National Council of Chinese Americans, and OCA to educate both lawmakers and the public about the effects of the Chinese Exclusion Laws throughout history.

As an Ethnic Studies major, one of the first things that we covered in school were the effects of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. So this was definitely an exciting event for me. What I enjoyed the most about the reception was listening to the speakers. Representative Mike Honda and Ted Gong (Steering Committee Member of the 1882 Project) stressed the importance of remembering our past. Others noted the progress of both our government and communities by pointing to the success of the 1882 Project—that took two years of planning and pushing—but cautioned that we should not forget the steps that were taken. There are many more issues that need to be addressed, so it is necessary that we continue to be active agents in telling and retelling our stories.

Click for more photos from the press conference. Photos by Marie Ramos.

By Madeline Sumida, Fall 2012 intern

As a Yonsei and grandniece of a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran, I leapt at the opportunity to attend a press conference held on September 13, 2012, to publicize the national tour of the Nisei Congressional Gold Medal.  Awarded to Japanese American veterans of World War II in 2011, the medal will travel to seven museums in seven cities until it comes to its permanent home at the National Museum of American History’s “The Price of Freedom” exhibition. The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program will work with the National Veterans Network to generate a museum iPad app, social-learning website, and curriculum that focus on the primary “character values” of the Japanese American servicemen: courage, respect, humility, perseverance, compassion, and citizenship.

Members of Congress, curators, philanthropists, and five of the honored Japanese American veterans came to the press conference highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Veterans Network to educate Americans about the significance of the medal. During the conference, Senator Daniel Inouye (who lost his right arm while fighting with the 442nd) pronounced, “it takes a great and morally strong country to apologize.” By extending the highest civilian award for achievement of lasting significance and contribution to the nation, Congress acknowledges the exceptional service of more than 19,000 Japanese American soldiers who fought for their country in spite of the U.S. government’s violation of their constitutional rights and those of their imprisoned family members behind-barbed wire.

The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team fought some of the most ferocious battles of World War II. It is perhaps best known for rescuing “the Lost Battalion,” an American battalion trapped by the Germans in the Vosges Mountains in 1944. During the Vosges campaign, the Nisei unit lost more than half of its men. Nisei members of the Military Intelligence Service proved to be invaluable interrogators and translators of intercepted intelligence and helped to build post-war relations between America and occupied Japan.

At the conclusion of the conference, photographers captured the five proud veterans as they stood beside the medal, the face of which shows the Nisei soldiers of World War II and the motto of the 100th/442nd, “Go For Broke.” The opposite side depicts the insignias of the 100th Battalion, the 442nd Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service. I was honored to meet Kelly Kuwayama, a 442nd veteran whose medals include the bronze star, the silver star, and the purple heart and was touched to see older Capitol building staff members approach him after the conference to thank him and shake his hand.

The Japanese Americans of my father’s generation maintain great pride in the achievements of the Nisei soldiers and often send each other word of any events honoring these distinguished members of the community. I know that my own family will be thrilled to hear about the Smithsonian’s mission to bring the Nisei story of World War II to a wider audience, so that these heroes may be an inspiration to American children of all races.

News Articles:

• 09/14/12 - Associated Press: Medal for Japanese-American veterans to tour US
• 09/13/12 - Smithsonian Press Release: Smithsonian Announces Seven-City Tour of Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Japanese American World War II Veterans
• 09/13/12 - Urban Oahu – Hawaii News Now: Bishop Museum to host Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Japanese-American World War II Veterans
• 09/13/12 - Daily Breeze (CA) Article: Congressional Gold Medal for segregated Japanese military units on tour

Related Links:

• Congressional Gold Medal celebration recap
• Congressional Gold Medal Award Comes to the Smithsonian
• Recap: Annual Day of Remembrance at the Smithsonian