Densho

In October 2025, Densho’s Education and Public Programs Manager, Courtney W., led a zine-making workshop for middle school students in the Youth Voices Rising program at Austin's Asian American Resource Center. In places like Texas, where ethnic studies courses remain limited or under threat, out-of-school spaces like Youth Voices Rising play a crucial role in helping youth of color learn their histories, think critically about identity and justice, and develop pride in their racial and cultural identities. The workshop began with an introduction to Japanese American wartime incarceration history, with Youth Voices Rising facilitator James Lemuel providing historical context about global patterns of imperialism and exclusion faced by Japanese immigrants around the world. Students then learned about the history of the historic Asian American activist newspaper Gidra, including how it emerged from the Asian American movement to challenge silence, erasure, and distorted narratives about Japanese American incarceration. In the final portion of the workshop, students created their own zine pages on topics that mattered to them—echoing Gidra’s spirit of activism and self-expression. Joining a history of community storytelling and resistance, their creations celebrated friendship and family, called for greater Asian American representation, and voiced frustration with Texas’s recent ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in public schools. To learn more about this workshop and to take a closer look at the students’ zine pages, please check out Densho’s Catalyst article: https://lnkd.in/gStShPs2

In a conversation with Densho Education and Public Programs Manager Courtney W., Tamara Bunnell shares insights from more than three decades in the classroom, discussing what it means to teach “difficult histories” in this political moment, how she helps students engage critically with oral histories and primary sources, and why educators must teach beyond false neutrality to help students examine national narratives with care and rigor. “I think one key challenge for students – for all of us, really – is to look critically at the information that reaches us, whether that’s through official commemorations, social media, certain news sites, or other sources. I find today’s students are very ready to critique materials that seem obviously designed to manipulate their thinking, but they aren’t as aware that they themselves often already exist in specific media bubbles designed to reinforce their existing viewpoints. For that reason, building skills and habits of research and critical thinking, and asking students to interrogate how they know what they know, is especially imperative in these times.” Tamara Bunnell is a high school History Teacher and Dean of Students in Seattle, Washington. She has over 30 years of experience teaching, developing curriculum for museums and organizations, and leading educational projects in Seattle. She also serves on the board of the Capitol Hill Historical Society. Read more at https://lnkd.in/g4bmHsGz Photo credit: Tom Reese

Unchecked state power endangers lives and erodes democracy. As an organization dedicated to safeguarding and learning from history in pursuit of a more just future, Densho condemns the use of force against civilians exercising their lawful rights, as well as the use of false official narratives to justify that violence. Across contexts, past and present, we can draw clear lessons from history about how unchecked state power leads to repression, harm, and the erosion of democratic rights. We must remain vigilant. Densho stands with the thousands of civilians and community members who are organizing to protect themselves and their communities, in part, by using phones and devices to record the actions of state agents and officers. Like Densho, they are archiving a historically significant moment—one that is shaping the contours of our society now and into the future. Through collective action and accountability, we can work toward a more just and equitable society, in which truth and accountability are not up for debate, and one in which the historical record cannot be erased or rewritten by those in power.

Densho released a three-part series to support educators in teaching Japanese American wartime incarceration with accuracy, care, and purpose. Rooted in the values and practices of Densho’s archival team and the community care that guides their work, these articles help educators navigate the Densho Digital Repository, approach difficult histories with care, and apply pedagogical approaches that empower students to engage with this history critically, empathetically, and with a sense of responsibility. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, curriculum designer, or education leader, this series offers practical tools grounded in primary sources and shaped by decades of community-centered archival stewardship. Explore the full series in the Densho Catalyst and bring these resources into your work with students and colleagues.

We are excited to welcome Rebecca Haynes (she/her) as Densho’s new Development Associate! Rebecca is gosei (fifth generation), born and raised in Hawai‘i and currently based in Seattle. She holds a B.A. in Visual Art with a minor in Informatics from the University of Washington, and an M.F.A. in Arts Leadership from Seattle University. Her studies emphasized people-centered approaches to research, experience design, and management, culminating in a thesis on ethical storytelling in arts education. Aligned with Densho’s ethos of stewarding stories grounded in community, healing, and purpose, she is deeply honored to support such a meaningful organization and essential resource. Prior, Rebecca was a Project Manager for consultants and small businesses that work with non-profits, and coordinated executive hiring searches, media productions, strategic development deliverables, and more. She also conducted data analysis and program evaluation for non-profits through MEMconsultants and interned with the development team at Seattle Art Museum. Outside of work, she enjoys drawing commissions as a visual artist, and connecting to her roots through the local taiko drumming community. ___________________________________________________________________ Image descriptions: 1) Photo of Rebecca (courtesy of Rebecca Haynes) within a graphic that is alongside text that reads, "Introducing Rebecca Haynes, Development Associate." With Densho's logo in purple in the top left-hand corner, with an image of a flower arrangement with a small image description: "Ikebana arrangement with magnolia flowers. Courtesy of Laura Sueoka and David Perley." 2) A graphic with Densho's logo in purple in the top left-hand corner with an image of a flower arrangement with a small image description: "Ikebana arrangement with magnolia flowers. Courtesy of Laura Sueoka and David Perley." On the right-hand side of the graphic is the following text: "A note from Rebecca: 'I am incredibly humbled and thrilled to be part of Densho and its immense legacy of storytelling and research rooted in the Japanese American community. Supporting this work feels especially meaningful at this time, as remembering and learning serve as vital tools for spurring change and connection.'"

Christian-Joseph Macahilig is an Outreach Coordinator with the UCLA Asian American Studies Center’s Foundations and Futures AAPI digital textbook project. He holds a B.A. in History and Adolescent Education Certification from The College of Mount Saint Vincent and an M.A. in American Studies with a concentration in Ethnic Studies from Columbia University. Before joining UCLA, Christian was a middle school Social Studies teacher between 2017–2023 in New York City. He is driven to elevate the voices of AAPI communities while ensuring that their stories and histories are taught with fidelity. In an exchange with Densho Education & Public Programs Manager Courtney Wai, Christian shares how his journey from the classroom to community outreach continues to shape his commitment to advancing Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in education and creating spaces where those histories can be seen, heard, and taught with care. Read the full interview at densho.org/catalyst

Join Densho for our 2025 Virtual Fundraiser, Remembering Resistance: Sustaining Densho's Commitment to Community History. Tune in on November 5th, 5pm PST / 8pm EST for an evening of dialogue, reflection, and visioning as we honor the legacy of the Japanese American Redress Movement and explore its ongoing relevance today. We are honored to welcome three community leaders who bring unique perspectives on the struggle for redress: Kathy Masaoka, a lifelong activist and founding member of the National Coalition for Redress and Reparations (NCRR); Don Tamaki, a longtime social justice lawyer who helped overturn Fred Korematsu’s conviction, and who served on the California Reparations Task Force; and traci kato-kiriyama, an award-winning artist, performer, writer, and community organizer. By recounting stories, reflections, and memories of the Redress Movement—alongside a poetry reading and video clips of the congressional public hearings—this panel explores the lasting impacts of Redress and its connections to current movements for justice. At Densho, we believe that remembering Redress is essential to telling a fuller, more complex story of Japanese American incarceration and its aftermath—one that highlights not only harm, but also resistance, resilience, and activism. Join us as we reflect on this powerful history, celebrate the people who made change possible, and renew our collective commitment to sustaining Densho’s mission of preserving community memory for generations to come. Register for this event with the link in our bio or via https://lnkd.in/gwH6dsZ9

We are excited to welcome Miya Schilz as Densho’s new Digital Content Coordinator! Miya Schilz (she/her) is a Yonsei based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from Pitzer College with a BA in Critical Global Studies and Environmental Analysis. With experience in marketing and communications, she has supported communities on social and environmental issues through roles at Wildfire Services Group, the National Japanese American Historical Society (through the Nikkei Community Internship program), and the documentary Home Court. As the granddaughter of Japanese Americans incarcerated at Gila River, Tule Lake, and Amache during World War II, Miya is humbled to contribute to Densho — an organization she has long admired for preserving Japanese American voices and histories. At Densho, she is committed to creating engaging, community-centered digital storytelling that promotes Japanese American history, amplifies community voices, and connects past and present.

Jaci Jones, Professional Learning Specialist at the National Constitution Center and a former high school history and government teacher, is passionate about empowering educators with best practices to ensure all students receive an equitable and honest education. In a conversation with Densho Education and Public Programs Manager Courtney W., Jones reflects on her path into civic education, how to approach teaching the Constitution with honesty and care, and what lessons it offers for understanding Japanese American incarceration and other moments when rights were denied. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/gy6TRzeq

Educators today face the urgent challenge of helping students navigate rampant misinformation and disinformation, alongside a broader erosion of public trust in history and journalism. This free webinar for K–12 educators explores how teachers can equip students with the tools to evaluate digital sources, recognize bias, and think critically about both past and present information using Densho’s rich collection of resources. Learn from panelists Jon Tobin, Senior Content Developer for the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center; Geoff Froh, Densho Deputy Director; and Brian Niiya, Densho Content Director, in a conversation moderated by Densho Education & Public Programs Manager Courtney W. Register at https://bit.ly/densho_9_17