This event has already taken place. You can watch the recording here… and the photos here.

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This is the first of a 3-part series bringing Jewish and Asian American communities together to fight racism.

Discover the fascinating histories of Jewish, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino immigration to Sonoma County. How we all came here, overcame obstacles, and thrived.

Presentations will be followed by Q&A. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. Registration is required to attend. Register here – https://www.cstsr.org/event/building-alliances-1.html

This is a collaboration of the following organizations:
🌹Congregation Shomrei Torah Social Action Committee (CST)
🌹Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of North Bay (AAPIC)
🌹Filipino American National Historical Society Sonoma County Chapter (FANHS)
🌹Japanese American Citizens League Sonoma County (JACL)
🌹Redwood Empire Chinese Association (RECA)

Speakers

Padi Selwyn

Padi Selwyn, a Congregation Shomrie Torah member, is a community activist, author, and businesswoman. She is a past president of the National Speakers Association, bank co-founder, ad agency president, and co-author/producer of the play “Chutzpah” about the Petaluma Jewish Chicken Farmers. She was Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations, at Exchange Bank, before retiring.

Cecilia Shimizu

Cecilia Shimizu is from the Japanese American Citizens League, JACL. Cecelia Shimizu is a recent Sonoma State University graduate with a degree in Psychology and is looking forward to continuing her education with a master’s degree in Business Administration. She is also the current Secretary for the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League and a board member of the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District Youth Board. She has a passion for sharing her family’s story as a way to spread awareness about the dangers of intolerance.

Michael Viloria

Michael Viloria is from the Filipino American National Historical Society of Sonoma County, FANHS. Michael was born in Santa Rosa, California, the fourth child of Maximo, a Filipino immigrant, and Alicia Trevino, a Mexican/American and native of Laredo, Texas. Michael was a Community Organizer for the Sisters of St. Joseph for ten years. In 2005 he took a position organizing for C.O.P.S. and the Metro Alliance in San Antonio, Texas, and part of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) a network of organizations throughout the United States. After returning to California, he started work as a Union Representative with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), in the healthcare industry and later with public service workers. Michael has always been involved in community affairs such as the Sonoma County Community Development Committee, the Sonoma County YMCA, the Santa Rosa Board of Community Services, and the Graton Day Labor Center. Presently, he serves as President of the Filipino/American National Historical Society Sonoma County chapter (FANHS-Sonoma). He served several terms, spanning over twenty-five years, as President of the Filipino/American Community of Sonoma County (FACSCI). Michael is married and has three grown children and three grandchildren.

Nancy Wang

Nancy Wang is from the Redwood Empire Chinese Association, RECA. Nancy Wang, originally from Taiwan, moved to Santa Rosa in 1977 and raised her family here. She is a founding member and current president of the Redwood Empire Chinese Association. RECA promotes intercultural understanding through presentations of cultural programs for schools, businesses, governmental agencies, and private requests. For twelve years, Nancy sat on the Community Advisory Board of Santa Rosa. Currently, Nancy is on the board of directors for the Museum of Sonoma County.