STEP INTO Shizzy's Story… A Free Performance from NEO's Kids First So Cal invites students and families to Plummer Elementary School for North Valley children and community Wednesday, May 23^rd.

Sponsored performance by Enrichment Works in Plummer EL's Auditorium in two weeks …the public is welcome! As one show only, with seats limited to seating available in the school auditorium, mark your calendar to come early.

Shizzy's-story is a cameo of a child's passion for life – enjoy this creative reenactment of a LAUSD principal's story to remind us to be ever vigilant in our Democracy by understanding our history and the meaning of our cultural choices for tolerance, equity and human rights. As a contemporary piece on currents in American history, this reenactment makes issues in the news today, come alive in young minds. It depicts evolving experiences faced daily across the U.S. not just our diversely populated and disputed region.  

Provided by Enrichment Works through the generosity of the California State Library and the Department of Cultural Affairs, actors and writers present the Story of Principal Tagaki allowing the audience to figuratively and emotionally  "step into her shoes" as an American experience. Revisit the past and possibilities from xenophobia and racism, to  civil rights and issues in Bill of Rights freedoms and decisions that have led to choices for cultural integration, Experience California in World War II and so much more. Free Show, Everyone Welcome, May 23^rd, 4:15 pm, Plummer Elementary Auditorium, 9340 Noble Ave., North Hills, CA 91343.

Shizzy's Story

When Jason, one of Principal Tagaki's students, name calls Amir for being Muslim, she uses the incident as an opportunity to share her story of being sent to a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II, and to teach the students an important less about racism and what it is to be an American. 

At a school assembly, Jason calls his friend Amir a terrorist. Principal Tagaki gets to the bottom of this altercation and uses it as an opportunity to teach a valuable lesson on racism and prejudice. She shares her story of living as a little girl with her brother Pete and her parents in Long Beach, California when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and America enters the Second World War. Her happy life is turned upside down when her family must quickly pack their belongings and move first to the Santa Anita racetrack and then to a Japanese Internment camp in Jerome, Arkansas. Living conditions at camp are terrible--blistering hot days, shared toilets, and disgusting cafeteria food. For the most part, people are trying to stay busy and stay positive.

Shizzy wants to follow the rules and keep the family intact, but her brother, an aspiring baseball player, is rebellious and angry at being at camp where he can't work or train. He challenges his teacher, Ms. Covey, when she teaches the Constitution, and he throws a snowball at one of the Military Police. Shizzy's strict father can't control Pete, so Shizzy tries to reign Pete in herself. In the end, it is Pete who comes to Shizzy aid to protect her and to remind her of who she is: Japanese AND American. .

Written by Alison Minami.  Directed by Mike Hagiwara.  Performed by Alison Minami and Ricky Pak with Loryce Hashimoto and Reuben Uy as alternates.

Provided by Kids First of So Cal at Plummer for Plummer Elementary School and the surrounding community.  Consider sponsoring one or more children for affordable, local, and innovative childcare, give a gift of scholarship for a summer program with 1 to 1  tutoring and enrichment (click on the link below). KFSC operates year round programs in the Canoga Park Area.  Sign up for summer, and winter now click below to donate or sign up a child and reserve space:

www.kidsfirst .la

For more information about the play, the sponsors, the historic background, the issues, places and acts of courage check out the links below:

A timely story from Enrichment Works:

http://www.enrichmentworks.org/programs/shizzy-s-story

Dept. of Cultural Affairs:

http://dca.lacity.org/

Kids First of So Cal has openings at Plummer and The Legends Gym for its summer and fall programs find out more:

www.kidsfirst.la

Video:

https://vimeo.com/255827646

Allegiance:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegiance_(musical)

https://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/SPK-presents-Allegiance/

http://allegiancemusical.com/person/george-takei/#4PYuAg6pgg28KVQO.97

https://www.scpr.org/news/2015/02/05/49674/george-takei-s-musical-allegiance-finally-gets-to/

Another point of view:

https://www.aclu.org/other/aclu-history-dark-moment-history-japanese-internment-camps

Landmark Cases:

RESOURCES

» Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court: Korematsu v. United States (streetlaw.org)

» Tracked in America: Fred Korematsu

» A Personal Matter: Gordon Hirabayashi vs. the United States (asianamericanmedia.org)

» ACLU of Northern California: Honoring Fred Korematsu

» ACLU Awards Medal of Liberty to Japanese Americans Who Challenged Internment During WWII

» Minoru Yasui American Inn of Court (minoruyasui.com)

» Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project (densho.org)

» Japanese American Archival Collection (csus.edu)

Sulu now in Allegiance in Boston:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Takei

https://www.bostontheatrescene.com/presenters/speakeasy-stage-company/

http://www.tobetakei.com/

Internment Order and placement:

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation

Japanese internment camps California

How to end hate:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/family/linda-lewis-griffith/article124184039.html

https://www.splcenter.org/20170814/ten-ways-fight-hate-community-response-guide

Universal Bill of Human Rights:

http://www.ohchr.org/en/udhr/pages/introduction.aspx

Groupon for the Museum of Tolerance:

https://www.groupon.com/deals/museum-of-tolerance

List of Relocation Centers from Wikipedia:

• Gila River War Relocation Center, Arizona.
• Granada War Relocation Center, Colorado (AKA "Amache")
• Heart Mountain War Relocation Center, Wyoming.
• Jerome War Relocation Center, Arkansas.
• Manzanar War Relocation Center, California.
• Minidoka War Relocation Center, Idaho.
• Poston War Relocation Center, Arizona.