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Envisioned Initiatives
ACOM 2024 Strategic Objectives:
1. Develop the concept design for the Asian American Garden in Locke Paddon Park; work with City and Park officials, participate in public outreach for Park Master Plan to identify best location.
2. Give input into city documents currently being finalized: the Marina Downtown Vitalization Specific Plan (DVSP), the General Plan Update, Cypress Knolls Specific Plan, Objective Design Standards, to ensure Asian community interests and needs are received and acknowledged.
3. Continue to support and promote City of Marina’s Sister City Program initiatives (Korean and Japanese delegation visits to Marina, student exchange programs, etc.)
4. Assist the City of Marina in the Marina Multi-cultural Festival highlighting authentic representation of various Asian cultures.
5. Give input into City of Marina Systemic Racism study project.
6. Historic Preservation Project on the History of Marina: Ensure Asian local history receives accurate and equitable visibility.
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Co-sponsorship with ACOM and FOML (Friends of the Marina Library) hosting an educational forum about the Japanese-American Internment Camps with speaker Yukio Shimomura on March 30, 2024. There were approximately 80 persons in attendance hearing an excellent first-hand account of life in the camps where 120,000 Americans were taken to desolate camps for 2-3 years, stripped of their rights as citizens and due process of law.
Progress towards making the Asian American Garden a reality in Locke Paddon Park: now on the city budget list of priorities, in 2023 ACOM hosted 3 community tours of Locke Paddon Park site, 3 tours to Shinzen Garden’s Plum Garden in Fresno as a prototype. Fresno tours given by Paul Saito (landscape artist for the Shinzen Garden) and the Shinzen Board of Directors).
City of Marina and Marina High School under the Marina Sister City Program hosted Zoom student exchange initiative in the 2023 academic year (6 Marina students and 6 Izunokuni students).
ACOM and the City of Marina host a hugely successful Sister City reception for Namwon, Korea and provided a packed visit itinerary October 12-14, 2023.
ACOM Volunteers participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. Statue and Garden unveiling ceremony on Sept. 9, 2023.
Asian American Identity discussion Part II Forum July 1, 2023 held at the Springhill Marriott Hotel in Marina.
Participated in performances and manning educational booths at Marina’s second Multi-cultural festival June 24, 2023.
November 17, 2022: As a significant part of the City of Marina, ACOM joined in supporting the City in its clear and active opposition to the CalAm desalination project proposed in Marina that will create dire consequences for Marina’s sole water source, natural environment, beach access and economic impacts to its citizens. As such, ACOM was allowed to be a group speaker to testify before the CA Coastal Commission.
September 10, 2022 and November 5, 2022: ACOM held two walking tours of the potential Asian American Garden site at Locke Paddon Park in downtown Marina. In attendance were ACOM members and guests, Mr. Paul Saito (landscape artist who developed the iconic Japanese Shinzen Garden in Fresno), Mitz Mori (local landscape artist with expertise in Asian gardens), civic community leaders and General Managers for water and park districts that have interest in and resources in this land use. Mr. Saito is creating the Asian American Garden concept design pro bono; this is a great honor for ACOM.
August 20, 2022: Workshop – ACOM hosted a 2 hour discussion group on the topic of Asian American Identity at a local hotel venue. We broke up into small groups with facilitators Phuong Nguyen and Kathy Biala engaging the group in discussions of both shared identities and differences among the Asian experience. We ended with discussions as a whole group. It was an enjoyable and productive meeting.
2022: through public comment and letter writing, ACOM significantly contributed to the end of the Feast of Lanterns event in Pacific Grove that misrepresented the Chinese culture and the tragic Chinese immigrant history. Click here for Monterey County Weekly Article. Click here for Monterey Herald Article.
April 24, 2022: ACOM established itself as a non-profit 501C(3) organization in order to fund raise, write grants and seek sponsorships for various initiatives.
2021: ACOM inspired an Asian American member, Hyunsoo Hur, to apply for and be successfully appointed to the City of Marina Planning Commission.
Nov. 7, 2020: Kathy Biala, third generation Japanese American, became the first and only Asian woman to be elected to the Marina City Council. She was elected by a landslide victory over her opponent. Her term is 4 years and the first two years, she was appointed Mayor Pro Tem.
2020: ACOM advocated for a Marina Restaurant Guide that restored the concept of “Ethnic Eats” and promoted local restaurants during the Covid-19 economic crisis; approximately 85% of Marina’s local restaurants (excluding chain brands) in the Restaurant Guide are owned and operated by ethnic minorities.
2019: ACOM members participated in the planning of the 2nd Annual Marina Multicultural Festival, but due to Covid-19, the Festival was postponed and it is anticipated to be held in 2023.
2018: ACOM developed an Appendix on subtle Asian architectural design for the Marina Downtown Vitalization Specific Plan and collected over 300 signatures in support. This Appendix was included in the draft plan ready for Planning Commission and City Council approval in 2022. Click here for Appendix A (Draft).