Let's Talk Story Club

01/31/2025

https://discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2025/1/14/lets-talk-story-club/

Thank you for the sharing our story Discover Nikkei!

“My favorite part is learning about how someone really finds an impact in filling out the story book with their senior,” Taisho Shiono, co-founder of Let’s Talk Story Club, says when reflecting on what he enjoys most about his work in the nonprofit. Started in memory of their Obaachama, or gre...

01/31/2025

https://letstalkstoryclub.org/1000-raised-for-nisei-wwii-veterans/

Categories Uncategorized $1,000 Raised for Education on Nisei WWII Veterans Post author By Let's Talk Story Staff Post date October 28, 2024 No Comments on $1,000 Raised for Education on Nisei WWII Veterans LOS ANGELES – The Let’s Talk Story Club, a nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors of Japa...

01/31/2025

We're so excited to be a part of Discover Nikkei Fest's workshop on February 8! Come capture the memories of a special grandparent or senior citizen with the Let’s Talk Story Club at the “Senior Memory Collection” workshop from 1 - 1:45 p.m.

For tickets, go to https://janm.org/dnfest and purchase an ALL ACCESS PASS. Use the discount code: DNFEST25 for $5 off your ticket.

See you there!

Learn to preserve your family stories with Discover Nikkei!

On February 8, we'll be hosting six Nikkei Family Stories workshops as part of Discover Nikkei Fest, our daylong celebration of our 20th anniversary! From noon to 3 p.m., take part in these exclusive offerings by JANM staff and Nikkei community organizations:

• Preserving Family Artifacts workshop with JANM Curator Kristen Hayashi
• Intergenerational Delight—a family stories poetry workshop with poet Traci Akemi Kato-kiriyama
• Nikkei Genealogy 101 with the Nikkei Genealogical Society
• Senior Memory Collection with Let's Talk Story Club
• Video Life History Interviews with JANM’s Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center
• Family Stories Journaling with writer and editor Mia Nakaji Monnier

Plus, stay all day for a community fair, international panel discussion, and reception! The panel discussion will also be streamed live on Zoom. Tickets now available at https://5dn.org/dnfest

02/13/2024

Dear Ben,

We first saw your paintings of the beaches of Maui and Mount Fuji at the Go-For-Broke National Education Center. We knew they’d be perfect for our memory book illustrations.

Then we visited you at your senior home to present the book and document your own life story. We’ll never forget your tales fighting for the U.S. against Japan–your mother country–while your family was incarcerated at an internment camp. It struck us: some stories must never be forgotten. You validated that all the work to create our nonprofit was worth it.

Because of you, over 250 more seniors’ fascinating stories have now been documented. We’ve received thank-yous from volunteers across California, Hawaii, Japan and Mexico. We were even on Good Day LA news!

We will continue to preserve life stories like yours. We want to thank you. You’ve taught us that stories give us a sense of identity, connect us to our roots, and deepen our perspectives on past injustices.

Your friends,

Taisho and Audrey

01/15/2024

Senior Memory Recollection Workshop

11/27/2023

A Let’s Talk Story book is a great way to get to know a senior while also finding more out about yourself:

Two of our volunteers, siblings Avery and Lucas filled out a Let’s Talk Story book with their grandmother. The experience allowed them to not only learn more about her, but also it helped them realize their own opportunities in life. After completing the book, Avery had said “I realized how different it was for her growing up and how grateful I am for what I have.” Her brother Lucas, also expressed similar gratitude for their grandmother and said, “Getting to know more about my grandma and her experiences made me realize how fortunate I am.”

09/14/2023

On July 30, our youth volunteers visited the Kei-Ai Healthcare Center in Gardena, California, once again. To begin, we wrapped up books with seniors who didn’t get a chance to finish their books from their previous session. It was heartwarming seeing their excitement when we revisited them and put the final touches on their books. 
After that, we paired up with more seniors. One senior recalled being a trouble-maker in high school. While she may have become known at her school for her naughty antics, she says she wishes she could go back in time and relive those “beautiful” high school moments.

Visit us at www.letstalkstoryclub.org to volunteer to help a senior tell their story.

09/14/2023

On Sunday, July 17, my Girl Scout Troop volunteered at the Kei-Ai Healthcare Center in Gardena, California. We worked with five seniors to preserve their life stories in the Let’s Talk Story books. While some finished the book quickly, others took more time explaining each memory in great detail. Either way, volunteers and seniors had a great time talking story. 
Thank you so much for having us, Kei-Ai!!

Visit us at www.letstalkstoryclub.org to volunteer to help a senior tell their story.

09/14/2023

In the week of July 10 2023, the Let’s Talk Story Club reached a huge milestone. We were able to document the life story of our 100th senior! It was an extra special occasion because this senior lives in Japan. This grandson pictured here traveled all the way from California during summer break, and along with his cousins, learned so many interesting and fun stories about their wonderful grandfather. Thank you for being our 100th volunteer and senior!

Visit us at www.letstalkstoryclub.org to volunteer to help a senior tell their story.

09/14/2023

We were featured on Fox 11’s Good Day LA! Thank you Sandra Endo for sharing our story.

For more information about us or to volunteer, please visit our website!

. A local brother and sister team is doing what they can to learn from older generations.

08/20/2023

Edlyn, a senior who is a recent heart recipient, was quiet about sharing her life story with volunteer Kari. However, using the book, the “flood gates opened” and Kari learned so many new things.

Visit us at www.letstalkstoryclub.org to volunteer to help a senior tell their story.

08/18/2023

Young volunteer Levi filled out a book with his grandma, Janet, who survived cancer, war, and the internment camps. He documented her stories of discrimination and said it had helped him “connect and document his family history.”

Visit us at www.letstalkstoryclub.org to volunteer to help a senior tell their story.