04/15/2026
Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages Transitions to All-Volunteer Organization
Founding staff members Kimiko Marr and Nicole Tanner conclude their paid roles as JAMP moves into its next chapter
SANTA CRUZ, CA — Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages (JAMP), a nonprofit dedicated to education, remembrance, and community building around Japanese American history, today announced a transition to an all-volunteer organizational model, effective May 1, 2026. As part of this change, Executive Director Kimiko Marr and Nicole Tanner will conclude their paid staff roles with the organization.
The transition marks the end of an era for an organization with roots stretching back to 2016, when Marr and co-founder Marissa Fujimoto began recording oral histories at pilgrimages to Japanese American incarceration sites. What started as a grassroots documentation effort grew, over nearly a decade, into a nationally recognized virtual community connecting Japanese Americans across generations and geographies — formally incorporating as a nonprofit in 2023. Tanner's contributions were instrumental in shaping JAMP's operations throughout that journey.
"The high quality and wide range of work that JAMP does is a direct result of the knowledge and passion that Kimiko and Nicole have put into this organization," said Ian Martyn, Secretary of the JAMP Board of Directors. "They have built an incredible foundation upon which we can continue this important work. JAMP has led me — and so many others — to places of discovery about Japanese American identity and family history that would not have been possible without their dedication."
The move to an all-volunteer model comes after sustained efforts to secure ongoing funding fell short. "Traditional sources of support for JAMP's work, like grants, have not come through as we had hoped," said Amanda Roper, JAMP Treasurer. "This is a transition we make with a heavy heart — but also with deep gratitude for everything Kimiko and Nicole have built."
JAMP will continue its mission through a dedicated volunteer board and community of supporters, sustaining its programming, educational resources, and commemorative events. The organization remains committed to bridging generations and keeping Japanese American history, culture, and community vibrant and accessible.
To learn more about JAMP or to get involved as a volunteer, visit www.jampilgrimages.org or follow JAMP on social media.
About Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages JAMP is a Santa Cruz, California–based nonprofit incorporated in 2023. Through virtual and in-person events, JAMP connects the Japanese American community with its history, honors those whose lives were shaped by wartime incarceration, and fosters cross-generational dialogue and healing.
