Navigating the COVID-19 Vaccination

by Jill Shiraki | Jan 20, 2021 | COVID-19, News

A Community Talk: What is the New Normal with COVID-19?

by Jill Shiraki | Jun 9, 2020 | COVID-19, News

J-Sei Connect

A Community Talk: What is the New Normal with COVID-19?

Thursday, July 2nd, 3 pm

What does re-opening look like in the Bay Area?  What is the new normal with COVID-19 still looming? How and why does age effect these considerations?  Join us for a community talk on navigating the next phase with a health practitioner and aging specialist. Journey Meadows, nurse practitioner and Associate Director of Lifelong Medical Center will be the guest speaker.

According to the California State Health Department guidelines, Stage 2 expansion will be phased in gradually. Bay Area counties vary in how they will re-open. What does that look like for each or us?

Scroll down to see the video recording of our past J-Sei Connect Community Talks.

 

Journey Meadows, Associate Director of Lifelong Medical Center, shares her insights on how seniors navigate the “new normal” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

J-Sei Connect

A Community Talk: What is “Confinement” with COVID-19?

Thursday, May 7th

How are we dealing with “confinement”?  What fears and worries come up?  And how does our past family experiences as Japanese Americans inform our present? As shelter-in-place continues, the isolation can be even more challenging.  Our guest speakers offered their thoughts on forced confinement then and now.

Writings on COVID-19 by Jonathan Hirabayashi and Joanne Wong, participants of the J-Sei memoir writing class; and reflections from community guest Amy Iwasaki Mass were shared. Then, Stephen Murphy Shigematsu, writer, psychologist and educator, offered his thoughts on this time of COVID-19 and how we carry experiences of our past and cultural values that offer us ways to navigate.

To see writings by the Writing Class and try write your own reflection, visit here.

 

 

VIDEO: What is  Confinement During COVID-19

Hear the J-Sei Community Talk with live readings of written prose by Joanne Wong and Jonathan Hirabayashi.  Listen to reflections on “Confinement Now and Then” by Amy Iwasaki Mass.  See the slide and lecture presentation on “The Essence of Shikata Ga Nai” by Stephen Murphy Shigematsu.  Also, included are questions and comments from the participants on how we are doing as a community during COVID-19.

The Essence of Shikata ga Nai

My mentor at Harvard, Kiyo Morimoto, a Nisei from Pocatello, Idaho taught me about the various meanings of Shikata ga nai. While it could mean “giving up” to some people, he felt that he gradually learned the true meaning and value of the common expression as he matured. In its true essence, Shikata ga nai is a beautiful expression of the human spirit. It acknowledges that there are times and things in life that we cannot change or cannot control. We need to accept these things. In this acceptance we embrace our helplessness and vulnerability, and new energy is born to do what we are able to do within the limitations of our environment and conditions. This was the spirit of the Issei that enabled them to endure harsh conditions during incarceration and to put their energy into life-giving projects in nurturing plants and creating lovely works of art. Shikata ga nai consciousness is something in our legacy that we need to remember today to suppor us in these difficult times.

– Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu

http://www.murphyshigematsu.com/

https://www.facebook.com/murphyshigematsu

Guest Bios

Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu is a psychologist with a doctorate from Harvard University, and training in clinical and community psychology, yoga, meditation, and Chinese medicine. He was professor of education and at the University of Tokyo and director of the international counseling center. At Stanford University he co founded the LifeWorks program in contemplative and integrative education.

His work balances traditional wisdom and modern science in designing mindful, gentle, and compassionate educational practices and spaces. He uses storytelling, both written and oral, to enhance whole-person learning and mindful citizenship. His latest book is From Mindfulness to Heartfulness: Transforming Self and Society with Compassion. He is the author of When Half Is Whole and Multicultural Encounters; and coauthor of Synergy, Healing, and Empowerment, and several books in Japanese.

Jonathan Hirabayashi operated a business designing and producing exhibition graphics, primarily for public institutions in the Bay Area. Now mostly retired, he spends his time writing, vegetable gardening and working on a lifetime accumulation of home/honey-do projects

Joanne Wong taught elementary school in Alameda, then moved abroad with her husband Gene where she taught dependents of military personnel in Germany and Japan. Upon returning to the U.S., she became a stay-at-home mom for 20 years. She resumed her teaching career, working with blind and low vision students. In retirement, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her two grandsons.

Dr. Amy Iwasaki Mass is Professor Emerita at Whittier College, where she taught for 25 years. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, except for the years she was incarcerated with her family in the Heart Mountain, Wyoming concentration camp. Dr. Mass has made numerous presentations and published many articles about the psychological impact of the concentration camp experience on Japanese Americans. Her family remembrances and testimony from the Commission on Wartime Internment and Relocation of Civilians (CWIRC) can be found on 50 Objects.

J-Sei Connect: How the Community Responds to Bay Area Shelter In Place

Thursday, April 2, 2020 – video

With the mounting concerns of COVID-19, the virus disaster has dramatically altered our daily reality.  How can we adapt to this trajectoy and how might we move forward?

 

Guest speakers Art Chen, Satsuki Ina, Alan Maeda, Barbara Morita, Diane Wong, and Rev Michael Yoshii provide support, address needs, shift our focus, and help to prepare the community. They offer a variety of perspectives wih experience in health care, social service, spirituality, and community advocacy.

 

Japanese Speaking Community Talk

by Jill Shiraki | Jun 8, 2020 | COVID-19, News

For Japanese-Speaking Individuals:

J-Sei will hold a Japanese Community Talk for the purpose of connecting with others and building a network of Japanese-speaking people with varied interests and experiences. The program will be held on Thursday, June 25th at 2 pm; and will follow monthly on July 23 and August 27. The above photo is from a previous talk with guests Dr. Kayoko Yokoyama and Dr. Reiko True.

Please rsvp to Miyuki@j-sei.org

皆様、いかがお過ごしでしょうか？

J-Seiでは、様々な興味や経験のある日本人同士がつながりネットワークを構築することを目的とするJapanese Community Talk （仮：日本語で話す会）　を開催いたします。

開催日：第４木曜日の6月25日、7月23日、8月27日。

時間：午後2時〜3時30分（パシフィックタイム）。

参加方法はZOOMを使った参加となります。

コンピュータやiPad,　タブレット、またはスマートフォン があれば、簡単に参加できます。電話での参加も可能です。

ZOOMの案内状を改めてEメールでお知らせいたします。

J-Sei Connecting Community

by Jill Shiraki | Mar 24, 2020 | COVID-19, News

J-Sei Connect: How the Community Responds to Bay Area Shelter In Place

Thursday, April 2 at 2 pm – online community dialogue

With the unified response of five Bay Area counties to shelter in place, we have had to adjust quickly to the mandates. How have you adjusted the past few weeks to mounting concerns of COVID-19? How has the community responded?

Hear from community members and participate with your questions & comments. 

Guests: Art Chen, Satsuki Ina, Alan Maeda, Barbara Morita, Diane Wong, Rev Michael Yoshii  

Providing support, addressing needs, shifting focus, and helping to prepare the community, our guests offer a variety of perspectives with experience in health care, social service, spirituality, and community advocacy.

J-Sei Connect opens up a new space with an online community dialogue on various topics concerning the J-Sei community from current issues, film, books, food, stories and more.

RSVP is kindly requested.

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J-Sei Online – classes moving to online format

Our Instructors are exploring ways to connect with current participants through phone and video conferencing. The instructors will be contacting students who are currently enrolled.  Check class calendar for more details.

• Phone Conference: Family Caregiver Support, Men’s Club
• Video Conference: Gentle Yoga, Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi 2, Community Ukulele, Let’s Talk, Writing Our Histories, Better Choices/Better Health
• Other: group text/chat, 1:1 phone calls, practice assignments, & videos, are offered to help participants keep engaged.

A Bay Area Response to “Shelter in Place”

by Jill Shiraki | Mar 9, 2020 | COVID-19, News

Dear J-Sei Family:

I truly empathize with the anxiety and uncertainties that we are all facing at this time.  While your daily life has changed and we are separated by space (at least six feet right?) we are definitely still all together!  You are not experiencing this alone as J-Sei will continue to work hard to keep us all connected and supported.

So even if we aren’t meeting at the J-Sei building, we will create alternative ways to share positive news, to engage you and to stay in touch. The past two weeks has found us following constantly changing public health recommendations and making necessary operational adjustments to maintain essential senior services.  Thanks to a most amazing staff and a new volunteer crew, we will:

• Continue lunch delivery to all J-Sei nutrition clients on MWF.
• Provide food pantry items to J-Sei nutrition clients.
• Telephone and support seniors in our Friendly Visitor and Friendly Caller program.
• Chat and check-in with nutrition clients to reduce social isolation and to provide assistance as needed.
• Next week, we will expand these telephone chats to individuals who normally take J-Sei classes.
• Many classes and conversation groups will resume using phone/web-based platforms.
• New J-Sei On-line Engagements are in development. See details below.

Although our current situation seems dark, I don’t have to look far to witness generosity, kindness and positive action.  When it was announced that individuals over 65 should shelter-in-place, our volunteer nutrition crew was decimated.

How could we ever have dreamed that our new chef, Yuji Ishikata, had a deep contact list of colleagues and friends who would soon fill over 30 volunteer positions in a week?!!  These volunteers have so much upbeat energy, laughter and concern for their elders and they are making such a big difference. People care.

We care and all of us in the J-Sei community are going to pull together to stay in touch and to watch over one another.  Please stay tuned as you will get updates on how to re-engage in classes and conversations as well as learn more about other ways to support seniors.

We, as a staff, are working remotely, remain available by email or phone and will be checking our voicemails.  If you have any questions, needs or concerns please write to us or leave a voice message and we will respond.  You are in our thoughts – be well!

Diane Wong, MSW

Executive Director

Bay Area Counties “Shelter in Place” Extends to Volunteers  (dated March 16, 2020)

We continue to keep informed on the updates and recommendations for COVID-19 to respond quickly and implement the protocols set forth by the county and state health departments. While we primarily serve seniors, we are sensitive to the fact that our volunteer force also consists of seniors.  

With seniors and those with health conditions most at risk and the most recent Bay Area counties health departments mandate for “all residents to shelter in place” to be effective on March 17, 2020, J-Sei will immediately reduce its senior nutrition delivery to the individuals most impacted. We encourage JSei volunteers to stay safe and limit their exposure.  

Below is an excerpt from Alameda County and links that follow with more information. 

The Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan joined six other Bay Area public health jurisdictions to issue an order for all Alameda County residents to shelter in place to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and preserve critical health care capacity across the region.

Alameda County joined Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties with the City of Berkeley on a legal order directing their respective residents to shelter at home for three weeks beginning March 17.  The order limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs. The guidance comes after substantial input from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and best practices from other health officials around the world.

Alameda County Public Health Department: http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx

Reduced J-Sei Services

To reduce our home delivery to the most essential services, J-Sei staff will deliver frozen meals to our clients who are isolated and do not have family support during this time.  We will be checking in to see if additional support is needed with our clients. Should any of our clients situation change or require additional support, please contact tara@j-sei.org.

Connecting with J-Sei

We are also looking at other ways that J-Sei, as a community of care and culture, can stay connected and support each other during this time.  Any suggestions or ideas of ways to virtually connect, contact jill@j-sei.org

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An Important Message Regarding COVID-19 (dated March 9, 2020)

While there are no reported COVID-19 infected individuals at J-Sei, to be proactive for the safety and well being of J-Sei seniors and the community, we will suspend all classes, dine-in meals and gatherings in the Emeryville facility beginning Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

J-Sei programs will be impacted as described below. This suspension will be in place for a minimum of two weeks and the situation will be re-evaluated with updates on March 24, 2020. Please check back here for more information.

IMPACT ON J-SEI PROGRAMS

• Classes and Events – Suspend/Postpone
• On-Site Dining – Suspend.*
• Transportation – Suspend
• Facility Usage – Suspend
• Food Pantry – Suspend
• Friendly Visitors – Suspend**
• Home Delivered Lunches – Operate as usual.
• Case Management – Operate as usual.
• Caregiver Registry – Operate as usual.

*Pick-up lunches are available upon request.  **FV volunteers are encouraged to contact their seniors by phone twice a week.

J-Sei will continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of virus. Surfaces are sanitized daily, and we are practicing all the safety instructions of the Center for Disease Control.

Should you require assistance or have questions, phone calls will be answered Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. J-Sei apologizes for any potential inconvenience or problems.

We hope all of you stay healthy and well during this disruptive time.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

*******************************************

Message posted March 2, 2020

We have had internal discussion with the J-Sei board and staff regarding the Coronavirus Disease. We have discussed how we should respond to the growing concerns and how to keep our environment safe for the community we serve. Resourcing the precautions outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Asian Health Services, we have decided to err on the side of caution.

We are asking those who have travelled to Level 2 and Level 3 countries (including Japan), to self quarantine for 3 weeks upon their return.  We are asking all individuals to be self aware of any cold and flu symptoms and the chance of contracting or being a carrier of the virus.

For your reference, the following CDC website link may be helpful:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/preparing-individuals-communities.html

We have posted the following information and will be sharing it widely with J-Sei participants and visitors.  We will continue to keep informed about the best ways to stay safe as a community.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Diane Wong, Executive Director, at (510) 654-4000 or diane@j-sei.org  Thank you for your support and care.

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Dear J-Sei Participants,

We are fortunate to have so many of our seniors, volunteers, and visitors who travel across the globe. In light of the coronavirus and in response to the precautions set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), J-Sei kindly requests the following.

• • If you or someone in your household has travelled to CDC Level 2 and 3 countries China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea, please self-isolate for at least three weeks after your return. This list of countries will change with CDC determinations.
  • If you feel sick (fever/chills, cough, runny nose, headache, muscle ache), please stay at home and contact your primary care physician.
  • CDC recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Your fever should be gone without need to use a fever-reducing medicine.  We urge caution that people do not return too early in an effort to protect the seniors that we serve.
  • If you will not be coming to J-Sei, please let staff know.

The best action at this time is to practice normal flu prevention steps:

• • Stay away from people who are sick.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth or face.
  • Wash your hand frequently for at least 20 seconds with plenty of soap and water.
  • Have your prescriptions filled and keep extra food in your house.

While we are trying to keep abreast of this rapidly developing and fluid global situation, it is each person’s responsibility to protect their own health and that of those who are J-Sei participants.  Thank you for understanding.