M I D -‐ Y E A R 2 0 1 4 U P D A T E
Happy Mid-Year 2014 and Greetings from…
And we’re back! The Nakatomi team has been busy this past spring and we have a lot of news to share with you. This year marks Nakatomi & Associates’ 25th anniversary. To coincide with this landmark, we have revamped our logo and will be introducing our new tagline: Communication Matters. The tagline represents how integral communications practice is to the success of any organization. During the past few months we have also been working on several campaigns for our clients such as “Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community” for the California Tobacco Control Program, “Denim Day” for Peace Over Violence, “Powerful Cities” for Southern California Edison, and promotional videos for the Asian Smokers Quitline. Additionally, Nakatomi & Associates is also working on its newest venture, Nakatomi Studio. Our president, Debra Nakatomi, recently co-‐produced a documentary called Stories From Tohoku and already has another project in early stages of pre-‐production. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! www.facebook.com/nakatomipr www.twitter.com/nakatominews www.nakatomipr.com
ABOUT US: Nakatomi & Associates (N&A) is dedicated to its mission to deliver high-‐ impact communications results for exceptional organizations doing extraordinary work to achieve a just and equitable society. For 25 years, the firm has practiced communications as a platform for promoting social change by applying the tools of communications with a call to action.
NAKATOMI & ASSOCIATES
MID-‐YEAR 2014 UPDATE
“Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community” Campaign Launches in Boyle Heights The campaign launch marked a unique collaboration between tobacco use prevention, nutrition and alcohol prevention partners to improve the health of Californians through changes in community markets and educating on how in-‐store product marketing influences consumption of unhealthy products. Health officials released the LA data on the availability and promotion of tobacco, alcohol
and food products in community markets— the first time all three have been analyzed together in stores that sell tobacco products—at Euclid Market in Boyle Heights. For results of the survey findings and more information on California Tobacco Control Program’s “Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community,” www.HealthyStoresHealthyCommunity.com. Our appreciation to the media partners: China Press, CTI-‐TV/ZWTV, ETTV America, NTD-‐TV, Phoenix Satellite, LA 18, KBS America, MBC News, SBS, TVK24, Korea Times, and Siam Media.
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NAKATOMI & ASSOCIATES
MID-‐YEAR 2014 UPDATE
Recording artists Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter give a special performance to support Denim Day (left). LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Denim Day Founder and POV Executive Director Patti Giggans (middle). Patti with Debra Nakatomi (right).
The World Observes “Denim Day” Sponsored by LA-‐ Based Peace Over Violence On April 23, 2014 the Nakatomi team supported longtime client, Peace Over Violence (POV), as first time corporate sponsor GUESS hosted the kick off at GUESS Headquarters to celebrate the Denim Day campaign’s 15th year. This was the largest year of the campaign to raise awareness on sexual abuse, promote sexual violence prevention and education, and to show support for sexual abuse survivors. With the new partnership with GUESS, including a $100,000 donation and in-‐store and online digital philanthropic marketing campaign, Denim Day had nationwide and global reach and participation.
The press conference at GUESS headquarters included speakers such as Mayor Eric Garcetti, POV Founder Patti Giggans, as well as recording artists and celebrity spokespeople, Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter, who gave a special performance for Denim Day. Denim Day recalls an Italian court case that sparked international outrage when judges did not convict a rapist because the victim wore jeans. The judges ruled that because the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her attacker remove them, thus implying consent. Wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of solidarity and support.
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NAKATOMI & ASSOCIATES
MID-‐YEAR 2014 UPDATE
Keeping the Community Safe with SCE SCE Inaugural “Powerful City” Electrical Safety Campaign Takes Center Stage in Monterey Park N&A designed and implemented SCE’s first-‐ever “Powerful Cities” electrical safety campaign. “Powerful Cities” identifies partner cities with significant Asian American populations to bring city leaders, local community groups, and businesses together to keep homes and worksites safe around electricity. We selected Monterey Park, a city that boasts the largest population of Chinese Americans of any municipality in the U.S., as a pilot. Marissa Castro-‐Salvati, SCE Local Public Affairs regional manger, presented Mayor Anthony Wong with a “Powerful City” Certificate, pledging its commitment to electrical safety awareness. SCE also partnered with community based organizations, Asian Youth Center and Chinatown Service Center, to bring important electrical safety and emergency preparedness information to residents in their preferred native language, reaching families and seniors at the Cherry Blossom Festival, Play Days Carnival and community events. More than 900 residents, parents, and children took the electrical safety pledge and received SCE electrical safety starter kits. Our next stop is Buena Park!
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Contributions
Mother’s Day Metallic Balloon Safety Event
This year marked SCE’s 9th annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. Din Tai Fung USA and Lollicup USA, Inc were honored with Energy Efficiency Participation Awards, and Khmer Girls In Action was recipient of SCE’s Community Award. Ding-‐Jo H. Currie, Ph.D., professor at California State University, Fullerton, joined SCE in celebrating, serving as keynote speaker.
SCE hosted a public safety event at the Southern California Flower Market during a busy Mother’s Day flower shopping day to raise awareness on preventing power outages by keeping Mother’s Day balloons – usually sold with flowers – secured to a weight to prevent them from floating away and getting caught in power lines. Media attended a live demonstration showing what happens when balloons get caught in power lines. 4
NAKATOMI & ASSOCIATES
MID-‐YEAR 2014 UPDATE
“Stories From Tohoku” Documentary Film Fest Debut Following the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, Debra Nakatomi ventured into new territory with documentary producing partner, Dianne Fukami. Currently, Debra is making the film festival rounds promoting Stories From Tohoku, which had its West Coast premieres in CAAMFest and the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival! The documentary chronicles the stories of disaster survivors in the region of Tohoku, Japan, struggling in the aftermath of the disaster to build their lives with resiliency and hope.
Eli Olson (co-‐director), Dianne Fukami (co-‐ director, co-‐producer), and Debra Nakatomi (co-‐producer) at CAAMFest
Additionally, the filmmakers are raising funds to support the people of Tohoku. Mrs. Setsuko Abe, featured in Stories From Tohoku, makes dolls from kimonos she found following the disaster. Director Dianne Fukami traveled to Japan in June to personally donate the funds. If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation for these dolls, contact info@storiesfromtohoku.com. Stories From Tohoku has also been airing nationally on PBS stations as part of a series called “Japanese American Lives.” For more information on the documentary, visit www.storiesfromtohoku.com.
Debra and co-‐producer and director, Dianne Fukami, with Director of Photography Jayme Roy at LA Film Fest presented to sold out audiences in Los Angeles and San Francisco at the CAAMFEST.
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NAKATOMI & ASSOCIATES
MID-‐YEAR 2014 UPDATE
National Asian Smokers’ Quitline Reaches Goal N&A has been a strategic partner with the Quitline since it launched its national initiative in September 2012, focusing on media outreach. Since the start of its nationwide launch, the Quitline has reached its goal of more than 5,000 calls from people seeking one-‐on-‐one coaching and helpful tools to quit smoking for good. This past spring, the Quitline launched a series of videos in English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese featuring tips and advice by the Quitline coaches. In these videos on how to quit, and how family members and friends can support loved ones to start their journey to being tobacco-‐free. Videos are currently viewable and shareable via the Quitline’s YouTube channel and on Google Plus.
Message Matters Stories inform our lives, touch our hearts, and inspire us to take action. Our stories communicate values and life experiences. Through interactive workshop and trainings, Nakatomi & Associates conducts trainings and “story workshops” to draw out stories to communicate an important message or call to action. Youth advocates, survivors of sexual violence, youth scholars, executives and non profit leaders learn valuable tips and practice their unique story; they leave the workshop feeling energized, confident, and equipped to share their stories with those who most need to hear them. At the 2014 National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for Community Development (CAPACD) Convention in Washington DC, 20 non-‐profit organization representatives participated in a "Message Matters" workshop with Nakatomi VP and CAPACD board member, Joni Byun. The group is working in pairs to identify his or her strengths and challenges, connect lived experiences with why his or her voice is important, and develop strategies on how to share stories to convey a message. 6