VOL 39 NO 37 | SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 39 NO 37 SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Goodbye, Momo!

22 arrested during Labor Day demonstration

Tom Kleifgen and Lei Ann Shiramizu

Demonstrators near 5th and Jackson on Sept. 7.

Photo by George Liu

Photo credit: Thomas Barwick

Closing after 13 years

By Vivian Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY In the International District (ID), on the corner of South Jackson Street and Sixth Avenue South, sits Momo—the Asian- and Scandinavian-inspired clothing, jewelry,

and home goods shop. Long viewed as a must-visit destination by locals and tourists alike, the shop will soon come to a close after 13 years of operation.

For Lei Ann Shiramizu and Tom

Twenty-two people were arrested after a large group marched from the International District down to the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild building on 4th Avenue South on Sept. 7. The arrests were for arson, assault, obstructing and failure to disperse.

see MOMO on 9

State colleges grapple with fewer international student enrollments

Officers recovered intact molotov cocktails dropped by rioters outside the building as officers began making arrests. Officers arrested a number of individuals on 4th Avenue South as they continued to receive rocks, bottles, and explosives thrown at them by rioters. 

COMMUNITY NEWS

KeyBank offers advice for managing your money

3

By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY If things had gone according to plan, 22-year-old Gauri Nayak would have been on campus at the University of Washington (UW), one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a User Experience Researcher. But if anything, 2020 showed her how even the best laid plans can go awry.

“I got my admission letter on March 14, 2020 and was very happy. I didn’t have a clear idea of how bad things were in the United States, because at the time, the pandemic hadn’t reached India yet,” Nayak said. “There were rumors, but couldn’t Gauri Nayak

■

King County, “Summary Report on Deaths Associated with COVID-19.”

Through Sept. 1, there have been 724 deaths attributed to COVID-19, with 680 of those confirmed and another 44 that are suspected or pending. In March, the report found that COVID-19 ranked as the third see COVID-19 on 10

5

see ENROLLMENTS on 12

New Public Health report on COVID-19 deaths in King County An analysis of deaths associated with COVID-19 in King County published on Sept. 1 shows that deaths have slowed dramatically since the early peak of the outbreak in April. However, COVID-19 still ranks overall as the 6th leading cause of deaths in 2020 in King County.

These are among the findings in a new report from Public Health—Seattle &

AT THE MOVIES

Disney’s live action Mulan

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Man turns trauma into messages of love

6

SPORTS

The Layup Drill

7

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Carmen Best honored

The Metropolitan King County Council recognized former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best on Sept. 1, for her ground-breaking career and her contributions to seeking equity and justice in King County.

Best retired on Sept.

2 after nearly 30 years with the Seattle PoCarmen Best lice Department. Before becoming chief, she served in various capacities, such as patrol, school safety and media relations, patrol supervisor, watch commander and operations lieutenant, in addition to command positions in community outreach, the narcotics unit, and robbery, gangs and fugitive units.

She was the first Black, female police chief in the history of the City of Seattle. 

TECO Seattle’s new Director General

Daniel Kuo-ching Chen

Daniel Kuo-ching Chen recently assumed the role of Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Seattle.

He was secretary for the Seattle TECO office from 2003-2009.

He said he has a soft spot for Seattle because both his children were born here.

Chen earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service with an International Business Diplomacy honorary certificate from Georgetown University in 2000 and Bachelor of Arts with valedictorian in Diplomacy from National Chengchi University, Taiwan in 1995.

He is married to May Shih and together they have a daughter, Cheryl and a son, Sean. 

Finalists for Asian Pacific American Visionaries Short Film Competition

Lloyd Cadena had a heart attack after testing positive for COVID-19

YouTube star Lloyd Cafe Cadena died of a heart attack just days after he tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an update from his family.

Cadena’s death was first announced on Sept. 4, but his family shared a second update on Sept. 6.

“There are simply no words to express our heartfelt thanks for the prayers and sympathy you have extended to our family Lloyd Cadena during this time of loss,” Cadena’s family wrote on Instagram. “Lloyd was confined in the hospital on September 1 due to high fever and dry cough. He was tested for COVID-19 on the same day which the result came out positive on September 3.”

After Cadena received a positive result, his family said they immediately isolated themselves at their home in Cavite, Philippines to prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus. 

Johnson Cheng

Thomas Percy Kim

Tiffany So

HBO announced on Sept. 9 the three finalists for the fourth annual Asian Pacific American Visionaries, a short film competition that showcases cinematic storytellers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

The three winning films exemplified this year’s competition theme: “Breaking Barriers.”

Filmmakers Johnson Cheng (“Lonely Blue Night”), Thomas Percy Kim (“Si”), and Tiffany So (“Fine China”) will premiere their films online during the 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on Sept. 25 via HBOVisionaries.com.

The premiere will also feature special appearances from 2020 HBO APA Visionaries Ambassador Shannon Lee, Lovecraft Country’s Jamie Chung, as well as a performance by 88Rising artist NIKI and more. 

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

asianweekly northwest

3

KeyBank offers advice for managing your money

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

the sales, service, and financial leadership of a team of 14 branches in the Seattle and Bellevue area. Twenty-four years of banking experience have given her the ability to summarize key elements of financial wellness.

Photo provided by KeyBank

Gather knowledge

Aspasia Sotiriou and the team at KeyBank can help you on a path to financial wellness.

The Weekly sat down with KeyBank Area Retail Leader Aspasia Sotiriou to ask her advice about how to best manage one’s money. Sotiriou is responsible for

For Sotiriou and the KeyBank team, financial wellness is “about helping people get to a place where they can make choices that are best for them, and empowering them to make those choices by providing them the support to do so.

The hardest part is knowing what the right decision is.” It’s difficult to make the right decision if one does not know what paths are out there. And, when a person suspects he or she is in financial difficulty, broaching the topic can seem daunting. “People are really smart, in general, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re always smart about money,” Sotiriou explained. “A common obstacle is not knowing what the options are and not taking the time to ask for help. That’s what we’re here for, to be an adviser, not just a banker, to help them with their financial literacy.”

It’s an individual situation

Sotiriou emphasized that, while there might be overall suggestions a financial adviser can give, each person’s picture of financial wellness will be different. “It’s a very personalized and individualized choice,” she said. “It’s a very personal journey and no two clients are the same.”

Each of us will have a different life situation, different goals, and different problem areas. “We have a financial wellness review that we embark on with our clients. That helps us better understand each person’s life and how their household runs. Once we understand how they manage their money, household, and what their budget looks like, then we go through a recommendation process.”

Budget

We all knew that word was coming up somewhere. What does budgeting mean?

For a lot of people, it’s confusing. “Clients are not sure—Should I pay off this debt first? Should I invest first? Those are some of the common questions,” revealed Sotiriou. KeyBank recommends starting with a process around managing your money for pressing needs before you decide what to do with excess funds, if any. Investigate your own financial portfolio, such as, “What’s the higher

debt? What’s the savings needed? Most people, we advise, should have six months of expenses in their savings for emergencies...Maybe [you] have a line of credit, but it’s not available, work towards paying it down and creating the liquidity again.” Sotiriou admitted that budgeting is one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult step, for people living a “consumer” lifestyle. But once you have made this investigation, you can begin to set yourself goals and create a plan.

There is no time like the present

It’s never the wrong time to create your financial wellness plan. And, it’s never too early. “Life moves really quickly one day, boink, you’re 40-something,” said Sotiriou. “I always share with my team that the best time to plant a tree for shade was 20 years ago and the next best time is today. Getting past our own shock that time is flying by and just starting. Half the battle is starting. It’s never too late, but it’s definitely easier when you're younger.” This is why KeyBank stresses forming a sound habit of managing your money from an early age. “We do see KEYBANK on 11

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asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Justice Department questions Seattle racial justice training

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle broke no laws while conducting racial justice training sessions for municipal employees, city officials said after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice about potential civil rights violations.

City officials perceived questions from the Justice Department as an attempt by the Trump administration to defend the status quo, The Seattle Times reports.

“This is a stunning illustration of the administration’s warped priorities,’’ Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement last week.

“In the midst of a nationwide reckoning with systemic racism and police violence, (the administration) is considering suing the City of Seattle for a training we

provide that specifically seeks to combat racism and advance equity,” Durkan said.

Officials from the DOJ’s Employment Litigation Section sent an Aug. 26 letter to Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes questioning a June training session that was meant to interrupt “internalized racial superiority’’ and was directed at white employees.

DOJ officials also asked about a parallel training meant to combat “internalized racial inferiority’’ that was directed at employees of color.

Seattle’s training “may be in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race,’’ the DOJ officials wrote.

The letter includes questions about who conducted

Seattle’s training session, the subject matter taught and any complaints made by employees. The letter said no conclusions had been reached.

“However, there is certain information that we request in order to determine whether the City has violated Title VII by conducting separate training based on race” that may affect employment, the DOJ letter said.

The agency did not make Employment Litigation Section officials available for interviews.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget recently began scrutinizing anti-racism training sessions for federal employees. A memo released on Sept. 4 called the training “divisive, anti-American propaganda.’’ 

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR SEP 15

AAPI DEMOCRACY SUMMIT 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Register at rebrand.ly/aapisummit

17 VIRTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP GATHERING: COVID-19 COMMUNITY IMPACT AND RESPONSE 7-8:30 p.m.

RSVP to neighborhoodoutreach@bellevuewa. gov 425-452-6836

OCT

Lake View Cemetery

20-25

Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872 An Independent, Non-Profit Association

TASVEER’S VIRTUAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL For details of program, check out tasveer.org THROUGH OCT 24

“QUIETER DAYS,” A SOLO EXHIBITION BY ALAN LAU ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave. S., Seattle Tue-Sat, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

View gallery online at artxchange.org/ show/138949 artxchange.org

Featuring

Traditional Side-by-Side Monument Properties

206-322-1582

1554 15th Ave East

(North Capitol Hill)

View the solution on page 10

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The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article.

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YOUR VOICE

■ AT THE MOVIES

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

asianweekly northwest

5

Disney’s live action Mulan

A tribute to the legend and prior versions

Courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

At long last, the new live action version of Disney’s Mulan has been released, after multiple delays due to COVID-19, not in theaters in the United States, but on Disney Plus as of Sept. 4.

The movie, which is the largest budget Hollywood film ever with an Asian cast and a female director, has answered well to the pressure to represent the Asian American community, the ancient Chinese legend, and the beloved 1998 animated film.

Loyal, brave, and true. These are the values celebrated in the film.

“Any work of art, especially in cinema, sticks true to certain ideals and principles that are positive,” Jason Scott Lee, who plays the villain, Böri Khan, told the Weekly. “It helps children who see it, and hopefully adults, too.” But the most important value is devotion to family, or “xiao” in Chinese. Mulan’s dedication to her family, when she takes up the sword so that

Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Homecoming between Mulan (Yifei Liu) and her father (Tzi Ma).

her father does not have to, is unquestioned. By extension, she is loyal, brave, and true to her community and her country (or the figurehead of that country, the emperor, played by Jet Li).

Most likely, we all know the story, so there will be no spoilers here. The legend of Mulan has been a part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years, and part of culture in the United States as well. “The story, of course, is well known,” Tzi Ma, who plays

Mulan’s father, Zhou, discussed with the Weekly. “Mulan holds a paramount importance in the Chinese culture…Another part that maybe people are not that familiar with is that Mulan… is very important to Asian American girls…that’s their patron saint.”

Indeed, Mulan is a story of female empowerment, and the first by Disney, in 1998, to see MULAN on 11

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From bringing money and resources into our community to increasing political representation that looks like our community.

Complete the 2020 Census. Do it for your family and neighbors. Do it, today.

Our census. Our power.

844-330-2020 | 2020Census.gov

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Man turns trauma into messages of

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY He was forced into making drugs. He was forced into selling drugs. He was forced into sexual slavery as a small child. He grew up through horrors many people couldn’t conceive of.

Maikaru Douangluxay-Cloud, sometimes known as Michael, allows all the above. It’s all part of his story.

But he’d much rather be known, by any name, as someone who turned his life around, worked hard, and wants to spread peace, love, and diversity. Sometimes through card games. (More on that later.)

“Well, I was born into an unfortunate series of events,” he states simply. He’s half Japanese and half Native American, but his upbringing didn’t allow him to celebrate either of his cultures. Forced into prostitution, he grew up without any semblence of normal life.

“I was forced to be a sex slave, as pedophiles obviously like boys and not men.” He also manufactured crack, mixing baking powder and ammonia.

This created a huge stench, like someone sweating weeks without a shower.

But even given his youth, and his trauma, he was smart, and looking for angles to work.

“I was about 8 or 9 when I approached them to be the manager of dealing crack,

love Vicious Cats Card games by Maikaru

to compensate for his lack of formal schooling.

“I really enjoyed math in grade school, then eventually found my passion for storytelling.”

Fate lent a hand again when he found a mentor, who directed him to the University of Washington. He majored in Visual Arts, and appreciated the multicultural aspect of the campus, complete with a fair number of people looking a fair amount like him. Campus life represented a safe space, where he could work out the darkness in his life.

“I had to prove I was more than my history, and I was determined to not become a statistic. It is very typical for a former trafficking survivor to return to a life of dealing, [prostitution], stealing.”

Shortly before receiving his Bachelor

Chi-Shiuan Hsieh (left) and Maikaru (right)

not making it,” Maikaru explained. “My mother was doing a horrible job, always giving credit. But most of the time, [her customers] never paid her back. So I implemented a better system, and ended up making more in revenue than my mother did.”

He felt bad for everyone around him, but he had to concentrate on his own survival. He knew that his youthful looks had an expiration date, and he feared for what came next when that happened. Fate

lent a kind hand: He was very small, and did not pass 5 feet tall until an unexpected growth spurt at 17.

He got out of that life at age 10. He doesn’t feel comfortable saying exactly how he did that, or who held him in the first place.

“All I can say is they were an affluent type of people, who had strong ties to certain types of people, who could look the other way, while this was happening.”

He studied in an accelerated program

see MAIKARU on 9

Weekly Specials

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01479C20, KC Parks Asphalt Paving and Concrete Work Order; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email, at procurement.submittals@kingcounty.gov , until 1:30 PM on Sept. 22, 2020. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted via Skype or telephone following the Bid Due Date and Time. See Invitation to Bid for details regarding the public bid opening.

There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement.

There is a 20% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS).

The work includes asphalt overlay, asphalt patching and repair, surfacing materials, crack sealing, pavement repair excavation including haul, grading and compaction of subgrade, pavement marking, concrete walkway, curbs, ADA ramps, chain link fence, signage, root barriers, root pruning/removal including base repair, bollards, wheel stops, erosion/water pollution control, and temporary traffic control.

Not-To-Exceed contract price: $2,000,000 Pre-Bid: 9:00 a.m., Sept. 15, 2020, for audio only via conference call 1-206-263-8114, then entering Conference ID 119038. To sign in through your computer, and view visual, follow this link: https://meet.kingcounty.gov/mark. hoge/4CL4KFRS?sl=1 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

SEPTEMBER 9-15, 2020

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YOUR VOICE

■ SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

asianweekly northwest

7

The Layup Drill

By Jason J. Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. This month, we write about a new PGA champion and Naomi Osaka’s boycott.

23-year-old wins PGA Championship

Collin Morikawa

Los Angeles-native Collin Morikawa won the PGA Championship in San Francisco in August. The Cal-

Berkeley alum won the title in just his second entry in a major championship. His final round of 64 was the lowest final round shot by a PGA champion. His win was marked by a remarkable shot on hole 16 in the final round. He hit a 293-yard tee shot that ended up 7 feet from the hole. He was able to sink the putt to pull away for the eventual win.

Morikawa noted that the announcer mispronounced his name at the start of his round. Instead of Morikawa, he thought his name was “Morikama.” He jokingly told a reporter after his victory that his round was “off to a great start.”

Morikawa was poised throughout the four-day tournament, but became somewhat flustered during the trophy ceremony when the top of his trophy fell off. The trophy had a top which can be removed and unbeknownst to Morikawa when he raised it for the cameras, it fell off.

With an apologetic look on his face, Morikawa seemed to give an apologetic sorry to the tournament organizers and press.

Morikawa, who is half Japanese, graduated with a degree in business administration from UC-Berkeley and while in school was a four-time, first-team AllAmerican golfer for the Golden Bears. His golf accolades made him the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world in May 2018. He turned pro in 2019.

Morikawa’s current girlfriend, Katherine Zhu, was a collegiate golfer at Pepperdine University. He noted that it was important to have Zhu at the tournament as a source of emotional support. He joked that he did not start winning in college until they met.

Morikawa is a golfer that is on the radar as one of the sport’s next big stars.

Osaka stages boycott

Naomi Osaka continues to be a leader on and off the tennis court. Osaka, who is half Haitian and half Japanese,

Naomi Osaka

has been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Movement and overall need for social justice. Osaka decided not to play her scheduled match in a tournament prior to the U.S. Open. She announced her method of protest on social media. “…before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman. And as a Black woman, I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis,” Osaka added, “I don’t expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport, I consider that a step in the right direction.”

Osaka’s comments came the same week after a Kenosha, Wisconsin man, Jacob Blake, was shot seven times in the back by police and days later two protestors were killed by a 17-year-old gunman. The escalation of violence upset many athletes as the NBA postponed games and several major league baseball clubs, including the Seattle Mariners, decided to hold off games to bring attention to the issue. see SPORTS on 9

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

■ HEALTH Study: White rice linked to diabetes An analysis of 132,373 participants in 21 countries over nearly a decade has indicated a high risk of diabetes linked with the consumption of white rice. The risk is most prominent for the South Asian population, according to the study published in the September issue of Diabetes Care journal.

The study was an international collaboration between researchers from various countries—including India, China, and Brazil—in Asia, North and South America, Africa, and Europe.

Findings

The participants in the study were aged

between 35-70. Out of that group, 6,129 people developed diabetes over the course of nine and a half years. The average consumption of rice was 128 milligrams.

However, the highest consumption of

white rice was seen in South Asia at 630 grams a day, followed by South East Asia and China with 238 grams and 200 grams per day, respectively.

The higher consumption of rice was linked with lower consumption of other foods like fiber, dairy products, and meat.

It was also found that carbohydrates make up for nearly 80% of calories consumed in many South Asian countries.

But over time, carbs have become increasingly polished and refined, the process which makes them lose nutrition.

China and India are the world’s two largest countries where white rice is the staple food. But the researchers have

found there is no significant association between white rice consumption and diabetes in China.

This might be because of their other lifestyle factors. The sticky rice that Chinese eat could also be the reason for this difference, said researchers.

Studies have shown that replacing white rice with unpolished brown rice decreases the glycemic index by 23% and fasting insulin response by 57%.

The risk of increased diabetes can be lowered by substituting white rice with a healthier option and also pairing it up with legumes, pulses, and green vegetables. 

Co-op seeks to diversify yoga to heal racialized trauma

By CHANDRA THOMAS WHITFIELD KAISER HEALTH NEWS DENVER (AP)—Beverly Grant spent years juggling many roles before yoga helped her restore her balance.

When not doting over her three children, she hosted her public affairs talk radio show, attended community meetings or handed out cups of juice at her roving Mo’ Betta Green MarketPlace farmers market.

Her busy schedule came to an abrupt halt on July 1, 2018, when her youngest son, Reese, 17, was fatally stabbed outside a Denver restaurant.

“It’s literally a shock to your system,’’ Grant, 58, said of the grief that flooded her. “You feel physical pain and it affects your conscious and unconscious functioning. Your ability to breathe is impaired. Focus and concentration are sporadic at best. You are not the same person that you were before.’’

In the midst of debilitating loss, Grant said it was practicing yoga and meditation daily that helped provide some semblance of peace and balance. She had previously done yoga videos at home but didn’t get certified as an instructor until just before her son’s death.

Yoga then continued to be a grounding force when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. The lockdown orders in Colorado sent her back to long days of isolation at home, where she was the sole caregiver for her special-needs daughter and father. Then, in April, her 84-year-old mother

died unexpectedly of natural causes. “I’ve been doing the best that I can with facing my new reality,’’ said Grant.

As a Black woman, she believes yoga can help other people of color, who she said disproportionately share the experience of debilitating trauma and grief — exacerbated today by such disparities as who’s most at risk of COVID-19 and the racialized distress from ongoing police brutality such as the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

While the country still needs much work to heal itself, she wants more people of color to try yoga to help their health. She said the ancient practice is the perfect platform to help cope with the unique stressors caused by daily microaggressions and discrimination. see YOGA on 12

Seattle Parks and Recreation

LIFELONG RECREATION

Virtual Programs and Social Opportunities for People Ages 50+ Registration begins September 15th at noon, either online or by phone. No in person registration.

All classes are virtual using the Webex platform. You must have a computer or other device to participate.

Connection information will be available after you register.

Our staff will help you connect. Please register for one of the practice sessions to get help prior to the first class! www.seattle.gov/parks 206-684-5177

• A Matter of Balance (Free)

40831 10/5-10/28 M/W 1:30-3:30 p.m. D Cochran

• Gentle Yoga

40762 10/6-11/10 Tue 9:30-10:30 a.m. H Mair $42 40763 10/8-11/12 Thu 1:30-2:30 p.m. L Gardener $42

• Virtual Program Practice Sessions (Free) 40832 9/23 Wed 1 p.m.

40833 9/29 Tue 10 a.m.

40834 10/1 Thu 10 a.m.

• Medication Management: Tips to Avoid Errors & Accidents (Free) 40791 10/8 Tue 1-2 p.m.

Additional programs are being offered. Visit our website at www.seattle.gov/parks or contact Anne at 206-310-8163 for more info.

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

YOUR VOICE MAIKARU from 6 of Arts, he found work at Seattle’s Art Wolfe Gallery. Here he met another important figure, a young filmmaker named Amanda Harryman.

It took time, but he eventually confided in Harryman about how he’d grown up.

Later, after he’d left the job and started studying for his Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), she called him and asked if she could film his story.

The film runs seven minutes.

Harryman had only five days to complete it. Maikaru narrated into the camera, but he also acted out scenes in his life, from behind a screen, a kind of sinister shadowplay.

He studied in between takes and ended up passing his GMAT. He’s since earned two advanced degrees from Seattle Pacific University.

The seven-minute film, meanwhile, took on a life of its own.

“I was originally under the impression this film was to only be screened in Toronto and viewed by about 30 judges, then forgotten,” Maikaru recalled. Then he learned the short film won acceptance to the Seattle International Film Festival.

“I remember being nervous in Toronto, knowing [the audience] was about to know some of my deepest, darkest secrets.”

MOMO from 1 Kleifgen, the wife-husband duo that owns and operates Momo, the decision to close up shop actually happened much later than anticipated.

Momo opened in the ID in November 2007. Named after the word for “peach” in Japanese, Momo offers clothes and accessories for men and women from international fashion hubs like Japan and France, as well as homegrown offerings from the Pacific Northwest. The boutique’s interior design features aesthetics influenced by Hawaiian and Scandinavian cultures—an homage to Shiramizu and Kleifgen’s respective upbringings. For Shiramizu (who’s Japanese American) and Kleifgen (who’s white), the store is a physical manifestation of their combined “hapa” or “Scandinasian” identity.

When the shop first opened, its location was seen as no man’s land in the ID—there weren’t many retail shops on that stretch of Jackson at the time, said Kleifgen, and many people questioned their decision to open a store there. Still, the duo viewed the location as an accessible one, and saw an opportunity to become and serve as a concierge for the ID. “We entertain and engage with people from around Seattle and the world,” said Shiramizu.

“We really do have an international flow of people come through—not just because of Momo, but because of the ID. We welcome visitors and share information about where to go. Momo acts like a gateway for the rest of the neighborhood.”

She credits travel books and crowdsourcing sites like Yelp for informing out-of-town visitors about the shop, while local media and the ID itself brings in locals.

“This neighborhood’s very engaging,” said Kleifgen of the ID. “The community comes in, engages you, and

SPORTS from 7 “Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach,” wrote Osaka in the same post.

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So he’d already been through the wringer once, when the film showed at SIFF, in the same downtown theater, AMC Pacific Place, where he’d enjoyed the Harry Potter movies.

The phone rang a few nights later, and he answered it to Harryman, jumping for joy. They’d won SIFF’s prize for Best Documentary Short.

Maikaru kept moving forward, though.

He’d designed and filmed a pilot TV show about virtual reality gaming, but that project sputtered to a halt when the virus hit. So he decided to design the game first, and try to sell that.

“Vicious Cats” involves House Cats prowling through their territory to find and eliminate the Vicious Cats, using a special deck of cards. But, it seems, either side can win, which adds to the fun.

The card game has a Kickstarter going for it. As of the week this article went to

people ask if you’d like to get involved.”

And get involved they did. Over the course of their 13-year run with Momo, the two were involved with several initiatives supporting the ID, including fundraiser and cultural events, community activism, serving on nonprofit boards, art selection for points of interest in the neighborhood, organizing the summer festival Hai! Japantown, and more.

When it came to community activism, it was important that they played an active role to represent the subneighborhood of Japantown in the ID. When the City of Seattle wanted to add a streetcar to Jackson Street, ID shop owners were concerned about the potential disruption to their businesses. Kleifgen served as director of a community group that pushed back against the city’s plans, and worked closely with engineers to help them understand the neighborhood’s needs and concerns.

This led to Kleifgen’s involvement with the decoration of streetcar stops and switch boxes in the ID. Kleifgen, who has a background in design, worked with the city as part of a subcommittee to decorate the neighborhood’s switch boxes in a way that celebrated the various cultures of the ID, while ensuring the addition of them looked less garish. He also sourced artists to decorate them. The efforts resulted in four decorated switch boxes in the ID. As a small business, it was also important to Kleifgen and Shiramizu to lift up and amplify the voices of fellow small businesses.

Shiramizu has long been a fan of local establishments in Japantown, including Maneki, Panama Hotel, and Tsukushinbo among many others. Because of her connections to local media, Shiramizu often leveraged coverage of Momo in Seattle Magazine to increase awareness of other businesses in Japantown. She noted that the success of these businesses isn’t because of Momo—

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9

press, he’s raised roughly $3,000 of the $16,700 he needs to launch the game. He has roughly 20 days to get the rest of the money in pledges.

Maikaru acknowledges that his past will always be his past, but he refuses to be defined or limited by that.

He lives with his husband in the Seattle area. His future plans include masterminding web series, dramatic shows, and podcasts.

As he concluded, “It is my mission to increase diverse and inclusive narratives, across media.”  To support Maikaru’s “Vicious Cats” card game, visit kickstarter.com/projects/ mainasty/vicious-cats-card-games.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

rather, Momo served as a starting point to discover and frequent new businesses in the area.

She was also invited to sit on the boards for the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Association and the City of Seattle’s Small Business Advisory Council. Both groups focus on providing resources to small businesses to help them thrive, as well as advocating for public policy and planning issues.

More recently, Shiramizu started a Facebook group for female-focused small businesses in Seattle. Representation across these small business-focused groups has forged connections not just across the ID, but also across the city.

Initially, Kleifgen and Shiramizu imagined Momo would stay open for 10 years before the two moved on to new pursuits. But their deep ties with the ID community and the city kept them open longer than they could’ve imagined.

Now, though, the two are ready to pivot to their next chapters in life. Kleifgen’s ready for retirement—a “much deserved one that’s been long time coming,” said Shiramizu. As for Shiramizu, she plans to search for her next, big creative project in addition to spending more time with her elderly parents.

Although the shop’s closure is a bittersweet one, the two expressed deep gratitude for the experiences and the relationships they’ve forged over the last decade.

“We’re very lucky,” said Shiramizu. “Our shop’s tagline is, ‘happy. lucky. life.’ And I feel like we’ve really enjoyed that here. We’ve lived up to our tagline.”  Momo will be open Fri.–Sun. from 12–5:00 p.m. until its closure on Sept. 30. For more information, visit momoseattle.com.

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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most documented contributing cause of death in the county, but in recent weeks, it has fallen to the number eight cause.

More than 90% of those who have died from COVID-19 were over age 60 (and the median age of death over the past six months has remained around 81 years).

More than 80% of those who have died from COVID-19 had an underlying medical condition.

Among racial/ethnic groups, more white people have died from COVID-19 than from any other race. But the age-adjusted rate of death shows a dramatic impact among Hispanic/Latinx residents, at 84 per 100,000 residents—three times higher than for whites, at 28 per 100,000. And for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, the death rate is more than four times higher than for Whites, at 121 per 100,000.

“This report gives us confidence that our official death counts are not missing large numbers of people who have died from COVID-19,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health. “And it highlights that although the COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities that led to many deaths among older residents have decreased in response to effective COVID-19 prevention measures, the threat remains. This summer’s

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increases in COVID-19 cases in the community remind us that we cannot let our guard down.”

Understanding unrecognized COVID-19 deaths

Nationally, there’s been discussion of under-reported COVID-19 deaths.

To check for this possibility locally, Public Health calculated “excess deaths,” using a methodology from the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

This estimate shows that in King County between January 1 and August 18, 2020, there were 817 more deaths than would be expected in a typical recent year before the COVID-19 outbreak. Because the number of excess deaths varies from year to year, Public Health also estimated statistically significant excess deaths above and beyond what would be expected due to typical yearly variation in weekly deaths. This estimate found there were 264 excess deaths. By comparison, using the same time period, the total count of confirmed, suspected and positive COVID-19 deaths was 692.

Based on this analysis, there do not appear to be large numbers of potential COVID-19 deaths that are unrecognized in the official death counts.

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What counts as a COVID-19 death

There is not yet a national standard methodology for COVID-19 death reporting, although approaches are under development. It might seem simple, but determining and classifying the actual cause of death can be complicated.

Initial counts of deaths in many localities included everyone who died and had tested positive for COVID-19.

But that approach can miss cases — for example, there are people who die with COVID-19 symptoms but were never tested. There are also people who test positive, but die for unrelated reasons, such as a fall or a car crash.

Those cases are not counted in King County, where deaths due to reasons other than COVID are removed, but some jurisdictions include them in official counts.

To improve clarity, accuracy and consistency, epidemiologists at Public Health completed a thorough review of all available data about local deaths in King County. They reviewed death certificate data to interpret medical information about causes of death, and also reviewed information about illness gathered through case investigations. After assigning classifications based on this information, they then examined trends over time among people who died from January 1 through September 1, 2020. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

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11

Predictions and advice for the week of September 12–18, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang Rat—Rather than following an old routine out of habit, create one that better suits your current needs.

Dragon—Are you trading one set of issues for another? If the net gain is minimal, think twice about switching.

Monkey—Your comments could convey more than you realize. Slow down and consider what can be inferred from your words.

Ox—You can’t be in two places at once. Pick one and be fully present for the one you choose.

Snake—It’s not often that you meet a kindred spirit. When you do, those connections are worth a little extra effort.

Rooster—Some redundancies could be a waste of resources and space. Two or more isn’t always better than one.

Tiger—As you endeavor to meet your goal, don’t lose sight of why you are pursuing it in the first place.

Horse—Has your initial interest waned a bit over time? It could be a signal that you need to move on.

Dog—Hoping for more than what was actually delivered? Don’t wait for someone else to do what you can do yourself.

Rabbit—Now that you know where you want to go, the landscape has truly changed for you for the better.

Goat—Instead of an ordinary combination, are you tempted to try an unusual pairing? The results could be surprisingly good.

Pig—While you aren’t immune to the effects of flattery, you also know enough to consider the motives of the speaker.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

MULAN from 5 feature a warrior heroine. Seattle native Jimmy Wong, who plays Ling in the film, commented on this in a Facebook interview hosted

by Gold House.

“Mulan…broke precedent in so many ways. This is the first time a Disney movie, an animation, covered the topic of war and invaders. It was a much grittier backdrop. People just love the fact that this wasn’t a ‘damsel in distress’…she made the story happen, and that is such an empowering thing to see…it kind of started with Mulan.”

While no one wanted to compare the new live action version to the previous animated version, the cast was aware of the importance of the 1998 movie to a generation of girls.

“I have seen the animation, and I love it. I am jealous that they did it without me,” joked Ma to the Weekly. Director Niki Caro expressed to Gold House, “It’s no secret that the beloved animation is so important to so many. I think it really defined the childhood of a generation…maybe our movie, the live action, can be like a coming of age for Mulan.”

Some might disagree, yet I think the movie does a fitting tribute to the animated version without losing itself. Yes, we have to do without Mushu, yet characters voice lines reminiscent of the little dragon, and one of the boy soldiers is named after Mushu’s best bud, Cricket.

Songs from the 1998 version play in the background as instrumentals and it makes the heart swell to hear that familiar theme song, “Reflection,” or to see Mulan gaze upon her reflection in her father’s sword—an iconic image—every time she reaches a soul-seeking moment in her journey.

There are differences, too.

The movie still fills its role as a children’s film, yet it’s heavier.

The villain has been altered and is now a Rouran warrior intent on

revenge. Lee trained with a Maori haka master to prepare. Caro, he said, wanted Lee to “tap into” that warrior culture, “to be able to use it as a transformational tool to get into the mindset of what it was like to be a warrior during that time period, to have those tribal roots, to generate that primal energy.”

By Khan’s side is a new character, a female witch, played by longtime favorite Chinese-Singaporean actress, Gong Li. I was happy to see her after what seemed like a long hiatus and surprised at the turn her part of the story takes, aligning itself with the female empowerment theme. Her character’s decisions, and the conversations she has with Khan and Mulan, are some of the most engaging, alongside Mulan’s own struggle to embody her true self and release her qi.

“There are journeys in the film that I don’t think you would expect [such as] the woman’s story…the relationship with Mulan and the boys in the brigade…all of those things,” said Ma, whose favorite part is the reunion between Mulan and her father at the end. The father of two girls himself, Ma shared with the Weekly that, while playing the part, “I channeled all the Asian fathers who have never had the opportunity to show the world who they are.” Referring to the sublimated role of women in ancient China (and sometimes in the world today), Ma added, “I channeled all the special fathers who treat their girls like boys, and give them the opportunity to grow, to nurture, to not squelch their spirit.”

Will the movie be able to counter the political and racial tensions taking place in our country? The cast thinks so, and believes Mulan is another positive step towards greater representation for Asian Americans in Hollywood and in general.

“For the longest time growing up, ‘Asian’ just meant a very simple, basic thing,” Wong told Gold House. “There is so much

representation out there that has yet to be had, and I’m really looking forward to expanding the definition of what it means to be Asian.”

Ma emphasized that, while the film is not in theaters, it is available in a digital format where families can watch it multiple times in the safety of their own homes and talk about the story. “There is no doubt in my mind this will help,” Ma responded when asked by the Weekly if Mulan can bridge the divisiveness threatening our families and communities. “In my heart of hearts, I believe that Mulan will give you the opportunity, if you’re willing to listen. If you don’t want to listen, there’s nothing I can do about it, but if you at least have an open mind, you will get an opportunity to see that our similarities are greater than our differences.”  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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KEYBANK from 3 a lot of financial literacy for the younger generation exiting college and high school. They have extra income because they’re still at home, have some extra support. Setting that behavior up front—that I’m going to save money—is to help build a process.” A lot of millennials are scared they will never be able to own a home, for instance, yet Sotiriou assured us that does not have to be a concern if the right habits are developed from the beginning of our income-earning years.

What about older people who are getting a late start?

Better late than never. Many older people do not have a retirement plan in place. “People should invest in themselves, and take the time to dig in, as scary as it is, into their finances,” urged Sotiriou. “It starts with savings and creating that habit of being able to put money aside every month.” Taking a closer look might reveal areas of opportunity you did not know were there. “I’d look at their cash flow,” said Sotiriou. “I’d still start with their money management, and where they have savings. Many times, we don’t realize we have some savings put in place, but maybe it’s not working hard enough for us. How can we look at their debt? Their budget? How can we create more opportunities to free up cash? How we can leverage savings to work harder?” KeyBank looks at the whole picture — assets, vehicles, homes, cash — to understand what a person wants “their future to look like.”

Quick tips

We asked Sotiriou what are some small, everyday things a person can do for financial wellness?

“Stick to the budget,” she advised. Look for different tools to start saving. There are bank products, such as KeyBank’s EasyUp, which will round up your spending and automatically deposit the remainder into a savings account. That way, you will be saving every time you swipe your debit card. Sotiriou recommended taking a look at your employer and whether or not you are leveraging your 401K. What does your employer match? Do you have the option of a health savings account at work? “Are you taking advantage of that?” she asked. In the spirit of increasing your knowledge, Sotiriou suggested that you “understand your credit score.” And, if you do have debt, look into consolidating and getting a lower interest rate.

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to create this path for themselves and to think about what’s possible,” Sotiriou said. “What we’ve found is we’ve set the wheels in motion to achieve goals that some never dreamed possible. That’s what empowering is. Changing our communities for the better, and what legacy we leave behind for the future…

When you think about the American Dream, it hasn’t changed. There’s still a way to do it.”  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

12

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

ENROLLMENTS from 1 wait to complete my internship in July and fly to Seattle in September,” she said.

A few weeks later, Nayak received an email that changed everything. “UW said they might have to conduct all their courses online due to the pandemic, in which case it would be safer, especially for international students, to not come to campus,” she said. UW sent out a form asking if she would like to defer the course or do it virtually with the option of coming to campus when the situation improved.

Nayak chose to defer.

“I was very skeptical about remote education. To me, taking classes online defeats the very purpose of wanting to study at a foreign university. You are in the same environment and though you meet new people virtually, the value of physical meetings is priceless. You can’t have those same conversations online,” Nayak said. “When you pay that high tuition fee, you’re buying the whole experience of being in Seattle, at the university, and having conversations with your professors and peers,” she said, “Paying that much for an online experience was not really worth it to me,” she added.

Then, the Trump administration announced foreign students taking virtual classes would not be allowed to stay in the country. “That was very scary. I felt if I decided to go, the policy may change and they could kick me out,” Nayak said. She admits she was depressed by the turn of events.

Since then, however, she has had some time to process the situation and hopes to head to UW in Fall 2021. Her experience is just one among thousands whose plans for a life-molding experience at college or university has either stopped in its tracks or switched gears virtually.

Former Gov. Gary Locke, who is the Interim President of Bellevue College (BC), agrees that enrollments at colleges and universities across the state are down, especially among international students, and the drop is hurting education institute revenues.

“Add to that the fact that the Former Gov. Gary Locke state is also reducing funding for all public universities, whether it’s UW, BC, or Seattle Community Colleges. It is all going to hurt and all colleges are having to look at reducing programs and cutting back and reducing cost,” he said.

While international student enrollments have dropped, BC is still accepting applications and Locke said that when it comes to students within the United States, they might be close to the enrollment figures compared to last year.

“In these tough economic times, people want more job training and retraining, they want that education BC offers. People who have been laid off want new skills they can apply for jobs with, and if they are already working at a company, they want to upgrade their skills so that they can move up and avoid being laid off,” Locke said.

“Community colleges are very affordable and we offer programs that range from up to a few months to even a four-year program,” he added.

Scott K. McClellan, Vice President for University Affairs at Seattle University, explains they will not know the final numbers for a couple of more weeks.

“Overall, our numbers look strong across continuing and transfer undergraduate students with both tracking on goal. The law school has exceeded its goal Scott K. McClellan (they are on semester and started Aug. 24) and it is too early to know overall graduate enrollment numbers, although we expect those numbers to be within range,” McClellan said.

“Our incoming freshman class, like at many institutions, will be lower. We expect to be down at least 100 in our first-time-in-college class over last Fall,” he said. “With the YOGA from 8 “It helps you feel more empowered to deal with many situations that are beyond your control,’’ said Grant.

She teaches yoga with Satya Yoga Cooperative, a Denver-based group operated by people of color that was launched in June 2019, inspired partly by the Black Lives Matter and (hash)MeToo movements. The co-op’s mission: Offer yoga to members of diverse communities to

added expenses for our COVID-19 safety measures, lost revenue from student housing, and a lower than expected freshman class, like other institutions, we are having to address some financial challenges as a result of the pandemic,” he added.

Executive Director of Communications & Recruitment of Seattle Colleges, Barbara Childs, said, “International FTES saw a significant decrease due to coronavirus international travel restrictions and visa regulations. Seattle Colleges had a 30% decrease (327 International FTES) in the Summer Quarter 2020, compared to 2019.” “Although a dramatic decline, the international programs’ office has continued to recruit and enroll students who are attending both in the United States and in their home countries,” Childs said.

Childs shared that in Seattle College’s most recent quarter, Summer 2020, they enrolled 4,155 FTES, 8% less (357 FTES) than their 2019 Summer enrollment.

“It’s important to note that both Seattle Central College and North Seattle College increased FTES compared to Summer 2019, despite remote operations and the majority of online-only classes due to COVID-19,” she said.

“Seattle Central College was at 108% and North Seattle College was at 105% of their summer enrollment targets,” she said. “South Seattle College, our college that offers proportionately more hands-on professional technical and apprenticeship programs and faced traffic impacts due to the West Seattle bridge closure, decreased by 37% (520 FTES),” she added.

For Seattle University, the health and safety of its campus community has been paramount in its planning. “We are in a primarily virtual learning format for the fall with 90% of classes being taught remotely. The exceptions are a limited number of performance-based, clinical and laboratory courses and a small number of other courses,” McClellan said. With the exception of some programs that include licensure requirements, every student has been given the option to take their courses virtually and every faculty member, the option to teach remotely. “We also moved the Fall quarter up to start September 9 and end November 24 to reduce the amount of travel for students living on campus,” he said.

Childs confirmed that Seattle Colleges will be operating remotely with Fall 2020 classes held online and are taking measures to ensure all students have the access and support they need.

“We are providing for in-person, by appointment, student services for the two weeks leading up to the start of the Fall quarter and for the first two weeks of the quarter,” Childs said. “We will provide computer hardware and hotspots for students in need and have increased virtual services to students by using online video conferencing, web chat tools, and other software to advise and assist them remotely,” she said. Seattle Colleges will also offer a limited number of in-person classes for programs that have been approved for instruction because of their subject matter.

“We are providing a virtual orientation or Summer Bridge program for Seattle Promise students, which will include information on how best to access technology for classes and have adopted a directed self-placement tool for English classes that can be completed online,” Childs said.

At BC, too, some courses will be hybrid.

“You can’t teach brain surgery, how to draw blood, or how to use an MRI machine over the internet. Some of these sophisticated, health-related courses need to have inperson instruction. Those students will come to campus for instruction a few days a week,” Locke said.

Nicole Beattie, Associate Director of Communications at BC, said, “Some of the precautionary measures we’ve taken for in-person classes include mandatory social distancing, mask wearing, temperature checks, and daily health assessments prior to coming to class or work.”

Explaining that the health and safety of the community is their top priority, Beattie said. “Some of the measures we have taken are health screening stations for buildings that are holding class (like the T Building for our healthcare labs), and we’ve also developed required training for faculty, staff, and students.” “We also have a process in

help them deal with trauma and grief before it shows up in their bodies as mental health conditions, pain and chronic disease.

“When I think about racism, I think about stress and how much stress causes illness in the body,’’ said Satya founder Lakshmi Nair, who grew up in a Hindu family in Aurora. “We believe that yoga is medicine that has the power to heal.’’

Satya’s efforts are part of a growing movement to diversify yoga nationwide.

From the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance

place if we do learn a member of our community has tested positive for COVID-19,” she said.

Most faculty and staff at Seattle University will be working remotely and most students learning remotely.

“We have taken a comprehensive approach to our health and safety practices that are consistent with or, in some cases, go beyond the state’s guidelines for higher education, and all our planning has been closely coordinated with a highly respected epidemiologist,” McClellan said. “We have limited university-owned housing to single occupancy only rooms, with few exceptions for two students who request to room together,” he said. “All students coming to campus are required to be tested for COVID-19 before arriving. All students, faculty, and staff on campus are also required to perform a daily Safe Start health check screening. Masks, or face coverings, are required of all on campus, whether indoors or outdoors. Enhanced clearing protocols and measures are in place,” he added.

“As a Jesuit university that places a high value on the care of each individual student, we have made equity a priority through technology access and other academic accommodations,” McClellan said. Seattle University has made laptops and internet hotspots available for those who need them. “Additional academic accommodations have been carefully considered and are available for those with disabilities. We developed an enhanced, one-stop student support center to respond to and help students in a timely manner,” he said.

The pandemic has created huge challenges for many students as everything is going online, so ensuring students have laptops and high-speed internet is critical.

“During the Spring of 2020, BC was awarded $2,072,545 in federal CARES Act funding to allocate to students through emergency financial aid grants. They disbursed about $1 million to 1,310 students in the Spring Quarter, with the remaining $1 million set aside for students enrolled in Summer and Fall. “Through our Foundation’s Safety Net Fund, we were able to support more than 50 additional students who weren’t eligible for federal aid,” Beattie said.

BC also received a federal grant of $1,473,625 to support its campus’ TRIO program, which serves low income, first generation or students with disabilities.

“Our associated student government allocated $100,000 to fund laptops for students who didn’t have access to technology, which is a great example of students finding creative ways to help each other,” she added.

BC transitioned its student support services to a virtual format, for example, offering remote counseling sessions through an online HIPAA compliant platform called Doxy.

Me. “Everybody is grappling with the challenges of this pandemic whether you are a faculty member, a student, or even a parent. We have counselors to help our students, especially faculty members and students of color who have the added concerns over social issues such as racial injustice,” Locke said.

McClellan points to surveys from last spring at Seattle University that indicated high student satisfaction with its virtual learning with overall numbers meeting and, in some cases, exceeding last fall’s levels.

“Our Center for Digital Learning and Innovation has provided great support and extensive training for faculty to make the transition even smoother this fall as we had more time to prepare for the transition than last March,” he added.

Locke points out that BC was very quick to pivot to online teaching.

“I have to applaud our faculty and staff at BC with how quickly they were able to move online. They were very nimble and dedicated,” Locke said. “The reason we were so successful is we already had some online and hybrid courses. Even so, we want to make sure that the online experience is useful and beneficial, so we have ongoing programs to help our faculty to be even better teaching online,” he added.  Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

to new Trap Yoga classes that incorporate the popular Southern hip-hop music style to the Yoga Green Book online directory that helps Black yoga-seekers find classes, change appears to be happening. According to National Health Interview Survey data, the percentage of non-Hispanic Black adults who reported practicing yoga jumped from 2.5% in 2002 to 9.3% in 2017.

Blacks and Latinos consistently top national health disparities lists, with elevated risks for obesity and chronic

conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer, which has made them more susceptible to contracting and dying of COVID-19. They also face an elevated risk for depression and other mental health conditions.

Yoga is obviously not a panacea for racism, but it has shown positive results in helping people manage stress, and as a complement to therapeutic work on trauma. 