PROGRAM SPEAKERS

Grace Shimizu, JD, Hastings College of the Law:  Founder and Project Director, Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project (JPOHP).  Ms. Shimizu has served as Project Director of the “Japanese Latin American Educational Outreach Project,” a $100,000 federal Civil Liberties Public Education Fund grant (1997-98); Member, Editorial Committee, Japanese American Oral History Guide (1991); Founding Member, Campaign for Justice: Redress NOW for Japanese Latin Americans; Project Co-Coordinator for the development and production of “The Enemy Alien Files” exhibition.  The daughter of a Japanese Peruvian WWII internee, Ms. Shimizu is one of the most visible and active authorities, spokespersons and organizers for the preservation of the Japanese Latin American wartime and redress experience.  She is a liaison with former internees in the U.S., Japan, Okinawa and Peru.  Under her direction, the JPOHP conducts family oral history interviews, develops educational materials, organizes educational programming and media outreach, provides information, analysis and referral to researchers, scholars, students and media in the U.S., Japan, Okinawa and Peru.  She resides in El Cerrito, California.


Lawrence DiStasi, President, American Italian Historical Association, Western Regional Chapter.  Mr. DiStasi serves as Project Director of Una Storia Segreta: When Italian Americans were “Enemy Aliens,” which has been displayed at 33 sites nationwide.  This exhibit has become the impetus for a national movement to bring attention and official recognition to the WWII internment, evacuation and other restrictions endured by resident aliens of Italian descent and has resulted in legislation at the California state and national levels.  He is the author of Una Storia Segreta: Essays on the World War II Internment and Evacuation of Italian Americans (2001); Dream Streets: The Big Book of Italian Culture (1989); and MAL OCCIO: The Underside of Vision (1981).  Mr. DiStasi was also Project Co-Coordinator for the development and production of “The Enemy Alien Files” exhibition and a liaison with former Italian American internees.  He resides in Bolinas, California.

John Christgau is the author of five books, including Enemies: World War II Alien Internment (1985), the first book published about this topic.  A frequent guest lecturer to professional and educational groups, he has twenty years of research experience and is a writing instructor at St. Mary’s College.  He served as an advisor in the development and production of “The Enemy Alien Files” exhibition and a liaison with former German American internees.  He resides in Belmont, California.