About Sakura Foundation
PRESERVING OUR JAPANESE and JAPANESE AMERICAN HERITAGE
The mission of Sakura Foundation is to celebrate and share Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage in order to promote a more compassionate, resilient, & equitable society.
We live our mission through our programming:
- Mirai Generations Leadership Program for young adults
- Chibi no Gakkō for 1-8 grade students, with mentorship opportunities for High Schoolers
- Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
- Community Grants
- Scholarships for graduating high school seniors
- Cultural events throughout the year
We honor and embrace our heritage, share it with others to create a larger community, and reawaken it for future generations.
We establish connections with people and organizations from all walks of life, which allows us to be inclusive and build bridges of respect and understanding. We have an unwavering commitment to supporting Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple (TSDBT).
Our historical connection with TSDBT goes back to the 1970s when community members of TSDBT created Sakura Square, which is located in downtown Denver. It was an ambitious project that built Tamai Tower (a 20-story apartment complex), the retail space that is home to Pacific Mercantile, and other commercial spaces. At that time, Sakura Foundation’s name was Tri-State Buddhist Church Apartments Inc. (TSBCAI) and its mission was to operate and maintain Sakura Square. Organizational changes took place in 2014 which created Sakura Square LLC as the owner and operator of the property. TSBCAI was renamed “Sakura Foundation” and adopted the charitable mission “to sustain TSDBT and celebrate Japanese and Japanese American heritage, culture, and community.”
Sakura Foundation is a Supporting Organization to The Denver Foundation and is the sole owner of Sakura Square LLC.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Sakura Foundation honors and acknowledges that the land on which we operate is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the State of Colorado. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and make visible the Foundation’s relationship to Native land and people.
TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sakura Foundation Advisory Council
Bob Fujimoto
Steve Nitta
Joe Ozaki
Richard Yoshida
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Sakura Foundation collaborates and supports a variety of Japanese/Japanese American and Asian organizations in the region:
| Organization | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Avenue Magazine | https://www.asianavemag.com/ | Asian Avenue Magazine’s mission is to build bridges of awareness, knowledge, and understanding between Asian Pacific communities and the general public. This magazine hosts monthly events, called Asian Eats, and Asian American Heroes of Colorado and the Lunar New Year’s Dinner. |
| Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) | https://www.acccolorado.org/ | Asian Chamber of Commerce partners with Federal, State, and Municipal economic development offices as well as national AANHPI groups and acts as source of connection to the AANHPI Business and Cultural Communities. They aim to support the Colorado Asian American Pacific Islander community. They host Business After Hours Cultural Experience Series throughout the year. |
| Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) | https://www.cacendenver.org/ | CACEN’s mission is to elevate Colorado’s Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander communities and address inequities through cultural exchange and education. Their programs and activities seek to promote Asian cultural education and awareness through community-designed activities, enhance cultural exchange through hosting and organizing social and education activities. |
| Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) | https://coloradoasianpacificunited.org/ | CAPU strives to celebrate and preserve Asian Pacific American cultures and histories through education, allowing us to build stronger communities and allies while taking a. step towards equitable empowerment, collaboration, and representation. |
| Community Organizing for Radical Empathy (CORE) | https://coredei.com/ | CORE works collaboratively with a community-oriented framework to educate and equip individuals and organizations with accessible tools and techniques that allow them to strive for and sustain an equitable lifestyle/workplace environment. |
| Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC) | https://tinyurl.com/457c986j | DAAPIC is a liaison and facilitator between the AAPI community in Denver, the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships and the office of the Mayor of Denver. |
| Denver-Takayama Sister Cities | https://www.denvertakayama.org | Denver Takayama Sister Cities’ relationship with Takayama began in 1960, focusing on cultural exchange, including high school student programs and participation in the annual Denver Cherry Blossom Festival. You can partner with Denver Sister Cities and support projects that improve education, promote sustainability, and foster international collaboration. |
| Japan America Society of Colorado | https://www.jascolorado.org | JASC’s mission is is to expand people to people relationships between Colorado and Japan by serving as a bridge to connect via business, education and cultural opportunities. They are dedicated to promoting positive US-Colorado-Japan relations through the development of civic, business, and individual relationships. |
| Japanese American Community Graduation Program (JACGP) | https://www.jacgp.com | JACGP recognizes that high school seniors of Denver’s Japanese American ancestry who exemplify Sakata’s qualities of leadership and community service. They host an annual graduation banquet to honor all eligible high school graduates and the Go For Broke golf tournament. |
| Japanese American Resource Center of Colorado (JARCC) | https://www.jarcc-denver.org | JARCC strives to meet the needs of a constantly changing and diverse community by preserving and protecting the contributions of our Colorado Issei and Nisei descendants for present and future generations* (Sansei, Yonsei, Gosei, etc.) through cultural programs and events, educational outreach, heritage preservation and collaborative partnerships with local organizations. They host diverse and inclusive workshops/events that preserve Japanese heritage and/or address issues that enhance everyday living and well being. |
| Japanese Business Association of the Rockies (JBAR) | https://www.jbarockies.org/ | jBAR is a non-profit organization that is based on Japanese companies and the Japanese community doing business in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. Their mission is the provide a variety of value to their member companies and members. |
| Mile High Chapter Japanese American Citizens League | https://www.milehighjacl.org | Mission is to uphold and secure civil rights of Japanese Americans and all Americans, while preserving the cultural heritage of Japanese American people. Get involved and help educate the greater Denver metro area about Japanese American history and promote cultural awareness and participation. |
| Nikkeijin Kai of Colorado | https://nikkeijinkai.co/ | Nikkeijin Kai of Colorado’s objective is to protect the rights of the people of Japanese ancestry in the State of Colorado, provide mutual assistance among people and organization and maintain welfare of the Nikkei community in Colorado and promote goodwill and friendship between countries of Japan and the U.S. and their peoples. Hosts annual Nikkeijin Kai of Colorado Picnic. |
| Nisei Veterans Heritage Foundation | https://www.nvcfoundation.org/ | Nisei Veterans Heritage Foundation’s mission is to preserve and honor the Japanese American legacies and to provide community programs that meet the educational, cultural and social needs of the broader community. |
| Simpson United Methodist Church | https://www.simpsonumc.com | Simpson UMC is a multicultural congregation rooted deeply in the Japanese American culture and experience. They strive to reach out to all people in the belief that diversity is a strength. Members consist of a variety of ages, genders, cultures and experiences. |
| Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple | https://tsdbt.org/ | Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple are a Jodo Shinshu sangha dedicated to the teachings of Shinran Shonin. The temple offers various lectures, discussions and study opportunities on the first and third Wednesday each month. |
