Meet Our Team
Holly Yasui
CO-FOUNDER
Holly was the youngest daughter of Minoru and True Yasui. She co-directed the documentary film Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice (2017), and authored the theatrical play and reader’s theater piece Citizen Min. Holly’s tireless advocacy for civil rights and unwavering dedication to preserve her father's legacy continue to inspire and ignite positive change in our world.
1953 - 2021
Peggy Nagae
CO-FOUNDER
Peggy was lead attorney for Minoru Yasui in reopening his WWII case, and also led the successful campaign to win a Presidential Medal of Freedom for Minoru Yasui in 2015.
Homer Yasui
HONORY CO-CHAIR
Homer was the youngest brother of Minoru Yasui. In addition to working as a surgeon, he was active in the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the Japanese American Redress movement, and chaired the national committee in support of Min's corum nobis petition.
1924 - 2023
Yuka Yasui Fujikara
HONORY CO-CHAIR
Yuka was the youngest sibling of Minoru Yasui. She was a Fulbright Scholar with masters degrees in public health nursing and public health, and was a recipient of the Planned Parenthood's Margaret Sanger award for her work with underprivileged young girls.
1927 - 2021
Steering Committee
Lynn Fuchigama-Parks
STEERING COMMITTEE
Lynn, Executive Director Emeritus of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO), serves on and consults with many nonprofits, preserving Japanese American history, and is committed to empowering future leaders for social equality.
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Maija Yasui
STEERING COMMITTEE
Married to Philip Yasui (Min’s nephew), Maija and their children carry on the Yasui legacy and family orchards in Hood River. As a Japanese American historian and community advocate serving on a variety of boards spanning over 40 years, she specializes in the Yasui family history, community presentations, and collaborative projects for books, films, and exhibits.
Janet Hamada
STEERING COMMITTEE
Janet Hamada is the Executive Director of The Next Door, Inc. a social service organization that serves children and families throughout the Mid-Columbia Gorge. A proud Yonsei, Janet believes that everyone deserves basic human rights, and she has fought for social justice in a variety of causes since she was a teenager.
Weston Koyama
STEERING COMMITTEE
Weston's century-old family ties to Portland, rooted in his 1915 Japanese immigrant ancestors, have shaped his legal journey from assistant attorney general to public defender since earning his 2019 law degree at the University of Oregon.
Education Committee
Barbara Yasui
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Barbara is the niece of Minoru Yasui. She is a former educator, racial equity trainer, community organizer, and consultant, who lives in Seattle.
Bill Waterman
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Bill, a California Bar member for over 30 years, is experienced in personal injury, insurance defense, and civil trial practice, including Senior Staff Trial Attorney for Travelers Insurance. He's a dedicated Mediator and part-time Professor of Law at John F. Kennedy School of Law at National University.
Student Contest Committee
Jillian Toda-Currie
STUDENT CONTEST COMMITTEE
Jillian began working with the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project in 2014 to help with the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom campaign. She worked on the first Student Contest with founder Holly Yasui, and has been part of the planning committee since 2020. Jillian has also served on the board of Portland Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) as Treasurer since 2020.
Cynthia Bayse
STUDENT CONTEST COMMITTEE
Cynthia is a retired New Mexico teacher. She is former Education Manager at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon and currently a board member and docent at the museum.
Elissa Dingus
STUDENT CONTEST COMMITTEE
Elissa is the Director of Education and Engagement at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO) where she facilitates educational programming at the museum to connect student groups, educators, and the general public with Japanese American history.
Logan Pinard
STUDENT CONTEST COMMITTEE
Logan is a middle school student who was living in Kapolei, Hawaii when he entered the 2021 Minoru Yasui Student Contest. Logan was a finalist in the Junior Division and has since joined the committee to help run the student contest. He now lives in Victoria, BC in Canada.
Kate Wexler
STUDENT CONTEST COMMITTEE
Kate helped judge the Minoru Yasui Student Contest from 2021 to 2023. This is her first year serving on the Student Contest Committee. She lives in Denver, Colorado.