“The Downtown Tucson Partnership together with the University of Arizona Poetry Center are proud to announce the 2nd annual Haiku Hike literary competition. Twenty winning haiku poems will be printed on acrylic signage and displayed in downtown planters located on Congress Street and Stone Avenue in Downtown Tucson. These signs will provide visual and cultural interest throughout the spring season, beginning April 3.
What is a Haiku…
… a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables in three lines of five, seven and five.
All haiku entries will be judged by Tucson’s Poet Laureate, TC Tolbert.
Only one entry per person, with a maximum of three haiku allowed. Submissions will be accepted through March 10. Winners will be announced on Downtown Tucson Partnership’s website, social media and by email to all entrants on March 19. All winners will receive public recognition and have their work featured on public signage, online and in the media.
A few general rules:
One entry per person, with a maximum of three haiku allowed.
Once your haiku are submitted, you aren’t able to edit them. So be sure to look them over before you submit.”
“The healing Japanese practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, involves deeply attuning your senses to your surroundings on a forest walk so as to experience a health-restoring sense of well-being. A way to calm mind and spirit, it offers a range of research-proven benefits; among them are reduced stress, lower blood pressure, increased physical energy, and improved concentration.
In a similar vein, Dr. Lee Ann Woolery, ecologist, artist, and resident of the Sonoran Desert, has developed the practice of mindfulness drawing in nature. In two experiential workshops at Yume, she will present forest bathing and her technique of mindfulness drawing and show how to combine them to tap into the energy or “spirit” of a natural setting and to experience “flow,” a state of energized focus bestowing a sense of being at one with your environment.
Sign up for one or both workshops! No art experience is necessary. The cost is $55 for adults. Click Here to Purchase Tickets”
Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition’s founder and 1st Director Ross Iwamoto was named Pan Asian Man of the Year, and SAJCC Editor (for 7 years) Carolyn Sugiyama Classen was named Friend of Pan Asian — at the Feb. 29 Pan Asian Community Alliance’s Lunar New Year celebration at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel, 880 E. 2nd St.
Ross served on the SAJCC Council from 2012 to 2016, and Carolyn is a Founding member of the SAJCC & is still currently on the Council.
Ross has also been active on PACA’s board, with the TUSD Pan Asian Studies Program and the So. Az Asian Pacific Islanders Health Coalition. Ross was the Director of a 2009 Asian American Pacific Islander conference in Tucson, bringing in his cousin Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Day author) as keynote speaker. Ross is Sansei (3rd generation Japanese American), from the island of Molokai, Hawaii. He also paints watercolors and has been included in a few United by Art exhibits at the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson.
Carolyn also served for one year on the PACA board, three years recently on the Community Council of APASA (Asian Pacific American Student Affairs), where she was awarded the 1st Community Builder award in 2018. She teachers students how to play mah jong every Friday during the academic school year. She founded Mah Jong Mondays at Himmel Park Library, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in January. Carolyn has also been a member/volunteer at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center since 2008. She is likewise a Sansei, from N. Kohala on the Big Island of Hawaii.
SAJCC Editor Carolyn Sugiyama Classen and SAJCC Founder/1st Director Ross Iwamoto, with their awards, photo taken by Albrecht Classen
Some of the Japanese/Asian American past recipients of PACA awards were:
Dr. Henry “Hank” Oyama, Pan Asian Man of the Year 2005 (Educator/Vice President Emeritus at Pima Community College) He was interned during WWII at Poston Internment Camp.
M. Craig, Pan Asian Woman of the Year 2006 (founder of Tucson Origami Club, past President of Japan America Society of Tucson, founding member of SAJCC). M is half Japanese/half African American.
Karen Falkenstrom, Pan Asian Woman of the Year 2009 (founder of Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers, active on Tucson Japanese Festival committee and former SAJCC Treasurer – half Korean American/half Caucasian).
Dr. Sylvia Lee, Friend of Pan Asian 2014 (former President of PCC NW and elected to one six year term on Pima Community College Governing Board). Sylvia is of Japanese/Chinese/Caucasian ethnicity.
Mari Kaneta, Pan Asian Woman of the Year 2018 (founder of Japanese dance troupe Suzuyuki-Kai, owner of Yamato Japanese restaurant)
Congratulations to both recipients for these 2020 awards.
Ross and Carolyn, awardees — Professional photo taken by Myla’s Creations & Photography, mylascreationsphotography@gmail.com, 520-906-2079.
I am inviting you to disconnect….gift yourself some time out….and get in touch with what your heart and body may be longing for…..
This Saturday I am guiding a walk at Tohono Chul gardens from 10am until noon. And for any of you that are artists or writers, this practice is so helpful in becoming more intimate with the palette around you. And should you know of anyone that might be interested or would benefit, please pass along this information.
Registration is through TohonoChul.org. For questions or additional information, please reach out to me at carolroberge@icloud.con or 206 714 0544.”
