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I supported the Gardena Nikkei Boy Scouts Troop at their 49^th Annual Pancake Breakfast. The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute was packed with generations of former Troop 719 scouts. Reverend Daniel Matsuda is the Troop Leader and grew up in Gardena as a Scout in Troop 719. Now, his son is an Eagle Scout and Matsuda continues to lead the troop proudly. I look forward to their 50^th Pancake Breakfast next year!

It was such a pleasure being a part of the Torrance Education Foundation’s Black & White Affair dinner this Saturday. As a former Torrance School Board Member education funding continues to be one of my top priorities. I am privileged to be able to work with TEF and TUSD to ensure our students have the resources they need to get a world-class education right here in the South Bay.

Thank you to everyone who joined me at the Peninsula Center Library on Saturday for my community coffee. We had a lively and wide-ranging conversation focused on public education, our state budget, our beautiful coast, and local issues impacting Peninsula residents. Special thanks to the Palos Verdes Library District for being such wonderful hosts.

Thank you to Palos Verdes Estates Councilmember Kenny Kao and Dr. Alex Liu for inviting me to attend the Asian American Physicians Association dinner on Saturday. I was honored to share a legislative update and hear from the group about the issues impacting the community.

The South Bay Evergreen Seniors Association is an organization that is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of seniors in the South Bay. I was proud to serve as their installation officer to the new board of directors and welcome a new face of leadership. I look forward to seeing this organization continue to thrive and serve the South Bay community.

For the 45^th time, the Torrance Sister City Association hosted the Bunka Sai Japanese Cultural Festival fundraiser. TSCA organizes exchange programs with Kashiwa, Japan, which allow students from Torrance and Kashiwa experience each other’s cultures. As a former TSCA board member, I have seen this event grow tremendously from year to year. The food, merchant booths, and adult and youth performances make Bunka Sai one of the best annual festivals in the South Bay. The fresh dango draws me back each year, as I will continue to support TSCA.

The City of Gardena hosted the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Memorial, a mobile replica of the memorial in Washington D.C. The display honors over 58,000 Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect their country. I had the honor of helping to welcome this emotional display to the South Bay, along with Rep. Maxine Waters, State Senator Steve Bradford, and local elected officials. We also had the privilege of listening to the keynote speaker Judge Vince Okamoto, a Gardena resident and the most highly decorated Japanese-American to survive the Vietnam War.

Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the County Fire & Sheriff’s departments in Lomita. “The Friendly City” was as welcoming as ever, with community leaders lending their time to raise money for their public safety officers. Mike Herrera of the South Bay Boys and Girls Club put on his DJ hat, Councilmember Mark Waronek handed out bottled water and cupcakes, and Kiwanis members served spaghetti and meatballs. I was proud to sponsor such a great fundraising event.