Naomi Yamada for J-Sei

Hello there Friends & Family: 

As my six years as a J-Sei board member comes to a close this summer, I reflect on the wonderful people that I met who are so passionate about non-profit J-Sei’s mission to provide meals, caregiving and programs to seniors.   Volunteers, staff and board work tirelessly to ensure that East Bay Area Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) senior citizens and their families have support.  J-Sei’s seniors enjoy chef-prepared meals (nutrition program); hang out with friends through the friendly visitor program and keep their minds active through fun classes (singing, painting, Tai Chi, to name a few). Caregiving for our senior family members is challenging, but J-Sei’s services, such as helping secure in-home caregivers, go a long way in relieving some of the stress.  

 This year we lost one of these most wonderful people: our fellow board member Alan Maeda.  J-Sei’s 2025 Give-In-May campaign is dedicated to his memory.  I met Alan when I joined the J-Sei board in 2019.  He was so kind and caring and always asking us how we were doing – not in an offhanded way but very sincerely.  My terrible cynical self initially thought: is this guy for real?  But Alan’s compassionate actions and words, especially during the pandemic, melted away my cynicism.  At meetings involving tough issues, he would urge us to take time to talk about our feelings.  As we all know, this is NOT EASY for Asian Americans to do!   Thanks to Alan’s special touch, we became more understanding of each other and closer with each other.  I miss Alan very much. 

Life is so much better when we know warmhearted people like Alan and caring non-profits like J-Sei that show us that looking after each other is what is important.  

PLEASE HELP US CELEBRATE ALAN’S LIFE AND J-SEI BY MAKING A DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT TO THIS CAMPAIGN FOR J-SEI.  THANK YOU AND ALSO HAPPY ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!  

 ❤️ Naomi