By Nancy Lim-Yee, LCSW
The Asian Pacific Islander Social Work Council (APISWC) hosted an evening meeting at the annual NASW California
State Conference on October 9, 2015.
The API Social Work Council invited Dr. Rita Takahashi, Professor in the School of Social Work at San Francisco State University, to speak on “Asian American Stories and our Legacies: The Power and Impact of Life History Interviews.”
Dr. Takahashi shared her experiences, thoughts, analyses and syntheses about the hundreds of life history interviews she completed with Asian Americans during the past 30 years. She talked about her research techniques and practices and conveyed how the interviews have been used and preserved. Since “launching” her life history interviews project in 1983, Dr. Takahashi has conducted more than 500 interviews.
During her presentation, she highlighted some of her interviews that were completed with Asian American social workers, educators, activists, and professionals, including Diana Ming Chan (a key member of the APISWC and 2007 inductee into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction), Dr. Kenji Murase (2015 inductee into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction), Kunitake Morgan Yamanaka (2009 inductee into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction), Tony Vang (professor at California State University, Fresno and former Fresno Unified School Board member), and Frank Chin (author and playwright).
Dr. Takahashi is currently on leave from San Francisco State University during fall 2015 so that she can work on her research, which includes organizing her entire collection of interviews, including interview recordings and files. She has been entering items onto a database after which she will be donating her collection to a research facility. Dr. Takahashi expressed that determining the optimal place for the interviews’ “permanent home” is a huge undertaking. Many institutions would like to have them, but she is still researching and considering all options.
The API Social Work Council which just celebrated its 20th anniversary holds regular Council meetings and activities four to six times every year. If you are interested in participating or receiving more information, please send an email to apicouncilnorth@gmail.com.
Please also visit our website at www.apiswc.org
