Marlene Shigekawa

In this presentation you will discover the unique intersection of two communities—Japanese American and Native American—through an exploration of race and place. This program examines the historical forces that shaped the creation of the Poston Incarceration Camp during World War II, revealing the cultural, political, and economic influences that shaped it. This multicultural presentation will feature a lecture on the intertwined histories of these communities, followed by a screening of The Blue Jay, a short narrative film that brings this complex story to life. 

An award-winning writer/director/film producer, Marlene Shigekawa has produced the short, live action film, The Blue Jay, and the feature documentary film, For the Sake of the Children, which has screened throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her published work includes children’s books about her family’s incarceration experience - "Blue Jay in the Desert & Welcome Home Swallows". 

Her high-tech work in Silicon Valley led to her published book – "Succeeding in High Tech: A Guide to Building Your Career." She has made presentations at Harvard University and MIT.

She is the recipient of the JACL Northern California District Award for Excellence for Art, Advocacy & Activism. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of California, Riverside and a M.S. in Counseling from the California State University, East Bay.