2022-2023 ILLUMINATION Exhibit: 2022-2023 Project Team

We use interviews, photographs and personal objects to share stories that illuminate the intersectionality of our Springfield identity. In 2022-2023 our talented team included Aimee Yogi, Thomas Hiura and Mimi Nolledo who worked with the community to explore the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander experience in Springfield and rural east Lane County, Oregon.

The culminating works from this project become part of the Springfield History Museum archive, available to the public. Selected images and narratives will also become part of the permanent heritage exhibit on display at the museum.

Thomas identifies as Japanese-American, is a rapper named Gradient and hosts a podcast/YouTube series called Broken Class where he interviews artists, activists, community leaders. Thomas is an MSEd candidate and a volunteer with Community Center for the Performing Arts at WOW Hall concerts.

Mimi identifies as Filipino-American. She has lived in Eugene for the past 30 years and is part of the administrative staff of the City of Eugene’s Employee Resource Center. She is also a photographer/digital artist and the creator of Our Stories: Immigrants of America project. Mimi is also a member of the Philippine American Association of Eugene/Springfield & Vicinity.

Aimee identifies as Japanese American. She has lived in Springfield for 44 years and is a retired administrative staff at the University of Oregon.  She is an active volunteer for the Asian American Foundation of Oregon, the Japanese American Association of Lane County, Hospice of Sacred Heart, Hearts for Hospice and the Eugene Springfield Community Emergency Response Team.