Celebrating people and movements that contribute to fairness, justice, and compassion
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February 19 will mark the 78 th anniversary of the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order authorizing the unconstitutional incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II in concentration camps. In remembrance, multimedia artist Taiji Terasaki created Transcendients: Heroes at Borders, an exhibit that pays tribute to activists and advocates throughout the United States who stand for democracy and justice. |
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Transcendient combines two words, transcend and transient, to speak to the immigrant experience—one marked by uncertainty and vulnerability, yet also hope and transcendence.
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Prevention Institute is incredibly proud that our deputy executive director, Manal J. Aboelata, a public health champion, is one of the “transcendient” heroes whose work is spotlighted in the exhibit. “I am honored to be included among people who I admire greatly for their contributions to social justice—people who I have observed both up close and admired from afar in their work, their struggles, and their triumphs.” In the multimedia exhibit, a beautiful piece containing the words “equity,” “community,” and “park equity now” represents Manal’s longstanding commitment to work toward healthy neighborhoods where all people can thrive.
In naming the exhibit “Transcendients: Heroes at Borders,” Terasaki combines the words “transcend” and “transient” to speak to the immigrant experience—one marked by uncertainty and vulnerability, yet also hope and transcendence. Transcendients cross boundaries, literal and figurative. The exhibit includes social justice giants, like Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries; poet and artist Kamau Daaood; and George Takei, known by many as Sulu of Star Trek. Takei was forced to spend most of his childhood imprisoned in a concentration camp with other Japanese Americans. Today, he speaks out for LGBTQ rights and opposes efforts to put immigrant children into detention camps at the US-Mexico border. Transcendients also honors front-and-center leaders like Patrisse Cullors, an artist and co-founder of Black Lives Matter. |
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Manal shares, “Terasaki’s focus on activists, advocates, and social movements reminds us of the progress we’re making, in spite of the difficult times we face. The ‘heroes’ are all people who toil—some out front, some behind the scenes—to bring people together, spark collective action, and make ours a more socially, politically, racially, economically. and environmentally just world. For me, the exhibit is about many unsung heroes and our interwoven legacies. It also reminds us that together we can transcend injustice, violence, and oppression.”
At Prevention Institute, we know that it’s only by transcending injustice, violence, and oppression that everyone will have a full opportunity for health, safety, and wellbeing. And we’re honored to be connected with so many transcendient heroes working to improve conditions in communities across the US.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can visit the exhibit in person. Transcendients: Heroes at Borders runs through March 29 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. Or you can read about the exhibit and the heroes who are featured in it here.
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