Kelsey Ichikawa (she/her)

Bio

I'm a fourth generation Japanese American (Yonsei) from the Bay Area / Ohlone land. Currently I work with San Jose Nikkei Resisters to build community care structures and abolitionist futures. In college I studied neuroscience and philosophy, and I'm passionate about unpacking the intertwined politics and ethics of science & technology. I enjoy museums, sci-fi, eating peanut butter out of the jar, and running.

Solidarity Arts Fellowship reflection

The fellowship helped me learn how to generate the conditions for genuine connection across multiple faiths, cultures, and geographies, and especially virtually. I started with questions like "what does healing mean? and what does collective healing mean?", and each time we gathered, I uncovered a bit more of the answers. SAF also helped ground my understanding of our interlinked histories and struggles.

Object of resilience

I chose my journal as my object of resilience because it provides an open space for dialogue and complete honesty with myself. It is an outlet for processing difficult emotions, a place to try out new poetry, and a means of stitching myself together with greater clarity.