Volunteer Spotlight: Arlene and Hiroshi Kanno
How long have you been volunteering with CoCoDems?
We have been volunteering for about 30 years when we first arrived here.
What inspired you to start volunteering with us?
Arlene: I joined the Chicago Teachers Union ~1966. Marched on a picket line in January! Was in a public HS in central Chicago when Dr. King was assassinated (Molotov cocktail was thrown into principal's office). CoCo Dems was the logical place where we could exercise our rights and fulfill an active role as RESPONSIBLE citizens (and meet like-minded people).
Hiroshi: We are both dedicated Democrats. In Chicago I was the first Asian American to run for Chicago City Council from a precinct on Chicago's south side where we grew up.
What is your role with CoCoDems? In what ways are you involved?
Arlene: Canvassing, staffing and furnishing the headquarters, contributing to cost of headquarters rent. Staffing the booth at County Fair. Floating ideas and questions for candidates. Pot lucks.
Hiroshi: I was the vice chair of the party. Did lit drops, worked for local candidates, and was town clerk for town of Newport.
Why would you suggest other people considering volunteering with CoCoDems?
Arlene: People should join for networking, help formulate and prioritize issues and goals, and construct new strategies to improve our democracy. Discover the wealth of abilities that our members have. Encourage each other to try new things.
Hiroshi: We need to change the direction this country is headed. We need to win in 2026 and 2028 or else.
What is your connection to Columbia County?
Arlene: We bought a small farm in 1991 and moved to Wisconsin in 1999 after retirement—partly to enjoy the greater space, clean skies, the plethora of greenery, wildlife, mushrooms, raise some edibles, observe nature at work. Also discovered that my paternal birth grandmother was born in Newport (although my dad was "relinquished" to a foster mother and raised in urban Chicago). There is a street bearing her surname; I actually have some newfound relatives living in the area.
We got the farm from strong Democrats who have become great friends and strengthened my newfound cultural background. We treasure the many groups which support sustainability, history, and the beauty of natural Wisconsin.
Hiroshi: We moved here because Arlene's family is from this area.
What is a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
Arlene: Hiroshi stopped learning/using Japanese language when his family was put into an internment camp [we can relate to internees today!!] He has a yearbook of the experiences in Minidoka ID. His parents and he were able to get out early and go to Michigan because his father got a job teaching Japanese language to the US Military. Hiroshi has a doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts. I have learned a smattering of Japanese [doko benjo?] and three of our children have studied it in high school and college.
My Stomner grandparents were of Norwegian origin. I also have Czech/Bohemian ancestors and know a few words of Bohemian; I've visited some of the ancestral villages and done a lot of genealogy. I am a science educator and my last employment was doing science staff development in the inner city of Chicago.
l am dedicated to encouraging scientific thinking and applying it to our world. >> There is NO ONE "Scientific METHOD" << That is a fabrication promulgated by textbook publishers which unfortunately omits CURIOSITY and understanding of VARIABLES. And the recent focus on "STEM" greatly reduces interest and study of our ENVIRONMENT just when we need it!
Hiroshi: I spent my early years in an internment camp in Idaho. I’m a second generation citizen. We are progressive and productive (8 children and 8 grandsons).