Who we are
Minoru “Min” Tonai, born in 1929 and living to the age of 93, devoted his long life to being an outspoken advocate and leader in the Japanese American community. Incarcerated with his family at Amache in Colorado from 1942 to 1944, he was tireless in telling the story of what his family, and those of so many others, had to endure in camps throughout the country during WWII. As a Korean War veteran, he was active in an effort to bring recognition for the contributions of American soldiers in that conflict. And, as the son of a teacher, he was always passionate about the importance of education. He shared his experience widely with young students, encouraging them to speak up against injustice, so that what had happened to his family would not ever happen again. Min’s three children — Susan, John, and Teresa — continue to carry on his legacy.
Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning teacher librarian who has worked with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Her grandparents lived just down the road from Amache, and she first learned of it from her family, not in school. Jolene now shares the history of Amache with her students and it was her honor to partner with Minoru Tonai to tell his family’s story. Jolene lives in Denver, Colorado, and is the author of many books for young readers, including Too Much!, The Ofrenda That We Built, and Mamiachi & Me
Chris Sasaki is an Emmy and Annie Award-winning animation artist. Along with their work on major motion pictures such as Monsters University, Inside Out, and Onward, they have illustrated several books for young readers, including, Home Is a Window, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for best picture book and the Dilys Evans Founder’s Award from the Society of Illustrators. Chris is based in Los Angeles, where they live with their dog, Ghost.