My focus is on things that help with daily life while remaining aesthetically pleasing, and things that make you smile, as it's been a tough few years for everyone and any little bit of joy helps!

Yukiko and her friends organized a fundraising event about two weeks after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Thanks to the compassionate supporters of Central Oregon, the group raised over $14,000 in one evening. The response led Yukiko to start Bend-o Bento, the authentic Japanese-style lunch box restaurant.

Lin Hong, the new Bend-La Pine Schools (BLS) Asian Family Liaison, hopes to see students become confident and proud of their cultural roots; Asian students' achievements recognized by the community; Asian family's demands addressed and respected; and an increase in Asian cultural events in Central Oregon.