Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Executive Director to Step Down – Rafu Shimpo

POWELL, Wyo. – Dakota Russell, govt director of the Coronary heart Mountain Wyoming Basis, will go away his place Could 31 to imagine the management of the Home of the Seven Gables Settlement Affiliation in Salem, Mass.

Aura Sunada Newlin, secretary of the inspiration’s Board of Administrators and descendant of Coronary heart Mountain incarcerees, will take the helm as interim govt director.

Russell joined Coronary heart Mountain in 2016 as museum supervisor and have become govt director in 2018. He has led the inspiration’s restoration of the unique 1942 barrack and 1943 root cellar and expanded its nationwide and worldwide outreach actions.

He has additionally made important progress in its capital marketing campaign to construct the Mineta-Simpson Institute at Coronary heart Mountain, which is able to host workshops and create programming designed to make use of the teachings of the previous to construct a greater future. Groundbreaking for the brand new wing will happen July 30 on the annual Coronary heart Mountain Pilgrimage.

Russell leaves the inspiration able of energy. “It’s bittersweet to be leaving,” he stated, “however I’m pleased with what we’ve been capable of accomplish in my time right here. Coronary heart Mountain is now a nationwide chief in educating concerning the incarceration of Japanese Individuals throughout World Battle II, and telling that story is extra essential than ever.”

Sunada Newlin, a basis board member since 2013, is a Wyoming native and trainer of Asian American research on the College of Wyoming. She was beforehand a tenured college member in anthropology and sociology at Northwest School and is a long-standing board member of the Nationwide Consortium on Racial & Ethnic Equity within the Courts.

Sunada Newlin stated she is resolute in her dedication to Coronary heart Mountain’s continued success. “I take this duty significantly and can do what it takes to advance the inspiration’s mission.”

“I’m endlessly in Dakota’s debt for his multifaceted contribution to our basis and museum, and we’re thrilled that Aura is taking over this publish together with her appreciable accomplishments,” stated Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of the inspiration board.

Douglas Nelson, vice chair of the inspiration board, stated Russell made “large contributions to constructing our future, and we’re grateful for Aura agreeing to step in. She’ll do an exquisite job.”

The Coronary heart Mountain Wyoming Basis preserves the historic web site the place some 14,000 Japanese Individuals have been unjustly incarcerated from 1942 by means of 1945. The tales of these incarcerees are informed inside the basis’s museum, Coronary heart Mountain Interpretive Middle, positioned between Cody and Powell. For extra info, name (307) 754-8000 or electronic mail information@heartmountain.org.