To honor the humanity of each Japanese American incarcerated in U.S. camps during WWII, descendants of camp survivors find solace saying aloud the names of their family members. Many religions and cultures have rituals structured around remembrance, where the mere utterance of a person’s name is significant. Calling forth those who have gone before us, we create a sonic refuge connecting the past to the present. Through the invocation of their names, they, in turn, protect us as exemplars of perseverance in the face of injustice. Using the power of our voice, the 'Voicing Refuge' initiative protects the Japanese American WWII incarceration from being excised from our national memory. And by joining our voices together, we become the monument to this history.

Director Bio

Megan Martinez Goltz is an award-winning queer Chicanx filmmaker based in Santa Cruz, California. Their work has been showcased internationally across the United States and Mexico. Supporting various projects across North America, Megan works as a director, editor and sound recordist. They hold a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Digital Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Megan is currently collaborating with cultural organizations to share legacy stories while they complete production on their personal legacy short film titled Bienvenida Abuelita.