Meet Janice Munemitsu | Author, The Kindness of Color

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janice Munemitsu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janice, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I never thought to write a book, but my family’s story intersects with the Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez family in the 1940s. The Mendez’ were lead plaintiffs and initiated the Mendez, et al. v. Westminster, et al. federal class action lawsuit that led to the desegregation of California Public Schools in 1947, seven years before Brown v. Education nationally ini 1954. While ten members of my family were unjustly incarcerated just because of their Japanese heritage, the Mendez’ were fighting for equality in education. Our family was held in Poston, AZ internment camp where nearly 18,000 Japanese Americans were relocated in the midst of the Colorado River Indian Tribe reservation, making Poston Arizona’s third largest “city” during WWII. Dr. Al Mijares, Superintendent of Orange County Dept. of Education and his team, as well as several notable authors, were instrumental in convincing me that the story was book worthy. With the support of Sylvia Mendez who scribed the forward, I wrote our families’ stories of kindness, multi-cultural collaboration and trusted relationships in the midst of racism and adversity.

What should our readers know about your business?
I grew up on a strawberry farm in Garden Grove CA. Working since I was 5 years old, my childhood was not typical for Southern California, though I did get to go to Disneyland once every summer when my cousins came to visit. In many ways, I am the least-likely, but was voted “most likely to succeed” in high school. My parents taught me hard work, perseverance in the midst of adversity, and to be true to myself and my faith. I graduated from the University of Southern Calif with a bachelors in business and MBA. This led me to a 20 year career in Consumer Food Products, working at various corporations – Clorox, Mars, Inc., and ConAgra Foods. As the first female Vice President at Hunt Wesson/ConAgra Foods Division, I was leading a $250million portfolio of food businesses (1990 dollars). This career was all about bringing food for the tummy to 30,000 grocery stores across America. Next, I was divinely led to serve my church and non-profit ministries in the area of stewardship and generosity.  In the midst of loss/death of family members, I needed spiritual healing and enrolled at the Institute of Spiritual Formation, Biola University, Talbot Seminary where I earned a MA degree in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. I currently have a private practice as a spiritual director, as well as spend the majority of my time at speaking events, sharing the story of “The Kindness of Color.” My current work is focussed on nurturing and care for the soul… and inspiring hope and cultivating kindness!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love museums and historical spots! Day 1: Mendez Tribute Monument Park, Westminster CA that commemorates the Mendez v Westminster and touring the area where I grew up, less than 5 miles from Disneyland Anaheim! Korean Corn Dog for lunch, and an afternoon at the Bowers Museum, Santa Ana. Mrs. Knott’s Fried Chicken for dinner. Porto’s Cuban bakery for cheese rolls and potato balls! Day 2: Whale Watching out of Dana Point Harbor, a dolphin “safari” and hopefully, some whales! Then a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano – one of 21 missions and the founding of California by the Spaniards in the 1700s. Fish Tacos in Dana Point for lunch and a hike along the Dana Point Headlands, with dinner in artistic community of Laguna Beach. Day 3: Hiking at Crystal Cove State Park – picnic lunch on the beach, and then hanging out at the beach for the rest of the day. Bear Flag Fish Tacos for dinner! I love Fish Tacos! Day 4: A weekday drive to LA for the Japanese American National Museum for their permanent collection of Japanese American history and then dinner in Little Tokyo. Day 5: A walk around Balboa Island, brunch at Wilmas, before leaving for Long Beach for the Aquarium of the Pacific. I love aquariums too! Dinner along 2nd Street, Long Beach – lots of good choices there! Day 6: another weekday drive to West LA for The Getty Museum. Lunch at the Museum and then “yelping” some cool Santa Monica restaurant for dinner – trying to miss most of the traffic back to Orange County. Day 7: A chill day for a beach walk and toes in the sand!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh, there are so many! First of all, my grandparents, parents and aunts! They lived this story that I have the privilege to tell. I would not have seen the influence of our family story had Dr. Al Mijares, Superintendent of Orange County Dept. of Education and Dr. Jeff Hittenberger, former Chief Academic Officer not persistently encouraged me to write our story. Dolley Carlson, Author of The Red Coat, was eaves-dropping at a restaurant when I was telling a friend about our story. She turned around and said, “You should write a book!” In another divinely appointed connection, I met Bob Goff, New York Times Best-Selling author, who asked me what I was working on. When I told him, he asked for the draft which I sheepishly sent him. The next day, he said, “This is a book!” Sylvia Mendez, the daughter of Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, who was denied enrollment at the “white” school and forced to go to the ‘Mexican” school that had no academic curriculum has also been an inspiration to put both of our verbal stories in print. I wanted to have the book in time for the 75th Anniversary of the case in 2022, so I self published it with the help of Drew Tilton, AsioCreative; Jessica Snell, Editing; Natalie Johnson, Layout/Web Design, and May Angeles Brueckner, Cover Design.

Website: https://thekindnessofcolor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekindnessofcolor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-munemitsu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceMunemitsu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekindnessofcolor