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IFJC Congratulates Board Member Francis Adewale on His Appointment as President-Elect of the Washington State Bar Association

Seattle, WA – September 7, 2024 – The International Families Justice Coalition (IFJC) is proud to announce that our esteemed board member, Francis Adewale, has been sworn in as the President-Elect of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). This significant achievement marks a major milestone in Francis’s lifelong commitment to leadership within the legal community and the pursuit of justice. In his announcement, Francis expressed his gratitude for the mentorship of Judge Anthony Gipe, co-founder of IFJC and former WSBA President. Judge Gipe, who served as WSBA President ten years ago, has been a guiding force in Francis’s career, encouraging him to step into leadership roles within the bar. Francis noted that Judge Gipe first gave him a platform to express his voice in the Bar News and has been a constant source of support and inspiration. While we are overjoyed at Francis’s remarkable achievement, we regretfully announce his resignation from the IFJC Board of Directors. His new role as President-Elect of WSBA requires his full focus and dedication, but he has generously offered to remain involved with IFJC as a volunteer on an ad hoc basis. We look forward to his continued contributions to our organization in this capacity. IFJC is incredibly proud to be associated with such accomplished and dedicated professionals. The fact that we now have two WSBA Presidents―Francis Adewale as President-Elect and Judge Gipe, who served as President a decade ago―demonstrates the caliber of leadership and expertise that defines our organization. Both have been instrumental in furthering IFJC’s mission of providing critical legal services to families in need, and their leadership extends far beyond IFJC’s walls. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Francis for this well-deserved honor and express our deepest gratitude for his ongoing support of IFJC. His leadership and dedication have left an indelible mark on our organization, and we know his presidency at WSBA will continue to uplift and strengthen the legal profession across the state. Warm congratulations, Francis! IFJC stands with you and wishes you the very best in your new role.

IFJC Welcomes Terry Kinjo as New Executive Director

Seattle, WA – June 3, 2024 – The Board of Directors of the International Families Justice Coalition (IFJC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Terry Kinjo as its new Executive Director. Terry brings a unique blend of experience from the IT sector and a deep passion for social justice, making him an exceptional fit for leading IFJC into its next chapter.

Terry Kinjo has spent over two decades working in the translation technology field with industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Uber. His contributions have been instrumental in the successful release of products and services such as Xbox, AWS, and the Amazon retail site across various regions. Despite this being a new professional chapter, Terry is no stranger to the legal realm. A decade ago, he made history by becoming the very first “first gentleman” of a Washington State Bar Association President, giving him a profound understanding of the legal challenges and opportunities within the community.

“We are honored to welcome Terry Kinjo as our new Executive Director,” said Naoko Shatz, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Terry’s extensive experience in technology and his commitment to social justice align perfectly with our mission. We are confident that his leadership will propel IFJC to new heights.”

Terry Kinjo expressed his enthusiasm for joining IFJC, stating, “My career has been driven by a passion for innovation and helping others, and I am excited to bring that same energy to IFJC. Ensuring equal access to legal assistance and support for marginalized individuals is a cause close to my heart.”

IFJC has been a vital resource in the community, providing essential legal services, educational programs, and advocacy for indigent immigrant families. With Terry Kinjo at the helm, the organization is poised to enter a new era of growth and increased impact.

Welcome, Terry, to the IFJC team!

Warmly,
IFJC Board of Directors

IFJC Featured on King5’s New Day Northwest

Today, Japanese Consul General “Jiro” Yamada and IFJC Co-Founder Naoko Inoue Shatz were featured on King5’s morning news talk program New Day Northwest. Their interview with King5’s Margaret Larson highlights the growing issue of how foreign-born spouses become silent victims when facing divorce. 

https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/new-day-northwest/foreign-wives-divorce-japanese-consul-yoichiro-yamada/281-eb20d9c2-182c-422c-bd65-b66e5c911b27


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IFJC Testifies in the WA State Senate

Today, IFJC Co-Founder Naoko Shatz and Executive Director Linda Inagawa travelled to Olympia, Washington to testify in support of Senate Bill 5984, authored by Senator Lisa Wellman, at the Law and Justice Committee Meeting in the Washington State Senate. This Bill would require all documents in cases involving divorces to be translated or interpreted for foreign-born spouses. Naoko testified giving examples of the many cases she has witnessed where due to cultural and linguistic barriers, the outcomes were bleak due to spouses unknowingly signing away their rights. Linda testified that despite over 160 languages spoken in our state, which is the third most linguistically diverse in the nation, each WA State resident has a right to equal justice.

IFJC Co-Founder Sworn in as Judge

IFJC Co-Founder Anthony Gipe was appointed by the Mayor of Kent to become judge in the Kent Municipal Court. Today he was sworn in! Several IFJC Board members were able to attend this ceremony, and we are very proud of him! Judge Gipe has recused himself of all IFJC operations, but he is able to continue to provide educational training for our volunteer attorneys, general CLE Trainings, IFJC Naval Base Special Trainings and for Judicial International Family Law Educational Trainings.

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IFJC Provides Training to the Navy

IFJC Co-Founder Naoko Shatz and Executive Director Linda Inagawa travelled to Bangor Naval Submarine Base in Silverdale, WA to provide training to the Kitsap-based Navy Ombudsmen on International Family Law Issues. The 25+ Ombudsmen received this specialized training from IFJC to aid their Family Readiness Region Work to over 15 naval vessel families from all around the United States. There are many foreign-born spouse families in the Navy, and the Ombudsmen were eager to learn about how to best assist bicultural and bilingual families before, during and after times of crisis.

Working on issues regarding unfair divorce –part I-

In June 2017, not long after I arrived in Seattle, Ms. Naoko Inoue, a legal advisor to the Consulate, visited our office. After we discussed legal matters related to the office, she started to talk about an unexpected topic. She informed me that there are a significant number of women here in Washington State who were in international marriages and suffered terrible domestic violence, leaving them no choice but to divorce under unfair conditions that drove them and their children to their mental and financial limits. Ms. Inoue has dealt with serious cases pro bono, but because there are many such cases, she decided to found a non-profit organization so that she could work on this issue more systematically.

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