Download Temple and Sakura Square LLC Mission and Vision Stmts

Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple MISSION STATEMENT
TSDBT’s Board of Directors has defined three basic missions for our Temple in the areas of education, community, and finance.
1. Education: The temple will spread Jodo Shinshu Buddhism through education, including outreach to people unfamiliar with
the Nembutsu path. The Temple will provide educational services to children through Dharma School, high school students
through the Young Buddhist Association (YBA), and to adults through Adult Dharma classes and adult services. We also offer
training for lay ministers.
2. Community: TSDBT has two missions to the community: The first is to help preserve Japanese cultural heritage through
groups and activities. We are fortunate to host such groups as Denver Taiko, DBT Judo Dojo, Japanese Language School,
Kayo Club, Denver Bonsai Club, Aikido Dojo, Japanese Craft Classes, Ohara School of Ikebana, Minyokai, and many other
organizations. We also host the Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri), Kohaku Uta Gassen, Hanamatsuri and Obon.
TSDBT’s heritage is rooted in the Japanese-American community, and the Temple continues to provide a vibrant center for
Japanese American culture.
TSDBT’s second community mission is to express the spirit of selfless giving (dana) to those in need. Reaching out to the
community is part of our expression of gratitude for Amida’s compassion and wisdom. Though most of our efforts are
situation-specific, we participate on a yearly basis in an Inter-Faith Thanksgiving Service with several other religious
institutions in the Denver area. For this service, a different charity/project is selected each year; proceeds are collected at the
service and given 100% to the related organization. We have also established a tradition of hosting the annual 9News Health
Fair at which time free medical screening is made available to the community.
3. Financial: The TSDBT financial mission is not only for the present day survival of the Temple but to insure its existence for
future generations. Financial affairs are managed by committed volunteers who serve on the board of Directors. They have
maintained the Temple’s financial health for many years. The Temple finances its budget from a combination of pledges/dues,
donations and earnings from various fundraisers, including our annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
These three missions are interdependent meaning that none survives without the other two. Because you value Jodo Shinshu, please
also value education, community service and economic responsibility.
Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple VISION STATEMENT
Hearing and Living Within the Dharma by providing a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Spiritual Center which promotes awareness of self and
others and a life of wisdom, compassion and gratitude.
Sakura Square Vision
The Sakura Square Strategic Planning Committee / Cultural Subcommittee are pleased to deliver the following Vision. This
Vision has been guided by the following:
Sakura Foundation Mission:
Sustain the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple and celebrate Japanese-American heritage, culture and community.
Strategic Planning Committee Vision:
Sakura Square should serve as a gateway to downtown Denver, providing a vibrant community gathering place with
businesses, residents and cultural organizations that celebrate the history of the Japanese-American experience and
contribute to the long-term viability of the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.
Cultural Subcommittee Guiding Principle:
Sakura Square should be a vibrant, destination venue. It includes the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple, celebrates
Sakura Square’s Japanese-American cultural identity, and is a gathering and educational place for the greater
community.
The Sakura Square Strategic Planning Committee / Cultural Subcommittee propose that this Vision be used by the Sakura
Foundation and Sakura Square LLC in future management, planning, development and cultural programming at Sakura
Square.
Sakura Square Vision:
1.
2.
3.
The joint Strategic Planning Process conducted by the Sakura Foundation and Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
concluded that it is in the best interest of the Temple and Japanese-American community to maintain long term
control over the redevelopment of the entire Sakura Square block and that future plans and actions should support
that objective.
Sakura Square should continue to welcome and consider comments and suggestions from outside stakeholders in
future development plans and cultural programming.
Plans and actions should support the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple in ways that are consistent with the Vision
Statement of the Temple.
Create a positive environment to support future Temple growth by nurturing it in multiple ways. Collaborate with the
Temple for shared community space and programming for classes, activities and for multiple generations to come
together.
Plans and actions should support sustainability at Sakura Square, including:
a. Financial Sustainability - With sound risk management and tests of alternative development scenarios and financial
outcomes under uncertain future conditions, the financial plan should include an appropriate mix of uses that
produce meaningful financial results so that Sakura Square can thrive, not just survive.
b.
c.
Tamai Tower has played an important role in generating the revenues to support the maintenance and
enhancement of Sakura Square. Therefore, appropriate consideration should be given as to the future role of
Tamai Tower.
Include parking to support the on-site uses at Sakura Square including the Temple, residences, businesses and
special events.
Even cities with large Japanese-American populations have found that to generate sufficient revenue, it is
important to reach out to other Asian cultures and to the general population. Given the need for participation
and support from beyond the Japanese-American community, as well as the diverse population growth in the
surrounding neighborhood, it will be important to attract the greater community beyond Japanese-Americans
and the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.
Lessons learned: be cautious about creating spaces that duplicate existing uses in the surrounding community,
have limited potential demand and/or could be a financial drain, such as a large theater or auditorium. Be
thoughtful about the scale, adaptability and rent-ability of spaces constructed. Be wary of large, single-purpose
or limited-purpose construction projects that might become a financial drain.
Cultural Sustainability - Promote programs, celebrations, festivals, classes and events to spread understanding
about Japanese and Japanese-American culture to everyone with an interest. Activities should deepen
understanding of the Japanese and Japanese-American culture among its generations.
Continue to support a Japanese / Asian grocery store for Japanese, Japanese-American, Asian and other
customers, including the nurturing of Japanese cuisine.
Be open to including Japanese-themed retail businesses (such as restaurants, arts, health care, etc.) and quality
Japanese-oriented office uses (such as Japanese government related, corporate, cultural and community
organizations), while also welcoming cultural diversity.
Avoid lower quality uses; quality is more important than size.
Provide quality space to practice Japanese arts including dance, language, music, and martial arts so that these
programs can continue to grow and are offered in harmony with Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple traditions and
intentions.
Accommodate cultural uses, such as a museum and quality space to honor the history and legacy of JapaneseAmericans and Japanese-American Culture in Colorado.
d.
e.
f.
Recognize individuals who have made special contributions to Japanese-American history in Colorado such as
Rev. Yoshitaka Tamai, Governor Ralph Carr, Mitchie Terasaki, Ellison Onizuka, Bill Hosokawa, Minoru Yasui and
others.
Integrate Japanese-influenced design elements.
Demographic Sustainability - Include activities to strengthen the interest and support of all Japanese-American
generations, as well as the broader community. Youth and young adults are particularly significant.
Environmental Sustainability - Redevelopment plans should incorporate energy and water efficient designs, utilize
renewable materials and resources, and promote healthy indoor environments.
Maintain a safe environment.