In a moving ceremony in South Los Angeles, according to NBC Los Angeles, the community came together to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Michael Watanabe, the longtime leader of the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP). Watanabe, who passed away last November, dedicated nearly five decades to de-stigmatizing mental health and providing critical substance abuse treatment resources to underserved communities. In this article we talk about LA Pays Tribute to Japanese American Leader Who Transformed Mental Health Stigma.
The tribute event at Holman United Methodist Church opened with a traditional Hawaiian procession, honoring Watanabe’s cultural roots as a native of the islands. Current AADAP CEO Dean Nakanishi reflected on his mentor’s indelible impact.
“It was his legacy to try to help folks that are trying to get clean. He did a lot for the community,” Nakanishi said. “Primarily educating folks that there’s a need for treatment services for everybody, but also in the Asian American Pacific Islander community.”
Breaking Ground for Asian American Mental Health
Watanabe helped found AADAP in the 1970s after the drug overdose deaths of 31 Asian American youth brought the need for culturally-competent substance abuse education and treatment to light. For nearly 50 years, it has remained one of the only programs nationwide specifically focused on mental health and addiction support for the AAPI population.
In those early days, Watanabe faced immense challenges just convincing Asian American families that mental health issues and addiction were real problems requiring professional help.
“The Asian community is very proud about who they are. We’re supposed to become professionals, and have a very stable life with the family,” Nakanishi explained. “Anytime you stray from that, it’s very shameful for the family. Many families aren’t willing to be open about their problems.”
But through grassroots outreach, cultural understanding, and undying perseverance, Watanabe helped begin breaking down those long-held stigmas. His compassion, humility, and leadership inspired generations in the fight against addiction andmental health prejudices in the AAPI community.
“When folks see addiction flyers on our table, they’ll kind of put their head down and just keep walking,” Nakanishi said. “They don’t want to address the issue. They don’t want to even talk about the issue.”
Despite the progress made, that lingering stigma remains a major hurdle that AADAP continues battling to this day, hosting seminars and outreach in multiple Asian languages.
A Bridge to South LA’s Other Communities
While tackling stigma in his own community, Watanabe worked hand-in-hand with other underserved groups across South LA. It was there he first crossed paths with a young community organizer named Karen Bass in the 1980s amid the devastating crack cocaine epidemic.
“I wanted to start an organization but I really didn’t know anything about addiction except it was devastating the community,” said Bass, now the Mayor of Los Angeles. “Mike tapped me on the back. In a calm, humble way, he set me straight and told me what I needed to do.”
The future mayor credits Watanabe as her “bridge, guide and mentor” in those formative years, illustrating his reach across racial and cultural lines in addressing addiction and mental health.
Watanabe’s Enduring Legacy Soldiers On
Though the pioneering AADAP founder may be gone, his spirit and life’s mission live on through the organization and the many lives he touched. AADAP staffers remain committed to reducing stigma and providing essential mental health resources to the AAPI community in LA.
The group continues hosting seminars aimed at educating Asian ethnic groups about substance abuse and mental health issues. An upcoming June 12th panel will feature Korean-language experts discussing addiction.
“A lot of times when we do this event, we have trouble because of the shame and stigma. They don’t show up,” Nakanishi admitted. “But we’re hoping to educate more Koreans about addiction and substance abuse by working with the Korean consulate office.”
It’s an immense challenge, but one Nakanishi and the AADAP team take on with the same persevering spirit Watanabe embodied over his decades of pioneering work.
A Beacon of Compassion and Understanding
In honoring Michael Watanabe’s legacy, those who knew him best continually emphasized his humility, warmth and limitless empathy for those suffering from the societal ills of addiction, substance abuse, and untreated mental illness.
Mayor Bass summarized it best: “Mike tapped me on the back. In a calm, humble way, he set me straight and told me what I needed to do.”
That simple approach – meeting people where they are, leading with compassion, and uplifting through understanding – defined Watanabe’s life and work. He gently guided communities tragically impacted by addiction and mental health stigma toward healing, resources, and acceptance.
As the Asian American Drug Abuse Program presses forward in carrying that torch, the people of Los Angeles can take immense pride in celebrating one of their own as a true social justice pioneer. Michael Watanabe was a humble, brilliant beam of light piercing through the darkness of prejudice surrounding addiction and mental illness.
His extraordinary legacy shines on as an inspiration to embrace vulnerabilities, remove stigmas, and extend a helping hand to all those struggling in the shadows. In that spirit of openness, empathy and care for all, the citizens of LA from all walks of life can honor Watanabe’s memory. I sincerely hope you find this “LA Pays Tribute to Japanese American Leader Who Transformed Mental Health Stigma – Inspiring Story Revealed” article helpful.