We sat down with New Breath Foundation’s Program Manager, Mari Yamagiwa, to reflect on their past four years with the organization. Mari shared what first inspired her path into movement work, how she supports grantee partners across multiple levels, and the importance of care and creativity in sustaining this work. Mari is based in Chicago, IL.
Q: Can you walk us through a day in your life as a Program Manager at New Breath Foundation?
No two days are the same. I support our grantee partners throughout the year, from coordinating capacity-building programs to managing the logistics behind our grantmaking processes. That includes administrative and technical support, coaching coordination, and planning our annual convening.
We offer grantees three main kinds of support. First, there’s coaching, which includes matching organizational leaders with trusted coaches for one-on-one or group support. Second, we provide organizational assessments so groups can reflect on their strengths and growth areas. Third, our annual convening brings together grantees and our Community Advisory Committee to build relationships, resource one another, and strengthen the broader movement ecosystem. I love that we get to support leaders on multiple levels: individual, organizational, and collective.
Q: What first drew you to movement work?
I started my career working with grassroots Japanese American and Asian American organizations in Chicago, and I saw firsthand the power of communities leading and being the decision-makers in their own change. That work felt deeply personal. It made me reflect on my identity, my community’s place in the world, and how we show up aligned with our values.
In college, I studied Asian American Studies and began making connections across histories and struggles. I realized how systemic oppression affects so many communities – communities of color, disabled folks, and beyond – and how our liberation is linked. That belief continues to guide me.
Q: What led you to New Breath Foundation? What do you enjoy most about working at NBF?
Honestly, it was kind of serendipitous. I hadn’t heard of NBF before applying, but a friend sent me the job posting. As soon as I read the description, I knew it aligned with my values and the work I wanted to do. They hadn’t widely posted the job, so it really felt like the right opportunity at the right time.
What I enjoy the most about NBF is our team. We’re small but mighty, and every person is deeply committed to our mission, our grantee partners, and each other. That care and trust are present in everything we do.
I also love building relationships with our grantee partners. There’s a level of trust and mutual understanding that feels different from traditional funder relationships. Many of us on staff have deep community connections, and Eddy (our President & Founder) has long-standing relationships that continue to shape how we show up. It feels like we’re in this together.
Q: You’ve been with NBF for four years. How has the organization evolved?
When I joined, we had just launched the We Got Us Fund. It felt like such a big dream; we were only a team of four! Since then, we’ve grown significantly in capacity, reach, and community. Today, we’re a staff of 6 members, supporting over 30 grantee partners through the fund. Eddy’s bold vision, combined with our ability to respond and strategize, allows us to keep evolving and turning ideas into reality.
We’re also constantly learning and adapting. Our programs team is always asking: How can we better support our grantees? What can we improve? That ongoing reflection helps us meet emerging needs, especially in today’s shifting political climate.
Q: What are some highlights or memories that stand out from your time at NBF?
Our first in-person grantee convening is one I’ll never forget. It was the first time I met many of our partners in person, not just as funders for organizational leaders but as people. There was such a generosity of spirit, care, and mutual respect in the room. I remember thinking, “This is the kind of world we’re trying to build.” Those moments remind me it’s possible to build this on a larger scale, where we feel cared for and supported in our needs – where relationships feel meaningful. Convenings are always a highlight, and yes, karaoke is a big part of that! After deep, often heavy conversations, it feels just as meaningful to laugh, sing, and be joyful together.
Q: What does self-care look like for you in this work?
I have a background in trauma-informed mental health, and something I’m very mindful of is the impact of secondary trauma. We can be affected by the pain and struggles of others by being in proximity. Care is essential for sustainability for all of us in this work.
For me, that means staying grounded in local abolitionist organizing in Chicago. It also means making space and time for creativity: writing, visual art, even just being silly. I’ve been writing more poetry lately and recently shared my work publicly for the first time. Creativity reminds me that life isn’t only about struggle, but it’s also about joy, pleasure, and play. It’s part of my surviving and thriving; it’s what it means to embody my values. I believe in a world where we all have access to that, and want to remember all those different parts of myself.
I’ve also just been lying down more, being extra tender with myself and the people around me. I’m reminded that we are not machines, that we were not built to endure all that these systems (i.e. capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, patriarchy, etc.) put on our bodies. I am always learning from my ancestors what it means to live out what Grace Lee Boggs said – “The only way to survive is by taking care of one another.”
Q: Speaking of self-care, can you share more about your furry bunny friend, Q*bert?
Q*bert, my bunny, is a big part of my self-care. He has been my unofficial coworker and companion for the past couple of years. He keeps me company and is very sweet. He also knows how cute he is, which means he gets away with asking for lots of treats.
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Mari Yamagiwa (she/they) is a 4th-generation Nikkei (Japanese diaspora), and descendant of WWII incarcerees. Mari was born and raised in the traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe, also known as Chicago. Before their work at New Breath Foundation, Mari worked in Chicago-area AAPI communities, focusing on education, identity work, and leadership development. She holds a BA in psychology, with a minor in Asian American studies, and an MSW from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She continues to speak publicly on the impact of Japanese American incarceration, connecting her community’s history to current movements for liberation and also creates healing spaces for her community. Mari gets most excited about her bunny, being creative, and building a world where we are all free!