Kurt Ikeda

Background

About Kurt Ikeda

Kurt Ikeda, Director of Interpretation and Education, Minidoka National Historic Site. Kurt (he/him) is a 2nd generation Japanese American educator, child of immigrants, and descendant of WWII incarceration survivors. He previously served as the Education Specialist for Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Hagerman Fossil Beds, and Minidoka National Historic Site. He started his Minidoka journey as a Northwest Youth Corp and Friends of Minidoka in 2018. Prior to the National Park Service, Kurt served as the Education Manager for the Japanese American Museum of Oregon and interim Executive Director for OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates – Los Angeles. He was introduced to community work through the Japanese American Citizens League and has served the organization at the local, regional, and national level. Kurt received his B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles and M.A. in Urban Education: Educational Policy and Administration from Loyola Marymount University. His work is inspired by the students of Camino Nuevo High School, where he taught 9th grade English through Teach for America. Raised in the Asian American communities of Los Angeles, Kurt now resides in Twin Falls, Idaho with his beloved wife. His mission is to preserve the legacy of the unjust WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans through education, poetry, and community building.