Vivian Morrison

I'm Ruth Kodish-Eskind, and it's March 30th, and may I have your consent to record this interview?

Pardon me.

May I have your consent to record this interview?

Yes.

Would you state your name?

Vivian Morrison.

Great. Um, so can you tell me about your relationship to the film festival or to the community center?

Um, it would be really more to the film festival. I've been a volunteer for the festival for years. I haven't lately, but, um, let's say from like, 2010 to 2016, um, I was a volunteer. And sometimes for the J also. I really appreciated being here. The J um, in itself. I was raised in Chicago, and there was a neighborhood JCC that I volunteered at, and there were all kinds of clubs and things that you can do. So it was really nice to be here in the northwest and also have the same kind of, um, community here that people can come to. And so there are definitely events that I've, musical events and other events that I have participated in. Unfortunately, I don't live that close. I live south of Tacoma, or also, I'm sure I would be more of a participant in what happens here because it's Jewish community and it's lots of different things and they're really enjoyable events. And I appreciate the the film festival as well. Um, the opportunity to have films like this year, there's two films that were made in Europe about the Holocaust, and I look forward to seeing them virtually. So having, like during the Covid, having virtual films available was absolutely terrific. I really appreciate, um, Pam Lavitt and all the work that she puts into putting this on and all the volunteers that are here helping to make it a really enjoyable event, and it always is.

I'm curious if you would talk about the JCC in Chicago. What did you do there as a kid?

Um, I was a volunteer. Well, actually, I was employed there, I actually ran groups for children while I was in high school. Um, so we had a cooking class. And I think that was the only one that I can remember offhand. But I had a couple cooking classes for little, you know, kids that were like 11, 12, 13 years old. I think I was 16, 17, or 18 at that time.

And when you moved here, uh, how did you find the JCC?

Well, I lived in Seattle, and so just through newspapers, you know, it became connections with the community. And I found out that it opened up.

Yeah. Um, any memorable events in your life that happened in this building?

Um. Not specifically, no. Just the in general, the, um, the ability to be here and I share things. My family doesn't particularly belong to the JCC, but, um, music that I've heard here, I bring to my family, and they enjoy it, and they have copies of the music that's heard here, even though they weren't able to participate.

Thank you so much.

Oh. You're welcome. It's a pleasure.