Matsuri Rant

So. I don't know where to start. But doing my best.
My Shin temple has been the main and only Japanese temple in Arizona (we had 2 that got merged). Many of the community in my life were born and or raised in interment (I am one of the younger in the community). These are families who formed the temple and got sent to internment to try to start over.
SO! They started their own general "Matsuri" outside of obon and other events for the Japanese and was more like a "large public post picnic".
The city of Phoenix eventually got involved. Once city realized they'd made money off of it it was like a sentence for my community. More and more the council is Caucasian (so am I) who weirdly crave this Edo Era in ways that hold back the festival. They demand someone from our group be on the board yet also ignore the suggestions we have. The current largest board member is a Caucasian board member who has had nothing but greed as this is her paid entrepreneurship to the point where she tries to take the stages ALL day as WELL as the equipment. We have been pushed back to a small stage so unsafe for our senior dancers but lucked out last year. This year most of her students have left her and that seemed to have humbled her. I have been asked moving forward to be on the board but I have multiple temple duties as is, my family, my sales jobs and I can't control when board meetings are. I also don't want to be another Caucasian person on the board even though I will DIPLOMATICALLY BURN anyone as I reinforce WHO this all started from after intermnemt as this JAPANESE AND BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES MAIN CELEBRATORY TIME AS A COMMUNITY (yes we have obon, mochitsuki, hanamatsuri andany other but THEY DON'T REACH THE COMMUNITY THE SAME). I just don't know what to do and I am so frustrated for those I love and care for with so much of my well deserved free time. This year I am learning dances in a night of my free time to teach the others. But I am already pressured from my job, yet I refuse to fail my community first. But I don't know how to get this Sangha the speaking power we need. I am mostly here to vent. Thank you for your time and kindness.

I am so sorry for the stressful situation you are in! I hope you have found someone in your community to help you though this decision making process.

Thank you I think it will take time but I trust in the City eventually doing the right thing. You can't shove the Japanese church and community of 40 years out when this was always "just for us" but always open and welcome to all. Then we should not be the first ones shut out. Japan is so much more Modern than what the PHX board members hold on to portraying every year and I will find my way to make that evolve to what everyone really deserves. Thank you for your kindness and support.