User:Jack Tarre/sandbox

Jack Tarre is trying to create a new Wikipedia page about actress, singer and activist Jennifer Kumiyama of Long Beach, California. While she has appeared on television, movies and the stage, Ms. Kumiyama does not yet have her own Wikipedia article. I noticed this while reviewing the Wikipedia page on the Disney movie "Wish," which includes Jennifer as one of the main characters.

Next, I'll try a little copy and paste from a text file on my machine to see how that goes. Sure hope I don't have to re-write the entire article!

Well, that worked out nicely. Now I'll try adding some links and citations.

Jennifer Kumiyama is a singer, actress, local government professional and disability rights activist living in Long Beach, California. She has performed on stage and screen in a variety of productions while working to improve the lives and strengthen the voice of the disability community.

A former Ms. Wheelchair California (crowned 2010) Jennifer is currently the Accessibility Coordinator at the City of Long Beach.

Early Life:

Jennifer was born February 21, 1980 in Riverside, California to Marilynn Pace and Eddie Kumiyama. The family moved to Heidleberg, Germany in 1981 and remained for two years living on an American military base before returning to Riverside, California for one year.

By 1985 the family moved to Long Beach, California where Jennifer began school at Benjamin F. Tucker Elementary School, spending kindergarten and first grade there and playing the Good Ship Lollipop in her kindergarten’s Christmas program.

She attended George Washington Carver Elementary School, also in Long Beach, then the family moved to Fontana, California in 1990, where Jennifer attended Maple Elementary School. Here she sang in the school choir and played snare drum in the All City Honor Orchestra.

After completing Fontana’s Alder Middle School, Jennifer graduated from A. B. Miller High School as an honor thespian in 1998. She went on to Riverside Community College in 1999, then moved to Long Beach and attended Long Beach City College and the California State University Long Beach for voice training.

Career:

Jennifer began her career as a singer in 2000 with an appearance on the “Popstars 2” reality television show by Warner Bros. Her performance garnered both accolades and interest from the entertainment industry and she soon found herself employed at the Disney California Adventure Theme Park.

At Disney Jennifer performed in the live show “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular,” which was seen daily by some 8,000 guests from all over the world. She was the first ever Disney actor to perform onstage in a wheelchair. The busy work schedule, which required four performances each day for up to five days a week, seasoned the young performer and brought her wider public exposure. Jennifer joined the cast of Aladdin in 2002 and the show closed in 2016, allowing her a 13 year run as a member of the ensemble.

2011 marked Jennifer’s movie debut as Carmen in Fox Searchlight’s Oscar-nominated film “The Sessions,” alongside Helen Hunt, William H. Macy and John Hawkes. The movie’s plot involves a man with polio who wants to explore intimacy for the first time with a surrogate lover.

In 2022 Jennifer joined the cast of “Wish,” an animated musical feature film by Disney. Jennifer performs both voice over work and singing as the character Dahlia, the royal baker who is also the best friend of the protagonist Asha. Dahlia is the unofficial leader of The Teens, a group of youths destined to set things right in the mythical kingdom of Rosas.

While busy pursuing a career in the arts, Jennifer performed both volunteer and professional duties in the world of government, politics and advocacy. She began her life in public service as a commissioner for the Long Beach Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD) serving from 2014 through 2016. The nine-member commission, which is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, compiles information, reviews studies and data, and advises city government on issues concerning the disabled community.

In 2016 Jennifer worked in the Long Beach City Council office of Lena Gonzalez (district 1.) Gonzalez would go on to become a California State Senator representing District 33 which includes Long Beach and surrounding cities. Jennifer also worked in the office of former Long Beach mayor Dr. Robert Garcia (2014-2022) who would go on to become a United States Congressman representing the 42nd district, including Long Beach and neighboring cities to the north.

Currently Jennifer works as the Citywide Accessibility Coordinator for the office of the Long Beach City Manager. She is also an elected delegate for the California Democratic Party representing the 69th Assembly district that includes Long Beach, Carson, Signal Hill and parts of Lakewood and northern Orange County.

Personal:

Jennifer was born with Arthrogryposis, a term used to describe a variety of conditions involving multiple joint contractors (or stiffness.) This condition means the range of motion of a joint is limited and unable to extend. She uses a wheelchair daily.

Jennifer is the eldest of six siblings. Her parents divorced when she was young and her father married Henrietta Orbon, who cared for Jennifer from age 4 to 2018. Henrietta and Jennifer were very close. With the nickname of Hank, Henrietta played a large role in shaping Jennifer into the person she is today. Henrietta died of cancer in 2020 at age 57.

Jennifer’s biological mother Marilynn has re-married and lives in Southern California. Her father Eddie lives in Long Beach and works across California.

Along with winning the Ms. Wheelchair California title in 2010, Jennifer was the first runner up Ms. Wheelchair America in 2011. She  has been active with a number of disability advocacy organizations including but not limited to the national United Spinal Association headquartered in New York, the Disabled Resources Center and the Tichenor Clinic for Children, both in Long Beach.

In 2022 Jennifer founded Long Beach Disability Pride, which tasks itself with “celebrating Long Beach’s diverse disability community all day, every day,” according to the group’s website.

And she’s a cat person, owning three of the whiskered mammals named Hedwig, Princess Leia and R2D2.

Reflecting on her life as both an advocate for disability rights and a public example of what members of the disabled community can achieve, Jennifer told the Fontana Herald News in a November 2023 interview that “Growing up, kids like me with disabilities didn’t see themselves represented in any media. I get the distinct honor of being that representation for kids today. Representation really matters, and kids with disabilities need to see themselves in every aspect of media.”

Filmography:

Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular by Disney (live performance)

2002-2016

The Sessions by Warner Bros. (motion picture)

2011

MTV’s Awkward (television)

2012

Undercover Boss: Celebrity Edition (television)

2018

Wish by Disney (motion picture)

2024