JACL Youth
Internships, Fellowships, & Scholarships
National Youth/Student Council
JACL recognizes the importance of developing future leaders for the organization and the Asian Pacific Islander community. To meet that goal, the JACL actively sponsors programs and activities specifically geared toward youth and student empowerment.
The JACL has created a variety of programs, scholarships, internships and groups which benefit this next generation of leaders The National Youth/Student Council (NY/SC) is the official body of the JACL to serve as the youth voice of the organization and to facilitate programming for the younger generation.. The JACL administers a number of chapter and national scholarships as well as internships for those students interested in working with the organization on a regional or national level.
The largest youth program that the JACL sponsors is the biennial National Youth/Student Conference, which brings together students from across the nation to share and educate themselves on issues vital to the API community.
JACL's 1st Annual Mobilize for Policy Program
Los Angeles - The Japanese American Citizens League Pacific Southwest District (JACL PSW) is proud to announce the launch of the first annual Mobilize for Policy program. The goal of the program is to empower college age youth with the skills and passion for advocating policy relevant to the community.
The program workshop sessions will help the participants better understand themselves, the community and how they can effectively voice their community’s concerns and issues on a policy level. Facilitators will be gathered for a series of workshops ranging from identity, landscape in Asian Pacific Islander policy, identifying community issues and how they can advocate on these issues in their community.
Registration is open! Contact the PSW Office for more information.
The Mobilize for Policy program will gather 15 college students from the greater LA area through an application process. The program will take place from January 24 2009, through April 11 2009 with meetings on either Friday or Saturday.
For applications or questions about the program please contact Kene Kubo the JACL Pacific Southwest District Programs Coordinator at (213) 626-4471 or email programs@jaclpsw.org.
JACL Pacific Southwest District and Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress Announce the Bridging Communities Program
Los Angeles - The Japanese American Citizens League Pacific Southwest District (JACL PSW) and Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress (NCRR) in partnership with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Shura Council announce the launch of the Bridging Communities program which is funded by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) grant.
The purpose of the Bridging Communities program is to connect the youth of the Japanese American community to the Muslim American community by celebrating the strengths and differences that bind us as a community. The program also seeks to build understanding and a sense of compassion for future solidarity on issues within our communities.
Registration is open! Contact the PSW Office for more information.
The program will gather 40 high school students in four Saturday sessions in the Spring of 2009. Participants will attend programs such as Day of Remembrance which will commemorate the lives of hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII. In the last session, the students will participate in the Manzanar Pilgrimage where they will tour the interpretative center and participate in the Manzanar after Dusk program. Parents are also encouraged to attend parent sessions to explain the various topics of the program to discuss with their children.
Since 9/11 and the start of the Iraq War, Muslim communities throughout the nation have experienced heightened hostility, discrimination, and policies that work against them simply because of their ethnic identity. JACL and NCRR recognize the hostilities and civil rights infringements on Muslim communities as those that were similarly forced upon Japanese Americans during WWII. The joint effort of both communities will heighten awareness through education to the youth. Applications for the program will be available in November and will be accepted until January 31, 2009.
Applications and more information can be found at www.jaclpsw.org. For questions or further information, contact the JACL Pacific Southwest District office at (213) 626-4471 or email chrislay@ucla.edu.
JACL Announces Statewide Project: Community! 2009
California - The JACL is proud to announce the Statewide 2009 Project: Community! program intended to empower the High School youth voice in the JA community. The program also seeks to give participants a sense of identity and understanding of their place in the community.
Started in 2008 by the Pacific Southwest District of the JACL, the project has spread to Northern California with both programs set to run through the summer of 2009. Each program will focus on the Japantowns in each area, San Francisco Japantown in Northern CA, and Little Tokyo in Southern CA. JACL recognizes that in order for these communities to survive, interest from youth is needed. Each session of the program will help participants better understand important community issues such as: the power of place, community organizations, and grassroots organizing.
Both programs will begin on June 23, 2009 and run until August 18, 2009, meeting on Tues
days starting at 6:00pm and running until 9:30pm for Southern California and 10:00am to 4:00pm for the Northern CA program. Both programs will gather 15-20 High School age participants who are willing and enthusiastic about learning about community issues.
Applications for each of the programs are available upon request. For more information on the Southern California program please contact Kene Kubo at programs@jaclpsw.org or (213) 626-4471. For the Northern California program please contact Tim Koide at mbr@jacl.org or (415) 921-5225.
Internships and Fellowships
The JACL offers a number of internships and fellowships nationwide. National JACL fellowships allow participants to work and receive hands-on experience in the areas of hate crimes prevention, journalism, and public policy.
Scholarships
The JACL began its National Scholarship and Awards Program in 1946. Recognizing that education is a key to greater opportunities for its members, the JACL offers over 30 awards, with an annual total of over $60,000 in scholarships to qualified students nationwide. The National Scholarship and Awards Program offers scholarships to entering freshman, undergraduate, graduate, law, and creative & performing arts students. The National Scholarship and Awards Program also offers a student aid award. All scholarships are one-time awards
National Youth/Student Council
The National Youth/Student Council (NY/SC) is the means by which local youth and student members are represented at the national level of the organization. The NY/SC consists of an elected national chair and national representative, as well as youth/student representatives from each of JACL’s seven districts. The NY/SC chair and representative are voting members of the JACL National Board; the district youth/student representatives are voting members of their respective district councils. District youth/student representatives serve as the primary link between the NY/SC and youth in local JACL chapters and on college campuses.
Currently, the National Youth/Student Council is engaged in a district-by-district assessment of the youth within their respective territories in order to gain a better understanding of the demographics, culture and community of each. This will ensure effective and relevant program planning for the future.
National Youth Conference
Every two years, the National Youth/Student Council organizes and convenes a national youth/student conference. Through workshops and special events, the conference provides an opportunity to enhance leadership skills and addresses a wide variety of issues such as civil rights, advocacy, cultural awareness, identity and diversity. The conference is also an opportunity for youth/students from across the country to meet other young leaders and to exchange ideas and network.
Last updated on December 30, 2008