Project: Community! Completes its Pilot Year

The JACL has successfully completed the first year of Project: Community! in Chicago.  Started in Los Angeles in 2008, Project: Community! is a national JACL youth development program aimed at empowering the future leaders of the Japanese American community.  In Chicago, the program had two components: a 3-month program for high school students, and a two-week day camp program for 7 to 9 year olds. 

Unlike on the West Coast, the Midwest Japanese American community faces the challenge of trying to unite a dispersed population without a physical community center.  The goal of Chicago’s Project: Community! program is to instill a sense of community and pride among young Japanese Americans who may have limited opportunities to explore their cultural heritage on their own.  Through interactive sessions exploring Japanese American identity, culture and history, Project: Community! helps participants connect with their peers and recognize the vital role they play in supporting the legacy the Japanese American community.

The high school program lasted from February to May of this year, with two to three sessions held each month.  Most sessions were facilitated by Christine Munteanu, JACL Ford Fellow, and Bill Yoshino, JACL Midwest Director, and covered topics such as individual identity, community history and current Asian American issues.  J.D.  Hokoyama, CEO of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), led a session on leadership and cultural values, and members of the youth group from Chicago’s Korean American Resource and Cultural Center taught participants about immigration issues affecting the Asian American community.  Corinne Kodama, Associate Director of UIC’s Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, and Brandon Lee, Community Organizing Associate at the Asian American Institute, spoke to participants about the transition to college life.  Participants also met and interviewed three former WWII internees, and presented them with biographies at the end of the program.

The day camp program, which concluded at the end of July, had five students signed up for six two-hour sessions over the course of two weeks.  Much like the high school program, the day camp offered an opportunity for students to interact with other Japanese American peers while learning about traditional Japanese culture, the Japanese American internment experience and the importance of tolerance and diversity.  Remy Hidaka, a participant of the high school Project: Community! program, assisted Christine Munteanu in facilitating the sessions.  Each day, the students practiced Japanese crafts which were provided by Naomi Negi.

In order to remain relevant to the younger generation of Japanese Americans, the JACL will continue to support and implement activities and programs aimed at developing our youth.  The Chicago chapter is exploring options for creating a pipeline of leadership for the Project: Community alumni.  Options include sponsoring internships for rising seniors and college students at the Midwest JACL office, in order to immerse youth more fully into the mission and activities of the JACL. 

Click here for pictures from the 2010 program!

Want more information?
Click here for the brochure.
Click here for more details on the sessions.
Or call (773) 728-7171 or email chicago@jacl.org with any questions.

Youth Leadership Project
Developed by former Ford Fellow, Brandon Mita, the JACL offers a comprehensive booklet to empower youth into becoming leaders of the community.