Be a Part of JACL as our Next Executive Director!

We are launching a national search for our next Executive Director. Our recruitment partner, Bonsai Leadership Group, is proud to serve as our recruitment partner for this important search.

The Executive Director will serve as JACL’s chief executive and public-facing leader, responsible for advancing the organization’s mission, strengthening its national presence, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of organizational leadership, the ability to build and lead high-performing teams, and the skill to cultivate relationships with stakeholders, partners, and funders to support JACL’s continued growth.

This is an opportunity to lead with purpose and steward a powerful legacy into the future. If this role speaks to you, we encourage you to join the candidate pool or share this opportunity with your network. 

Learn more and join the candidate pool: https://www.bonsaileadershipgroup.com/jacl-ed

Candidates are encouraged to submit their interest by February 28 for priority consideration.

If you have questions about this search or would like to nominate someone for this opportunity, please contact Bonsai Leadership Group at careers@bonsaileadershipgroup.com. 

Winter 2026 JACL National Board Meeting 

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, the JACL National Board will host its quarterly board meeting at our JACL National Headquarters in San Francisco. The address is 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA. This meeting will include a Zoom option; however, attendees will be allowed to view ONLY. Attendees will NOT be able to participate, including asking questions. Details on joining the meeting and other information necessary will be sent out following registration, no later than 24 hours before the meeting's start time. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time (12:30 p.m. Eastern Time).

2026 JACL National Scholarship Applications Available Now!

Scholarship Program guidelines, instructions, and applications have been posted on the JACL website, www.jacl.org, and can be accessed by clicking the “Youth” tab on the menu bar. You may also click the button below, "To Learn More or Apply Click Here."

Freshman applications must be submitted directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than Monday, March 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST).  

Applications for the non-freshman scholarship categories (undergraduate, graduate, law, creative/performing arts, and financial aid) are also to be sent directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than Friday, April 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST).  

All those applying to the National JACL Scholarship Program must be a youth/student or individual member of the JACL; a couple/family membership held by a parent does NOT meet this requirement. Applicants must be enrolled in school in Fall 2025 to be eligible for a scholarship. If a student has received two National scholarship awards previously, they are no longer eligible to apply as the limit is two national awards per person.

The JA Experience - Website & Video Series

The JAExperience.org is a long-needed update to our printed curriculum guide, The Japanese American Experience. Rather than a traditional reprint, we are excited to bring the Japanese American Experience into the modern age with a fully fledged website! 

Alongside the new website, we're also introducing the Japanese American Experience Video Series! Thanks to the Takahashi Family Foundation, we'll be publishing a series of ten short videos spanning the history of the Japanese American community. The series will be available on the JA Experience Website, and each video will be narrated by a community member and feature archival footage and photos. 

2026 Day of Remembrance Events!

As we're coming up on Day of Remembrance, JACL is once again asking all of our chapters and supporters to send us information on any events that you know of so that we can share it with the wider membership and Japanese American community! 

Please send any information you have on your DOR events, including date(s), times, any website/social links, and images/flyers you might have! We'll continually update the listing, so if you currently only have some information and are still waiting on more, send us what you have, and we can update the event page. The event page and calendar is available through the button below! 

Send any program information you have to Education Programs Manager, Matthew Weisbly at mweisbly@jacl.org

February 11: San Diego Days of Remembrance - "Resistance at Tule Lake"

February 14: Northern California Time of Remembrance (NCTOR) 2026

February 15: "Until All Of Us Are Free" - Youth Led Day of Remembrance

February 15: Day of Remembrance: Stories of Incarceration Through Media and Art

February 15: Neighbors Not Enemies: Stronger Together: Carrying Light for Justice - SF Bay Area DOR

February 15: 2026 SAN JOSE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

February 16: Yonsei Memory Project 2026 Day of Remembrance​​​​​​

February 16: Boise Valley JACL - Day of Remembrance

February 16: Portland Day of Remembrance: Farewell to Manzanar

February 17: 2026 CCDC JACL Day of Remembrance

Sacramento Japantown Museum Exhibit Project

Reclaim Sacramento Japantown is raising funds for a Fall 2026 exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum at 101 I Street in Old Sacramento. This immersive, multi-room experience brings the lost neighborhood back to life through sound, light, artifacts, and community storytelling.

For generations, Sacramento Japantown was a vibrant cultural and economic center. The physical neighborhood was devastated by forced removal during World War II and later demolished by downtown redevelopment. But the story lives on.

March 7: JACL Monterey Movie Night - Mirai

March 14: Monterey JACL Documentary Screening and Discussion - Fruits of Labor 

March 22: Temari Zushi Cooking Demo with San Diego JACL

March 28: 28th Annual Freedom Walk in Washington, D.C.​​​​​​

2026 Minoru Yasui Student Contest

Suffolk University - Research Study on Experiences of Racism/Discrimination

The REACH (Resilience, Empowerment, Advocacy & Allyship, Cultural Responsiveness, and Healing) Lab at Suffolk University in Boston is currently conducting the WESPOC Study (Wellness, Emotions, and Support among People of Color). This study explores people of color’s experiences with racism and discrimination, sources of support in their lives, and mental health concerns. Individuals may be eligible to participate if they:

• Are 18 years or older

• Can read English

• Identify as a person of color

Participation is completely voluntary, and responses to the study survey are anonymous (full details of data protection included in the informed consent portion of the study survey). We hope this research will help deepen our understanding of wellness and support systems within communities of color, and your organization’s help in reaching community members would be invaluable.

I Am An American - Nisei Soldier Experience Traveling Exhibit Opening in San Francisco February 2026

Registration for the Jerome/Rohwer Pilgrimage is Now Open!

The Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage allows survivors, descendants, and others to learn about and discuss the legacy and aftermath of WWII era concentration camps in the USA.  One day of the Pilgrimage is a trip to the concentration camp sites in Jerome and Rohwer, with a short program in McGehee, AR, that includes taiko drummers and a short Obon festival to honor the spirits of our ancestors.  There will be two full days of programming in Little Rock, with historical sessions, survivor perspectives, intergenerational and generational discussions, social activities, and opportunities to research family histories.  Learning  and open conversation lead to understanding and healing.  A program summary is linked below.