January 7, 2025

JACL National News

JACL Celebrates Announcement of Mitsuye Endo Presidential Citizens Medal

January 2, 2025 -

"[On January 2nd,] the Biden Administration announced 20 recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal. These medals are given out to those “who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” Among the recipients this year is Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi, whose Supreme Court case, Ex Parte Endo, helped to end the mass incarceration of the Japanese American community during World War II. As it was with JACL’s urging that Endo brought forth her case, we have long advocated for Presidential recognition of Endo for her actions, including passing a national council resolution in 2014. We thank President Biden for acknowledging and recognizing such a monumental case and the woman behind it all."

Read the Full Statement Here

Photos from Medal Ceremony (L: Wayne Tsutsumi accepting the President Citizens Medal on behalf of his late mother; R Top: Community members in attendance with Congress members Mark Takano and Jill Tokuda; R Bottom: Community members with Wayne Tsutsumi)

2025 JACL National Scholarship Applications Available Now!

Learn More and Apply Here

JACL is Hiring! Looking for a Director of Fundraising and Membership Development

Director of Membership and Fund Development

Regular -40 hours/week
Location: San Francisco, CA (PREFERRED), Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid Fixed, minimum 3 days per week in office)
Under the general supervision of the Executive Director and in support of the V.P. of Planning and Development, this role is responsible for the overall management and administration of all JACL membership and fundraising programs and initiatives.

Learn More and Apply Here

JACL Chapters News

If any JACL Chapters would like to submit stories or events to the Weekly Digest, please send inquiries to Education Programs Manager, Matthew Weisbly at mweisbly@jacl.org

AZ JACL Blood Drive This Weekend!

Schedule Your Appointment Here!

Support KIYOSHI: A Legacy of Activism

Please support KIYOSHI. a feature length documentary film that presents the remarkable life of Kiyoshi Kuromiya – Japanese American author, civil rights, anti-war, gay liberation and HIV/AIDS activist. Kuromiya's story begins in a WWII incarceration camp in Heart Mountain, Wyoming, and intersects with many watershed moments in American history.

KIYOSHI is produced in collaboration with the William Way LGBT Center in Philadelphia.

Learn More and Donate Here

Wasatch Front North JACL DOR - Register Now and Book Your Hotel by Jan 16th!

The Wasatch Front North JACL is proud to be working together with the
Brigham City Museum of Art & History for the 2025 Day of Remembrance!

Their SPECIAL EXHIBITION:
Uncovering the Journey:
Japanese American Pioneers in Box Elder County
will open on February 15, 2025.

14th Annual Florin Mochi Madness co-hosted by Florin JACL - Sacramento Valley

Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition Screening by Monterey JACL

Call for 2025 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 will be made available later.

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

From Our Partners

National Air and Space Museum Summer Internship Applications Open Now!

From the National Air and Space Museum -

We have launched our application for the National Air and Space Museum's 2025 Summer Internship Program. Each year, our summer interns learn from knowledgeable mentors in a variety of disciplines across the museum field, all in the dynamic atmosphere of Washington, DC. Interns work with distinguished scholars, accomplished professionals, and iconic artifacts in an immersive experience as multifaceted as the Museum itself.

The traditional summer internship period lasts for 10 weeks, from early-June through early-August. These full-time internships take place at one of our locations in the DC area and interns receive a stipend of $7,500. Apply by January 31 to be considered for the 2025 Summer Internship Program.

Learn More and Apply Here

"Zeni - Dean of the Diamond" Audio Drama Free to Listen Until Jan. 10th!

Kenichi Zenimura – known as “Zeni” – loved baseball. As a young man in the 1920s he developed a Nisei baseball league in Fresno, California, and later organized barnstorming tours that brought the likes of Babe Ruth to the West Coast and Japan. And despite being sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II, he knew that somehow, baseball would be the key to improving the lives of his fellow detainees.

Listen Here!