COVID-19 and JACL operations and resources |
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JACL's physical offices remain closed. Staff continue to do the work of the organization remotely. Please direct all phone calls to our Washington, D.C. Office at (202) 223-1240 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we will all be available via email. All staff emails can be found HERE. You can also check our website, jacl.org, for updates and COVID-19 resources. You can view our resources page here. Stay safe everyone and we hope to see you all in person again soon. - JACL National Staff |
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JACL is Hiring! - Membership Coordinator |
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Tonight: Responding to Anti-Asian Violence in the Japanese American Community |
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March 20 JACL National Board Meeting |
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| On Saturday, March 20, 2021, the JACL National Board will be hosting its quarterly board meeting. This meeting will be the first open meeting of the new year. The board meeting will be open to the public, but you must RSVP in order to join. Details on joining the meeting and other information necessary will be sent out following registration. | | |
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Community and Faith Organizations Concerned Over Vandalism of Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple |
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March 4, 2021 "On February 26th, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo was vandalized, with two metal lanterns torn from their concrete bases, a 12-foot window smashed, and two wooden lanterns set ablaze. The vandalism is not the only issue the temple has faced recently, as there have been several instances of trespassing, theft, and assault on the temple grounds in the last month. This comes on the heels of the continued rise in anti-Asian violence that has occurred nationwide, and heavily in California... While the incident is still under investigation, and the LAPD has said it is too early to call the incident a hate crime, any act of vandalism against a place of worship hurts the entire community. The violation of sacred spaces meant to serve as safe havens for their membership is deplorable. The prominent place of Higashi Honganji Temple in the Little Tokyo and Japanese American community demonstrates the continuing escalation of hate incidents against the Asian American community and must be brought to an end. We all know the pain and fear that comes when houses of worship are desecrated. All arms of government should take every possible step to apprehend those responsible and to lead the society-wide condemnation of such assaults." |
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#ProtectAllPeople Campaign Against Anti-Asian Violence Toolkit |
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Several AAPI and other civil rights organizations have come together to create a new social media campaign to combat Anti-Asian hate and violence. The new #ProtectAllPeople campaign is now live and the campaign toolkit is full of resources for people to share in order to help combat anti-Asian hate. |
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Japanese American Veterans Association Scholarship Program |
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The Japanese American Veterans Association announces its annual Memorial Scholarship Program for 2021. The scholarships will benefit a range of graduating high school seniors, undergraduate students, and post-graduate and professional education students. Descendants of those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Military Intelligence Service, the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion, or other United States military unit, including the Women’s Army Corps or Army Nurses Corps are eligible and encouraged to apply. Current members of JAVA whose membership began prior to April 1, 2019 are eligible and encouraged to apply. Children of current JAVA members are also eligible and encouraged to apply if the applicant’s parent or guardian was a member of JAVA prior to April 1, 2019. Past or present members of the Army’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry (USAR), are eligible and encouraged to apply for the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate their lifelong commitment to public and uniformed service leadership for the nation. Applicants should first review published rules and forms. Applications and supporting documents must be electronically submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021, to javascholarship222@gmail.com. Applications not received by that date or that fail to meet the submission requirements will NOT be considered. Applicants will be notified of a decision by early June 2021. Awards will be presented at a JAVA scholarship awards ceremony on July 17, 2021. |
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Our League of Dreams - Documentary of the JACL Fundraiser |
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JACL National and film producer Lane Nishikawa have agreed to work together to produce the first educational documentary film about the 90-year history of the JACL.
OUR LEAGUE OF DREAMS received a $25,000 Japanese American Community Foundation Grant Award through the assistance of the San Diego Chapter JACL. This will cover the costs of shooting in the first five cities. We need your help to meet our production budget goals. Lane has mapped out seventeen cities that he would like to shoot interviews. Your individual donation or JACL Chapter donation will go a long way towards helping us achieve our goals. We will make sure that your names are prominently highlighted in the end credits of the film.
Once the film is completed, JACL National and Lane will work with any JACL Chapter that wants to hold a public film screening event in their city to fundraise for their chapter, to educate their youth, and network to new audiences for potential new members. |
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2021 JACL National Convention Announcement |
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Due to the ongoing safety issues presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the JACL National Board has decided to postpone a physical convention until at least the Summer of 2022. In the interim, JACL National will be conducting a virtual convention hosted this coming summer, July 15-18, 2021. The virtual convention will include National Council sessions, as well as the usual breakout sessions and workshops that are hosted during convention. More information around the virtual convention and registration will be announced soon! |
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1 Month Left for General Applicants! JACL National 2021 Scholarship Program |
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REMINDER: 1 MONTH LEFT FOR GENERAL APPLICATIONS FRESHMAN APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) announced that the 2021 National Scholarship and Awards Program is now underway. The JACL annually offers approximately 30 college scholarships for students who are incoming college freshmen, undergraduates and graduates, and those specializing in law and the creative/performing arts. There are also financial aid scholarships for those demonstrating a need for financial assistance. 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.” 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 April 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST). For more information on the National JACL Scholarship Program, contact Scholarship Program Manager Matthew Weisbly at scholarships@jacl.org. |
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Another Scholarship opportunity is through Foundation 649! A nonprofit focused on providing college scholarship opportunities to East and Southeast Asian American students who are actively engaged within our community. Their application deadline is April 1, 2021. |
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Seeing LGBTQ Nikkei Conversation Series |
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Join us for Seeing LGBTQ Nikkei, a collaboration of J-Sei & Okaeri-Los Angeles, a series of programs centered on the perspectives and insights of different generations of queer Japanese Americans. The experiences of LGBTQ+ Japanese Americans are seldom the focus of community attention. Yet, the wisdom of LGBTQ Nikkei - forged through confrontations with racism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexism – is a vital resource as we create a more inclusive and compassionate society. On the Frontiers of Gender Identity - March, 21, 2021, 4-5:30 pm PST Learn from transgender-identified Japanese Americans about coming out in Nikkei communities that stress conformity. How did older Japanese Americans deal with their transgender identities in an era of rigid gender roles? How are transgender youth and young adults forging awareness within Nikkei communities and beyond? How can Japanese Americans support family and friends across the gender spectrum? In conversation: A.T. Furuya (moderator), Elliott Fukui, Tomo Hirai, JJ Ueunten, Mia Yamamoto. |
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JACL 2021 Legacy Fund Grant Announcement |
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The JACL Legacy Fund Grants Committee is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 2021 Legacy Fund grants. The LFG Co-Chairs, Roberta Barton, and Toshi Abe encourage JACL chapters in good standing and JACL District Councils to apply. This year, the maximum grant award is $6,000. Legacy Fund grants will be awarded for projects and activities that support the mission of JACL and are supportive of the National JACL Strategic Plan. Instructions and application forms may be downloaded from the National JACL’s website at https://jacl.org/legacy-fund-grants/ and submissions for grants must be received by May 1, 2021. The Legacy Fund was established by the JACL National Council at the 1990 JACL National Convention in San Diego. Much of the original funds were donated by JACL members who gave portions of their redress awards to further the legacy of the JACL. Each year, a portion of the earnings from the Legacy Fund Endowment provides the funds to run the LFG program. For questions or additional information, please contact the co-chairs, Roberta Barton (rbarton4106@comcast.net) and Toshi Abe (tabe@jacl.org). Completed applications are due by May 1, 2021. Grant award recipients will be announced at the JACL National Convention. |
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UC Santa Cruz LASER talk with Faculty on Japanese American Incarceration |
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March 11, 2021 at 5pm PST/8pm EST Dr. Jasmine Alinder, “Representing Japanese American Incarceration”
Katharyne Mitchell, “Sanctuary Space and Insurgent Memory” Leonardo Art & Science Evening Rendezvous (LASER) is an international program bringing together artists, scientists, and scholars for presentations and conversations. Join us at 5 p.m. for presentations by Dean of the Humanities and Professor of History, Dr. Jasmine Alinder and Katharyne Mitchell, Dean of the Social Sciences and professor of Sociology at UC Santa Cruz. |
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2021 Minoru Yasui Student Contest |
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“If there is suffering or pain that is unfairly imposed upon anyone, it’s my duty, it’s your duty to try to alleviate it because that’s the way in which we gain a better life for all of us.” — Minoru Yasui The Minoru Yasui Student Contest is proud to announce its 2021 essay competition on Refugee and Immigrant Experiences. We celebrate the ideas and opinions of students in grades 6 through 12 and challenge them to write an original and thoughtful essay exploring refugee or immigrant experiences. Their essay should also demonstrate an understanding of the life and legacy of Minoru Yasui, who spent over 40 years as a dedicated leader serving diverse and often marginalized communities. Students are encouraged to research and share meaningful stories about the conditions, challenges, and support experienced by immigrants and refugees coming to the United States. At the same time, we hope to inspire the next generation of leaders who can embrace complex issues as Min Yasui did - with courage, agility, and thoughtfulness. For more information on contest details, please go to the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project website: minoruyasuilegacy.org/student-contest. Here’s what you need to know: Other resources include: -
For curriculum, logistics, and educational resources related to the life and legacy of Minoru Yasui and primary sources about Oregon’s Nikkei community, please contact Jennifer Fang at jennifer@oregonnikkei.org -
For student experience and research guidance, please contact Alan Zhou at alanzhou2018@gmail.com or Kyler Wang at kyler.y.wang@gmail.com |
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"Black + Japanese Reparations" Virtual Event Series and Book Club |
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Help find a Bone Marrow Match for Paul and Kazumi! |
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Join Us in Support of H.R. 40 |
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JACL Executive Director, David Inoue, discusses JACL’s support of H.R. 40. H.R. 40 would create a commission to examine the institution of slavery, its legacy, and make recommendations to Congress for reparations, beginning a process of repairing and restoring after centuries of enslavement. Click the image above to watch the full video statement. |
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We've updated our Hate Crimes Page to include more information and reporting options for members of the community as hate crimes increase as a result of COVID-19. You can visit the updated page here. |
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