The Nikkei Heritage Association

of Washington (NHAW)

is a

501(c)(3) organization.

The Japanese Culture and Community Center

of Washington

is a project

of the NHAW.

Project Community! Youth leadership Program

JCCCW is proud to announce that it will be kicking off the second annual Project: Community! Youth Leadership Program this coming March. Project: Community! is produced in partnership with the Japanese American Citizens League Pacific Northwest Regional Office (JACLPNW) and focuses on educating and empowering the next generation of Japanese American and Asian Pacific (API) youth by helping to develop self identity, creating awareness of Asian American issues and increasing youth leadership within the community.

Although the program is focused on the historic and contemporary Nikkei community, our mission is to provide youth from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds a place to develop their leadership skills. Project: Community! is organized around a variety of hands on learning sessions and dynamic projects that are designed to enrich students through knowledge of self identity, volunteerism and a sense of community.

Project: Community! is an exciting opportunity for students to learn about and get more involved with the Japanese American community. By participating in Project: Community! students will have the opportunity to visit historic International District and Nihonmachi landmarks, learn more about Nikkei history and heritage and meet and speak with political, business and community leaders including but not limited to KING 5 news anchor Lori Matsukawa, internationally acclaimed artist Roger Shimomura and former Washington State House Representative Kip Tokuda. In addition, the program will provide a safe and supportive place for youth to develop their own identity and will seek to empower students with the confidence and determination to improve not only the community but themselves as well.

Project: Community! meets twice a month on one Saturday and one Sunday afternoon and will start on April 3rd and continue until July 17th. If you or someone you know would like to sign up please visit http://www.jcccw.org/Project-Comm-reg2011.html, registration closes on March 27th. The program fee is only $25 (to be paid at the first session). For more information about this exciting youth leadership program please feel free to contact the JCCCW office at (206) 568-7114 or email us at admin@jcccw.org. To view the full program flyer please click here.

Click on picture to see full sized flyer