Programs
For over 70 years, the San Fernando Valley JACL has committed itself to diverse programming that addresses the pressing civil rights issues of the day as well as the rich and dynamic cultures of the Japanese American and larger Asian American community. Click on the links below to learn more about each program.
CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
Our organization builds upon a long legacy of civil rights activism. During the 1960s, our chapter, under Robert Moriguchi, worked with other civil rights organizations in the Valley on issues of fair housing and combating the lingering effects of racially restrictive covenants. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, San Fernando Valley JACL Board Members such as Nancy Gohata, Tak Yamamoto, Phil Shigekuni and Paul Tsuneishi actively worked on organizing the first Manzanar Pilgrimages and advocated tirelessly for Redress and Reparations. Since the 1990s, the Board offered educational panels and workshops onthe changing demographics of the Japanese American community as well as LGBT rights in Asian American communities and beyond. Today, the Valley chapter continues to educate the public about the Japanese American experience and advocate for social justice issues including, but not limited to, immigration reform, marriage equality, the protection of civil liberties, challenging hate speech, and youth empowerment.
ARTS, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY
Although the JACL serves all of the people of the Valley, we are cognizant of our roots in the immigrant Issei generation and the rich culture they brought. We sponsor various cultural events including Children's Day and a week-long summer cultural camp called Suzume no Gakkou. These programs teach youth about cultural dimensions ranging from taiko to Japanese language to cuisine to traditional arts and other legacies.
Our chapter seeks to bridge our membership with the larger Asian American community in LA. We host trips to the East West Players in Little Tokyo to see the best of Asian American theater. Conversely, our chapter also sponsors movie screenings and readings at the San Fernando Valley JACC. Several of our members also maintain a monthly movie club.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS
We are dedicated to cultivating the new generations of our communities and, since 1959, have offered college scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Beginning in 2012, we exploring a new internship to bridge our chapter with Asian American Studies students.
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Since the early 2000s the chapter has been instrumental in identifying, collecting and archiving the diverse histories of Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley. Armed with a grant from the Civil Liberties Public Education Program and working with CSUN students, then-President Nancy Takayama spearheaded the "Telling Our Stories Oral History Project," focused on the immigrant generation. This past year, working with the PSW JACL, our chapter initiated "Katarou Histories," a multigenerational, multimedia public history program.
CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
Our organization builds upon a long legacy of civil rights activism. During the 1960s, our chapter, under Robert Moriguchi, worked with other civil rights organizations in the Valley on issues of fair housing and combating the lingering effects of racially restrictive covenants. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, San Fernando Valley JACL Board Members such as Nancy Gohata, Tak Yamamoto, Phil Shigekuni and Paul Tsuneishi actively worked on organizing the first Manzanar Pilgrimages and advocated tirelessly for Redress and Reparations. Since the 1990s, the Board offered educational panels and workshops onthe changing demographics of the Japanese American community as well as LGBT rights in Asian American communities and beyond. Today, the Valley chapter continues to educate the public about the Japanese American experience and advocate for social justice issues including, but not limited to, immigration reform, marriage equality, the protection of civil liberties, challenging hate speech, and youth empowerment.
ARTS, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY
Although the JACL serves all of the people of the Valley, we are cognizant of our roots in the immigrant Issei generation and the rich culture they brought. We sponsor various cultural events including Children's Day and a week-long summer cultural camp called Suzume no Gakkou. These programs teach youth about cultural dimensions ranging from taiko to Japanese language to cuisine to traditional arts and other legacies.
Our chapter seeks to bridge our membership with the larger Asian American community in LA. We host trips to the East West Players in Little Tokyo to see the best of Asian American theater. Conversely, our chapter also sponsors movie screenings and readings at the San Fernando Valley JACC. Several of our members also maintain a monthly movie club.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS
We are dedicated to cultivating the new generations of our communities and, since 1959, have offered college scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Beginning in 2012, we exploring a new internship to bridge our chapter with Asian American Studies students.
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Since the early 2000s the chapter has been instrumental in identifying, collecting and archiving the diverse histories of Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley. Armed with a grant from the Civil Liberties Public Education Program and working with CSUN students, then-President Nancy Takayama spearheaded the "Telling Our Stories Oral History Project," focused on the immigrant generation. This past year, working with the PSW JACL, our chapter initiated "Katarou Histories," a multigenerational, multimedia public history program.