Project: Community! Launch
JACL and Rising Stars' "Project: Community!" will begin Tuesday, June 24 and run through August 12. Fourteen participants have been selected and will meet weekly at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC). These participants represent the Greater Los Angeles area from as far as Upland, West Covina, Torrance, Valencia and Los Alamitos.
The purpose of "Project: Community!" is to develop and empower the youth's voice in Little Tokyo. Through a series of interactive sessions, high school participants will gain an understanding of identity as well as the importance of preservation of the Japanese American community. Each session will gather facilitators and speakers from various parts of the community to conduct interactive workshops focused on specific topics ranging from identity, to the power of place, to grassroots organizing on a youth level.
The selected participants are all leaders within their schools, organizations and communities. "Project: Community!" seeks to further develop their skills and build more involvement within Little Tokyo and the Japanese American community. Throughout the program, these participants will be asked to complete a major project that will be showcased at the programs' culmination. The location is to be announced and all are welcome to attend.