Bridging Communities

About the Bridging Communities Program

The goal of the Bridging Communities Program is to create awareness, dialogue and ultimately activism from Japanese American and Muslim American youth through a series of interactive sessions including topics such as: identity, culture, religion, civil rights, community history, advocacy, and community service.

The Greater Los Angeles Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in partnership with the Japanese American Citizens League – Pacific Southwest District, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, and Kizuna – Uniting Nikkei for the Future, are proud to present the 5th annual Bridging Communities Program.

The Bridging Communities Program seeks to connect Japanese American and American Muslim youth by synthesizing the differences and commonalities that bind us together. In past years, participants engaged in workshops and discussions and visited sites to broaden their perspectives. This year we are building on the past programs to better educate, inform, and empower the participants. 

The Bridging Communities program was established as a proactive response from JACL, NCRR and CAIR to a number of incidents of hate and intolerance incurred by the Muslim American community in the long aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Recognizing the similarities that Japanese Americans faced in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor ultimately resulting in Japanese American incarceration, Bridging Communities was meant to build solidarity and partnership between these two communities.

The Bridging Communities program offers an opportunity for our high school students to look at their own personal perceptions of identity and stereotypes and connect those to significant civil right issues that have affected Americans. In addition, our program also looks at ways in which communities have approached infringements of the past, like the Redress and Reparations movement in the Japanese American community,” explained CAIR Civil Rights Manager Affad Shaikh.

  

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Applications are now OPEN: Click HERE to Apply

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Program Details:

 

WHO? High school students (entering 9th grade to entering 1st year college) 

WHEN?: 6 Sessions on Saturdays from 9~1pm (Feb 2013~May 2013) 

WHERE?: Sessions will take place in Little Tokyo, LA or in Orange County

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) 
2180 W. Crescent Ave, Ste F 
Anaheim, CA 92801 

JACCC 
244 San Pedro St. 
Los Angeles, CA 90012 

Islamic Society of Orange County (ISOC) 
1 Al-Rahman Plaza 
Garden Grove, CA 92844