2009-2010 JACL PROGRAM FOR ACTION
Adopted by the National Council
July 2008, Salt Lake City, Utah
Introduction
The JACL and the Japanese American community are affected by actions and changes in the political and economic environment and in the demographics of our community. Our nation’s global relationship with Asian countries affect perceptions about Asian Americans, and our society continues to be impacted by the events of September 11, 2001, which created a worldwide climate of uncertainty and insecurity where we must reconcile the proper balance between issues of national security and our civil liberties. We are also affected by the changing demographics of race, ethnicity and age.
Looking to our future, we need to determine what role JACL will play in Japanese American, Asian Pacific American and civil rights communities, and what programs are necessary to support our mission and effectively achieve our goals. The Program for Action sets the course for the JACL in each biennium. The ongoing effectiveness of the organization will depend, in part, on the outcomes of the programs that address our organization’s vision and mission.
Vision
Aware of our responsibilities as the oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organization, JACL strives to promote a world that honors diversity by respecting values of fairness, equality and social justice.
Mission
The JACL is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.
Program For Action Statement
During the 2009-2010 biennium, the JACL will continue its role of promoting civil rights and social justice through programs of advocacy and education. These programs will monitor and respond to issues that threaten civil and human rights and the dignity of affected communities. The programs will also educate the public about the historical experience of Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans, including efforts to preserve our historic legacies. Finally, the programs will begin to address the actual disparities in social justice that exist for Asian Pacific Americans.
The JACL recognizes the need to develop and maintain a sustainable source of effective leadership that will act for positive social change for Asian Pacific Americans and for the community at-large. The JACL will commit resources to programs that encourage leadership opportunities especially for our youth in networking, advocacy, coalition building and education about community issues. The JACL also recognizes the need to strengthen our current leadership by offering internal training opportunities that reach all levels of the JACL so that we remain a vital and contributing organization in our society.