JACL and OCA Leadership Conference Held in D.C.

March 11, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and OCA National (OCA), the two largest Asian American civil and human rights organizations in the nation, held their annual joint Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this week.  Participants were JACL and OCA leaders from across the United States who met to learn about leadership skills and the legislative process in the nation’s capital.  The conference is sponsored by State Farm.  Leslie Moe-Kaiser and Art Ruiz of State Farm were in attendance and made presentations.

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JACL Accepting Masaoka Fellowship Applications

March 5, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is currently accepting applications from candidates who are interested in the Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship, which is a JACL program where a student learns first hand about public policy.  The Masaoka fellow serves in the Washington, D.C. office of a U.S. Senator or a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.  

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JACL Announces New District Governors

March 4, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- The JACL announces the following new governors:  Toshi Abe of the Eastern District Council (EDC); Sharon Ishii Jordan of the Midwest District Council (MDC); Chip Larouche of the Pacific Northwest District Council (PNW); and Kerry Kaneichi of the Pacific Southwest District Council (PSW) in California.  They are replacing outgoing governors, Kristine Minami (EDC), Leilani Savitt (MDC), Elaine Akagi (PNW), and Alayne Yonemoto (PSW).

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JACL Troubled by "Compton Cookout"

March 3, 2010

Chicago, IL -- The JACL responded with outrage at recent events at UCSD that began when students organized a "Compton Cookout" party to mock Black History Month.  The JACL has enumerated a series of steps the university must take to address racial tensions at the school, including the need to "engage the student community in a series of diversity efforts calculated to engender multiracial understanding and cohesion."

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JACL Responds to Today Show's "Japadog" feature

March 2, 2010

Chicago, IL -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) sent a letter to Jim Bell, the Executive Producer of the "Today" show, after receiving several complaints about a segment highlighting a Vancouver hot dog stand called "Japadog."

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JACL Announces Active Choice Health Plan

March 3, 2010

San Francisco, CA -- The JACL Active Choice health insurance plan, an affordable option created specifically to fit the needs of students and young professionals ages 18-29, includes: prescription coverage, medical coverage, accidental death coverage, national coverage, worldwide coverage, and personalized service.

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National JACL Board Appoints David Lin as V.P.

February 24, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, announces that David Lin has been appointed to the JACL National Board of Directors as Vice President of Membership.  David is a life member of the JACL and a Millennium Club member.  He has worked closely with the JACL in developing a strong corporate partnership with AT&T. 

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Camp Preservation Projects Included in 2011 Budget

February 17, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, has been advocating for camp preservation projects which would help to teach the public about the incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II. In addition to the $3 million for camp grants funding, the President's FY 2011 budget includes a number of other funding initiatives which are of particular interest to the JACL and the Japanese American community. 

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Jack Tobe Joins the DC JACL Chapter Board

February 15, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- Attendees at the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) DC Chapter Mochitsuki event in December 2009 were greeted warmly by an impressive young teenager who was very attentive and helpful.  Jack Tobe, at thirteen years of age, has lots of experience with service and has just become the youngest member of the Board of the DC Chapter of the JACL.  He was installed at the Chapter Installation Luncheon in January 2010. 

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JACL Applauds Nomination of Goodwin H. Liu

February 24, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, is pleased with President Barack Obama's nomination of University of California Berkeley School of Law Associate Dean and Professor Goodwin H. Liu's nomination to serve on the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

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A Day of Action for the Day of Remembrance

February 18, 2010

February 19th is the Day of Remembrance, on which Executive Order 9066 was signed in 1942 and resulted in the forced removal of 120,000 Japanese Americans to concentration camps. The 100th Battalion Infantry, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service tell a unique American story of patriotism and bravery during World War II. Congress has the opportunity to award these heroes the highest civilian medal in the country called the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. With the Day of Remembrance around the corner, we ask you to write your Senators and forward this Action Alert onto friends, especially in target states, on or around February 19, 2010.  

Click here to read more. Click here to find a Day of Remembrance program near you.

JACL Pleased with Grant from UPS Foundation

January 19, 2010

Washington, D.C.—The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, is pleased to announce that the JACL has been the recipient of a grant of $30,000 from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS (NYSE:UPS).

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JACL Criticizes Statement by Ohio Lieutenant Governor

January 13, 2010

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) objected to a statement by Ohio lieutenant governor, Lee Fisher, that criticized Japan for placing barriers on American car sales in a Japanese incentive program similar to the “cash for clunkers” program in the United States. 

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JACL Announces the Minoru Yasui Oratorical Competition

January 12, 2010

JACL chapters are being asked to identify high school students, age 16 years or older, or full time undergraduate college students who will compete at a JACL district council competition with the winner advancing to the finals at the national convention, which will be held on July 2.

Click here for the press release. Click here for more information.

JACL Announces Proposed Date of 2010 JACL Gala

January 13, 2010

Washington, D.C.—The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, announces its proposed date of Thursday, September 16, 2010, for its next Annual National JACL Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

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