Leadership
Leadership Development
The goal of the JACL leadership programs is to develop and maintain a source of effective leadership for positive social change. To accomplish this, the JACL offers opportunities for young leaders to learn about the issues that affect Asian American communities through an intensive leadership seminar in Washington, D.C. The JACL offers fellowship opportunities to work in JACL and in congressional offices as a way of providing experience-based training to individuals who have demonstrated an interest in Asian American community activism.
JACL/OCA Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference
Established by the JACL in 1984, this four-day program has the goal of introducing potential community leaders to the national policy-making arena. Co-convened with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) since 1994, the JACL/OCA Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference is structured to provide a broad overview of the decision-making process at the federal level, including meetings and briefings by public officials, key policymakers who serve in Congress, the White House, a variety of federal agencies, advocacy organizations and the media. Participants also will be briefed on legislative issues affecting the Asian Pacific American (APA) community and will examine the role Asian Pacific American civil rights organizations such as JACL and OCA play in affecting public policy and pursuing civil rights legislation in the nation’s capital.
Fellowships
Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship
The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund was established in 1988 to honor Mike M. Masaoka (1915-1991) for a lifetime of outstanding public service in promoting justice, civil rights and human dignity. The purpose of the Fund is to develop leaders for public service by providing opportunities for college seniors or students in graduate or professional programs to work for a Member of Congress or a Senator. The Fellows’ assignments include a variety of tasks where they will be exposed to all facets of the work of the Representative or Senator and his/her staff. Applications and three (3) letters of recommendation should be sent to:
JACL Washington, DC Office
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 802
Washington, DC 20036
dc@jacl.org
(PDF – Application form)
Ford Fund Program Fellowship
The Ford Fund Program Fellowship was established in 2006 by the Ford Motor Company to enhance and develop skills of an emerging JACL leader by providing an opportunity to work on National JACL programs in the JACL Midwest Office located in Chicago. The Fellow will be assigned tasks and projects on programs related to education, hate crimes and leadership as well as taking part in community outreach activities within the local Asian Pacific American community. This program provides a stipend to a recent college graduate to work at the JACL Midwest Office for one year. For information on the Ford Fund Fellowship, contact the JACL Midwest Office at 773.728.7170 or Midwest@jacl.org
Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship
The Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship was established in 2007 and is sponsored by State Farm Insurance Company. The Fellow will assist the Washington DC JACL office on public policy issues important to the Asian American community, working under the direction of the JACL Director of Public Policy. In addition, the Fellow will coordinate JACL/OCA chapter activities related to child/teen auto safety programs promoted by State Farm. The Fellowship is awarded to a qualified student who has completed their undergraduate degree for a period of 10 to 12 months. For information on the Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship, contact the JACL Washington, DC Office at 202.223.1240 or policy@jacl.org