FLORIN JACL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

The Florin Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is one of the oldest and most active local community organizations involved in teaching cross-cultural understanding and promoting civil rights of all people. Established in 1935, the Florin JACL is run entirely by volunteers, and is sustained from community donations and membership dues. We host several valued programs open to the entire community each year. These programs include:

Women’s Day Forum A day-long health education and leadership program for women of all ages. Among last year’s interesting topics were healthy dietary practices for preventing osteoporosis, and screening techniques available for early detection of breast cancer and osteoporosis risk.

Multiracial Forum A program that celebrates people of multiracial heritage through films, interactive discussion panels, and other engaging formats. Each year, this program helps to enlighten the broader community about the harmful biases that exist in our popular culture against people of multiracial heritage, and challenges the participants to think in new ways.

Time of Remembrance An educational program started over 20 years ago that teaches the importance of civil rights and the U.S. Constitution. Since last year, the Florin Chapter has enjoyed new partnerships with the Lodi , Marysville, Placer County , Sacramento , and Stockton JACL chapters, and the Golden State Museum in producing this program. This year, the Time of Remembrance program will reach more than 6,000 elementary school students throughout Northern California .

Scholarships Each year in June, the Florin JACL awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors and community college students to continue their education at institutions of higher learning.

Civil Rights An ongoing response team that mobilizes the community to denounce scapegoating of innocent people and hate crimes when they occur, and fosters productive community dialogues and friendship within our diverse community. These civil rights efforts have produced more responsible media coverage, increased public awareness to stem hate crimes, and instilled hope within the greater community that it is possible to celebrate our differences and come together as a stronger more unified community.

Newsletter A quarterly newsletter that keeps chapter members and friends of Florin JACL connected, and informed about chapter activities, community events, and civil rights issues affecting the community.

Youth and Young Professionals A new area of focus to increase the participation of high school and college students, and young professionals in Asian American awareness, community involvement, and social justice/civil rights issues. Since starting two years ago, this program has brought together local high school and college students to have fun activities, learn about their heritage, and discuss their views about the future priorities of the Japanese American community.  It has also helped to connect students to internship opportunities in the community.  Activities planned for the near future will include a mixer for young professionals.

Japanese American Archival Collection A collection of over 5,000 documents, photographs, artifacts, and oral histories that is permanently housed in the Library of the California State University, Sacramento. The collection covers the stories and experiences of Japanese Americans from the early 1900s to post World War II internment camps.