Japanese Charities in California

Under the leadership and foresight of Tom Imai and other Nisei, the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Citizens League was established in 1942 and "reactivated" after World War II. During the 1960s, our chapter, under Robert Moriguchi, worked with other civil rights organizations in the Valley on issues of fair housing and human relations. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, San Fernando Valley JACL Board Members such as Nancy Gohata, Tak Yamamoto, Phil Shigekuni and Paul Tsuneishi actively worked on organizing the first Manzanar Pilgrimages and advocated tirelessly for Redress and Reparations. Since the 1990s, the Board offered programming dedicated to the changing demographics of the Japanese American community as well as LGBT rights in Asian American communities and beyond. Today, the Valley chapter and its board members continue to educate the public about the Japanese American experience and fight for social justice issues including, but not limited to, immigration reform, marriage equality, the protection of civil liberties, challenging hate speech, and youth empowerment. The Japanese American Citizens League 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.

The JA Community Foundation represents a vital philanthropic resource rooted in Oakland, California, dedicated to uplifting Japanese American and broader Asian American communities across the nation. As a nonprofit private foundation, the organization understands that effective community change requires deep listening, strategic investment, and genuine partnership with the organizations and individuals doing frontline work. The foundation's mission centers on identifying solutions that truly resonate with community needs and values, then providing the resources necessary to bring those solutions to scale. What distinguishes JA Community Foundation is its nuanced understanding of both the Japanese American experience and the interconnected challenges facing the broader Asian American community. The foundation recognizes that sustainable progress requires sustained commitment, which is why it focuses on long-term partnerships and transformational grantmaking rather than one-time funding. Based in Oakland, California, the foundation draws on years of experience and deep community relationships to guide its work. By investing in programs that address the distinct needs, interests, and concerns of Japanese American and Asian American communities, the foundation works toward a future where these communities thrive. The foundation's commitment extends beyond financial support to include collaborative learning, knowledge sharing, and advocacy for policies that advance equity and opportunity for all community members.