Sustain the Nikkei Community Internship!

This Giving Tuesday, Support the Next Generation of Community Leaders! 🌟

Since 2002, the Nikkei Community Internship (NCI) has been shaping future changemakers who uplift and strengthen the Japanese American community. With 347 interns placed at 47 unique nonprofit and small business organizations, NCI provides young leaders with hands-on experience that inspires them to make a lasting impact.

🎓 From Intern to Advocate: Our interns don’t just gain skills—they gain a purpose. Many go on to work in Little Tokyo or the Japanese American community after graduation, carrying forward a proud legacy.

✨ Meet the 2024 Cohort:

• Motivated by her childhood memories, Marisa is currently reviving the Chibi-K Run (Kids Fun Run) to reconnect families with Little Tokyo traditions.
• Mai and Kaitlyn are pursuing careers in social work to directly help Little Tokyo residents.
• Marie aspires to become an urban planner, preserving Little Tokyo’s legacy businesses for future generations.

🏙️ Why Your Support Matters: Today, there are only three remaining Japantowns in the United States—all of which are in California. As gentrification and urban changes threaten these cultural enclaves, programs like NCI are more critical than ever to ensure the preservation of our community’s heritage and future.

To keep NCI competitive, equitable, and impactful, we need YOUR support! 💛

Your gift empowers interns like these to pursue their goals while honoring and protecting our community's heritage. Will you help? 🎁 Donate this Giving Tuesday and invest in the leaders who will sustain the Japanese American community for generations to come!

Hear Marisa's story on how she was inspired by the Nikkei Community Internship this past summer to bring back a community event (near and dear to her heart), in hopes of youth creating meaningful connections to culture and Little Tokyo!

Kizuna is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible (Tax ID # 81-4218837).

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