2014 Nikkei Federation Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program 12 (Nikkei Federation call for High School Student Participants) Deadline Sept 6, 2014NEW

Call for High School Student Participants, Nikkei Federation Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program 12 - Deadline September 6.�� Los Angeles, Calif. - The Nikkei Federation announces its twelfth annual Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program, a leadership development and cultural education program for high school students. The program is scheduled to take place on selected Saturdays from October 18, 2014 through March 28, 2015 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in the Historic District of Little Tokyo. The JACCC is the venue sponsor for the program and the Rafu Shimpo is the media sponsor.

The goal of the program is to provide leadership skills to high school youth and inspire them to cultivate an ongoing involvement with the Japanese American community. The program is designed to develop leadership skills and to inspire youth involvement in the Japanese community by presenting a series of active, engaging workshops on a variety of leadership topics. Participants will gain experience in community service and learn about the Japanese American experience as well as to learn how to work in groups.

Leadership session workshops are scheduled on Saturday, October 18, October 25, November 8, December 13, 2014. 2015 dates are January 10, January 31, February 14, February 28, March 7 and March 28.

"We understand that the future of our community lies in the hands our youth," said Ron Dyo, Chair of the Rising Stars Youth Program. "The program was established 12 years ago, to reach out to youth to give them an opportunity to gain skills and introduce them to the Japanese community.� We just celebrated our 10-year anniversary in July and it was gratifying to see our alumni and to learn firsthand how the skills that are taught in this program have helped the participants in their academic, professional and community endeavors. And, our goal is to reach out to more youth in our community with the hope that they will come back to the community as leaders."

Professional trainers who are also community leaders, from a variety of backgrounds and industries, lead the workshops. The six interactive workshops cover topics geared towards developing leadership skills and increasing understanding of the Japanese American culture and history. The workshops include: "Team Work," where the students will learn about different personality types and how best to deal with personalities that are similar to and different from their own; "Assertiveness," explores the advantages and disadvantages of assertive versus passive behavior in school and at work and where to draw the line between assertive and overly assertive behavior.� The "Speak to Persuasive," workshop teaches the practical elements of an effective presentation, including the importance of body language, eye contact, voice modulation, hand gestures as well as structuring the speech. "Financial Fitness," will introduce the students to basic and practical financial skills;� "Cultural Values," a workshop designed to recognize stereotype-based biases that may affect the students in their education and careers and how to deal with them. Networking," a workshop in which the students will learn the benefits of networking and will receive practical tips on how to approach and talk to people in a variety of settings.� Outings are designed to introduce the students to historic Little Tokyo and they include a tour of the Japanese American National Museum, a "Walking tour of Little Tokyo," and a scavenger hunt.

Students also plan and execute a group project, engage in special planning meetings as well as participate in cultural activities and social activities. The 10-session program concludes with a graduation reception. Two additional group project and social activities take place at an off site location.� Optional parent activities are also scheduled.

Feedback from past participants has been overwhelmingly positive. The students have said the program has helped them in their academic careers and personal lives, and have given them a greater awareness and appreciation of the Japanese American community.

"The speakers we had taught us practical skills as well as a better understanding of our culture," said Nicole Elby, a graduate of the fifth Rising Stars program. "We learned about our cultural values and how to find a balance between being a doormat and being overbearing. I especially gained from the sessions about how to work in groups and the importance of networking. I've already implemented the networking skills which really helped me with a school project!"

Nicholas Hanashiro Rising Stars 10 alumni offered, "The final two workshops to me were some of the most enlightening. Cultural Values, and Networking. The first talked about all of the cultural values common to Japanese people, and every time they would read another one, I would think to myself "SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT." A mind blowing characterization of myself in which I never knew that the values I held so close were cultural values instilled into me by my parents and their parents before them, and I assume their parents to them. Understanding your culture and your heritage I learned is one of the most important tools in sculpting your future."

"The last of the sessions was one dealing with networking, so the importance of building relationships right? WRONG. From This session I was reassured that life would turn out all right. It's a stressful time in a kid's life waiting for college acceptances. Trying to decide at 17 or 18 the rest of our lives can be pretty difficult. When Mr. Kobara spoke about his life though the networking was an underlying theme however I felt that the true message was that if you follow your heart, do your best and pursue that which you are passionate about then things will turn out ok. So for life, it was reassuring, Nicholas concluded."

Enrollment is limited to 25 maximum. Applications and supporting documents must be postmarked by Saturday, September 6, 2014.� Participants must be enrolled in high school. Applications are available on line at the Nikkei Federation website and can be submitted directly online at. http://www.nikkeifederation.org/risingstars/application.html

For information on the Nikkei Federation Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program visit us at:

http://www.nikkeifederation.org/risingstars/

A program fee of $200 per student will be charged upon acceptance. Fee includes lunch and snacks for workshop sessions. The program cost exceeds the participation fee and the Nikkei Federation must raise funds to present the program. For sponsorship opportunities visit the Nikkei Federation website at www.nikkeifederation.org, or contact Glenn Nakatani at P.O. Box 4235, Covina, CA� 91723, telephone (626) 915-5338, fax (626) 915-2699, email us at [email protected].� The Nikkei Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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