Nichi Bei Times
Friday, June 28, 2002

The Third JPRN NPO Summer Internship & Scholarship Program Begins, 15 Students Participate in the Program

  June 14th marked the beginning of the third Summer Internship & Scholarship Program organized by the Japan Pacific Resource Network (JPRN), a nonprofit public interest and educational organization located in Oakland.  The 15 participants are Japanese students who are studying or living in the United States.  For 10 weeks, each participant will intern at a nonprofit organization in the San Francisco/Bay Area.  In addition to the internship, participants will learn about nonprofit organizations through weekly seminars, exchange meetings with individuals who work in U.S. and Japanese nonprofit organizations and report sessions where each participant will present a report on the organization where he or she is interning.  These reports will be collected at the end of the program and compiled into an accumulated report that JPRN plans to use as resource or as materials for introducing nonprofit activities in the United States.

  At the orientation held on the 14th, Fumie Ito from JPRN began with an introduction of the program followed by a brief self-introduction by each participant and his or her reasons for participating in this program.  Among them is, Kumiko Omura, Mary Baldwin College student from Virginia.  When asked about her reasons, she replied, " I wanted to intern at nonprofit organization that provides support for Asian people or residents in San Francisco Bay Area where nonprofit activities are flourishing.  Also, I thought that I could have fruitful experiences in this area because it is very different from Virginia where I came from.  Since I am interested in human rights issues related to Asians and its supports from nonprofit sector, I am sure that I can gain knowledge about this field in this area where many Asian Americans live."  She is interning as a project assistant at Asian, Inc., a nonprofit technical assistance and research organization incorporated in 1971, works to strengthen the infrastructure of Asian American communities in Northern California and to assist in their physical, economic, and social development.  She expressed that she is constantly learning many things at her internship site.

  Following the orientation, Ms. Akiko Yagi, the director of the Japanese Counseling Program at the Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc, held the workshop, titled "Working in the U.S."  She spoke about communicating with supervisors effectively and problems that might arise when working in a culturally diverse workplace.  Since it is the first time for many of the participants to intern at nonprofit organizations, the workshop proved to be helpful in preparing them for their internships.

  On June 21 and July 5, participants will have the opportunity to meet guest speakers who currently work at nonprofit organizations that deal with U.S.-Japan issues at the exchange meetings. They will speak about their organizations, work experience and advise participants on working in nonprofit organizations.

  Hiroshi Kashiwagi, the executive director of JPRN, will hold the first seminar, entitled "An Overview of Nonprofit Organizations in the U.S."  Mr. Tomoji Ishi, a professor of City College of San Francisco, will be the guest speaker for the upcoming seminar, "Corporation, Society, and NPO" on July 19.  On July 26, Mr. Sango Harumi, a social worker at Kimochi Inc., will be the last guest speaker, "U.S. Social Welfare and Medical Services and NPO."

  The other Friday meetings consisted of report sessions where each participant introduced the organization at which he or she is interning.  Not only does the report provide the opportunity for interns to talk with the staff at their internship sites, but it also helps interns grasp a better understanding of the whole organization beyond their limited roles as interns.  In addition, the report session is a time for participants to share information and exchange ideas.  This year's host organizations are the following, American Friends Service Committee, Asian Inc., Friends of the Urban Forest, International Action Center, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern CA, Legal Assistance for Seniors, Nihonmachi Little Friends, Japanese Newcomer Services; Nobiru-kai, Self-Help for the Elderly & Hospice, Sierra Club, Goldman Institute on Aging, and Tibetan Aid Project.

  For information on becoming a host organization or JPRN, contact Fumie Ito at 510-891-9045 ext. 44 or fumie@jprn.org.