J-Initiative Grantees 2011
Asian Art Museum (AAM). San Francisco, CA
Bridge Japan Project (Year 1)
Project Director: Deborah Clearwaters
$86,487
The Bridge Japan Project will build the capactity of the Asian Art Museum to
make meaningful contributions to US-Japan exchange by evaluating and refining
existing K-12 resources; developing an online, searchable resource for K-12
teachers and students that includes standards based lesson plans, art, video,
and primary and secondary literature, and through regional and national online
training to support teachers in using these resources.
Columbia University for Asia for Educators Program, Weatherhead
East Asian Institute. New York, NY
National Simulcast Presentations on Japan for Teachers
Project Director: Roberta (Robin) Martin, Ph. D.
$46,200
Columbia University working with National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
partner university sites in 13 states from the South and Northeastern regions
will offer a series of multi-site collaborative broadcasts on Japan for
teachers in relevant subject areas. The broadcasts are watched live, and archived for later viewing.
Five
College Center for East Asian Studies (FCCEAS). Northampton, MA
JAID (Japan Artists Information Directory) (Year 2)
Project Director: Anne Prescott
$37,547
The Japan Artist Information Directory (JAID) will establish a database of
information about performers of traditional Japanese arts that will be
disseminated through a web-based directory which will be available on the Five
Colleges website. Particular attention will be paid to underserved areas
(Midwest, South and Mountain states), and a concerted effort will be made to
collect information about artists and to publicize JAID to organizations in
those areas. This directory will enhance mutual understanding between the US
and Japan by improving visibility for traditional Japanese performing artists
and their arts.
Idaho Human Rights Education Center (IHREC).
Boise, ID
International Education Leadership Program and Exchange (Year 2)
Project Director: Dan Prinzing
$55,462
IHREC will conduct a 36 month international education
leadership program and exchange that links students and teachers in Idaho with
the study of cultural heritage and global partnership with Japan. Building upon
IHREC’s international Youth LEAD online forum, teachers and students in the US
and Japan will explore cultural heritage and global partnership through the lens
of the Idaho Content Learning Standards for Geography and Culture.
Japan America Society of Washington D.C. Washington,
D.C.
National Japan Bowl Network (Year 1)
Project Director: Risa Kamio
$ 70,444
This project will create a network of organizations interested in promoting and
supporting the study of Japanese language at the high school level, with local
Japan Bowl competitions as the unifying link. The project will also promote and
support the establishment and development of local Japan Bowl and Japan Quiz
Bowl programs throughout the US as a means of supporting the next generation of
leaders for US-Japan relations, developing Japan-related information resources,
and creating network opportunities for students and teachers of Japanese.
National
Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS). Washington, DC
NAJAS Network Support (Year 2)
Project Director: Makiko Murotani
$88,644
This project will provide an integrated program for small and mid-sized
Japan-America Societies by combining structural and program support from the
network and NAJAS. The structural component will focus on JAS management and
board capacity building and the program component will focus on providing
speaker resources to JAS to help with their membership retention and
development. The program of structural and program support will strengthen
small and mid-sized JAS, and the NAJAS network itself, at a crucial point in
US-Japan relations.
National
Performance Network (NPN). New Orleans, LA
Japan Connection (Year 2)
Project Director: Renata Petroni
$46,962
This project is a partnership between the NPN and the Japan Contemporary Dance
Network (JCDN) to build knowledge about the cultural and artistic fabric of the
US and Japan through networking connections and digital information as well as
develop a systemic and reciprocal artistic connection between the two
countries. NPN will achieve this through a series of curatorial travel,
attendance at convenings,and planning sessions both in
Japan and the US, as well as information sharing through new technologies and
artistic innovations.
Primary
Source. Watertown, MA
Accessible Japan: Primary Source’s Online Offerings for Educators (Year 2)
Project Director: Deborah Cunningham
$50,955
This project will introduce new programming and resources on Japan that will be
easily accessible to both national and international audiences. Primary Source
intends to create and offer a replicable online course, an online curriculum
cluster of multiple activities for use in the classroom, and an international
discussion group. A series of webinars will support this work. Key Primary Source
staff will travel to Japan to build partnerships with Japanese educators. Staff
will also use technology-based networking tools to conduct outreach efforts and
will share their expertise at a US-based conference that focuses on Japan, Asia
and/or global studies. While all of these resources, activities, and outreach
efforts will be planned and completed during the funding period, access to this
work will exist long beyond the duration of the grant, ensuring maximum
impact.
Sister
Cities International (SCI). Washington, DC
Leading Asia: Renewing the US and Japan Sister Cities Network (Year 2)
Project Director: Jennelle Root
$81,081
This project will disseminate best practice models, share innovation and progress,
and help US and Japan sister cities expand relationships by offering a variety
of programs and resources. The project will provide the information and
resources needed to improve and broaden the range of activities within US-Japan
sister city partnerships with a focus on youth and young professional
development, creative economy, and sustainable development. Leading Asia will
provide more opportunity for face-to-face exchanges for the next generation of
citizen diplomats.
Stanford Program on International and Cross
Cultural Education (SPICE), Freeman Spogli Institute for International
Studies, Stanford University. Stanford, CA.
Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) (Year 1)
Project Director: Gary Mukai
$79,475
The RSP annually selects 25 exceptional high school sophamores, juniors, and
seniors from throughout the United States to engage in an intensive study of
U.S.- Japan relations. The RSP provides students with a broad overview of
Japanese history, literature, religion, arts, politics, and economics with a
special focus on the U.S.- Japan relationship through lectures from scholars,
diplomats, and other professionals.
United
Planet. Boston, MA
Volunteer Leaders2 Program (Year 2)
Project Director: Dave Santulli
$74,463
The United Planet Volunteer Leaders2 will create new networks of US and
Japanese volunteers, schools, universities, and organizations to address global
issues, foster cross-cultural understanding and promote transnational
cooperation and civic leadership, especially among the next generation. United
Planet will achieve these objectives through the establishment of an innovative
and sustainable voluntary exchange program focused on underserved populations.
Cross-sector collaboration and ongoing engagement will be promoted through
innovative technologies. Ambassador Clubs and programs for NPO professionals
and social entrepreneurs will also be introduced to empower globally-minded
leadership.
US Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD). Des
Moines, IA
J Center: Strengthening Japan/US Relations in the Midwest Region of the United
States (Year 2)
Project Director: Ann Schodde
$67,822
The objective of the project is to create a center that will serve to increase
awareness of existing organizations and opportunities for engagement in citizen
diplomacy activities focused on Japan, among Americans of all ages living in
the Midwest region of the United States. The ten Midwest region states to be
the focus of the center include Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, North Dakota and South Dakota. One planning trip to
Japan will be conducted in Year 1 to identify appropriate organizational
partners to work with.