This year we debuted a documentary Removed by Force: The Eviction of Hawai'i's Japanese Americans During WWII which has been shown throughout the state, in California, and in various online and local film festivals. There has been a tremendous buzz about the story told in this documentary of the relatively unknown and previously undocumented forced removal of Japanese Americans in Hawai'i. The film also serves as a source of inspiration and a call to action to engage in the fight for greater social justice today. With the funds raised surrounding the successful launch, we thought it extremely fitting to amplify the film's purpose into this fellowship which will foster social justice leaders of the future. We have also received a generous donation of kimono quilts she handmade (hence the name of the fellowship) to be used as a thank you to our donors from inspirational attorney and textile artist Ellen Godbey Carson, who is keenly focused on promoting opportunities to develop civil rights leaders and social justice advocates. With these two unexpected windfalls, the Quest to Uncover Innovative Leaders of Tomorrow Fellowship was born. 

 

In addition to the mentorship we will provide on a local level, the National Japanese American Citizens League has a number of opportunities to help young people develop their skills in leadership, activism, and organizing. Our local chapter is very dedicated to getting the word out to Hawai'i's youth to access these previously underutilized resources. We hope the fellowship program will provide a pipeline to these larger opportunities.

 

 

More details on the quilts can be found at: http://www.jaclhonolulu.org/