JCYC Assembly Nonprofit of the Year

While serving as your assemblymember in Sacramento, I have been a strong advocate for students from early childhood education through college. Whether it’s digging California up from the bottom in per-pupil spending, creating Universal Transitional Kindergarten or providing free school lunches, my goal is to ensure our youth are provided opportunities and resources to succeed.

But the state cannot do it alone. We need community partners to help carry out this mission. The Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC) has been one of those partners, serving thousands of local young people every year since 1970. While their roots focused on Japanese Americans, they have expanded their reach to all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Their decades-long impact is why I chose them as Assembly District 19’s 2023 Nonprofit of the Year.

JCYC offers robust programs, focusing on toddlers to high school seniors, such as child development, leadership training, job readiness and college preparation. Their locations touch every corner of our district from San Francisco’s west side to San Mateo County’s Daly City.

Its two Chibi Chan preschools, for example, offer a welcoming, nurturing and inclusive learning environment for children aged 2 to 5 years old. Their curriculum is based upon “Project Approach,” which takes a topic close to the children’s personal experiences and promotes sustained, long-term interest in learning.

As the kids get older, the Educational Talent Search program targets middle school students, giving them access to lunch time and after-school tutors to support their academic success. Field trips and career days are also set up in the hopes of sparking excitement in a possible profession. It’s often difficult for youth from under-resourced communities to make connections in a field they’re not exposed to. This shows them the possibilities out there.

At the high school level, JCYC offers STEM resources at Galileo and Balboa high schools to nurture interest in science, technology, engineering and math. They prioritize teens who would be the first in their family to attend college. There are also workforce development programs for these older students, giving them opportunities to get a paying job, build relationships and develop skills that will help them succeed in the workplace.

So many graduates of the organization’s programs are making a difference today in many sectors across the region. Several have never forgotten who helped put them on the path to success, and they are now ensuring many more generations can benefit from JCYC’s offerings. Former participants include Jon Osaki, who is currently JCYC’s executive director, and University of California attorney Angus McDonald, who is chair of the non-profit’s Board of Directors.

There are numerous similar stories of successful people who have been helped by JCYC. More kids’ lives will be impacted for years to come. We are fortunate to have a tireless and committed organization whose work is felt throughout our district.

Congratulations to Japanese Community Youth Council for being named our Nonprofit of the Year and thank you for your dedication to our youth. I cannot wait to honor you in Sacramento on June 7.

Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City as well as part of South San Francisco.