The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has opened its 2026 National Scholarship and Awards Program, offering approximately 30 scholarships for incoming freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students, law students, and creative/performing arts students. Financial-need scholarships are also available.

Deadlines

• Freshman applicants: March 2, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (HST)

• All other categories: April 3, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (HST)

Applicants must be individual youth or student members of JACL, enrolled in school in Fall 2025, and may receive a maximum of two national awards.

Applications and guidelines are available on the JACL website under the Youth tab.
Questions may be directed to scholarships@jacl.org.

We love uplifting community events hosted by organizations and partners connected to the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). Here’s one coming up in January that many of our community members may enjoy:

She Can Club x Sonoma County EDC - 5th Annual Vision Board Party

She Can Club is partnering with the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative to host their 5th annual Vision Board Party, an evening designed for women who are dreaming, starting, or growing a business. While She Can Club is a friendship-first networking group (not exclusively for entrepreneurs), this event is especially welcoming for women seeking connection, inspiration, and support as they set intentions for the year ahead.

Event Details: Saturday, January 10 - 6:00 PM
The Saturday Afternoon Club, 430 Tenth Street, Santa Rosa
 $50

All vision board supplies are provided, though guests are welcome to bring personal images or magazines to share. The evening also includes free professional headshots by Megan Glover of Hansen Lane Media, so attendees are encouraged to wear whatever makes them feel confident and comfortable. Expect additional photo opportunities and festive décor by Your Balloon Dream Co.

Please note: This event typically sells out. Tickets are non-refundable but transferable. Photos will be taken during the event for marketing and social media purposes.

For sponsorship or advertising opportunities, contact Hilary at heyhilary@shecanclub.com or DM @shecanclub on Instagram.

The United Way of the Wine Country, in partnership with trusted community organizations across five counties, is recruiting volunteers for the Earn It! Keep It! $ave It! (EKS) – VITA Free Tax Assistance Program for the upcoming tax season.

Volunteers will train in January and early February and serve February through April, helping low- to moderate-income individuals and families access free tax preparation and financial resources. Last tax season alone, volunteers helped return $9 million in state and federal refunds to local residents, with over $110 million returned over time—including support for first-time filers and ITIN applications and renewals.

Volunteer Roles Needed

• Tax Preparers

• Intake Coordinators (Greeters)

• Interpreters

New and returning volunteers are welcome. All volunteers must complete registration through the EKS volunteer portal. Free training and materials are provided for new volunteers.

 Register today:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBef2k-eIszomChOqZj-jZiXRiQRAZ4ON_sDYN1aTwbLjLIQ/viewform?usp=header

The volunteer goal this year is 300, and community need continues to exceed appointment availability—your time and skills can make a meaningful difference.

For questions, contact Shannon Stalker, Community Impact Manager & Volunteer Coordinator, at shannon.stalker@unitedwaywinecountry.org or 707-284-7069.

The Community Foundation Sonoma County is hiring and expanding its team to better support communities, partners, and donors across Sonoma County.

Open Roles

• Lead Technologist (Full-time): Advance IT systems and improve organizational efficiency and user experience.

• Community Partnerships Lead (Full-time): Build relationships across Sonoma County and support collaborative, community-driven work.

• Senior Philanthropic Advisor (Full-time): Partner with donors to support meaningful local giving.

• Community Storyteller (Contract): Document community impact through photography, social media, and storytelling. For this role, contact Tricia Savelli at tsavelli@sonomacf.org.

Learn more about the full-time roles and how to apply via the Community Foundation Sonoma County.

AAPIC was proud to sponsor the Historic Chinatown Park Plaque Unveiling, a community gathering honoring the contributions of Petaluma’s first Chinese residents. The event marked the installation of a permanent plaque recognizing the Chinese immigrant community whose labor and lives helped shape the city’s early history, yet whose stories have long been overlooked.

Community members, elders, and local leaders gathered in remembrance and reflection, affirming the importance of public history, visibility, and cultural acknowledgment. This unveiling represents a meaningful step toward honoring the full and diverse history of Petaluma.

Read more coverage in the Bohemian.

Stop AAPI Hate just published their newest report: Still Under Fire: Relentless Racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in a Heated Election Year.

The report features findings from Stop AAPI Hate’s latest state of anti-AAPI hate national survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago in January 2025. It provides an in-depth look at hate act experiences in 2024, the impacts of hate, needs for support after hate, barriers to reporting hate, and how AAPI communities are pushing back against hate.

The full report is available HERE, and executive summaries in Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Samoan, and Vietnamese will be available soon.

Here are some of the key findings:

1. About half (53%) of AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) adults surveyed experienced a hate act in 2024 due to their race, ethnicity, or nationality, similar to the 49% who experienced a hate act in 2023.
2. Those who faced hate had worse mental health, with 70% of AAPI adults who experienced hate reporting frequent stress, compared to 49% of those who did not.
3. Of the AA/PI adults who experienced hate, over three-quarters did not formally report the hate act despite many experiencing a potential hate crime or civil rights violation.
4. Two-thirds of AA/PI adults participated in activities to reduce or resist racism in 2024.
5. AAPI adults’ activation against hate remains high. 83% of AA/PI adults are concerned about the racial climate; 82% are optimistic about AA/PI power to end racism, and 67% are motivated to get involved in justice and equity efforts.
6. The report also includes recommendations for what policymakers and community members can do to fight together for our equality, freedom, and democracy.

Click here to read full report.

Dear AAPI Community and Allies,

We have a duty to call attention to recent decisions by our President that we believe threaten our community. We shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that where we live - Sonoma County, the North Bay, California - is a safe bubble. The recent executive orders (which do not require Congressional approval) will have far-reaching effects.

1. People are calling out Congress

AAPIC follows several AAPI-centered civil rights groups, and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is one of them. They were founded in 1979 in response to the war and US militarization in Southeast Asia - which resulted in the largest mass resettlement of refugees in US history.

On the eve of the 50th Anniversary of the resettlement of 1.25 million Southeast Asians to the United States following the end of the Vietnam War, the actions of this administration pose a threat to all of our safety and the hard-won civil rights of BIPOC people.

Quyên Đinh, SEARAC Executive Director, responds to the President Trump's March 4, 2025, address to Congress below:

“The actions of the Trump Administration over the last 43 days are unconstitutional, often illegal, outright attacks on communities of color, immigrants and refugees, women, and LGBTQIA+ communities. From cruel and unjust immigration enforcement to rollbacks of civil rights protections, this administration has weaponized its power to sow fear, division, and harm among the very people who make up the backbone of this country.

"Southeast Asian Americans have been in the United States for 50 years, and we have seen firsthand how government oppression destroys lives. The President’s rhetoric and lies are not just dangerous, they are rooted in the same nationalist ideology and language that forced our people to flee and trapped those who were left behind in reeducation camps. This administration and its policies are threats to our democracy and the values we hold dear. We refuse to stand idly by as history repeats itself.

"Congress can help prevent harm... Congress must decide whether to uphold democratic values or allow these attacks on our rights to continue unchecked. Every dollar spent to detain and deport our families is a choice to support violence. Unconscionable immigration raids and inhumane, prolonged detentions can only happen if Congress chooses to fund that violence... Silence is complicity…"

Read SEARAC's full statement dated March 5, 2025 here.

2. Ethnic Studies in education is at risk

In addition, another Executive Order will deny funding to schools who teach the diverse and complex history of the U.S. This is a direct attack on Ethnic Studies, which California has established as a graduation requirement. The federal government may not interfere with what is taught to students - this is the states’ prerogative.

AAPI students have repeatedly said that it is the only course where they are learning about their own histories, so often ignored or briefly passed over in regular history courses. Elimination of the myriad perspectives that should make up history courses in schools is to whitewash our history and eliminate the rich contributions of all who have shaped our country.

3. History repeats itself - the Alien Enemies Act

The Japanese American Citizens’ League has responded to the resurrection of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting foreign nationals from Venezuela who are alleged members of the Trend de Aragua criminal organization.

"The Alien Enemies Act was last used to intern 31,000 Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during WWII. As the Japanese American community knows, the scope was expanded to include United States citizens through Executive Order 9066 leading to the incarceration of over 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry…

"Not only is this an unlawful use of the Alien Enemies Act, outside the scope of wartime, but is overly broad and can be used to target individuals with no proven connection to Tren de Agua except through their Venezuelan citizenship."

Read JACL's full statement dated March 17, 2025 here.

4. Erasing heroes in the name of dismantling DEI

Per the President’s directive to remove all references to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) or forfeit federal funding, an article on the military website that honors the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was removed, then subsequently reinstated after protests.

Other articles that honored the contributions of racial minority groups and women in the military were similarly targeted for erasure. The 442nd, a World War II unit composed mostly of second-generation Japanese Americans, remains the most decorated combat unit in U.S. history for its size and length of service.

5. Blocking Chinese citizens from receiving student visas

The Committee of 100, a nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, issued the following statement condemning H.R. 3334, the Stop CCP Visas Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Riley Moore (R-WV). The proposed Bill would block Chinese citizens from getting any of the three main types of student visas issued by the U.S. – Vocational, Exchange Visitors and Academic Student visas.

"To suggest that every Chinese student regardless of their background, intentions, or beliefs is a national security threat is not only inaccurate but also fuels xenophobia, discrimination, and hostility toward an entire group of people – including Chinese Americans here in the U.S."

Read the Committee of 100's full statement dated February, 5, 2025 here.

AAPIC works for empowerment of the AAPI community in the North Bay, all immigrants, and communities of color: We work locally and pay attention globally.

Sincerely,

Laurie Fong

President, AAPIC North Bay
laurie@aapicnorthbay.org

Source: Committee of 100

What is the Committee of 100

Committee of 100 is the leading organization for Chinese Americans in civic engagement, public policy, arts, culture, and philanthropy. Learn more about this nonprofit, non-partisan membership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, science, technology, and the arts here.

Support Committee of 100 and subscribe to their newsletter: https://www.committee100.org/newsletter/

Research on the State of Ethnic Studies in the US

Committee of 100’s public policy research project identifies and classifies state-level (and the District of Columbia) statutes, bills, and academic standards of K-12 curriculum pertaining to the study of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, as well as other non-white racial and ethnic groups.

As of October 3, 2024:

• 12 states have statutes that require AAPI studies curriculum
• 4 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require AAPI studies curriculum
• 15 states have academic standards that require AAPI studies
• 22 states have statutes that require ethnic studies curriculum
• 3 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require ethnic studies curriculum
• 33 states have academic standards that require ethnic studies
• 8 states have no statutes, recently introduced bills, or academic standards that require or make optional AAPI studies or ethnic studies curriculum

Materials & Info

• View the updated state by state static maps here (October 2024)
• Read the updated press statement and data here (October 2024)
• Download the original research report and findings here (August 2023)
• Watch the discussion on the importance of AAPI history in K-12 curriculum here (July 2023)

Background & Methodology

Committee of 100 researchers analyzed the laws, regulations, bills, and publicly available curriculum standards of all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to determine which states have existing K-12 AAPI or ethnic studies curriculum requirements or legislative action that would enact such requirements. Committee of 100 cross-referenced state legislature websites, state statutes, keyword Google searches, and LegiScan to assess the existence and status of legislation and statutes, as well as state department of education websites and publicly available curriculum standards issued by state regulators and boards of education to determine the prevalence of AAPI and ethnic studies academic standards.

This research was originally conducted in 2022, updated in 2023, and is currently updated as of October 3, 2024. All definitions and methodologies identified here follow those laid out in the 2023 report. For more information about the methodology and definitions used here, please refer to the methods section on pages three and four of the 2023 report.

In the interactive map below, users may select and filter among statutes, academic standards, and pending bills to meet their needs using the dropdown menus.  Each dropdown menu allows users to select among AAPI studies and/or ethnic studies (explained in the glossary below).  States displayed in red meet the selected criteria.  For instance, if “AAPI studies (required)” is selected under the statutes dropdown, and “AAPI studies” is selected under the academic standards dropdown, states displayed in red are those that have statutes and academic standards in place that require AAPI studies curriculum.  Click on any state to show information related to the existing statutes, standards, and pending bills in that state.

K-12 AAPI Studies and Ethnic Studies Interactive Map

Go to this webpage, scroll down, and search for Statues, Academic Standards, and Pending Bills on the map of the 50-state map of the United States. The following map image shows the states where Ethnic Studies is required. Go to the interactive map webpage for full details. 

From the Committee of 100 newsletter on 9/25/24

Joint research by Committee of 100 and NORC shows the U.S. – China relationship, along with political and media rhetoric impacts how Chinese Americans are treated by strangers, acquaintances and coworkers

New York, NY (September 25, 2024) — Committee of 100, a non-profit membership organization of prominent Chinese Americans, and NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the largest independent social research organizations in the United States, today unveiled its ‘State of Chinese Americans’ study, a survey focused on areas of mental health, political preferences, discrimination, and diversity of the Chinese American population.

In the survey, two-thirds of Chinese Americans (68%) stated they face at least one form of discrimination in an average month, with a large percentage of the Chinese American community stating they continue to struggle with mental health. 43% of those surveyed say they felt depressed and 39% reporting having felt worthless. 61% say that the language and rhetoric used by the U.S. news media when reporting on U.S. – China relations negatively affects how strangers treat them; and about a quarter of the respondents say their relationship with acquaintances (26%) and coworkers (25%) has also been negatively impacted by the relationship.  On the U.S. – China relationship overall, nearly ninety percent (89%) of Chinese Americans view the current U.S. China relationship as negative.
 
With a lack of data specifically on Chinese Americans, the Committee of 100 and NORC study was conducted to help address the insufficient data necessary to inform and address ongoing discrimination, stereotypes, and misperceptions about Chinese Americans, and the many gaps in knowledge that remain about Chinese Americans’ political attitudes and behaviors.

“Understanding the mental health, discrimination and political perspectives of Chinese Americans is essential to create inclusive and informed policies,” said Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100. “These insights not only enrich political dialogue but also foster a more equitable society. Partnering with NORC at the University of Chicago, Dr. Nathan Chan and Dr. Vivien Leung on this project has been exciting, and we hope the data will help shape policy decisions that help improve the lives of Chinese Americans nationwide.”

Read more…

From the Committee of 100 Newsletter dated 8/1/24.

New York, NY (August 1, 2024) — Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today announced an update to its national database research which tracks harmful alien land laws legislation. Committee of 100 has been outspoken in denouncing the legislation in Florida, Texas and additional states that would limit the ability of non-U.S. citizens to purchase land in their state.

To track the surge of 2024 legislation prohibiting property ownership by Chinese citizens (including permanent US residents) across the U.S., Committee of 100 has updated its database which identifies and explains such legislation considered, and in some cases passed, by Congress and state governments.

The webpage features an interactive map of the United States that visually demonstrates the data. The data can be filtered by the provisions included in the legislation, including the types of entities prohibited from owning property (e.g. Chinese citizens, businesses headquartered in China) and the types of properties prohibited from ownership  (e.g. residential, commercial, agricultural property).

Read more…

The Committee of 100 database is free to use and can be found here.