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.

An upcoming community listening opportunity hosted by First 5 Sonoma County, centers the lived experiences of Pasifika women and birthing people in Sonoma County.

This Maternal Health Focus Group with Pasifika Women is a safe and supportive space for community members to share their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences—and to help shape the future of maternal health care in our region.

About the Focus Group

If you have given birth within the past three years, you are invited to participate in a virtual focus group designed to uplift Pasifika voices and experiences. Your insights will directly inform how maternal health services are developed and delivered in Sonoma County, helping ensure care that is culturally responsive, equitable, and community-informed.

Participants will be compensated for their time with a $50 gift card.

Event Details

• Date: January 26, 2026

• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM

• Location: Zoom (online)

• Who: Pasifika women and birthing people who have given birth in the past 3 years

• Incentive: $50 gift card for participation

 Register here: bit.ly/maternalhealthsc

Why This Matters

Pasifika communities are often underrepresented in maternal health research and decision-making. This focus group is an important opportunity to ensure that real experiences—joys, challenges, barriers, and strengths—are heard and reflected in local systems of care.

By participating, you are contributing to:

• Improved maternal and postpartum care in Sonoma County

• Greater cultural responsiveness in health systems

• Community-driven solutions rooted in lived experience

Help Spread the Word

If you know someone who may be interested or eligible to participate, please consider sharing this opportunity within your networks. Community voices are essential to creating healthier futures for parents, babies, and families.

AAPIC is grateful to First 5 Sonoma County for centering Pasifika communities and for their commitment to listening, learning, and action.

The Sonoma County Library is in the final days of collecting community input for its 5-Year Strategic Plan, and AAPIC encourages our community members to make their voices heard.

Thousands of residents have already completed the survey, helping guide how library services evolve over the next five years. With fewer than five days remaining, this is a key opportunity—especially for AAPI community members—to ensure our needs, experiences, and priorities are reflected.

Your input helps shape decisions around:

• Access to digital resources

• Youth and family programming

• Community spaces and cultural offerings

• Equity and inclusion in public services

Two Ways to Participate

1. Take the Survey
The survey is quick, impactful, and closes soon.
 Please submit responses by January 18.

2. Join a Community Meeting
Prefer to share your thoughts in conversation? Register for an in-person or virtual community meeting and help turn data into dialogue.

Public libraries play a vital role in access, education, and community belonging. Don’t let the next five years of library services be shaped without AAPI voices at the table.

From dabao to mochi to biryani, this event explores how Asian cultures bring rice to life through flavor, memory, and tradition.

Join KQED Live for an evening with chefs and food storytellers who share how rice nourishes both body and community.

Location
The Commons at KQED
2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

A celebration of cuisine, culture, and the connections carried in every grain. Tickets here.

AAPIC is pleased to share an upcoming community event hosted in collaboration with the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group and the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project.

Join us for a special virtual book reading and conversation featuring Ron Lee, with the late L K Lennie Lee, centered on their book: Sojourners to Joke Sings: Tales of Chinatown & Beyond

Event Details

• Date: January 14, 2026

• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM PST

• Location: Zoom (online only)

• Registration: Click here to register and learn more

Saturday, January 10, 2026 · 12:00 p.m. (Please arrive by 11:30 a.m.)

Enmanji Memorial Hall — 1200 Hwy 116 South, Sebastopol

Ring in the New Year in good company at the Enmanji-JACL Community New Year’s Potluck Luncheon. This beloved annual gathering brings together friends, families, and community members to share food, reconnect, and welcome the year ahead.

Guests are invited to bring a favorite main dish, side, and/or dessert to share. 

The luncheon will also feature live entertainment by Gary Sugiyama and the Cedar Mountain String Band.

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.