{"id":54926,"date":"2025-03-18T16:23:37","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usjapancouncil.org\/?post_type=news&p=54926"},"modified":"2025-03-20T16:36:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T16:36:55","slug":"kibouforlosangeleslaunch","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.usjapancouncil.org\/ja\/news\/kibouforlosangeleslaunch\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S.-Japan Council Launches \u201cKibou (Hope) for Los Angeles\u201d \u2014 A Cross-Cultural Youth Leadership Initiative Supported by the LA Dodgers and U.S.-Japan Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo from <\/em><\/strong>Kibou for Maui<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Los Angeles, CA<\/strong> \u2013 The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> and the U.S.-Japan Foundation<\/a>, proudly announces the launch of Kibou (Hope) for Los Angeles<\/em> (KLA) \u2014 a cross-cultural program empowering youth in Altadena, California through lessons in resilience, leadership, and community rebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by the success of USJC\u2019s TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui initiative, KLA is designed to support youth and the community in Altadena as they recover from recent wildfire devastation. The program will send a delegation of high school students to Japan, where they will engage with survivors and recovery experts from the Tohoku region, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Earthquake and tsunami.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is about turning tragedy into transformation,\u201d<\/strong> said Audrey Yamamoto<\/strong>, President & CEO of the U.S.-Japan Council. <\/em>\u201cBy connecting Altadena\u2019s next generation of leaders with the Tohoku region in Japan that has rebuilt and thrived after disaster, we are creating a powerful opportunity for healing, learning, and future leadership.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative is made possible through generous support from the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong> and <\/strong>the U.S.-Japan Foundation. <\/strong>Additional support is being provided by The Hamai Group, Ori-gen<\/a>, Sycamore Tree Capital Partners<\/a>, and the Sakanashi Family, in loving memory of Mark Sakanashi, who believed deeply in the potential of Altadena\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Program Highlights:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n