The Kase Nikkei Community Scholarship Program, also known as the Kase Program, is an 11-week San Francisco Japantown internship that offers college students interested in taking an active role in the Japanese American community the opportunity to gain hands-on experience interning at the Center and receive a $5,000 scholarship toward tuition. The Kase Program is coordinated by the Center and funded by the K/T Foundation.

The Kase Nikkei Community Scholarship Program was developed to provide financial support for youth pursuing their college education and an opportunity to gain work experience with a Japanese American community nonprofit organization. Their participation in an eleven-week community and career and personal development internship program at the Center will increase their understanding of contemporary social, cultural, civic and preservation issues affecting our community; allow them to gain valuable skills in a professional environment; and enable them to work on projects tailored to their personal and professional growth.

WHAT THE KASE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES

• Eleven-week summer internship at the Center with a personalized intern work plan and mentoring by an experienced supervisor.
  • Career and personal development workshops and activities
  • Learn about the Center, its history and operations, while also learning how to develop programs and events, how to outreach and promote, how the Center fundraises, and how to effectively lead and collaborate on an intern-led program. 
  • Cultural experiences
  • Opportunity to engage with community members of all ages on a regular basis and actively participate in activities to help sustain the JA cultural heritage and the Japaptown community
  • Work with the Center staff to provide input on programming and engagement for young adults
  • Community planning and organizing for young adults (post-internship)
• Participation in the statewide Nikkei Community Internship (NCI) Program.
  • Weekly meetings to develop leadership skills and meet with community leaders to discuss issues affecting local Japantown communities.
  • Two statewide retreats will be held to work with peers in other regions and discuss issues facing the Japanese American community, including preservation, communications, and leadership.  Retreats will be held in Los Angeles and San Francisco/San Jose, and the Kase Program will cover travel and lodging expenses.
• A $5,000 educational scholarship for each student.

APPLY TODAY:

Our 2025 Kase Program Interns

Arine Alam
UC Berkeley, Mathematics and Education
Sara Kusumoto
UC Berkeley, Economics and Media Studies
Tim Takeda
Chabot College, Film and Asian American Studies

About Grace Kase 

The late Grace Kase strongly supported the Center and considered the JCCCNC a second home in the community. She believed that supporting the leadership development of Japanese American youth is vital to our community’s future, helping preserve its rich history, heritage and traditions for generations to come. This Scholarship Program has been Grace's wish and continues, with the support of the K/T Foundation, to provide financial support and an opportunity to attend college for those who might not otherwise have the ability to do so.