Mission Statement

The mission of the Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) is to provide comprehensive social services such as adult day care, home support care, and counseling to the diverse community of the greater Chicagoland area. The JASC is also dedicated to raising awareness and preserving its Japanese American heritage through the presentation of educational and cultural programming.

About

Founded August 30, 1946, the JASC is a non-profit, 501(c)3 social services agency. The JASC was founded to assist in the resettlement of 20,000 newly-arrived Japanese Americans who had been incarcerated during World War II. After the resettlement, the JASC began to provide comprehensive social services for the Nikkei elderly. Now the JASC extends its social services not only to the local Nikkei population, but is open to all of the diverse groups and seniors in the greater Chicagoland area.

Today, the JASC also facilitates cultural, heritage, and community programs. Programs include the JASC’s Social Services, Wellness Program, Scholarship Program, Legacy Center (archive and library), and other cultural and community classes and programs. Annual special events include the Fuji Festival banquet, Market Day bazaar, and Holiday Delight/Kodomo Matsuri (Children’s Festival). The JASC is a partner with other groups in events such as the New Year/Oshogatsu celebration, Intergenerational Programs, the Japanese American community picnic, and the annual Day of Remembrance program.

Completed in 2003, the JASC conducted the Nikkei Community Assessment which describes the Chicagoland Nikkei community demographically and gave voice to our future interests, needs, and resources. (A summary of the results can be found on our web site.)

The Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) is honored to participate in the Nikkei Legacy Project and the Discover Nikkei website, because it is an exciting opportunity for global communication and unprecedented access to information about Nikkei people.

Through this project, we want to share information about the JASC's services and unique resources, and the greater Chicago area's Nikkei community and events.