2026 February Newsletter
Happy February!
As we close out this year, here are some fun events, news, and items to look out for. We currently have FIVE programs OPEN to register/apply for! Leadership in Action is also going into its 5th week this Saturday!
Feb 24, 2026, 6:09 PM
Register for Summer Camp Today!
Early Bird sale is going on until April 3rd!
2026 Summer Camp Dates and Locations:
Orange County Buddhist Church: June 15th - 19th, 2026
Union Church of Los Angeles: June 22nd - 26th, 2026
First Presbyterian Church Altadena: July 6th - 10th, 2026
Gardena Buddhist Church: July 13th - 17th (Week 1) and July 20th - 24th, 2026 (Week 2)
West Los Angeles United Methodist Church: July 27th - 31st, 2026
Gardena Week 1 is filling up quickly! Register today to snag a spot at our most popular week.
Junior Counselor & Counselor Applications Out Now!
Along with our beloved Summer Camp program, we have the very popular Junior Counselor and Counselor programs open for applications! Deadline to apply is April 4th. Please check out our webpage for new changes to our application process!
Junior Counselor spots have all filled up and waitlists are currently being implemented for all locations. We still encourage junior counselors to complete the application to be considered from the waitlist!
Nikkei Community Internship: Your Fave Paid Summer Internship
The Nikkei Community Internship (NCI) is an amazing opportunity for college students to deepen their connection to the Japanese American community while making a real impact in our historic Japantowns (Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco). This paid, 8-week summer internship fosters cultural awareness and leadership, helping the next generation carry forward our community’s legacy. Build lifelong networks and professional skills with NCI this year!
100% Mixed - A New Workshop Series with Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Insitute!
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute and Kizuna Little Tokyo are excited to co-host a series of workshops and discussions focusing on mixed race identity within the Japanese American and broader AAPI communities. We believe that learning about one’s identity, relating to other’s lived experiences, and understanding our personal histories while supporting each others stories in a group setting will highlight the ever-changing landscape of these communities. With support from guest speakers and enriching hands-on activities, we look forward to connecting and growing together.
The program is open to 15-20 high school students, and you DO NOT need to identify as mixed race, Japanese American, or Asian American to participate.
Deadline to Register: Friday, March 27, 2026
Leadership in Action Update!
Thank you so much to Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) for extending the impact of the MONUMENTS exhibit to our 2026 Leadership in Action cohort! After touring the powerful & thought provoking exhibit that expands on monument removals across the US, Catherine Arias (Director of Education at MOCA) led our teen students in an artmaking activity to create textured drawings using rubbings from surfaces in Little Tokyo. Students were asked to reflect on the word “journeys” and The Cadence series by Walter Price.
We could not be happier with how this current exhibit at MOCA coincides perfectly with our program’s core theme of civil liberties AND that we were able to work with a wonderful neighborhood partner in Little Tokyo. Leadership in Action is now going into its 5th session on Saturday.
Community News!
Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market
Visit the Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market, a vibrant new Saturday tradition in the heart of Little Tokyo. Presented in partnership by JACCC and Food Access LA, this weekly market brings together fresh, affordable produce, rich cultural experiences, and meaningful community connection.
Every Saturday 9AM-2PM at the Isamu Noguchi Plaza
