JCYC Today
Over the past four decades, JCYC has become one of
San Francisco’s most successful youth organizations.
While still committed to children and youth from the
Japanese American community, JCYC has evolved and
grown into an organization, which annually serves over
7,000 young people from all socio-economic and ethnic
backgrounds.
Through a continuum of services, JCYC programs can
support children and youth from the time they start pre-
school until they are ready to move onto college. In
addition to providing direct services, JCYC has also
organized and continues to lead some of the largest and
most successful youth collaborations in San Francisco.
About Us
Our Mission
JCYC’s mission is to cultivate and enrich the lives of children and
youth from diverse, multi-cultural communities throughout San
Francisco and beyond.
Our Vision
On the path to accomplishing their dreams, our children and youth will
contribute to tomorrow’s generations, and be healthy and productive
members of our community.
Our Values
Community
We foster a collective desire and passion to support the
healthy development of children and youth.
Diversity
We respect and embrace the differences that make all
members of our society unique.
Integrity
We conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the trust
and confidence placed in us by the communities we serve.
Cooperation
We build strong partnerships to ensure we have the greatest impact on
children and youth possible.
Compassion
We see in a child that which they cannot see in themselves.
Vision
Like a child, we look ahead with imagination and without limits.
History
Prior to World War II, large concentrations of Japanese settled in a small
area of San Francisco’s Western Addition known as “Nihonmachi” or
Japantown. However, due to the World War II internment and
subsequent urban redevelopment projects that originated in the 1950’s,
Japanese American families were eventually dispersed throughout San
Francisco.
As Japanese American residents slowly moved away from the
Nihonmachi area and tourist oriented, commercial businesses emerged,
the community’s social fabric began to change. In 1969, a collection of
Japanese American youth organizations established a youth council.
The intent of the council was to serve as a forum for sharing information,
discussing issues
affecting young people, and to help re-establish Nihonmachi as a
center of activities for Japanese American youth. This council
eventually came to be known as the Japanese Community Youth
Council.
As the council began to address the concerns of youth, it identified the
need for a facility. A vacant, two-story building on Sutter Street was
transformed into the first JCYC facility and was the genesis for the
eventual development of a multi-service community center. In May of
1970, JCYC was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization.
Our People
The faces behind JCYC and the organization’s many programs and services are as diverse as the City of San
Francisco. All are committed to making JCYC one of the most innovative and effective children and youth organizations
in the Bay Area.
JCYC’s staff is comprised of dedicated individuals who are committed to improving the lives of children, youth and
families. Each brings unique talents, skills and experience that contribute to the vitality of the organization.
Our Board
Our Leadership Team
History
Our People
NAVIGATION
JCYC’S SOCIAL MEDIA
ADDRESS
2012 Pine Street
San Francisco, CA 94115