JWLI Hosts Tokyo Summit

Celebrating the 10th anniversary, JWLI hosted the Tokyo Summit at Tokyo American Club on October 18, and it was a huge success. Nearly 40 women leaders and JWLI Fellows candidly explored the theme of Women Leading Social Change in Japan with the audience of over 300 people. Mari Kuraishi, a founder of Global Giving, gave us a powerful keynote speech sharing her journey to start the organization. The Summit showcased JWLI’s 10-year impact by highlighting 10 alumnae and their achievements. Under the theme of “Women Leading Social Change in Japan”, the Summit’s most important message to the participants was to take action and be a leader to make positive social change in Japan. In addition to featuring the impact of JWLI, the Summit showcased social change achieved by Japanese and American women leaders; brought U.S. and Japanese social sectors together; and most importantly for further advancement of Japanese society, demonstrated the importance of women’s leadership for social change. Through the Summit, JWLI left a strong impression that women’s leadership in the social sector needed to be increasingly valued.



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JWLI Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Boston

On October 6th, JWLI hosted its 10th Anniversary Reception at Simon College in Boston to celebrate its ten-year efforts in empowering Japanese women and making difference in Japan. Two JWLI alumnae, Tomoe Yamada and Kiyono Yagami, shared the impacts they made in Japan through achieving their Action Plans. They spoke candidly about their experience in Boston and achievements in Japan since then. Listening to the powerful and emotional speeches by Kiyono and Tomoe, the audience of over 100 people learned the continued needs of more participation by women leaders in the Japanese social sector. JWLI Founder, Atsuko Fish, and JWLI’s academic partner, Patricia Deyton of Simmons College, both thanked a number of community partners and host organizations that contributed to JWLI’s success. They also highlighted some of the Fellows’ successes. The event also included a graduation ceremony of the 2016 Fellows. Over the past 10 years, so many individuals and organizations supported JWLI. Without them, JWLI would not have made it to the 10th year. Thank you so much!



To view more photos from the event, click here.