About

Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program is a five-month leadership development and cultural education program for high school students. The Program is designed to develop leadership skills and cultural awareness that can be used by the students in school, in their careers and back in their communities.

Participants will learn:

• Team Dynamics — Understanding who we are and how to work in groups with those different from us.
• Speak to Persuade — How to do powerful and persuasive public speaking.
• Cultural Values — How Japanese values influence us and how we lead.
• Assertiveness — How to be assertive, not passive or aggressive, and how to be ethical, in various real-life situations.
• Networking — How to introduce ourselves to new people, talk with them, and develop a network.
• Japanese American Heritage — Understanding the history, culture, and legacy of Japanese Americans and how to be actively involved in the Japanese American community

​Participants will have an opportunity to apply their skills by completing a group project—the annual Rising Stars Miniature Golf Tournament at Camelot Golfland in Anaheim. They will also participate in such cultural activities as a Little Tokyo Scavenger Hunt and a tour of the Go For Broke National Education Center and the Japanese American National Museum.

Location
Union Church of Los Angeles
​Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles

Date
Saturdays 8:30AM - 4PM
October 15, 2022 - April 1, 2023 (Rising Stars 19)

Schedule for Rising Stars 19
​- October 15: “Team Dynamics” workshop
- November 5: Beach Outing
- November 19: “Speak to Persuade” workshop
- December 10: "Assertiveness" workshop
- January 7: “Cultural Awareness” workshop
- January 21: “Networking” workshop
- February 11: “Japanese American Heritage” workshop
- February 25: Group Project & College Life 101
- March 11: Final Group Project Event
- March 18: Review Session & Social Outing
- April 1: Culmination

Structure
The program consists of six interactive workshops conducted by professional trainers with extensive corporate and community leadership development experience. Students also plan and execute a group project, as well as participate in cultural activities and social activities.

Alumni

Michael Taheri, Rising Stars 8

Nathan Tadios, Rising Stars 11

My name is Michael Taheri and I graduated from Santa Clara University.  I participated in the Rising Stars program during high school and continued to help out at alumni events.  The best skill I learned from the workshops was public speaking.  Not only was the information very useful, but the way it was presented allowed me to see what the basics were and gave me small tips that I still use today every time I have to give a speech. My favorite memory was the golf tournament our year put together at the end of the program.  We were able to see the results of all of the work we had done preparing and still had a good time enjoying the event with everybody else.

 
Rising Stars is a beneficial program for developing as a leader because of the different skills it teaches the participants. Every workshop is packed with information and helps build bonds that will last forever. I did the 11th Rising Stars program and ever since my life has changed. My favorite memory of the program was getting sponsors for the annual miniature golf tournament, I enjoyed this the most because of how it got me out of my comfort zone and made me talk to other people and businesses about the program. By doing this I was able e to develop my skills as a leader and also learned how to communicate effectively with anyone. Rising Stars is such a great program and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to improve as a leader in their community.

Taryn Iwamoto, Rising Stars 9

 
I participated in the 9th year of the Rising Stars program when I was in my sophomore year of high school. Prior to joining the program, I was really shy and I mostly kept to myself. Over the course of the program,  I met lifelong friends, had a lot of fun memories, but most importantly I broke out of my shell. Out of all of those experiences, I would have to say that my favorite memory was going ice skating for one of the sessions. This is my favorite memory because one of the girls from my year brought her camera from home that day, so we were able to take a lot of cute pictures with the rest of the participants. I also remember that I had to hang back with one of the guys on this day because it was his first time ice skating, so it was a bit challenging for him. Even though all the little kids were skating circles around both of us, it was still a lot of fun. Overall, Rising Stars has not only helped me break out of my shell, but it has also encouraged me to pursue a career in speech therapy because of their connections with the JSPACC (Japanese Speaking Parents Association of Children with Challenges).

Kara Tanaka, Rising Stars 10

Reflecting on my professional and academic journey, I am so grateful for the skills and opportunities that the Rising Stars program has provided for me. I joined Rising Stars knowing that I would learn important leadership skills such as public speaking, financial planning, and cultural values; however, Rising Stars was so much more than just a series of leadership skills workshops. It was a safe environment where I could practice these leadership skills knowing that the other participants and organizers were by my side.

One particular workshop that stands out to me was the public speaking workshop. We were given a couple minutes to prepare a short speech and were then asked to present in front of a group of people and a camera. Later, we watched the videos and the presenter gave us individualized feedback on how we could improve our public speaking. It was a challenging thing to do--especially since I was shy at that age--but I wasn’t nervous or embarrassed. I knew that everyone in the Rising Stars program was there to support me.

Additionally, Rising Stars helped me in my college application process. One of the workshops was a College Life panel where college Rising Stars alumni from a variety of schools throughout California spoke and answered questions about their experiences. Even after the panel and the program, I knew that I had mentors I could reach out to with questions about getting into college and succeeding in college.

I continue to use the skills that Rising Stars taught me to this day. When I lead board meetings for college clubs, I consider how other people will respond to my leadership style and adapt to better accomplish the group’s goals. When I make presentations in class, I think about how I can use body language to supplement my message. At socials with partners and other professionals at accounting firms, I draw upon the interpersonal skills I bolstered during the networking workshop.

Rising Stars is an extraordinary program, and I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in it.

Application

Now accepting applications for our 2022-2023 program
A maximum of 25 students will be selected to participate in the program.
Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Ability to complete the full program.
• Interest in further involvement with Japanese American community organizations.
• Willingness to cultivate an ongoing relationship with the Japanese American community.

Cost
$250 (Paid after acceptance into program)
Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks will be provided.

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