Partnerships

THE JAPANESE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (JWLI)

 

Introduction

Each year, beginning in 2007, four Japanese women have been invited to Boston as JWLI Fellows to learn about the US nonprofit sector and to develop their leadership potential. The program includes “hands-on” training with successful Boston based nonprofit organizations and tutorials in the areas of nonprofit management.  During one week of the program, the Fellows participate in the training program, “Strategic Leadership for Women”, at the Simmons College School of Management.  Each Fellow develops an action plan for implementation upon return to Japan that addresses the goals of their vision and dreams.

 
Our 2009 JWLI Fellows

(clockwise) Miyako Fujinami, Hisae Segawa, Masako Kurita, Maya Sato


"The Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative embodies what women can accomplish by identifying their strengths and building their visions...inspiring participants through their experiences, so they can transfer the lessons they've learned to others."(Women MBA: Women of Color Magazine, Spring 2008, Charlotte Thomas)"  

 
Mission of JWLI

The mission of the Japanese Women Leadership Initiative is to empower Japanese women to play a vital leadership role in Japan.

Goals of JWLI
Teach and support Japanese women to become leaders:

  • To inspire Japanese women to create their own visions
  • To encourage the development of the inner strength needed to take the initiatives and risks to make their visions comes true.
  • To encourage women to be leaders in Japanese communities and society.

Teach the roles of nonprofit organizations in US society:

  • To learn the management skills necessary to run successful nonprofit organizations.
  • To learn how the nonprofit sector and government collaborate to influence change in society.  

Support the JWLI Fellows upon their return to Japan:

  • To support the implementation of the Fellows’ "action plan" in Japan.
  • To provide networking opportunities in Japan.    

Provide an alternative opportunity for Japanese women to create a movement for social change:

  • To be a vital part of creating the nonprofit sector in Japanese society.
  • To empower Japanese women to play an active role in promoting and influencing positive change in Japanese civil society.
  • To support the JWLI Fellows in playing a critical role in shaping and cultivating a new generation of leaders in the Japanese nonprofit sector.


Program Description

The JWLI  four-week program consists of several important activities that are designed to provide a comprehensive, in-depth understanding about the US nonprofit sector, the skills needed to manage a successful nonprofit and the development of leadership skills for the participants.


JWLI Fellows spend a week in each of the three nonprofit host organizations where they learn about the programs of the nonprofit.  The current programs at the host organizations focus upon domestic violence, women's empowerment and elder care. The host organizations also provide intensive exposure to and discussion about management of nonprofit organizations in areas of working with boards of directors, community outreach, fund raising, grant writing, forming nonprofit organizations and developing programs.  In addition, Fellows attend classes on nonprofit management offered by the CGO director at the Harvard Extension School.

One week of the JWLI program is spent participating in the course, Strategic Leadership for Women, at the Simmons School of Management.  In this course, the Fellows learn about their leadership styles and competencies, including understanding and using power, team building and communication..  The course provides an emphasis on how gender affects leadership roles and how to work strategically as a leader.

Fellows keep a weekly journal about their experiences, learning and reflections.  They meet weekly with the CGO director to discuss the program.  Several special events are also held during the program, including a welcome dinner and a closing reception.

At the end of the four week program, Fellows prepare to develop an action plan in which they describe their vision and dreams for their future work and leadership in Japanese society.  The plans are provided to JWLI within two weeks of the completion of the program.


Upon their return to Japan, the Fellows stay in contact with the JWLI program in the US and become part of the network of JWLI alumni in Japan.

Founders and Partners
The Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative was developed by three instrumental women in Boston, Atsuko Toko Fish,  Mary Lassen and Catherine Crone Coburn.

 

The program is managed by the Center for Gender in Organizations at the Simmons School of Management and collaborates with Business and Professional Women of Japan (BPW/Japan).

 

Nonprofit host organizations for the JWLI are:

Web of Benefit

Ellis Memorial and Eldridge House

The Asian task Force (ATASK) of Boston

 
Our 2008 JWLI Fellows

Makiko Niwa, Hazuki Takahashi, Taiko Iwahara, & Satoko Shiozaki

Please click here to view the 2008 schedule.

 
Our 2007 JWLI Fellows

Yuka Hayashi, Masako Hiramatsu, & Sun-Hae Bae

 

 To read more information on this program, please check out the following:

 

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CARNEGIE FOUNDATION - African Universities Gender Research Network (AUGERN)

The aim of the AUGERN network is to create and maintain a network of women leaders in African Universities, through annual meetings focusing on Gender Mainstreaming Implementers, site interventions, workshops, inter-university support, and regular formal communicaton with other members of the network.

Mission

A Network working toward influencing and ensuring gender meainstreaming in partner universities by providing an opportunity for:

  • Reflection on practice
  • Sharing ideas/resources for implementation
  • Building knowledge
  • Supporting creativity, affirmation, and cutting edge knowledge
  • Supporing gender research documentation via reports, publications, "how-to's"
  • Making an impact on the current generation and leaving footprints for other to follow in.

Vision

  • A real network in all spheres
  • A super network in efficiency
  • A dynamis network
  • An elaborate neetwork extending to other members
  • A sustained network surviving time
  • An exemplary network for others in AUGERN institutitons
  • An internationally recognized network
  • A well-resourced and vibrant network

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NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN (NCRW)

Grant for Diversity and Inclusion:

Diversifying the Leadership of Women's Research Centers is a two-year Ford Foundation-funded project aimed at ~Center for the Study of Women in Society, U of Oregon, Eugene, ORCGO will use the grant for the implementation of two diversity leadership strategies: the creation and institutionalization of a Steering Committee of women of color and the creation of the New Generation of Scholars Program for young women of color. At present, there are five women of color CGO affiliates, but only one of these women is based at Simmons. The women of color steering committee will develop a two-year plan for determining the direction of research, publications, outside speakers and opportunities for affiliate speaking engagements in the areas of gender and diversity at CGO. For the New Scholars Program, three women from the designated groups who are conducting cutting-edge research will be selected to receive editorial, publication and dissemination support.

Young women scholars of Puerto Rican, Mexican American, Chicana, Native American, Black and/or African American identity are invited to apply.

For more information on this program, or to apply, please click on the following link: New Generation of Scholars

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