A REPORT TO THE US-JAPANFOUNDATION FOR 2012

The Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative (JWLI) is a project that supports Japanesewomen who aspire to become leaders for economic and social development in Japan. As anexpansion of the JWLI Fellows Program, a month-long intensive training through Simmons
College to learn nonprofit management and women’s leadership through direct engagement
at successful nonprofit organizations and executive education, the JWLI Forum Program
holds public pedagogical Forums in Japan to provide education about the nonprofit sector,
the American style of philanthropy and to inspire women in Japan to take leadership roles.
The JWLI Forum Program is generously funded by the United States-Japan Foundation.
The first Forum Program was held in the cities of Tokyo and Fukuoka in June 2010. The
second Forum Program was held in April 2012 in the cities of Yokohama and Wakayama.
The Forum programs were highly successful with attendance at both Forums well above thatwhich was planned. The vast majority of people attending were women from NGOs andNPOs, social entrepreneurs, the government and corporate sectors and interested
individuals. Feedback through written evaluation forms was very positive.
The 2012 Forum Program was originally intended to take place in April of 2011. However,the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred on March 11th of that year made itnecessary to postpone the Forum Program to 2012. A significant increase of interest in thenonprofit sector by participants was evident.

GOALS FOR THE 2012 JWLI FORUM PROGRAM

To encourage women to become leaders, especially in the nonprofit sector, which ismore important than ever in the aftermath of the 3/11 disaster in Japan.
To provide specific role models for women’s leadership roles through lectures,interviews and reports.
To encourage and empower attendees to step forward as leaders in Japanese society.
For attendees to learn about the organizational structures, fundraising methods, and next
steps for Japan’s nonprofit sector.

FORUM INFORMATION

Yokohama City Social Service Center Lecture Hall, Yokohama City
Saturday, April 7, 2012. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Theme: “Your vision can change society.”
Anticipated Attendance: 150; Actual Attendance: 250
Wakayama City “Big-Ai” Conference Room, Wakayama City
Sunday, April 8, 2012. 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Theme: “You can make a difference in society.”
Anticipated Attendance: 90; Actual Attendance: 120

PROGRAM DETAILSProgram Funder: The United States-Japan Foundation
Program Collaborators: Simmons School of Management; The Fish Family Foundation
Yokohama
Hosts:
Sponsor:Wakayama
Host:
Sponsor:

The City of Yokohama; Business and Professional Women, JapanThe Japanese Government’s Gender Equal Participation Department
Business and Professional Women, JapanThe Japanese Government’s Gender Equal Participation Department
Wakayama Prefecture, Wakayama City

OTHER ACTIVITY
While in Japan, Atsuko Fish and Patricia Deyton interviewed six candidates from which four
were selected as the cohort of Fellows for the 2012 JWLI Fellows Program to be held in
September/October 2012. A meeting with several alumnae of the Fellows Program washeld.
EVALUATION, IMPACT AND FUTURE PLANS
The 2012 JWLI inaugural Forum Program was a true collaborative effort and model
following the success of the 2010 program designed and implemented to have impact.
Each element contributed to its success: the visionary leaders of the Program, the belief
in the concept by the United States-Japan Foundation, the strong and effective support by
the Japanese partner, the participation of many of the JWLI Fellows, the planning andorganization at Simmons College and the Fish Family Foundation, and the commitmentof nonprofit leaders.
Simmons College will be submitting a proposal in August of 2012 to the US-JapanFoundation for support for a third year of the JWLI Forum Program. Building upon thesuccess of the Forum Program in 2010 and 2012, it is anticipated that the proposed 2013
program will move to a program of substantial workshops in nonprofit leadership andfundraising with a continued emphasis on the role of women.
ATTACHMENTS:
Forum Flyers (in Japanese)
Wakayama Forum in PowerPoint