Our Values

The Guiding Principles That Inform Everything We Do

Equity and Respect

We believe everyone’s voice matters, every story should be told from the perspective of those central to the narrative. We strive to erase the paternalistic culture of history storytelling, by prioritizing the voices of those most affected by the historical issues we discuss, both within and outside of our community.

We treat all people with respect and integrity, regardless of factors like their race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background. All people deserve to feel safe and respected, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

JAMP does not tolerate bullying, discrimination, or harassment of any kind. We will never knowingly work with any individual or organization that has engaged in any of these behaviors.

We will never prioritize money over individuals. No matter what you are able to contribute to our organization, your voice matters. All people contribute to the success of society, their contributions matter no matter how big or small they may seem. 

Transparency and Accountability

We will always be open about where our funding comes from, what it will be used for, the methods we use to create our work, and the people and organizations we work with. 

We all make mistakes, how we correct ourselves and move forward is what matters. We will address concerns about our past, present and future mistakes promptly and openly, by listening to the concerns of others with open minds and working to rectify our mistakes with the people and communities affected.

Collaboration

We work with and for the people we serve. Our work reflects the wants and needs of our community, the input of our community members is vital to the work we do. 

We will always seek to include as many individuals and organizations as possible in our work. We do not exist in a vacuum, the contributions of others are what makes our work so unique and diverse. 

We are dedicated to helping you make your dreams a reality. We will provide strategic planning services and resources to help you develop your passion project in any way we can. We will never take credit for your work, and we will help you through the process without taking ownership or financial gain from your project. 

Accessibility

Our work is by and for the public. We will never trap our work behind paywalls. 

Our community was torn apart and spread thin because of the events of WWII. We strive to create a space where every Japanese American can access our resources no matter where they come from.

We will always strive to make our work accessible to as many people as possible regardless of their location, resources, or limitations. 

We offer open door accessibility to those who can’t easily reach community where they are, especially those without access to large, local, physical Japanese American community spaces and resources.

Innovation

JAMP is committed to innovation and progress. We believe that the world is constantly changing, and we must change with it. We embrace new technologies, ideas, perspectives, and strategies in order to stay ahead of the curve.

We encourage you to think outside the box and will never discourage you from being a trailblazer. Taking greater risks leads to greater rewards, and just because something has never been done before doesn't mean it shouldn't be. We are here to help you find the best path to achieving your goals, even if it means forging a new one.

Acceptance

We accept people for who they are and history for what it is, acknowledging the past and working towards a more just future. We strive to make ourselves and our community whole again, without erasing the sins of the past. The only way we can move forward toward a better world is to incorporate past traumas and grievances into our story and learn from them. 

No one is perfect, ourselves included. We strive to accept our flaws as a part of our story and put in the work to move forward for a better tomorrow. 

Humility

We will always approach our work with humility. We are here to learn and share what we learn along the way. We believe that all people have knowledge to share and that all knowledge is equal. We actively pursue learning from others, both within and outside of our community. 

We will never act as the singular authority on any subject we discuss. We seek only to share our perspectives and uplift the perspectives of others, to foster a more empathetic and understanding future for us all.