TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities 2024 Participants Visit Northrop Grumman Corporation

On January 20, 2025, participants of the “TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities” 2024 program visited Northrop Grumman Corporation, the program’s sponsor. A total of 15 individuals, including three program alumni, gathered at the venue, while one additional alumna participated online in this hybrid event.

 

Following an overview of the program, the attendees watched four videos created by participants during the program. These videos showcased each participant’s personal challenges and their journeys to overcome them. After the video screening, Northrop Grumman employees engaged with the participants, asking questions and providing feedback.
Regarding the program’s impact, one of the participants, Ritsu, shared, “Participating in this program helped me to accept my own emotions.” Maito Nakamura commented, “I really enjoyed meeting with fellow participants, including those from the U.S., every week.” Kota Saito added, “The program provided a space where participants could openly share honest opinions and feedback, which allowed me to open up.”

 

When asked about their future aspirations, one of the participants shared, “I have two dreams: the first is to improve my English and study abroad, and the second is to support children with disabilities.”
To close the event, Ms. Lisa Brown, Chief Executive of Northrop Grumman, encouraged the participants by highlighting that storytelling is not only a powerful way to convey emotions but also a means to inspire action in others, and urged the participants to continue utilizing the storytelling skills they had developed through the program.