TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities Final Event
On November 20, 2024, the final presentation of the TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities was held online, bringing together 25 participants and stakeholders.
This program, conducted over nine weeks from September to November, brought together eight participants – college students and young professionals with disabilities from Japan and the United States. Throughout the program, participants engaged in weekly sessions where they shared personal experiences of overcoming significant challenges, reflected on the lessons learned, and discussed how these insights can drive positive change in their communities. The sessions also featured guest speakers, including disability scholars, advocates, and activists, from both Japan and the U.S. They discussed barriers to access and the important role of advocacy in both countries and encouraged the participants to embrace their stories as powerful tools for social change.
During the final presentation, each participant introduced and shared the videos they had created, showcasing their personal stories. Towards the end of the event, participants answered questions about their experiences in the program, reflected on the video-making process, and shared their aspirations for the future.
Participant Haruna Nakamura shared her thoughts: “The program was meaningful to me. Creating the video made me reflect on my experiences, which can sometimes be painful. Through the process, I was able to recognize my feelings and how I positively changed my identity. It was a great opportunity, and I will work to advocate for others, not just the ones around me but a wider audience, by participating in conferences or similar events.”
Nia Floyd, another participant, commented: “Before applying for this program, I didn’t think I could even be part of it and I was very nervous at first. Now, I feel much more confident and at ease. In the future, I want to create spaces where others can feel confident and know they belong in a welcoming environment. Who I am doesn’t matter as much as how I use who I am to navigate the world and help others do the same. I hope to encourage others to move through life without holding themselves back because of their identity.”
Representatives from Northrop Grumman Corporation, the U.S. Embassy in Japan, and the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) also attended the final presentation. They congratulated the participants on completing the program and offered words of encouragement for their future endeavors.
This program was made possible through the support of Northrop Grumman Corporation and was conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
