The United States Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme Alumni Association (USJETAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and cultural organization that promotes grassroots friendship and understanding between the U.S. and Japan through the personal and professional experiences of over 30,000 Americans who have participated on the JET Programme since its inception in 1987.

USJETAA was created through an initiative developed by the United States Bridging Foundation in 2013 and funded by The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership with support from all 19 JETAA chapters around the U.S.

The impetus for its creation was in response to a growing recognition by the binational committee, CULCON, of the impact JET alumni have as individuals and as a group on U.S.-Japan relations.  In CULCON’s 25^th Joint Plenary Meeting Statement on April 10, 2012, under the section of Grassroots Exchange, they asked governments, academia, non-profits and private sectors to, “Support JETAA efforts to build its infrastructure and promote improved English language learning in Japan and cross-cultural activities.”

Purposes

• Serve as a resource for JET alumni, JETAA chapters nationwide, and potential JET participants.
• Support the network of JETAA chapters in programming, membership recruitment, chapter management, leadership, professional development, and fundraising.
• Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among JETAA chapters.
• Serve as a national clearinghouse for information on chapters, careers, educational opportunities, and U.S.-Japan relations.
• Serve as a point of contact for organizations interested in partnering with JETAA chapters.
• Provide membership services for individual JET alumni not associated with a JETAA chapter.
• Support the JET Programme and the JET community as appropriate.
• Undertake national charitable initiatives.
• Promote cross-cultural understanding between Japan and the United States, and support the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Programs

USJETAA partners with various organizations, including the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, and the U.S. State Department, to support programming and outreach for current American JETs in Japan and JET alumni in the United States.

The Sasakawa USA/USJETAA Grant Program for JETAA Chapters and Subchapters

This program supports the leadership of JETAA chapters by providing them with funding for programming and outreach. With this grant, chapters have conducted educational outreach to promote Japanese culture in local communities, supported Japanese language study, provided career services for JET alumni, celebrated the 30^th anniversary of the JET Programme, and more.

The Microgrant Initiative for American JETs, funded by the U.S. Embassy Tokyo

This program provides small grants to U.S. assistant language teachers working in Japan on the JET Programme to introduce American culture and English language to students in their classrooms and the local community.

The Mentorship Program, supported by the Japan Foundation CGP and CLAIR

This program funds visits from the USJETAA executive director and members of the USJETAA board of directors to JETAA chapters for leadership workshops that support chapter development and best practices.

The Webinar Series, supported by the Japan Foundation CGP and CLAIR

This series provides helpful information on chapter leadership to engage all officers of JET alumni chapters. Topics include information about developing membership, effective communications strategies, obtaining 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and more. Each webinar includes two or three speakers with expertise in the topic.