The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation announced Wednesday a partnership with the Embassy of Japan to create a new study-abroad experience for 15 college students.
A. Shuanise Washington, CBCF president and chief executive officer, will lead the inaugural delegation on the eight-day trip to Tokyo, which begins March 14.
“The U.S.-Japan Kakehashi Project embodies the CBCF’s mission to advance the global black community through explorations of diverse cultures,” Washington said. “We look forward to working with the Embassy of Japan to create a meaningful and long-lasting relationship.”
Participating students will experience Japan through seminars on Japanese culture, history and language, in addition to U.S.-Japan relations. The CBCF and the Embassy of Japan will also aim to promote African-American interest in careers and study options involving U.S.-Japan relations and expand opportunities for African-Americans in an era of increasing globalization.
“A people-to-people exchange is one of the cornerstones of the Japan-U.S. relationship, so I hope these future leaders of the black community gain insights from their visits to academic, cultural, and political sites across Japan,” said Embassy of Japan Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae. “We are thrilled to partner with the CBCF on this important initiative.”
The students representing Congressional Black Caucus-member districts include:
• Brittany Bellinger, SUNY Empire State College
• LaVontae Brooks, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Samuel Buchanan, Morehouse College
• Leah Castleberry, Howard University
• David Coble, Emory University
• Deanna-Kaye Daley, Xavier University of Louisiana
• Maya Jenkins, The Ohio State University
• Kylan Kester, Morehouse College
• Alexaundria Leonard, McDaniel College
• Ijeoma Oti, University Southern California
• Clarece Polke, Florida A&M University
• D’Juan Sampson, Florida State University
• Brandon Stuart, The University of Chicago
• Angelica Willis, North Carolina A&T State University
• Dennzon Winley, University of South Carolina
