Celebrating 45 Years of College Access for All

Our History

Founded on May 27, 1970, the Japanese Community Youth Council's mission is to cultivate and enrich the lives of children and youth from diverse, multicultural communities throughout San Francisco and beyond. While still committed to the organization's roots in San Francisco’s Japantown community, JCYC has evolved and grown into an organization, which annually serves over 7,000 young people from all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. 

In 1980, JCYC helped organize and lead one of the first citywide collaborations to successfully pursue federal resources for college access support. Since that time, JCYC has become one of San Francisco’s primary providers of college advising services. 

Our Impact

To demonstrate the impact of the College Access Programs, JCYC is pleased to share the experience of alumni and current JCYC College Access Program Director, Gina Gutierrez:

JCYC COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMS, BY THE NUMBERS:

JCYC College Access Programs connect historically underserved youth with comprehensive and culturally competent college access services. In 2024, JCYC is celebrating 45 years of providing college access services and successfully assisting over 40,000 low-income, first-generation college students to pursue a college degree.