The San Mateo Japanese American Community Center was founded in 1975 to address the challenges faced by Japanese-American senior citizens, which include language and cultural barriers, fragile health, and limited means.
These challenges have continued to increase, but the San Mateo Japanese American Community Center plays a crucial role in overcoming them. To promote independent living with dignity, the Community Center guides seniors (many of whom do not speak English) through the tangle of social services available to them. Counseling and group meetings provide support for those who might otherwise be isolated.
The San Mateo Japanese American Community Center also preserves the culture and values of Japanese-Americans through arts, activities, and education. Students of all ages use the Japanese and English-language libraries housed at the Community Center.
A valuable resource for the greater San Mateo community, the San Mateo Japanese American Community Center raises awareness, encourages respect, and promotes the understanding of cultural differences.
The following services are available from the San Mateo Japanese American Community Center:
- Confidential counseling and referral services to community resources and agencies.
- Bilingual assistance for utilizing governmental agences such as Social Security and Medicare.
- Outreach program to home and hospital-bound clients.
- Escort services to appointments for non-English-speaking clients.
- Monthly bood pressure reading clinics.
- JACL blood bank account.
- Informational programs on governmental services, health, finance, legal rights, safety, nutrition, insurance, and employment.
- Liaison with community agencies, increasing awareness of the needs of Japanese-Americans.
- Cultural activities and classes such as ikebana (flower arrangement), Japanese cooking, and conversational Japanese.
- Recreational activities and excursions.
- Japanese and English-language libraries, and student assistance in Asian-American studies.
The San Mateo Japanese American Community Center has no membership dues or fees for service. It is independently financed by fundraising activities and private donations, supplemented by grants. A major source of revenue is the "100/100 Club", comprised of more than 100 generous individuals who contribute $100 annually. If you would like to support the San Mateo Japanese American Community Center in this way, please send your contribution to:
San Mateo Japanese American Community Center
415 South Claremont St.
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 343-2793
