In the United States, too few classrooms teach robustly about Asia's numerous cultures, societies, and histories despite the fact that Asia is one of the most vibrant regions of the world and vital to America's future. Within Asia, numerous societies are engaged in disputes over war trauma and memory, over territory, and over their futures. Furthermore, between America and Asia, the opportunities for teachers from both regions to work together remains limited.
EngageAsia's programs aim to directly tackle these issues by providing training for American teachers to teach about various societies in Asia, through helping teachers in Asia learn about the United States, and by developing transnational networks of educators throughout the Pacific Rim that can form bonds of trust helping students cultivate empathy for the lives and cultures of others. EngageAsia also works to deepen knowledge of Asia for the public and helps communities, corporations, and institutions in the U.S. and Asia build lasting ties.
Educational APPROACH
EngageAsia provides educators with transformational experiences that aim to build empathy and impact students, schools, and communities. In the spirit of anthropologist Clifford Geertz, EngageAsia's programs prioritize learning about how people actually live their lives in other cultures over the study of abstract theories of globalization.
Our educational philosophy is rooted in experiential education and critical thinking. The organization’s programs utilize project-based learning, design thinking, and service-learning approaches in order to provide educators with hands-on experiences allowing them to learn about other cultures and societies first-hand.
These educational approaches are balanced by challenging educators in our programs to reflect carefully and think critically about lessons learned. This creative balance between hands-on learning and deep reflection leads to a sophisticated understanding of other cultures and societies, enabling teachers to bring an understanding of the region back to their classrooms.
Ultimately, EngageAsia’s programs are designed to impact youth by deepening their empathy for others and encouraging them to do good in the world.
EngageAsia is committed to community development and sees education as a vehicle through which local communities can engage in larger issues as well as provide knowledge, hope, and inspiration for the future to youth.
FUTURE PROGRAMS
EngageAsia is currently planning its programs for later this year and in 2025 and beyond.
All EngageAsia teacher professional development programs include extensive professional development work prior to travel as well as significant follow-up and curricular development post-trip. Furthermore, the aim of all EngageAsia programs is to develop a strong, deep, and lasting network of K-12 educators in the Pacific Rim who can bring lessons learned into their classrooms.
Leadership Team
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EngageAsia is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational incubator that fosters cross-cultural understanding and builds community throughout the Asia-Pacific via innovative education programs. We seek to spark new ways to teach and learn, and also engage in activities designed to promote dialogue on these topics with the broader public.
EngageAsia's programs transform teachers in order to ultimately impact students, schools, and communities.
Directed by top experts in US-Asia relations, EngageAsia is headquartered in the United States with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS governed by an independent Board of Trustees. EngageAsia is a member of the New York Council on Nonprofits (NYCON) as well as Nonprofit Westchester.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. David P. Janes, Chair of the Board & Treasurer
Executive Director, Global Citizens Initiative (GCI)
Chair, Japan ICU Foundation
Mr. Stomu Miyazaki, Co-Founder
Architectural Designer
Past Chair, Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden
Ms. Daniela Kaisth
Founder, Gratias Partners
Dr. George Kosar
Assistant Vice President, Office of Institutional Partnerships,
Georgetown University
Dr. Yasuyuki Owada
Professor Emeritus, University of Redlands
Former Chair, Japan ICU Foundation
ADVISORS
Ms. Mary Hammond Bernson
Former Director, East Asia Resource Center, University of Washington
Ms. Patricia Burleson
World Educator, Island View Elementary School, Anacortes, Washington
Teacher of the Year Award Winner, Washington State Council for the Social Studies
Mr. Earl Carr
Managing Director, Momentum Advisors
Adjunct Professor, NYU Center for Global Affairs
Dr. Chin-Wen Chang
Professor at Tung Fang Design University in Taiwan
Mrs. Cynthia Chang
Mrs. Daphne Chien-Heh Y. Chang
Mr. Robert Clough
Yale University
Mr. Clifton Truman Daniel
Dr. Seiji Fukazawa
Professor, Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University
Mr. James Gannon
Former Executive Director, Japan Center for International Exchange
Ms. Joyce Grossbard
Child Psychotherapist, Expert in healing trauma through art
Dr. Marleen Kassel
Director of International and Civic Engagement Projects, Queens College of the City University of New York
Ms. Lin Kobayashi
Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, International School of Asia, Karuizawa
Mr. James Kondo
Chair, International House of Japan; Co-Chair, Silicon Valley Japan platform
Ms. Su Hwei Lin
President of Manhattan Portage Worldwide Corp in NY
Ms. Meri Lobel
Independent Curator
Dr. Dennis Lubeck
History Education Consultant, EducationPlus (retired)
Prof. Richard A. Marker
Philanthropy Advisor, Wise Philanthropy; Philanthropy Educator: Wise Philanthropy Institute; New York University, UPenn Center for High Impact Philanthropy
Mr. Thomas Mason, Jr.
Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation
Mr. John Pearson
Director of Major Leadership Gifts (retired), Rutgers University Foundation
Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng
Dr. Judith Stauber
Director, Los Alamos Japan Institute
Mrs. Nozomi Terao
Founder, Msterio
Ms. Suzanne Tiapula
Director, Ho'omaluhia, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute - Hawaii Pacific
Distinguished Fellow, Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma
Dr. David Vikner
President Emeritus, United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia & Japan ICU Foundation
Dr. Juefei Wang
Program Director, The Freeman Foundation
TRANSPARENCY
EngageAsia's EIN Number is: 47-0987232
501(c)(3) Designation