Summary of Small Discussion Groups’ Comments

Summary of small discussion groups’comments:  Prepared by Marisa Kellam, Co Chair, Development

CHATGPT Summary is based on members comments 

ChatGPT

What Programs Does CWAJ Do and Whom Does It Serve?

1. Scholarships

• Japanese women to study abroad
• Non-Japanese women to study in Japan
• People with visual impairments
• Scholarships often respond to major events (e.g., disaster-related scholarships)
• Scholarships support education, empowerment, and equal opportunity

2. Art & Culture

• Print Show: A professionally-run art exhibition and sale (promotes modern Japanese art and supports artists, especially young and emerging ones)

3. Community Service

• Focus on special education
• WUI (Women’s University International?) provides services to visually impaired people
• FSC (possibly a service committee) provides educational and cultural services
• EOC organizes events at a children’s home

4. Empowerment and Connection

• Provides a platform for Japanese women to interact with English speakers
• Encourages volunteerism and leadership
• Fosters friendship and cultural exchange

Target Groups Served

• Women (Japanese and international)
• Visually impaired individuals
• Students (undergraduate and graduate)
• Re-entry women (returning to careers or education)
• Young professionals and artists
• Long-term expats and newcomers in Japan

Organizational Themes and Values

• Intergenerational and intercultural community
• Fosters friendship, purpose, and collaboration
• Seeks to empower women and promote women’s rights
• Strives for diversity in membership (e.g., outreach to younger women, college-age, international communities)
• Offers valuable recognition to academic and financial needs
• Encourages cross-cultural communication and global peace
• Recognized need for clearer mission statement and consistent messaging

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

• Website is hard to navigate, especially for new members
• CWAJ’s mission statement could be clearer and more globally focused
• Need to better explain “what we do” to donors and outsiders
• Scholarship name is considered too long or unclear
• Suggestion to name the award after a famous, respected woman to boost visibility
• Desire to increase publicity to donors and promote scholarships more effectively 

What is the societal need or issue that each of the program addresses? What does it matter what we do?

Empowerment and Education of Women

• Empower women through education to:
  • Contribute to cross-cultural understanding
  • Have a positive impact on the world
  • Engage in research, education, service, etc.
• Women continue to need help to live free, independent lives.
• Higher education is still relevant for women.
• Educating women contributes to more thoughtful, peaceful solutions and collaborations.
• Support gives scholars courage to continue and push boundaries.
• Success stories: Many scholars have gone on to great success.

Support for the Visually Impaired and Marginalized

• Need to empower marginalized and visually impaired individuals.

Promotion of Japanese Print Art & Artists

• Promote Japanese print art.
• Cultivate and support young artists.
• Preserve print show history (archive of cultural value).

Scholarship Programs

• Support younger generations in their education.
• Provide opportunities that allow crossing cultural boundaries.
• Promotes education and serves society as a whole.

Community & Member Service

• Providing service for members (globally and locally).
• Giving back and being part of the community.

Underlying Message:

The organization’s efforts matter because they provide critical support, foster inclusion, promote cultural preservation and education, and enable individuals (especially women and marginalized groups) to thrive and lead impactful lives.

What is unique about the organization that separates us from other organizations? What do we value? Are we the only ones addressing a particular problem? Why are we successful?

Unique Characteristics & Values

• Cultural Exchange & Diversity
  • Promotes cultural interaction.
  • Brings together Japanese and non-Japanese (foreign) individuals to support diverse groups.
  • Values different perspectives and learning from others’ experiences.
• Empowerment & Inclusion
  • Highlights women’s achievements (e.g., VIU).
  • Supports college-educated, bilingual women.
  • Accepts people of very different backgrounds and experiences.
  • Recognizes that the organization’s name might not always “sound inclusive.”
• Volunteerism & Community
  • Entirely volunteer-run.
  • Members learn on the job and form strong friendships.
  • Operates as a service organization responsive to both individual and societal needs.
• Access & Opportunity
  • No age or field limits for scholarships—scholarships awarded to individuals over 30.
  • Merit-based, flexible, and multinational.
  • Adapts to changing relevance over time (e.g., questioning relevance in 2025).
• Pioneering Efforts
  • One of the first groups to support VI and still one of the few doing so.
  • Early and consistent support of programs that serve underrepresented or unique groups.
    
    

Mission Statement- ChatGPT

CWAJ is a community of women committed to education, volunteerism, and cultural exchange. Through scholarships, art programs, and service initiatives—including support for women, international students, and the visually impaired—we work to empower individuals and promote understanding across cultures and generations. Our all-volunteer organization values learning, diversity, and friendship, creating space for members to grow, lead, and serve together. We believe that fostering opportunity and connection leads to thoughtful, peaceful contributions to society.

Tagline Ideas:

•         “Empowering Women. Bridging Cultures. Creating Change.”
•         “Where Voices Meet, Perspectives Grow.”
•         “Inclusive. Impactful. International.”
•         “Empowering Through Education, Connecting Through Service.”
•         “Women Volunteering for a More Inclusive World.”
•         “Where Cultural Exchange Meets Purposeful Action.”
•         “Friendship, Service, and Opportunity Across Borders.”
•         “Creating Impact Through Learning and Connection.”
•         “Volunteering Together, Changing Lives Forever.”
•         “Global Friendship. Local Impact.”
•         “Women Leading Through Service and Solidarity.”
•         “Crossing Cultures. Empowering Voices. Building Community.”
•         “Building Friendships Through Service.”
•         “Serving Communities, Creating Friendships.”
•         “Friendship in Action, Volunteering with Impact.”