Nikkei Community Internship's 10th Anniversary!
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Licensing |
NCI Alumni/Coordinator Reflection: Mickie Okamoto
I was a part of NCI class 4 in the summer of 2005. I just finished my freshman year at UCLA when I did the program.
NCI was a big turning point in my life. I didn't have a clear vision as to what I wanted to do in my life. I was a first year. I knew I was good at planning and coordinating because I was a part of leadership in high school, NSU in college and used to planning so many different programs and events. What I didn't know was that there was a career for that. I was introduced to the world of nonprofits, first through the comforts of Little Tokyo and LTSC. They really helped develop me as a fundraiser/development staff and showed me the career and gave me all the basics that I needed. After I came back from Japan (I spent 9 months there), I knew that I wanted to stay in nonprofit work and fundraising as a career. That's where I'm at now!
I am currently working as the administrative and special events coordinator at a nonprofit called Westside Children's Center in Culver City. I am still involved in Little Tokyo by participating in groups such as LT Roots, being on the board for Kizuna and volunteering for JACCC/LTSC. Right after college, I worked at the Little Tokyo Service Center CDC for 2 years as their Donor Relations Associate.
Based on this original
NCI Alumni/Coordinator Reflection: Mickie Okamoto |