Community Leadership

Jikimee Senior Leadership Program

Jikimee means 'Community Protector' in Korean.

The Jikimee Senior Leadership Program meets weekly and cultivates community leaders amongst monolingual Korean seniors residing in the Bay Area. The seniors undergo an extensive training process in a culturally and linguistically responsive environment to explore issues pertinent to the Korean immigrant community and how they can actively participate in finding solutions.

Our Jikimee Leaders exercise their leadership skills in a variety of ways. Whether it be speaking at public meetings, advocating for vital services at legislative events, or volunteering at cultural events, their support is at the heart of MARU's commitment to community wellness initiatives. See our leaders in action!

New cohort selection will open up in 2026 on a rolling basis.

Recognized by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services as a community-defined evidence (CDE) model, Jikimee Senior Program’s “Korean K-Stories” component is offered by the county as an online Community-Based Learning Training for mental health professionals working with Korean older adults in Alameda County (ACMHSA Community-Based Learning Trainings Website)

Join our Jikimee Leadership

"I was always taught not to do a lot of things because I am a woman. Learning about mental health and self-care was helpful to me. Now I encourage and compliment myself."

-Jikimee Senior Leader

YAAS! Digital Storytelling

Young Asian American Storytellers! (YAAS!) empowers Asian youth in Oakland through storytelling and connection to their own culture.

In 2019-2020, 8 youth from Oakland Charter School learned digital media and leadership skills through project-based learning. They created two digital stories:

“2020 Census for Asian Youth” informing Asian American youth about the Census
“Perfection” exploring the Model Minority Myth

Learn more about other YAAS! teams at Asian Refugees United and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants.

"There are misconceptions that Asians are all smart and have excellent grades. Society had labeled us as a “model minority” which sounds like a compliment. But, it's actually detrimental to us."

-KK, YAAS! Participant

These programs are funded by Social Services Agency, Behavioral Health Department, California Department of Aging, Mental Services Act, Area Agency on Aging, and Korean American Community Foundation of SF.

Youth Program

Content coming soon..