Newsletter: May 2025
Summer is right around the corner and we are hoping to enjoy the lovely Colorado weather with everyone as much as possible. Keep your eyes peeled for newsletters, social media posts, and website updates to stay on top of everything we are planning.
Read on below for a recap of some of our recent events and accomplishments as well as information on our upcoming social calendar!
Upcoming Activities
Board Game Night
Get ready for a cozy evening of fun, friendly competition, and great company.
Bring your favorite games to share, and enjoy delicious food and drinks available for purchase at the venue. This event is on Friday, May 23rd starting at 6pm at Prost Brewing (Northglenn location).
To help us plan and reserve enough space, please RSVP using the following link: https://forms.gle/i1nVt95ZUtdncwYd6
Where: Prost Brewing Company, 351 W 104th Ave, Unit A, Northglenn, CO 80234
When: Friday May 23rd @ 6:00 PM
Utah Sub-Chapter
200th Daiso Opens!
Bringing the feeling of Japanese convenience shopping to Midvale, UT, Daiso celebrated opening their 200th store on May 17th!
We’re past their initial grand opening period, but you can still check out the new location. Who knows, maybe you’ll even feel a little natsukashii!
Community Activities
Japanese Self-Study in Denver
Did you know that there’s not one but TWO meetups for practicing Japanese with fellow Japanese learners in the Denver area? Allow us to introduce each one:
The Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) - JASC hosts this bi-weekly gathering for native and non-native Japanese speakers to use their language skills in a relaxed space. If you don't use it, you lose it! Don’t miss the two upcoming dates:
When: Saturday May 24th 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: Edgewater Public Market
More Info: Click here for additional information.
Host Family for Shingo
Have you ever thought about hosting an exchange student and giving them an unforgettable, possibly life changing experience?
Check out THIS FACEBOOK POST on our JETAARM Facebook page for more information on an amazing opportunity to host an exchange student from Japan.
And check out the Ayusa website for more information about the program.
Call for Volunteers for 2025 Cherry Blossom Festival
This year, the Denver Cherry Blossom festival will be June 21 & 22!
Every year JETAARM holds a booth for promoting the JET program and expanding out outreach in the community. We need volunteers to join us at the booth to talk about their experience on the JET program to future JETs, and to connect with JET Alum who might want to join our community.
We will be sending out another email with a sign up form shortly so keep your eyes on your inbox and our social media pages for more details!
Recent Events
JETAARM Year-End Board Meeting
On April 29th the JETAARM board met to wrap up our fiscal year! How quickly a year passes! We spent the evening discussing our successes and struggles from the past year and began planning and dreaming about everything we hope JETAARM accomplishes in the upcoming year.
We members of the board just want to say to everyone, thank you all so much for your support and engagement this past year. We have enjoyed every event with you and look forward to much more community building this coming year.
Hanami Picnic
On April 24 we gathered in City Park just in time to catch some of the beautiful sakura blossoms. We had over 30 members from the JET alum and broader community join us for a potluck picnic filled with conversation, connection, laughter, music, and games! The party went from 6 pm right up till the sunset. What a magical afternoon!
I think everyone is in agreement that we are hoping to make this a yearly event, so please mark your calendars to keep an eye out during Colorado’s sakura season next year!
Thank you to everyone who came out and made the afternoon one to remember!
Emerald Elementary School Visit
Earlier this month, JETAARM had an incredible day supporting the Emerald Elementary School in Broomfield, Colorado, as they celebrated World of Difference Culture Day. It was such a joy to share the knowledge of Japanese culture we gained through JET with the next generation!
JETAARM volunteers led the young scholars in hands-on introductions to Japanese culture through three engaging workshops:
Taiko Drumming with Joe Mignano, Jon Baer, and Sami Gauthier brought the powerful rhythms of traditional Japanese percussion to life.
Heso Matsuri Dance from Hokkaido had students dancing and smiling, thanks to the energy and guidance of Christy Go and Elaine Gissette Martinez.
In the Japanese Language & Origami Workshop, Kelsey P. Payne, Sam Kim, and David LaCharite introduced students to basic Japanese phrases and taught them how to fold the iconic paper crane.
Huge thanks to all the amazing volunteers who made this cultural exchange so memorable and meaningful for our young learners. And a special shout-out to JETAARM Secretary Christy Go for organizing such an impactful and inspiring day!
Upcoming USJETAA Events
Sign up for the USJETAA newsletter for JET-related news & events and check out the Upcoming Events page
Thanks For Reading!
Have Something to Share?
Feel free to reach out to us by email or on Facebook! This space is open to all - if you have an upcoming event, an essay, a review, an amazing photo, or anything else you want to share, send it to editor@jetaarockymountain.org with the subject "Newsletter Idea."
