By Gemma Villanueva (Fukushima-ken, 2008-11), editor for the JETAA Ottawa Newsletter. Visit the Canadian chapter’s website here for more stories. Written and photo submissions are always welcome. Please contact the editors at newsletter[at]jetaaottawa[dot]ca.

The Canadian play “2 Pianos 4 Hands” is giving its farewell performances as creators-performers Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt retire from the show. “2P4H” follows the youngsters “Ted” and “Richard” as they tackle their love-hate relationship with piano lessons, exams and recitals. In January, “2P4H” played at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The show, which made a three-week stop in Tokyo in 2004, finds itself again in Japan this May.

Colin Rivers (Nara-ken JET, 1997-2000) is now the Theatre Producer/Agent for Marquis Entertainment, which produces “2 Pianos 4 Hands.” I had the chance to ask him about his time on JET, life as a producer and bringing 2 Pianos 4 Hands back to Japan.

What is it like to be a producer?

“A Producer manages the business behind the show. A General Manager does the same thing, but without the risk and the pressure to find the money. A New York theatre blogger sums it up perfectly… “Producers do everything! We are the bank, the therapist, the negotiator, the scapegoat, the creative, and we rarely get credit! I should add it’s awesome. Because I think it is.”

How was your JET experience been relevant to producing?

“The JET experience strengthened my communication skills immensely. It taught me how to adapt my way of communicating with individuals and groups based on the ‘culture’ of the relationship/environment. It taught me that communication is not always about how much you can say in words. In Japan, I produced and directed three community theatre productions that were supported by the Nara Prefectural Government. They involved both JETS and Japanese friends/community members. And they were lots of fun!”

What’s a typical day for you as a producer?

“Every day is entirely different. I start each morning by reviewing my 10-page long ‘to-do list’ and figuring out what the most critical items are – and then do them – the key things that MUST get done for me to be able to leave work satisfied and sane and at a reasonable hour (so that I can enjoy my night with my family). It’s a mix of behind the desk/email, working in the theatre/venue, and being out having meetings/communicating with people.”

 Any memorable anecdotes?

“I still remember the afternoon 2002 when I reached out (through the cold medium of an email) to a very respected translator of English plays into Japanese and asked him if he had ever heard of a play called “2 Pianos 4 Hands.” He replied within 10 minutes with great enthusiasm, and from there he went on to work with me to broker the tour partnership with one of Japan’s largest theatre companies (Shochiku) for a 2004 tour. And here I am, answering these questions from a hotel in Tokyo in 2012 as we prepare for a revival tour to Tokyo and throughout Japan later this spring. Sometimes you just have to ask…”

Could you tell us about the revival tour of 2P4H to Japan?

“My hope is that it’s a big hit again and that through this opportunity, we’ll be able to continue working with Shochiku to develop a Japanese team who can perform the show again in the future. I would also like to see the show be produced commercially in China and Korea with new performing teams.

I still remember the opening night in 2004. The audience responded politely, but was very reserved compared to what the performers of 2P4H are accustomed to. After the show, the two actors were very concerned that the show wasn’t received overly well, but then our Japanese co-producer came bounding backstage saying that he’d almost never seen such an enthusiastic response to a show. And that’s when we learned it was a hit and that Japanese audiences, as with all different cultures, will respond in their own way.”

Any advice for aspiring producers?

“Just get out there and produce a show – something within your community or at a fringe festival. Figure out what’s involved by working on as many projects as possible that requires mostly time and energy (as opposed to financial risk) and develop your own process.”2 Pianos 4 Hands

Tickets, tour dates and more info can be found on www.2pianos4hands-japan.com. Watch a show in Tokyo, Sendai, Nagoya and Osaka this May.

After teaching mostly elementary school English in Japan for 4 years, I decided I needed a slight change of pace.  I got JLPT N2 certification, but my idealized vision of translation and transitioning into business or “international relations” had hit a wall in terms of motivation.  I was desperately bored, and extremely restless.  So, I decided that doing the same (rather easy) job in a different country was the sweet spot.  Korea seemed like the obvious choice from the first, and after plenty of additional research and reflection, it won out.

After getting into JET, I figured that acceptance into the Korean equivalent, EPIK would be just as easy.  As a bonus, unlike JET which doesn’t cover Tokyo at all, EPIK has a specific subdivision responsible for recruiting teachers into Seoul called SMOE.  The names–EPIK/SMOE–tend to turn into consonant salad in my brain, in part because of politics and some corruption in a former iteration of the Seoul division. Naturally, the vague, seedy story made me wary, but piqued my interest at the same time.  After total immersion in a rather stagnant Japanese position, I could see the silver lining on a Korean cloud that seemed to be ready to purge itself of the acid rain of corruption.  And, regardless of the politics of the situation, I was craving some of that big city excitement.  And so, after living in Nagasaki and Ibaraki for 2 years each, this native Kansan set his sights on the big city. 

Happy spoiler alert: In all my time here, I haven’t run into any problems that seemed to be based in corruption.  My fears in general seem to have proved baseless.  Going back, though, when going through a big international transition, it’s only natural to end up worried sick about one aspect or another, if not the entire shebang.  On top of all that, I am typically an anxious sort of person, so I ended up with bad relocation jitters.

The recruitment process did not help matters one bit.  I won’t attempt to speak for others’ experiences, but I had a professional, straightforward, and fairly smooth induction process into JET.  EPIK (SMOE) is not like that.  Although they are a large government initiative, just like JET, the Korean counterpart relies rather heavily on private recruiting agencies.  And I came into contact with a recruiter who was… less than fantastic.  There was little communication, and I only got the final contract and go-ahead only 2 weeks or less before the official start date, and even then I didn’t know my neighborhood …although I did know that I got into Seoul!

If you’re considering applying to EPIK (SMOE), you can apply directly and avoid the recruiters, but that means even less communication than
with a bad recruiter.  If I have any specific inside information to give potential applicants an edge… getting a good recruiter is key. Very specifically, Korvia is a good agency.  To be clear, no one is asking me to plug them; it’s just that my friends seemed to have a really good experience with them.  Anyway, there are so many EPIK recruiters that if you get a bad feeling from one, there’s always another company to try.

More since I am speaking mainly to ex-JETs, the Japanese public school teaching experience does directly apply.  In my interview, I made sure to acknowledge that Korea is not Japan (of course), but that it was pretty obvious that the English programs inspired each other, and
often copy each other, even now, I think.

And, much like JET, there was an extensive orientation program that was inordinately heavy on theory and glossed over the practical
challenges and realities of the job.  To be honest, EPIK’s orientation was probably worse than JET’s, because it lasted a full week, 8 hours+
per day, and the officials didn’t give us our school assignments (and apartments!) until late in the week, even though it was pretty clear
that they knew our assignments much earlier.  I liked the way that only part of my JET orientation was in a massive group in Tokyo, and
the rest waited until we had split up and could form more specific, useful questions.

After the painful EPIK recruitment process and too-long orientation, I was ready for the other shoe to drop… but fortune favored me.  And,
in fact, none of my fellow public school teachers in Seoul have reported a really bad overall experience.  And mine has been really
good.  My principal is hands-off, my co-teachers are nice, and my students are not only respectful, but generally care about English.
There are nationally standardized textbooks for even elementary students… and while the books are not great in terms of teaching
materials (par for the course in Asia, right?), its one big sign that Korea officially and genuinely values English education.  Though there
are exceptions in Japan, the rule, in my humble experience, seems to have been tatemae to English with the real focus on the hard sciences.
And, I mean, if you’re just enjoying a “gap year” or two, that’s one thing, but since settling into the work after a few years, it’s nice
to have the job both approached in a practical manner and treated with respect the way I’ve experienced in Seoul.

And that basically sums up my experience with EPIK SMOE.  I look forward to questions, comments, and writing in more detail.

Kyle Timmermeyer is a former JET currently teaching in Seoul with plans to move on toward a TESOL MA in Thailand soon.  He’s also
recently published 2 novels in the fantasy dystopia series Legend of the Elementals.  Book 1: Reintroduction is available for FREE on
Amazon.com and in all popular e-formats on Smashwords.com.  He enjoys candlelight dinners and battling space ninjas, preferably at the same time.

The latest from JETAA UK – Job Vacancy

Economic Advisor, Embassy of Japan – Embassy of Japan in the UK – Embassy of Japan, London, W1J 7JT
To view details about this job vacancy visit: http://www.jetaa.org.uk/jobs/economic-advisor-embassy-of-japan/

I participated in the 2010 Law in Japan program at Meiji University between my JET tenure and returning to the States… and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it! There was a mix of JETs current and exiting, U.S.A. MBA students, French Master in Law students, interpreters, and ad hoc foreigners who enjoy getting out of their box and into an academic setting.

The Meiji Law in Japan Program was the perfect dive back into academia and the professional career lifestyle immediately after JET. The days are filled with lectures and trips to places such as the Supreme Court, the former Ministry of Justice, a local prison, and even enables you networking opportunities with top, international law firms in Tokyo. I took the course as a cheaper alternative of finding out whether or not I would want to specialize in Japanese Law back in the States. With a brief overview from top experts (even flown in from Washington, D.C.!), I am now finding myself applying to Law School to formalize the training began through this program.

A little background info about me:  I am currently a Project Coordinator at the global headquarters of a high-tech consulting company located just outside Seattle, WA. I am active in the Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association chapter and continue to mentor high school exchange students in the community, while also playing volleyball and completing triathlons.

About the Meiji University “Law in Japan Program”

“Law in Japan Program” is an introductory course for studying Japanese laws, at Meiji University, a private university in Tokyo.

2012 ONLINE APPLICATION FORM is NOW OPEN.

• The 2012 Summer intensive program is from July 23 to August 3, 2012. http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/programs/law/applications.html (*Application deadline to be extended; to late April*)
• For the 2011 results, please check the Past programs page.  http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/programs/law/past.html
• URL:  http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/programs/law/index.html
• Law in Japan PR Video:  http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/programs/law/index.html

Meiji University Law in Japan Program 2012
——————————————————————————-
Law in Japan Program
Meiji University School of Law
1-1 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo, Japan 101-8301
E-mail: law_jp@kisc.meiji.ac.jp

Note:  Do you have a post-JET program that you’d like to recommend to other JETs and alums?  E-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com and tell us about it.

http://jetaany.org/2012/02/22/35-jet-alumni-freelancers-career-panel/

Are you freelancing?  Thinking about freelancing? Want to meet and hear from other JET alum freelancers? Then join us for the first ever JET Alum Freelancers Career Panel! We know it’s a tough economy out there, and many of us are now freelancing, whether by design or involuntarily. It’s high time to get together, talk about it, learn from each other and help each other out.

When:  Monday, March 5, 6:30pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Japan Local Government Center (aka CLAIR NY) – 3 Park Avenue, 20th Floor (34th & Park, entrance on southeast corner)
RSVP to:  Steven Horowitz - stevenwaseda [at] jetwit.com (Please feel free to tell me a little more about yourself, your situation, and what you might be looking for.)

Note: Drinks and light snacks will be provided. (But feel free to bring your own food and to eat during the panel)

The Panel:

Moderator: Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) - Steven is the founder of the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group that evolved in JETwit. In addition to being a full-time grant writer, he is also does freelance writing for law firms, has done work for the Ford Foundation, and is the creator of the Bankruptcy Bill cartoon series. (http://stevenwaseda.wordpress.com/)

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last year I spoke to former JET Mary Moreton about her experiences in Japan and her current role working for one of the largest Japan-related events in the UK, HYPER JAPAN! After a hugely successful run last summer, HYPER JAPAN is back this week for more culture, cuisine and cool!

Starting tomorrow (Friday 24th February) and running till Sunday 26th, HYPER JAPAN promises to chase away all those winter blues!

Highlights this year include:
Sushi Awards 2012: UK Sushi Roll Championship
Eat-Japan SAKE AWARDS: Top Brewery Taste-Off
Natsuko Aso Live
Olympic Judo Champion Maki Tsukada
Cosplay, Street fashion, UK Kawaii star of the year and much much more!

For more details please check out the official website at http://hyperjapan.co.uk/

The JETAASE chapter will have a JLPT language course in March. If you are near JLPT N2 level or aspiring to be, this course is for you!

Dates:
March 5th
March 12th
March 26th

Time: 7:45pm – 9:15pm (90 minutes)

Class location: Healey Building downstairs conference room (the corner of Forsyth and Walton)
Address: 57th Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta, GA

The in-person class will be open to the first 10 participants. For those residing outside of the Atlanta area, a long distance learning option may be available. The class will be taught by Japanese language instructor Sakiko Suzuki

Please sign up at the form below if you are interested in participating.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGJxUHFWQWRJSDIxczNiYVltVHR0aWc6MQ#gid=0

JET alum and JETwit webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, Nakatsu-shi, 2003-2006) has published a new article about Social Innovation in Brazil. Lee-Sean is a member of JETAA New York, but is currently working in Brazil for a few months. He credits his JET experience as an invaluable resource for his current field of design for social innovation, where he works with cross-cultural communities to create social, cultural, and civic value.

Here is a preview of the article:

Brazil is known for its supermodels, but what about its social innovation models? Besides the economic boom, the country is finding a new groove in the field of digital collaboration and activism.

Last year, I moved from New York to Rio de Janeiro, where Purpose has opened its first overseas office. I have met with local innovators and interacted with all kinds of people on the streets, at the beach, and in botequins (informal bars). These experiences have all enriched my work in social innovation. Besides stimulating my creativity, immersion in a different culture and working in a foreign language have heightened my sense of mindfulness and empathy, reminded me of the virtue of humility, and taught me a few things about what it means to innovate.

Read the rest of the article at Fast Co.Exist.

How has your JET experience helped open doors to other cultures (besides your home culture and Japanese culture)? Are there any other JET alumni out there living in Brazil? Any other JET alumni working in the field of social innovation? Drop us a line in the comments, we would love to hear from you.

Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates a think tank of one, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.

On December 5, the American Lawyer (aka the AmLaw Daily) published Leichter’s most recent article, “Law School Debt Bubble, Part II: Data Show Feds Will Lend $54.3 Billion to U.S. Law Schools by 2020,” in which he uses American Bar Association data to project the exponential growth of law school debt in contrast to the small number of new lawyer jobs in the U.S.

Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates a think tank of one, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.

On November 22, the American Lawyer (aka the AmLaw Daily) published Leichter’s most recent article, “Law School Debt Bubble: Aggregate Law School Grad Debt Grew $475 Million Between 2008 and 2010,” in which he uses U.S. News and World Report and American Bar Association data to illustrate the ever-increasing growth in law school debt graduates have taken on even though law jobs have been disappearing for decades.

Links to Leichter’s previous AmLaw articles can be found here.

Industry Experts: Pam Kavalam, Shannan Spisak, Clara Solomon, Jillian Rodriguez and Katrina Barnas

Update:  Click below to listen to a recording of the panel discussion.

• JETAANYIndustryPanel

Monday found about 15 JET alums meeting on the 20th floor of 3 Park Avenue, current home of the New York branch of CLAIR (The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, aka the “Japan Local Government Center”). Gathered over jasmine tea and Thai finger food, JETAANY presented a chance for job-seekers to talk to JET alums (and a few non-alums) who currently work in the worlds of higher education and exchange programs. The five panelists included Pam Kavalam (Shiga-ken), a student advisor at NYU’s Wagner School, Clara Solomon (Tottori-ken), Director of Counseling and Career Development at NYU’s School of Law, Katrina Barnas (Chiba-ken), Associate Director at the Institute of International Business at Columbia Business School, Shannan Spisak (Kanagawa-ken), Program Officer at the Institute of International Education, and Jillian Rodriguez, who works for the Program of Financial Studies at Columbia Busies school.

Amber Liang (Kochi-ken), herself a Senior Programs Coordinator for the International House at Columbia, moderated the forum with a series of questions that laid bare the realities of working in the higher ed world. The panelists explained how they got into the field, the pros and cons of their job, the education requirements needed to work in a college or university, and where they thought the higher ed industry would be in five years.

While all the panelists had very different jobs and fell into the industry in different ways, there were a lot of things they agreed on. First, higher ed hiring is slow! Don’t be discouraged if you apply and don’t hear back for months. Second, having a Masters degree isn’t required to start at an entry-level position, but people will expect you to start one while you work there, especially of your institution offers free classes or tuition benefits. And even if you don’t get hired for the job that you apply for, many resumes are shared internally, so put your best foot forward and apply anyway! Third, there are good opportunities for mobility in higher ed offices. Starting in administration is a good way to start, as long as you don’t stay there too long. Learning more about the institution and the other offices will give you a chance to move to different, and possibly higher, positions. The one downside being that while you may move up, your paycheck might not.

Lastly, as for the future of higher ed jobs: they aren’t going anywhere in the near future, however free classes for employees or benefits are likely to be reduced or cut because of budget constraints. It’s important to think carefully about the benefits other than money that you can gain working in higher ed. If you want to earn a Master’s while working, it’s an excellent opportunity, but if you want to make a fortune it might not be your cup of tea!

Hearing the stories of our sempai was a truly helpful and inspiring experience. A lot of us are struggling in the job market at the moment, and it’s events like these that give us a glimpse of the struggle our successful friends have had, and the gumption to keep on trying our best!

Amber Liang and Sean Harley explain the art of getting a job without ever asking (i.e., informational interviews). (Steven Horowitz)

By Carolyn Brooks (Ishikawa-ken, 2006-11) for JQ magazine. Carolyn is co-author of the blog MadSilence–a cross-cultural blog written with her father–and a current culture/education related job-seeker in the New York area available for full-time or consulting work.

JET alumni from all walks of life gathered this weekend at the Nippon Club in New York City to talk about something important to us all: jobs and how to get them. The Career Forum is a much-anticipated event, with JETAA New York providing a varied and well-planned series of presentations for recent returnees and new career searchers alike.

“We hold this event annually to help the recent returnees get settled back in New York, provide job hunting advice and techniques for highlighting the JET experience on their resume, and give them the opportunity to meet alumni and recruiters in their possible career fields,” said JETAANY president Monica Yuki (Saitama, 2002-04). The Career Forum achieved all those objectives with flying colors, as well as giving us recent returnees a taste of home, which for many of us suffering from reverse culture shock was as welcome as the career advice.

Evan Hyman (Osaka, 1995-96) started the presentations off with a bang, sharing the 10 most important lessons he’s learned in his 14 years since JET. Over the years he’s worked in marketing and planning with some of the world’s largest companies (including Pepperidge Farm and Johnson & Johnson), but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t encountered the same road bumps that new jobseekers do. Some of his advice included practical matters like “Network, network, network!”; “Utilize as many recruiters as you can”; and “Your job search will be determined by the economy”; but it was his more personal advice that really struck me.

Lesson #9 was “It can take a really long time to realize what you want to do.”  Mr. Hyman’s had some jobs that, while lucrative and attractive, just weren’t for him. It was those jobs that helped him find his “sweet spot” and learn skills that got him the jobs he liked. No experience is ever wasted! Lesson #5, my personal favorite, was “Have a passion for what you do!” If you work at a job you’re not interested in, you’re not going to do your best work, so find your passion and see how you can use it in a career.

The other three presentations were from more recent JET alumni, covering such topics as informational interviewing, social media and networking, and resume writing. “The job market is kind of like the dating scene,” said Chau Lam (Gunma, 2005-07), beginning her resume presentation with Shannan Spisak (Kanagawa, 1996-98). “Your resume is like your profile on a dating site, and its job is to interest people enough that they want to know more about you after looking at it for 30 seconds.” Their dating analogy brought a chuckle from the audience, and their seven page handout including power verbs, self-assessments and writing examples is an excellent resource that will be available on JETAANY’s website in the near future.

Sean Harley (Ibaraki, 1995-97) and Amber Liang’s (Kochi, 2006-08) informational interviewing presentation answered some important questions about proper conduct, like what questions are appropriate and why you shouldn’t even hint at asking for a job in an interview. Their presentation will also be available on the website.

The last portion of the forum allowed attendees to unwind and talk to a variety of alumni and recruiters. We exchanged business cards and stories of Japan while asking how they ended up where they did—as a public school teacher, grant writer, TV editor, research analyst, and translator. Throughout the day, all of the presenters stressed the importance of utilizing the JET network, both socially and professionally, and it was during our free talk that the strength of that network made itself felt. All the alumni were eager to tell us how JET helped them become who they are, how JETAA helped them survive after their return, and offered to open their networks to us, their new comrades.

By participating in JET, we all expected to become a bridge between Japan and America, but I don’t think any of us expected the bridges we would create between ourselves. It’s events like these that really prove how worthwhile programs like JET are–that the outreach and sharing we did in a foreign country can continue at home, making our countries better from the inside out.

For more on JETAANY, visit http://jetaany.org.

Matt Leichter 

• “Dear Prospective Law Students, Do Not “Reasonably Rely” on Cooley’s “Report One“.  http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2011/11/dear-prospective-law-students-do-not-reasonably-rely-on-cooleys-report-one.html
• (You can also read his previous AmLaw article titled “Media Outlets Claiming ‘Law Is no Longer a Golden Ticket’ Conceal Decades of a Profession in Decline.”)

Matt’s writing is gaining recognition for not just his thorough yet accessible writing style, but also for his un-lawyerly comfort with statistics and his willingness to push past assumptions.

If any JET alums out there are still contemplating law school, please (I beg you) read some of Matt’s writing first.

Thanks to JETAA Chicago’s Elizabeth Gordon (Iwate-ken 2003-05) for sharing this info:

JETAA Chicago will host its annual Job and Networking Fair on Saturday, November 5th from 1pm to 5pm at the Japan Information Center in downtown Chicago.

This is a great opportunity for JETs that have recently returned from Japan, current JET Alumni, friends of JETs as well as professionals looking for new networking and career opportunities.

A lot of JETs return from Japan looking for ways to maintain and even build upon the experiences they made while living abroad and we hope to provide support in helping you reach those goals. This is also a wonderful opportunity for individuals that are interested in pursuing a new career and would like some guidance from current Alumni or other established professionals.

There will be an open table top session with booths from various Chicagoland companies and organizations as well as a wine and cheese reception. We are also planning on having a speaker to kick off the event so please stay tuned as there will be more specific information to follow!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our Social Activities Officer, Daniel Martin: social@jetaachicago.com

Location: Consulate General of Japan at Chicago (JIC – Japan Information Center), 737. North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL (map it)

In addition to having lived in Japan, Aiyana speaks 5 languages and has traveled to 23 countries.  She also does horseback riding, loves cooking and making kokeshi dolls and is proud that she learned how to snowboard in Japan.

Here’s contact info below for anyone who wants to get in touch with Aiyana:

Aiyana, Festival Concierge
Gardner-Mathews Travel Concierge
Showing you the World—One Festival at a Time.
www.gardner-mathews.com
aiyana [at] gardner-mathews.com

アイヤナ・アプリング
ガードナー・マシューズ・トラベル・コンシェルジェ

Here’s the link to join:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=4145299&trk=&ut=1tt3q-WQ4vCkY1

Also here’s a link to the full list of JET Alum professional and prefecture LinkedIn groups out there.  And a reminder that if you don’t see one that fits, start your own and we’ll post it here on JETwit.

• “A Recruiter’s Guide to Finding Work in Tokyo” – by JETAA Tokyo President and former recruiter Byron Nagy
• “Getting That Perfect Job” – by JET alum and former CLAIR staffer Christian Tsuji

JET alum and JETwit webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, Nakatsu-shi, 2003-2006) recently appeared in the Fast Company article “An MFA Degree For Designers Who Want To Change The World” by Michael J. Coren.

So you want to change the world? Cynics may send you off to Wall Street or a white-shoe law firm. Those with gumption will look for another way. The new Master’s of Fine Arts in Design for Social Innovation has opened its doors just for them.

“We’re adamant this not be a program where people sit in a classroom and talk about how great it’s going to be when they go out and change the world,” says program chair Cheryl Heller at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, and a board member of PopTech. “It is helping designers go beyond self-expression, which is how most designers are taught, and how to put [design] into practice to create a change.”

Read the full Fast Company article here.

Lee-Sean, a faculty member in the department, is reaching out to the JET community and encouraging returning JETs and alumni to apply to the MFA Design for Social Innovation program.  The program is for applicants from a broad range of backgrounds with an interest in design and social innovation, and not just those with college degrees or prior professional experience in design.  Email leesean@purpose.com with inquiries, and apply here.  The deadline for applications is January 15, 2015 for Fall 2012 enrollment.

Photo: Lee-Sean with fellow MFA Design for Social Innovation faculty member Alessandra Orofino.

Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates a think tank of one, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.

The popular lawyer periodical, the Am Law Daily, ran an article I wrote, titled, “Media Outlets Claiming ‘Law Is no Longer a Golden Ticket’ Conceal Decades of a Profession in Decline.” In it I use Bureau of Economic Analysis data, charts, and animations to demonstrate that the legal sector of the U.S. economy stagnated about 20 years ago, and along with increasing law school tuition creates a crisis for legal education in the United States.

JET Alum Okane

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4045224&trk=anet_ug_hm

For JET alumni who have an interest in, work in or aspire to work in fields related to money – i.e., finance, fundraising, investment, accounting, tax, economics, insurance, etc.

Click here for a list of all of the other JET Alum LinkedIn groups you can join.