Aozora Community Foundation

Founded in 2016 by parents and staff of Aozora Gakuen (Brooklyn's only Japanese-English bilingual preschool), Aozora Community Foundation dually aims to support Aozora Gakuen* services while enhancing opportunities for New York-area families to engage with Japan's unique language, arts, and culture.

Aozora Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization which intends to:

• offer educational support to early childhood education centers, schools and programs that serve Japanese heritage families;
• offer educational support to organizations that provide instruction in Japanese language, arts and culture;
• create opportunities for Japanese heritage families to connect with each other through gatherings and events; and
• share resources and information that enhance understanding of Japanese language, arts and culture.

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*Aozora Gakuen (translated as “Blue Skies School” in Japanese) is Brooklyn’s first Japanese-English bilingual preschool. It was founded by three mothers in 2012 to fulfill the needs of Brooklyn families looking for a preschool that could provide a quality education rooted in Japanese values, morals, and spirit. By teaching our children to think globally and embrace diversity, and to respect their bodies, their environment and nature, our activities tie directly into the development of the balance between independence and interdependence; self-respect and empathy for others; and creativity and collaboration.