Japanese American Service Committee

This sleek midcentury modern bank building has been reborn as a cultural and community landmark. In 2024, the Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) unveiled its new Legacy Center. The Center boasts one of the nation’s largest collections on the Japanese American experience, documenting a journey from 19th-century immigration through WWII and beyond. Glass walls invite sunlight, warm wood accents echo Japanese design, and exhibits weave stories of resilience and belonging. JASC’s "forever home" is where architecture meets history, and where Chicagoans can connect, learn, and celebrate together. JASC was founded in 1946 to help the 30,000 Japanese Americans resettling in Chicago after WWII incarceration. Since then, JASC has evolved into an organization serving people of all backgrounds from a foundation of Japanese American values. Today, JASC offers educational programs for children, community and cultural classes for all ages, and essential social services that strengthen families and support older adults.