Origins of the YCFL:
In March 2016, the movie “Spirit’s Homecoming” was released in NJ theaters. 9 Fort Lee youths, fueled by a curiosity about their own cultural connections to the women they didn’t even know existed, were so disturbed by the movie’s historical context, but they were even more shocked to learn that the comfort women victims still had not received a formal apology from the Japanese government. Fully aware that their hometown of Fort Lee could be the starting point of a justice-seeking mission, the first Youth Council of Fort Lee meeting gathered in a messy basement. Now, the YCFL’s mission has broadened to cover a variety of local, national, and global issues, and the organization’s membership includes 35 members from all over Bergen County. The YCFL will continue its pursuit to create community-minded, dedicated leaders and carry out projects to improve the lives of all.
