kirakiraきらきら
きらきら (kirakira) is a Japanese onomatopoeia that means sparkling, twinkling, or shining brightly.
Who We Are
KiraKira is a research and storytelling institute dedicated to systems transformation through hope, creative tools, and community wisdom.
We work with communities shaped by hardship to co-create stories, games, research, and tools that shift systems—and help both people and the planet thrive.
Our name, KiraKira, means “shining” or “sparkling” in Japanese. It reflects the brilliance we see in communities navigating injustice—and the light that guides us forward.
We lead with our heart.
KiraKira is about hope. Hope is a powerful tool for systems transformation—one that helps us create the future we want: a world where people and the planet can thrive.
At KiraKira, we believe hope is a form of resistance.
We recognize that hardship is not the absence of hope. It is from communities shaped by hardship that we find the light to guide us forward—and the vision to build a better world.
Why We Exist
I started this nonprofit to build something I could point to and say, “This is a collection of the people, ideas, and moments that give me hope.”
KiraKira began as a personal need—a way to stay grounded in a world that often feels overwhelming. Growing up, I held onto an idealistic view of what was possible, but I struggled to find proof of that ideal in everyday life. It wasn’t until I became involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life that I experienced what hope looked like in action. Through that work, I witnessed the power of community, remembrance, youth leadership, and celebration even in the face of grief. That experience changed me. It taught me that hope isn’t passive—it’s something we practice, build, and share.
KiraKira is my way of carrying that lesson forward.
We exist to illuminate the brilliance already present in people and movements, and to build tools that help communities imagine and create systems rooted in justice, joy, and sustainability. Whether through storytelling, games, advocacy, or research, our work is grounded in the belief that imagination is resistance, systems thinking is healing, and stories are blueprints for liberation.
This nonprofit is not just a project—it’s a practice in gratitude and wonder, a container for the kirakira moments that remind us what we’re fighting for. I hope it becomes that for others, too.