Exploring Life & Business with Nari Kato of Hope Learning Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nari Kato

Nari, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello! My name is Nari Kato, and I’m the Director of Hope Learning Center, a bilingual K-12 After School Program & Tutoring Service in Lomita. Since opening our doors in 2022, we’ve provided academic support and creative programming for over 130 students across the South Bay Area. As a second-generation Japanese American and a South Bay native myself, it’s an honor to create a safe, inspiring space for youth who, like me, grew up in this community.

At Hope Learning Center, we emphasize joyful learning and celebrating multiculturalism. Every day, students dive into activities—games, crafts, puzzles, play, and experiments—that bring them joy and connect to K-12 learning. Our programs and homework support are offered in both English and Japanese, embracing Japanese culture while also honoring and celebrating students’ other backgrounds.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t always been smooth! I began this role at 22, right after completing graduate school and a student-teaching assignment at a high school in Rhode Island. Stepping into a leadership position so soon definitely came with its challenges.

Additionally, there aren’t many organizations quite like Hope, which meant a lot of trial and error in figuring out how to run a bilingual after-school program effectively. From the start, we’ve had students from various backgrounds: newcomers to the U.S., often in their first few weeks, and multigenerational Japanese American students who might speak little Japanese but whose families want them to maintain their heritage language. Balancing these unique needs has been one of our biggest challenges, but also one of the most rewarding parts of our work.

We’ve been impressed with Hope Learning Center , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Hope Learning Center, our approach centers around bilingual learning, community, and a love for discovery. Each day, students join in a group meeting, where we greet each other in languages from around the world, and students make announcements in either English or Japanese. This daily routine fosters a welcoming, multicultural environment that’s at the heart of what we do.

Following our meeting, students focus on their homework, whether it’s assignments from their weekday schools or from Japanese Saturday school. Our staff are here to support students in both languages, making sure they get the help they need.

After homework, it’s time for our theme-based activities—fun, hands-on projects that connect to real-world topics. I’m intentional about these activities because I want students to not only enjoy them but also retain something that might help them in school. When students tell me, “We learned this at Hope!” after encountering a topic at school, I know we’ve succeeded.

Our themes have included everything from “Ancient Civilizations” and “Math Art” to “Apples in Autumn,” each designed to spark curiosity across a range of subjects. My goal is for students to approach learning with an open mind, discovering that they can enjoy and succeed in any subject. Whether it’s math, art, or music, I believe it’s our role as educators to show students that learning has no boundaries and to nurture their enthusiasm for exploring new ideas.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Just days before committing to my role at Hope Learning Center, I was set to sign a contract as a high school math teacher. Teaching was a path I was so sure of—I’d prepared for it throughout my studies and was ready to step into the classroom.

But when the opportunity to lead Hope came up, I felt an undeniable excitement at the idea of building my vision of education from the ground up. It was a daunting prospect, taking on a role that would challenge me to lead and to create, rather than just teach. Yet, the chance to develop an educational space for the same community that fostered me felt incredibly meaningful.

While risk-taking can be unsettling, I view it as a way to bring my ideas to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hopelearningcenter.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learning_at_hope/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearningAtHope/