In April 2023, Simeon Barrett joined JCIE/USA as an intern. Prior to joining JCIE, Mr. Barrett was a member of the KAKEHASHI Inouye Scholars Program in collaboration with the TOMODACHI Initiative. Provided by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the KAKEHASHI Project sent him and 15 other undergraduate students at Howard University to Tokyo as well as Shibata, Niigata where they were linked with students at Keiwa College; the goal of the project was learning more about US-Japan relations. He also interned for the January 6th Committee in the US House of Representatives by reviewing footage taken at the US Capitol attack in 2021.

With a focus in congressional relations, political programs, and global health, Mr. Barrett assists JCIE with logistics, website updates, and ongoing JCIE events and programs.

Mr. Barrett was born and raised in Philadelphia with his parents and grandparents migrating from Jamaica. He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in economics at Howard University. Through Howard’s language program, he has been studying Japanese for over two years.