Making Better Americans for a Better America: Reflections from the JACL/OCA Leadership Conference in Washington DC*

The JACL/OCA Leadership Conference in Washington DC has an admirable reputation for enriching minds and empowering participants to make a difference in their communities. Indeed, the 2006 Leadership Conference profoundly impacted my life and strengthened my personal commitment to the Japanese American Citizens League’s honorable mission to secure civil rights and preserve Japanese Americans’ cultural heritage. After five days of intense workshops, presentations, and a special visit to Capitol Hill, I can honestly state that the 2006 JACL/OCA Leadership Conference changed my life.

As a graduate teaching assistant, my educational background in speech communication and psychology has fostered a theoretical awareness and appreciation for civil rights advocacy, strategic communication, and persuasion. However, I lacked a thorough understanding of the political and legal framework for fighting discrimination and injustice in America. Advocacy for civil rights and social change is deeply intertwined with the United States’ political system. To successfully promote equality and justice, I needed to learn about the underlying procedures and rules that guide social change. The Leadership Conference exposed me to a variety of information about our current political and legal systems that can promote or hinder the advancement of civil rights.

In addition to its educational value, the Leadership Conference was a rich site for social networking and coalition building. Throughout the conference, I was able to establish and strengthen relationships with members of the JACL, OCA, and other APA organizations. I made many new friendships and was impressed by the high caliber of people who attended the conference! From Honolulu to Portland to Houston to New York, the participants hailed from all areas of the United States and came with very diverse backgrounds. The workshops and presentations provided a forum for constructive dialogue about current APA issues, such as immigration, hate crimes, and assimilation.

Finally, the Leadership Conference provided a unique opportunity to meet some truly outstanding individuals who have championed issues pertaining to civil rights and APA issues. We were fortunate to have dinner with the United States Secretary of Transportation, Norman Y Mineta. Also, several distinguished political leaders spoke to us, such as Congressman Mike Honda, Senator Okaka, and Congresswoman Doris Matsui. A personal highlight was shaking hands with Bruce Yamashita, a courageous Japanese American who fought overt discrimination in the military. Meeting all of these dynamic leaders in person was truly inspirational.

In closing, the 2006 JACL/OCA Leadership Conference in Washington DC was an educational, empowering, and inspirational experience. I am extremely grateful to the JACL, OCA, and State Farm Insurance for sponsoring this incredible conference! Special thanks to Floyd and Irene Mori, Keith McAllister, John Tateishi, the MDC of JACL, and those who dedicated their time and talents to the success of the 2006 Leadership Conference.

*This article was originally written for the Hoosier Chapter of JACL's newsletter. I thought it was applicable to this blog site! If anyone is interested in becoming a member of JACL or learning how to apply to participate in this leadership conference, please email me at hanasolk@muohio.edu.