Wednesday 6/30

Thursday 7/1

Friday 7/2

Saturday 7/3

Sunday 7/4

Click here for a printable version of the convention schedule. (UPDATED 6/13)
Click here for a PDF map of the convention site.

AWARDS LUNCHEON
Thursday, July 1, 12 - 2 pm in Zurich Ballroom

This event will feature the presentation of awards to individuals and chapters for their outstanding service to the JACL.  These awards are the JACLer of the Biennium Award and the George Inagaki JACL Chapter of the Biennium Award.

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CANDIDATES FORUM
Thursday, July 1, 7 - 9 pm in Vevey Ballroom

During the convention, the JACL will elect the officers who will lead the organization for the next two years.  The Candidate’s Forum is an opportunity to hear the views of each candidate for the positions of President, Vice President for General Operations, Vice President for Public Affairs, Vice President for Membership and Service, Vice President for Planning and Development, Secretary/Treasurer, National Youth Chair, National Youth Representative. 

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CREDIT UNION LUNCHEON
Friday, July 2, 12 - 2 pm, in Zurich Ballroom

Celebrate an important JACL service.

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DELEGATE ORIENTATION
Wednesday, June 30, 4 - 6 pm, in Vevey 1, 2, & 3

In this session, the JACL Credentials Committee will explain the rules of procedure for conducting the Business Sessions including the credentialing of delegates and the voting procedure. 

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EXHIBITORS
Thursday, July 1 and Friday, July 2, 8 am - 5 pm; Saturday, July 2 8 am - 12 pm in St. Gallen

The convention will feature a variety of exhibitors representing corporations, government agencies, organizations and vendors who provide services to the JACL membership as well as sales items ranging from books to clothing to jewelry.

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A NIGHT AT CLUB CHICAGO
Saturday, July 3, 8 - 10 pm in Zurich Ballroom

Featuring the Grateful Crane Ensemble, and Chicago entertainers Steve Hashimoto and Keith Uchima.

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MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

At this year’s JACL National Convention, held in Chicago, the National Youth/Student Council will be launching the Convention Mentorship Program.  Youth who choose to participate will be paired up with a Chapter delegate during National Council business sessions.  Throughout those sessions, the delegate mentor will help guide youth mentees through the difficult and challenging processes and procedures.  The youth will have the opportunity to see a different side of JACL and engage in fruitful dialogue with his/her Chapter delegate mentor. 
Click here for more information.

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NIGHT AT CLUB CHICAGO
Saturday, July 3, 8-10 pm in Zurich Ballroom

A Night at Club Chicago will revive memories of a time in the 1940’s when many Japanese Americans migrated from the concentration camps to Chicago.  This night of entertainment will tell the story of that migration and the search for housing, jobs, and a new life; a life that included the music and ambiance of Chicago’s night club scene.  A Night at Club Chicago will take you back to that time through the music, the stories, and the songs from that era. A Night at Club Chicago will feature the Grateful Crane Ensemble, a Los Angeles-based group performing in Chicago for the first time.  The ensemble features vocalists Keiko Kawashima and Kurt Kuniyoshi along with Scott Nagatani on keyboards. Formed in 2001, the Grateful Crane Ensemble have performed in a number of shows produced by Soji Kashiwagi including The Camp Dance: The Music and the Memories, which recalls how music and song helped the internees of America’s concentration camps endure their incarceration. Chicagoans Steve Hashimoto on bass, Kenny Takaoka on drums, and playwright Keith Uchima will provide a local flavor to this production. 

PLENARY SESSIONS
Thursday, July 1 and Saturday, July 3, 9:30 - 10:45 am in Vevey Ballroom

Reframing Civil Rights
Thursday, July 1, 9:30 - 10:45 am
Nearly 50 years after the Civil Rights movement, our laws have changed to protect minorities from discrimination in housing, employment, schooling, etc.  How are civil rights being reframed to address a broader set of issues--from health care reform to immigrant rights--important to changing communities?  How can civil rights organizations like the JACL reframe their direction and involvement to continue to remain relevant today?  In this workshop, prominent civil rights activists and scholars will discuss the future of civil rights, and the new directions and areas organizations like the JACL should explore.

Panelists: Karen Narasaki, Stuart Ishimaru, Michael Lieberman, Laura Washington.

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ORATORICAL COMPETITION
Friday, July 2, 3 - 5 pm in Montreaux

High school and college-age students will compete in the finals of the Minoru Yasui Oratorical Competition, named in honor of this JACL leader who was an attorney and civil rights activist.

Special thanks to All Nippon Airways (ANA), Hyatt Regency Tokyo and Sony for providing this year's prizes:

All Nippon Airways (ANA)
2 Round-trip Tickets to Japan
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
3 complimentary nights
Sony
Sony Eco-VAIO: VPC-W212AX/WI
Sony DASH - Personal Internet Device (Wifi/7" Touch Screen)
Sony bloggie™ Camera MHS-PM5 with 8GB Memory Stick
Sony W Series Walkman ® MP3 Player

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SAYONARA BANQUET AND SILENT AUCTION
Friday, July 2, 6 - 10 pm in Zurich Foyer and Ballroom

This culminating event will feature a nationally known speaker.  It will also be an occasion where the JACL presents the Japanese American of the Biennium awards, the Edison Uno Civil Rights Award and the Special Presidential Recognitions. 

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WELCOME RECEPTION
Wednesday, June 30, 7 - 10 pm in Zurich Ballroom

This event kicks off the convention.  It’s an opportunity to reacquaint yourself with old friends and to meet new friends in a relaxed and informal setting.

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WINDY CITY ACTIVITIES

Devil in the White City Tour
Wednesday, June 30, 1-5 pm
Hosted by professional ghost hunter Richard Crowe, the Devil in the White City tour takes you to the places featured in the best-selling novel about the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the diabolical serial killer H. H. Holmes. Includes lunch in Greek Town.

Absolutely Segway Tour
Wednesday, June 30, 2-4:30 pm; Thursday July 1, 8:30 - 11am; Friday, July 2 8:30-11 am
Absolutely Segway tours are a unique way to tour Chicago’s lakefront attractions on the coolest machines to ever hit the streets. (A Segway is a 2-wheeled, self-balancing, electric transportation device – like a scooter that you stand up on.) The 2-hour tour will go around Millenium Park, Grant Park, the Museum campus and Soldier Field.

Architecture Walking Tour
Thursday, July 1, 9:30-11:30 am
Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper. This 2-hour tour of the south Loop will feature the architecture and innovative designs of those early historic buildings.

Art Institute of Chicago Tour
Thursday July 1, 2:30-4:30 pm
With over 300,000 works of art, including a substantial Impressionist collection and a new Modern Wing (opened in May 2009), the Art Institute is a must-stop for any Chicago visitor. Enjoy a docent-led tour of the Asian galleries. (Unfortunately, the Japanese art gallery will be closed during this time.)

Horseshoe Casino
Thursday, July 1, 3:45 - 9:30 pm
Horseshoe Casino is Harrah’s newly remodeled casino located in Hammond, Indiana (just 30 minutes outside of Chicago). With 35,000 feet of gaming space, they offer a full range of gambling options: slots, blackjack, roulette, table poker. Includes one of the best dinner buffets around.

Supernatural Chinatown Tour
Thursday, July 1, 4:30-8:30 pm
Hosted by professional ghost hunter Richard Crowe, Supernatural Chinatown takes you on a walking tour of Chicago’s historic Chinatown with local ghost stories, magical customs and the art of “fung shui” is practiced. Includes dinner.

Buddy Guy's Legends
Thursday, July 1, 7 - 11:30 pm
Buddy Guy’s Legends is Chicago’s premier Blues club and was voted the city’s best Blues Club by AOL CityGuide as well as CitySearch. Owned by 5-time Grammy Award-winning and Rock & Roll of Fame Bluesman himself, Buddy Guy’s Legends is an authentic Chicago Blues experience. Includes dinner.

Cubs Baseball Game
Friday, July 2, 12 - 5 pm
The Chicago Cubs have a new owner and he has vowed to take them to the World Series. Visit historic Wrigley Field and see if this is the year the Cubbies break the 101-year curse! Includes transportation.

Architecture River Cruise
Saturday, July 3, 3-4:30 pm
One of the Chicago Architecture Foundation's most popular tours is the 90 minute Architecture River Cruise, which glides along both the north and the south branches of the Chicago River. The excellent docents provide interesting historical details, and fun facts, making the cruise enjoyable for visitors with all levels of architectural knowledge.

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WORKSHOPS
Friday, July 2, 8am-12pm

This year’s workshops explore how Asian American and other civil rights leaders are engaging in new strategies and approaches to more effectively empower and connect our issues and communities. As the host of this year’s conference, Chicago and the broader Midwest community will highlight key strategies and successes developed and won in the heartland.  From looking back at our family histories to understanding the perspectives Asian Americans in politics and advancing grassroots efforts to develop new pan-Asian political infrastructures—these workshops focus on how our communities can move forward and embrace change. 

Hidden Memory
Location: Vevey 1, 8 - 10am
A search for old family photographs and historical documents led to an interview with a 91-year old aunt about the American concentration camps in WWII. This blossomed into a hardbound book of photos, digital slide shows, a DVD for each family member, and finally, a story to share. Professional storyteller Anne Shimojima will show how you can preserve memories for your own family and give the gift of your family’s story.

Presenter: Anne Shimojima
Anne Shimojima, renowned storyteller, delights youth and adult audiences of all sizes with her graceful and spirited telling of folk tales from her Asian heritage and around the world.  An elementary school librarian for thirty-five years, Anne gives workshops on the use of storytelling in the classroom and library media center, and on the creation of family history projects. Anne has also taught graduate courses in storytelling and for seven years was on the Board of Directors of the Wild Onion Storytelling Celebration in Chicago.

Asian Americans in Politics
Location: Vevey 2, 8 - 10 am
Changes in the political environment are finally beginning to reflect the diverse demographics of this country. Asian Americans are achieving higher elected and appointed leadership roles in their local communities, states, and beyond and to become more of a political force. How have these individuals been so successful in engaging their Asian American communities to build a strong political base? How were their Asian American communities inspired to come together to work for their candidate? What can future generations of Asian American leaders learn from today's Asian American leaders? A panel of prominent Asian American leaders will discuss their own political experiences and answer questions to foster discussion from the audience.

Panelists: Mee Moua, Nathan Shinagawa, Raja Krishnamoorthi

Senator Mee Moua is the first Hmong state elected official in the United States. She was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in a special election in January 2002. Re-elected in 2002 and 2006, she has fought for civil rights and been a leader on health care, education, housing, economic development, and safety issues. She is a member of the Democratic National Committee and a board member on the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Born in Laos, Senator Moua immigrated to the U.S. in 1978 and lives in St. Paul.

Nathan Shinagawa represents the 4th district of Tompkins County, New York — the county’s most diverse and densely populated district. At age 22, he became the youngest county legislator in the history of Tompkins County. In 2006, Mr. Shinagawa was named the area’s top legislator on behalf of working families by the Central New York Labor Council. In 2008, the Japanese American Citizens League named Mr. Shinagawa a Rising Champion in the Asian American community. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Masters in Health Administration from Cornell University.

Raja Krishnamoorthi is the former Deputy Illinois State Treasurer responsible for overseeing programs in the Illinois Treasurer’s Office involving the custody and administration of state funds.  Mr. Krishnamoorthi ran for Illinois State Comptroller in the 2010 Democratic Primary. He won roughly 385,000 votes statewide, but fell short of winning the primary by 1 single percentage point.  A longtime friend of President Barack Obama, Mr. Krishnamoorthi worked on Obama’s 2004 campaign for the U.S. Senate, serving first as the issues director and then as a senior adviser. He also advised Obama during his Presidential campaign and worked on his 2000 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Moderator: Brandon Mita, National Japanese American Citizens’ League Youth Chair and Howard Law School student.

Multiracial Identity
Location: Vevey 3, 8 - 10 am
With the election of the first multiracial president and the ability to check more than one box on the 2000 Census, the multiracial movement in American is growing.  Yet the way race and ethnicity are perceived and discussed in our society ignore the complexities of racial classifications that are exposed by the multiracial experience. This workshop will explore the issues involved in racial identity formation, focusing on the experience of multiracial and multiethnic Asian Pacific Americans.

Presenter: Christine Munteanu is the Ford Fellow serving at the JACL Midwest office, working on leadership, education and anti-hate programming.

Asian Pacific Islander Health Disparities
Location: Zurich A, 8 – 10 am

Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: Pan-Asian Alliance and Community Building
Location: Vevey 1, 10am - 12 pm
Asian Americans in the Midwest face particular challenges in building cohesive communities and strong alliances. Asian American communities in the heartland are smaller and more spread out than many communities on the east and west coasts. Still, we are organizing, affecting change and becoming stronger political entities.  What are the specific challenges and dynamics Asian American communities face in the Midwest?  How have new infrastructures, capacities and alliances been defined and built within and between Asian American communities in the Midwest?  What can the rest of the country learn from the
challenges and successes from Midwest?  A panel of Asian American organizers and leaders from the Midwest will share their stories, successes and shortcomings in strengthening their communities and building sustainable alliances.

Presenters: Amee Xiong, Inhe Choi, Ron Katsuyama

Amee Xiong is the Hmong Organizing Program Manager at TakeAction Minnesota. She has organized the Hmong community around issues of racial justice. She was a 2008 graduate from the Organizing Apprenticeship Project and from the Gamaliel Foundation- National Leadership Training. In 2006, she received the Racial Justice Award, and the prestigious Barbara Simmons “Eagle” Award from Hamline University. She also received the “Youth Leadership Award” from the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotan. 

Inhe Choi is Vice Chair of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium and a longtime volunteer with the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Choi immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1973.  She currently works at the Crossroads Fund, a public foundation that supports community organizations focusing on social and economic justice in the Chicago area. Previously, she helped organize a multi-racial coalition to elect Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor, and is one of the founding members of KAN-WIN, a Korean American domestic violence agency in Chicago.

Ron Katsuyama serves on the JACL National Board as the Vice President for Public Affairs. Originally from San Francisco, Mr. Katsuyama is currently a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Dayton. He serves as President of the Asian American Council, Dayton, OH, and the Kettering, OH, Board of Community Relations, is on the Board of Governors of the Japanese American National Museum, and is Chair of the Federation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR), a Hate Crimes Task Force.

Moderator: Josina Morita is the Executive Coordinator of the United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations and board member of the Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago.

Life Events and How to Prepare for Them
Location: Vevey 2, 10 am - 12 pm
What are some of life’s milestones --- those important events in our lives? The first driver’s license, college graduation, landing that first job, marriage, birth of the first child, career success, retirement – just to name a few. This session has been designed to help participants prepare for these important life events. A panel of financial experts will share information designed to help participants lower teen auto premiums, save for a child’s college education, prepare for retirement and much more. Each participant will receive the 2009-2011 National Directory of Scholarships, Internships and Fellowships for AAPI Students, a Budget Planner Guide, and tips on how to improve your credit score.  

Presenter: Leslie Moe-Kaiser
Leslie Moe-Kaiser is State Farm’s Corporate Relations Manager for national Asian American Pacific Islander organizations.  She serves on the National Advisory Council of the Asian American Justice Center, Business Advisory Council of OCA, the Advisory Board of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, and the Board of the Center for Asian Pacific American Women.  She is a founding Board member of the OCA-Central Illinois Chapter, a founding member of the Asian Women's Alliance in Peoria, and serves on the OSF Hospitals Women's Health Advisory Board in Peoria. 

The Potential of Social Media
Location: Vevey 3, 10 am - 12 pm
This workshop, lead by Lisa Lee (publisher of Hyphen Magazine), explores the many different functionalities of social media sites such as Facebook in promoting social causes. Through real-time demonstrations, workshop participants will learn how to engage audiences and garner support in an online forum avoiding the stigma of spamming. As an example, participants will use the North Korean refugee issue, as endorsed by the JACL NYSC, to practice creating and distributing online content in an effective manner.

Presenter: Lisa Lee
Lisa Lee has over five years of nonprofit experience in marketing and communications for multicultural arts and cultural organizations. Since Ms. Lee joined Hyphen magazine (a volunteer-run nonprofit Asian American publication) in 2007, the organization has doubled its annual budget and increased its readership by more than 90 percent.  Ms. Lee is also a frequent speaker on panels and at workshops on media-related issues for Asian American college students, young professionals and nonprofit managers. During the day, Ms Lee works for a social networking company in the Silicone Valley.         
  

US-Japan Relations
Location: Zurich A, 10am – 12 pm
This workshop will explore how Japanese Americans can help strengthen the US-Japan relationship. Panelists will include Japanese Americans who are currently involved in building the relationship who are working both in Japan and the United States. Representatives from both the State Department and Japanese Foreign Ministry will also share their views.

Panelists: Irene Hirano, Glen Fukushima

Irene Hirano is President of the U.S.-Japan Council, appointed in April 2009. She is the former President and founding CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. During her tenure she led the U.S.-Japan initiatives and accompanied the nine Japanese American Leadership Delegations to Japan and co-chaired the annual Consuls General and Japanese American Leader’s meetings. Ms. Hirano has more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit administration, community education, and public affairs with culturally diverse communities nationwide.

Glen Fukushima is Senior Vice President of Airbus SAS and President & CEO of Airbus Japan. Prior to joining Airbus in 2005, Mr. Fukushima headed the Japan operations of several major American companies. Mr. Fukushima also served in government; as Director for Japanese Affairs and Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan and China, at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Mr. Fukushima served two terms as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and has served on numerous corporate boards and government advisory councils internationally. He currently sits on the Board of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, the America-Japan Society, and the Japanese American National Museum.

Moderator: Floyd Shimomura serves as Executive Officer of the California State Personnel Board where he administers California’s civil service system, including its equal employment opportunity program. From 1982 to 1984, he also served as National President of the Japanese American Citizens League where he helped lead the fight for redress and met with Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone to discuss the social effects of trade “friction” on Asian Americans. Mr. Shimomura is a member of the Board of Governors of the Japanese American National Museum and is President of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association at U.C. Davis.

Angel Island Immigration Station
Location: Zurich B, 10 am - 12 pm
From 1910 to 1920, the Angel Island Immigration Station was the Pacific gateway into the United States, the "Ellis Island of the West." 85,000 Japanese immigrants were detained on Angel Island on their way into or out of the country, making them the second largest immigrant group at the immigration station after the Chinese. Come hear about the latest research on Japanese immigrants on Angel Island and Angel Island's larger role in American immigration history at this workshop. Historian and author Erika Lee will discuss her new book, co-authored with Judy Yung, Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America, coming out this summer. By retelling the Japanese stories of ganbaru and gaman among the great diversity of immigrants who passed through America’s Pacific gateway, Angel Island offers new insight into the Japanese immigrant experience andshows both the best and worst of American history.  At the same time, the book reframes our understanding of both the Angel Island Immigration Station and America’s complicated relationship to immigration, a story that continues today.

Presenter: Erika Lee, Director of the Asian American Studies program at the University of Minnnesota.

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YOUTH CONCERT
Saturday, July 3, 7 - 9 pm in Alpine Ballroom

Featuring Cynthia Lin, Oak & Gorski and Anida Yoeu Ali.

CYNTHIA LIN
Though Chicago-born singer/songwriter Cynthia Lin spent much of her youth on the stage, it wasn't until her college years that she found her vocal freedom.  She released her debut EP, Blue and Borderlined, in January 2005, which garnered airplay on DC’s Z104 and was featured on NPR’s Open Mic series. Cynthia has toured solo nationally and become a fixture on the Asian American college scene. A fiercely independent artist, Cynthia was the main producer and arranger on her second album Doppelganger, released in November 2007. The album has attracted critical praise, including recognition as one of AsiaXpress.com’s “Top 5 Asian American albums of 2007."

OAK AND GORSKI

In 2004, Ed Gorski and Ken Oak meet at the El Rey theatre in Los Angeles, both checking out different bands.  Two months later, Ken and Ed play their first acoustic show together in Hollywood.  By fall of 2005 Ken and Ed quit their jobs, release an album and book a national tour of colleges and venues. 
The summer of 2010 is upon us and Oak and Gorski are about to embark on their tenth national tour of colleges and venues. Described by Billboard Magazine as “soulful” and “calming”, Oak and Gorski have sold over 30,000 albums independently.   They are currently finishing demos for their fourth studio album to be recorded in Nashville this July. 

ANIDA YOEU ALI
Performance artist, writer and global agitator, Anida Yoeu Ali is a first generation Muslim Khmer woman born in Cambodia and raised in Chicago. Her interdisciplinary performances use Butoh to examine the poetic potential of the body and collective healing. Her performance work transforms loss into conversations about reconciliation. Since 1998, Anida has toured over 300 colleges and venues with the spoken word ensemble, I Was Born With Two Tongues, and the multimedia collective Mango Tribe. The Tongues' pioneering live performances and critically-acclaimed debut CD, "Broken Speak", ignited a new generation of Asian American voices. She is also a founding member of Young Asians With Power!, Asian American Artists Collective-Chicago, the National APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, and MONSOON fine arts journal. Her artistic work has been the recipient of grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, National Endowment of the Arts and Illinois Arts Council. From Copenhagen to Ho Chi Minh City, Anida lectures, exhibits and performs internationally.

 

 

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