JOIN US 'The State of Japanese America: 2011' Nikkei ConferenceNEW

"The State of Japanese America: 2011 conference will bring together prominent voices from across the nation to discuss issues and future challenges confronting the Japanese American community. Workshops featuring noted experts will address various themes:

• Future of Japanese American Art and Culture·
• Role of Japanese Americans in U.S.-Japan Relations
• Effective Strategies to Raise Funds for Your Nonprofit Organizations
• Developing a New Paradigm of Leadership Development for the Japanese American Community
• Civil Rights
• Serving Nikkei Seniors
• Preserving and Sharing the Japanese American Experience
• Community Preservation and Development
• Sustaining and Preserving Japantowns

The Opening Plenary Session of the conference will be highlighted by a presentation of the most current census and demographic information on Japanese Americans prepared by Melany De La Cruz, who heads the Asian Pacific Islander Community Development Data Center at UCLA.  Responses regarding the future implications of the changing nature of the Japanese American community will be made by a panel of three community leaders: Karen Narasaki, President of the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, D.C., Paul Osaki, Executive Director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, and Craig Ishii, former regional director for the JACL and member of Kizuna, a new organization involving young Nikkei in the community.

Information on the conference schedule, workshops, panelists, and registration information can be obtained at the conference website: jacl.org/convention/la/nikkei_conference. Registration for the conference, which includes lunch, is: $75.00.  Students and others who may require assistance or waiver of the registration are encouraged to contact Yuka Ogino (yukaogino@gmail.com) or Alan Nishio (atnishio@gmail.com)