Read what past participants had to say:

“During my time in Washington D.C. I gained valuable connections and am grateful for the opportunity I had to collaborate with JACL and OCA young professional and student leaders from around the U.S. who are as equally committed to civil rights, advocacy and AAPI issues.”

“The summit was inspiring and motivating. Not only did I meet incredibly passionate people that I now call my friends, I also became more aware of the issues that are important to me. I’m excited to share what I learned with my colleagues in Salt Lake City!”

“The JACL/OCA Summit was a wonderful experience, allowing me to meet and learn from peers from all over the country about advancing API issues. It also provided unique opportunities for me to meet with congressional members and other political leaders in the API community and gave me firsthand lobbying experience for important issues.”

Established by JACL in 1984, the four-day annual leadership summit program introduces community leaders from across the nation to the national policy-making arena. Co-convened with OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates since 1994, the JACL/OCA Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference is structured to provide a broad overview of the decision-making process at the federal level, including meetings and briefings by public officials, key policymakers who serve in Congress, the White House, federal agencies, advocacy organizations, and the media. Participants also will be briefed on legislative issues affecting AAPI communities and will examine the role Asian Pacific American civil rights organizations, such as JACL and OCA, play in affecting public policy and pursuing civil rights legislation in the nation’s capital!