The annual Asian American Leadership Forum (AALF) is a unique conference whose goals are to bring together diverse people from different sectors, industries, and backgrounds to share, learn, and network. We seek to educate and train attendees on differences, issues, needs, and successes within the Asian American community. We hope our attendees will develop new skills to encourage multi-level and multi-disciplinary development. AALF will also focus on the issues and events taking place in the current year to connect education and training to action and impact in the Chicago land and Midwest region.
AALF is a partnership between AAI, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), the National Association of Asian American Professionals – Chicago Chapter (NAAAP), and the University of Illinois-Chicago's Asian American Studies Program and Asian American Resource and Cultural Center. AALF is an interactive, people-focused learning opportunity that is subsidized by community resources and sponsors to bring value and accessibility to all members of the community. Now in its 8th year, AALF has gained infrastructure, community commitment, and credibility. The event continues to grow while bringing unique impact to extremely diverse constituents ranging from college students and new entrants to experts in the corporate, small business, non-profit, governmental, and academic sectors, including members of diverse Asian American ethnic communities.
2012 Asian American Leadership Forum (AALF)
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012 8:00am - 5:30pm
8:00am - 8:30am Breakfast (Simpson Center)
8:45am - 10:00am - Morning Plenary (Simpson Center)
10:15am - 11:15am - Workshop 1 (Mundelein Center)
11:30am - 12:30pm - Workshop 2 (Mundelein Center)
12:45pm - 2:00pm - Networking Lunch Break (Simpson Center)
2:15pm - 3:45pm - Workshop 3 (Mundelein Center)
4:00pm - 5:15pm - Closing Plenary (Simpson Center)
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Post AALF Networking Reception (Heartland Cafe)
Where: Loyola University (Simpson Center)
6255 N. Kenmore Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
Directions to Loyola University:
http://www.luc.edu/about/lakeshore.shtml
Map of Loyola University:
http://www.luc.edu/about/pdfs/lsc.pdf
Parking: Make sure to park in the main parking garage (P1 on the map above). DO NOT PARK IN THE FORDHAM GARAGE. Ticket reimbursement for parking will be handled at the registration desk.
AALF 2012 will consist of four tracks to choose from as follows:
- Professional Leadership Development *****THIS TRACK IS NOW SOLD OUT.
- Legal Advocacy
- Community Organizing
- Academic and Student Organizing
Complete Breakfast and Lunch with multiple tasty options will be included.
Free Garage Parking (P1 on Campus Map) will also be included.
Prizes to be raffled off also!
Dress: Business Casual.
POST AALF Networking Reception
After AALF, head over to the Heartland Cafe at 7000 N. Glenwood Ave. (Morse Red Line). While you network with folks from the conference, enjoy the gallery featuring talented artists from our community. Food will be provided to AALF participants, and bar beverages are available for purchase.
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE, MAKE SURE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
Please click the link below then click "view this category" to select admission ticket and register for AALF 2012:
http://www.aaichicago.org/en/support-and-join-us/shopping-cart
Below are the track details with workshop descriptions.
Professional Leadership Development Track (SOLD OUT)
Workshop 1 and 2: Building Your Personal Brand - Led by LEAP
The purpose of this workshop is to understand and develop a personal brand that communicates our skills and attributes. First impressions and our Asian cultural values will be explored in relationship to the creation of our personal brand.
When people hear your name, what comes to mind? Like the name IBM, what images and attributes are associated with this name. If you were a product, how would you market yourself? Are you aware of the first impression you give people? Successful companies, like IBM craft unique brand identities to set themselves apart from the competition. In an increasingly competitive workplace, individuals can use branding strategies to grab the attention of their managers and colleagues and boost their career marketability.
Workshop 3: Getting Involved - Being on a Non-Profit Board
How else can I be involved with a Non-Profit Organization besides just donating? This workshop will focus on the reasons to be a part of a Non-Profit Board, what it takes to be on a Board, and how to become a part of one. We will discuss the different types of Non-Profit Boards and the reality of what Board Members actually do versus the outside perception. We will talk about the ways in which Non-Profit Boards need and utilize your specific skills. As a part of a Non-Profit Board, you will develop and gain new skills that will further your own leadership development. These skills and experiences transfer directly into the professional workplace to enhance career opportunities.
Legal Advocacy Track
Workshop 1: Legal Trends Impacting the Asian American Community
This workshop panel will examine some current legal trends and cases that are impacting Asian American communities across the nation, from immigration laws to laws impacting voting rights. The panel will also identify tangible action steps that the Asian American legal community can take in response to these trends.
Workshop 2: Speak American - Voting and Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act
This workshop will discuss the rapid growth of the Asian American community in Illinois, Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, and how voting rights can help enhance the Asian American community's political voice.
Workshop 3: The Watchmen - How to Protect the Voting Rights of Asian Americans
Poll watchers, also known as poll monitors, work to protect the voting rights of the voters on election day. This workshop will train participants on how to be a poll watcher in preparation for the March Primary and the November General Election. As part of this workshop, participants will role-play and be asked to react to hypothetical scenarios based on real-life incidents from past elections.
Community Organizing Track
Workshop 1: Recounting Our Histories - Sustaining Multi-Ethnic Dialogue in Asian American Communities
The multi-ethnic narratives that make up our communities tell a story of solidarity, but also of struggle. This workshop will explore the political and social contexts that have helped shape the diverse experiences of language, identity, and culture in our communities. We will examine cross-racial and interracial prejudices and misconceptions that exist in our communities through the lens of multi-ethnic Asian American experiences. In guided breakout groups, we will focus our discussion on determining concrete ways to combat some of the biases based on ethnicity that we encounter in our organizing.
Workshop 2: Bridging the Generation Gap - Organizing Limited English Speaking Asian American Communities
In limited English speaking Asian American communities, social networks tend to parallel the structure of networks from their countries of origin. This traditional structure concentrates authority and influence in the hand of elders and other authority figures who have more practical experience and financial assets. But, in the United States, the limited English language of elders limits their access to new ideas and practices and can hold back their ability to move their communities toward social integration. Younger generations, however, can more easily acquire language proficiency and socialize through educational opportunities. While both generations see the value in their shared cultural identities, there is often tension and wide gaps between how to create leadership opportunities for youth in AA communities while leveraging the knowledge and resources of older generations to maintain cultural continuity. The intent of this workshop is to explore communication practices that can help overcome this gap between generations.
Workshop 3: Understanding Age and Ethnicity in our Civic Engagement Work
In the last decade, Asian Americans have grown more than any other ethnic group in Illinois. Despite our population growth, Asian American political empowerment and representation remains limited. This workshop will provide concrete strategies for leveraging our growing population into more equitable and responsive political representation for Asian Americans. Collaborative breakout sessions will focus on adapting tried and true political organizing techniques that recognize the nuances of engaging with intergenerational and multiethnic communities.
Academic and Student Organizing Track
Workshop 1: Asian American Campus Organizing and Research - What is Happening Now?
In this workshop, faculty, staff, and students from our major Chicago land campuses will share their current community-engaged work and goals in the context of Asian American issues. More importantly, it will allow us to gain a better understanding of what kinds of organizing and research projects are taking place today and where we might partner in the future. There will be opportunities for participants to build relationships across campuses and to identify ways in which cross-campus collaboration can strengthen our collective work with Asian American communities.
Workshop 2: Asian American Activism and the Bigger Picture - Where Do We Fit In?
Larger social movements surround our communities: Occupy movement, economic and social justice movements, and the Asian American Studies Movements. How are our specific community challenges and needs reflected in these "mainstream" movements? How can our concerns become part of these movements? How do we take more prominent roles on issues that cut across ethnic and race lines? More importantly, how can we better connect high-priority social issues to civic/community engagement and mobilize our Asian American community to take a more active role in electing an Asian American candidate in the upcoming elections?
Workshop 3: Community-Based Research and Service Opportunities
Community-based organizations often have both short and long-term programming and research needs. However, they often have little capacity to conduct research or transform their everyday advocacy and service needs into critical research questions, impact-related initiatives, or funding opportunities. We will spend the afternoon session identifying and reviewing lists of programmatic/research needs, brainstorming research agendas, and creating and action plan for what universities and community-based organizations can do in the coming year to begin building stronger community-campus research partnerships.
Please click the link below then click "view this category" to select admission ticket and register for AALF 2012:
http://www.aaichicago.org/en/support-and-join-us/shopping-cart
For any questions please contact:
Bryan Hara
Leadership Coordinator
773-271-0899 x223
bhara@aaichicago.org
A Special Thanks to our Sponsors:
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