Begin the weekend work retreat with shared perspectives, real experiences, and focused conversations about where we are and what comes next.

Hear from leaders across sectors and communities, reflect on what we’ve learned, and identify priorities and ideas for the work ahead—including our December national gathering.

Listen. Contribute. Connect. Help shape what we build together.

Timing is approximate. As a working retreat, conversations may naturally run shorter or longer.
Please use the schedule as a general guide.

Enjoy an assorted light breakfast, grab your favorite Starbucks coffee from the lobby, meet fellow participants, and settle in.

Weihaur Lau, Celine Fang & Jack Hanna welcome participants and open the weekend.

Dr. Xiaoyan Zhang shares why we are gathering for America’s 250th and what we hope to build together.

A short video reflecting on Asian American history, contributions, and participation in America. Lewis Liu.

Jayme Hansen shares a personal story of resilience, service, leadership, and possibility.

A short video connecting our past, present, and future as America approaches its 250th. George Wang.

Weihaur Lau sets the stage for participation, connection, honest conversation, and the work ahead.

Understanding the Declaration of Independence & U.S. Constitution and their relevance to informed, responsible stakeholdership. Jack Hanna

Hear brief perspectives from participants across different cultural, professional, and life experiences—government, military service, science, business, law, nonprofit leadership, media, and community life.

10:01 – 10:04 AM
Lily Qi — Maryland Delegate

10:04 – 10:07 AM
Charles Lu — Business

10:07 – 10:10 AM
Grace Song — Nonprofit

10:10 – 10:13 AM
Rudy Recile — Veteran • Business • Politics

10:13 – 10:16 AM
Ji Su — Science

10:16 – 10:19 AM
Lisa Gray — Journalism • Art • Civic Engagement

10:19 – 10:22 AM
Dr. Abdoulaye Mbengue — Sustainable Leadership

10:22 – 10:25 AM
Qiang Bjornbak — President, Asian American Bar Association • Law

Weihaur Lau – What do these different journeys tell us about belonging, contribution, leadership, and our responsibilities as stakeholders?

Celine, Jack & Weihaur Lau close the plenary and help participants turn the morning’s ideas and connections into who can we inspire to join us in December?

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break

Take a break and enjoy lunch individually or with fellow participants at one of the many nearby restaurants and cafés.

In-person only • No virtual programming during lunch.

Move from listening to participating. These small-group working conversations bring together leaders and participants from different fields and experiences to reflect on where we have been, examine challenges today, and explore ideas and initiatives for what comes next.

Each session offers three different conversations. Choose the room and topic most relevant to you.

Timing is approximate. As a working retreat, conversations may naturally run shorter or longer.

1:00 PM — Breakout Session 1

Breakthrough AA: Past, Present & Future

Explore Asian American contributions, challenges, and opportunities through law, innovation, business, nonprofit impact, history, and research.

1A | Legal, Justice & Community Impact
Qiang Bjornbak • Mingli Chen

1B | Tech, Innovation, Business & Nonprofit Social Impact
Parth Savla • Matt Zhang • Jingwu Zhang

1C | Our History & Our Research
Raymond Chong • Amanda Putnam

2:20 PM — Break

Take a few minutes to refresh, connect, and move to your next conversation.

2:30 PM — Breakout Session 2

Breakthrough AA Identities

Explore how identity, belonging, communication, cross-cultural relationships, leadership, and well-being influence how we experience and participate in the communities around us.

2A | Identity, Belonging, Self-Expression & Communication
George Wang • Karen Huang

2B | Cross-Cultural Alliance, Communication & Leadership
Dr. Abdoulaye • Edward Escobar • Tamuri Richardson • Wenbin Yuen

2C | Mental Well-being & Holistic Health
Jeannie Chong • Vivek Singhal • Carmen Wong

4:00 PM — Networking Break

Meet participants from other rooms, exchange perspectives, and make new connections.

4:30 PM — Breakout Session 3

Building What Comes Next

Turn toward the future through conversations about storytelling, entrepreneurship, future generations, leadership, government, politics, and civic participation.

3A | Art, Media, Film, Storytelling & Entrepreneurship
Raymond Chong • Mandy Chen

3B | Future Generations & Leadership
Parth Savla • Bell Pansap • Daniel Shieh

3C | Social, Government, Politics & Civic Participation
Jack Hanna • Wendy Huang • Lewis Liu

6:00 PM – 6:15PM

Group sharing discovery from the day and a group closing special!

Sunday shifts from conversation to co-building. Together, we’ll reflect on what we learned Saturday, identify who and what may be missing, and help shape DOI250AA’s December gathering and the work beyond America250.

Timing is approximate. As a working retreat, conversations may naturally run shorter or longer.

Timing is approximate. As a working retreat, conversations may naturally run shorter or longer.

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Designing DOI250AA Together

A working session to explore how DOI250AA can bring together a broader Asian American civic ecosystem for America250—moving from simply acknowledging our contributions to participating as informed and responsible stakeholders.

Building the Asian American Civic Ecosystem Together at America250

From Contribution to Stakeholdership
How do we move from “Come acknowledge our contributions” toward bringing diverse civic leadership and communities together as stakeholders?

12:30 – 1:30 PM Lunch Break

Enjoy lunch individually or with fellow participants at one of the many nearby restaurants and cafés.

In-person only • No virtual programming during lunch.

1:30 – 4:00 PM

From Ideas to Action: December & Beyond

Turn the weekend’s conversations into a practical outreach, collaboration, and participation plan for the December gathering and beyond.

1. Asian American Civic Participation Gap Map
What—and who—is missing?

2. Asian American Civic Ecosystem Map
Who needs to be connected?

3. Cross-Sector Outreach Matrix
Who → Why → Who reaches them → What invitation?

4. Cross-Ethnic Outreach Matrix
Which communities should be represented, and how do we meaningfully invite them into the conversation?

5. 90-Day Activation Commitments
Who is actually doing what?

6. Continuing Collaboration
How can relationships and collaboration continue after the retreat and beyond the December gathering?

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Philadelphia: Stories, History & Reflection

Step outside the meeting room and experience Philadelphia together.

Video & Interview Sessions • Liberty Lawn • Museums

An informal opportunity to capture participant stories, continue conversations, visit historic sites, and reflect on the weekend in the city where the Declaration of Independence was adopted.