3rd Annual NATIONAL SUMMIT
Los Angeles, CA | July 17–19, 2026
The National Convening for AAPI Elected and Appointed Leaders
Designed specifically for those serving in all levels of government.
Join public officials, civic leaders, and changemakers from across the country for three days of leadership development, meaningful connections, and conversations that will shape our communities and impact the future of AAPI leadership.
Questions? Please contact us at summit@aapilead.org
Summit Schedule
Los Angeles, CA • July 17–19, 2026
*Agenda subject to change as speakers and sessions are finalized
Friday
July 17, 2026 · Registration & opening fireside
Registration
Check in, pick up your badge, and connect with fellow attendees.
Fireside: Power and Platform — Leadership in the Public Eye
In politics, power and scrutiny are inseparable — every statement, vote, and misstep is amplified and dissected in real time. This panel explores what it means to lead under constant visibility, where influence is amplified by social media, press, and public opinion alike. Panelists will discuss the opportunities and pressures of leading in the spotlight, valuable lessons learned along the way, and what impactful leadership looks like when every move is on display.
Opening Night Reception & Dinner — “A Taste of Los Angeles”
Kick off the summit with an evening of food, community, and connection.
Saturday
July 18, 2026 · Full day of plenaries, panels, breakouts & community dinner
Registration
Check in, pick up your badge, and connect with fellow attendees.
Affinity Breakfast Groups (Optional)
A general breakfast is open to all attendees in Platinum A-B. Affinity breakfast groups are optional — find your group's room below.
Room assignments
Opening Session & Welcome Remarks
Official welcome to the summit.
Morning Plenary — “By the Numbers: Understanding the AAPI Vote”
The AAPI electorate is growing — and elected officials can't afford to ignore it. This presentation breaks down voter registration trends, turnout data, electoral performance, and shifting political priorities across AAPI communities, equipping officials with the insights needed to better understand, engage, and represent one of the country's most dynamic voting blocs.
Interactive Session #1: Fresh Takes — Shaping the Future Together
New to the room and ready to speak! This interactive session puts first-time attendees and newly-elected officials in the hot seat, challenging them to think on their feet and respond to rapid-fire prompts with minimal prep and no filters. Expect candid perspectives, unexpected answers, and maybe a few surprises. It's part icebreaker, part panel — and entirely unscripted.
Breakout Sessions / Hybrid Roundtables · 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM · Concurrent Sessions
AAJA Media Institute: Media Training 101
In partnership with CCF 
This workshop will prepare officials to communicate confidently and effectively with the press and the public. Participants will learn how to craft clear key messages, handle tough or hostile questions, stay on message during interviews, and avoid common pitfalls that lead to negative headlines. Officials will leave better equipped to represent their constituents and manage high-pressure media moments with poise.
Education Policy in Practice
In partnership with APISBMA
Education policy is evolving fast, and elected officials are on the front lines of putting it into action. In partnership with APISBMA, this hybrid roundtable discussion digs into the issues shaping classrooms today — from funding and teacher shortages to the growing role of artificial intelligence in learning. Participants will share practical insights on navigating concerns and preparing students for a future that looks very different from the past.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
In partnership with National ACE
Small business owners and entrepreneurs are the backbone of thriving communities — and they face real, persistent challenges. In partnership with National ACE, this roundtable discussion gives participants an opportunity to speak candidly about what's working, what's not, and what policymakers need to understand to better support Main Street, and how to translate those insights into actionable policy ideas.
Trust, Transparency, and the Law
Public trust is built — and easily broken — through how elected and appointed leaders navigate the legal and ethical responsibilities of their role. This workshop offers a practical overview of key legal obligations, ethical standards, and transparency requirements public officials should know. Participants will leave with clearer guidance on staying compliant, avoiding common pitfalls, and leading with integrity.
Community / Sponsor Connect Lunch
Connect with partner organizations over lunch.
National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture
This presentation spotlights the work of the bipartisan National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission, established by Congress to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. Hear about the Commission's ongoing national listening tour, its community-driven approach to shaping a future institution, and why elected officials have a critical role to play in ensuring this museum becomes a reality.
Fireside: Amplifying Your Authentic Voice
In a political landscape full of noise, competing priorities, and pressure to fit a mold, how do leaders stay true to who they are while making themselves heard? This conversation will bring together accomplished leaders and expert storytellers to discuss ways you can ensure your message lands with impact. Panelists will share personal experiences, and strategies for standing out, building trust, and showing up as your full self.
Afternoon Plenary
Featured presentation.
Fireside: The Exchange — Business Viewpoints in Leadership
Join a dynamic conversation featuring prominent leaders from various sectors as they share their personal journeys, discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping their fields, and reflect on what representation and leadership look like today. This panel brings together diverse perspectives to explore themes of identity, resilience, and the evolving AAPI experience in professional spaces.
Breakout Sessions / Hybrid Roundtables · 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM · Concurrent Sessions
Political Messaging in a Digital World
From algorithm-driven feeds to short-form video and AI-generated content, the tools of political persuasion have changed faster than the norms around them. This panel brings together strategists, technologists, and communicators to examine how digital platforms are reshaping political messaging: what works, what's changed, and what it means for trust, truth, and public discourse in the years ahead.
Collective Power: Inside the Labor Movement
Unions and labor organizations have long been a driving force for workers' rights and economic justice — yet the relationship between labor and government isn't always well understood. This panel brings together union and labor officials to share how collective power is built and sustained, the challenges workers and organizers face today, and what public officials can do to be effective partners.
Civic Innovation and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how government and communities solve major problems. This session explores how cities, agencies, and technologists are putting AI to work, and the questions that come with it: who benefits, who's left out, and how to balance innovation with accountability. Participants will share real-world examples and discuss what responsible implementation looks like going forward.
Immigration Justice and the AAPI Community
From family reunification and visa backlogs to access to services and protection from discrimination, immigration policy shapes daily life for millions in the AAPI community. This hybrid roundtable discussion brings together advocates, legal experts, and community leaders to discuss the current immigration landscape, the unique challenges facing AAPI immigrants, and what meaningful policy and community support look like today.
Transition
Buses load for the evening program.
AAPI Community Gathering in Koreatown
A night of community in support of local AAPI small businesses.
Sunday
July 19, 2026 · Morning panels, closing program & affinity groups
Community / Sponsor Connect Breakfast (Optional)
Matched pairings arranged in advance to help foster collaboration and connections.
Opening Session
Interactive Session #2: Voices on Resilience and Reinvention
They've been in the room before — and they have the stories to prove it. This interactive session puts veteran summit attendees and seasoned leaders in the hot seat, challenging them to respond to rapid-fire prompts on reinvention, resilience, and the hard-won lessons that only come with experience.
Affordability on the Ground
Rising costs are reshaping daily life — from rent and groceries to childcare and transportation. This panel brings together voices from government, business and education to discuss what affordability actually looks like at the local level. Beyond statistics, panelists will share firsthand insight into how families and communities are adapting, where policy is helping or falling short, and what practical solutions are emerging from the ground up.
Public-Private Partnerships for the Greater Good
When government and industry align around shared goals, the results can outpace what either could achieve alone. This panel explores how public-private partnerships are being used to tackle pressing challenges. Panelists will discuss what makes these collaborations succeed, the trade-offs and accountability questions they raise, and how to structure partnerships that genuinely serve the public interest rather than narrow institutional gain.
Featured Presentation
VIP presenter.
Combatting Anti-AAPI Racism / Alien Land Laws
From pandemic-era hate crimes to the quieter bias that rarely makes headlines, anti-AAPI racism remains a persistent challenge. This panel brings together scholars, organizers and community voices to help unpack where it comes from, how it shows up today, and what real solutions look like. Expect a candid conversation on solidarity, shifting narratives, and turning awareness into action.
Lunch & Closing
Closing program to send the summit off.
Affinity Groups — Associations
Connect with statewide and association networks — find your group's room below.
Room assignments
Day 1 - Friday, July 17th
Arrival & Opening
12:00pm – 8:30pm
Registration open
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Explore Los Angeles on your own
*Los Angeles Guidebook to be shared in the coming weeks. Check back here for updates.
4:00pm
Official Hotel Room check-in time
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Community Service Activation - “Food for Good” sponsored by PepsiCo
6:00pm – 7:00pm - Opening Session (presented by Waymo)
-Welcome Remarks
-Fireside Flash - “Power and Platform: Leadership in the Public Eye”
7:00pm – 9:00pm - Opening Night Reception / Dinner - “A Taste of Los Angeles”
Day 2 - Saturday, July 18th
Full Program & Community Celebration
8:00am – 4:00pm
Community Service Activation
Food for Good - presented by PepsiCo
8:00am – 9:45am
Breakfast & Coffee
Affinity Group Convenings (ethnic, interest, or regional groups will convene in separate rooms)
10:00am – 10:45am - Morning Plenary Session
- For Your Consideration Briefing - “By the Numbers: Understanding the AAPI Vote”
- Interactive Session #1 - “Fresh Takes: Shaping the Future Together”
11:00am – 11:45am - Breakout Sessions / Hybrid Roundtables
- Media Institute: Training 101
- Civic Innovation and Artificial Intelligence
- Small Business Roundtable / National ACE
- Trust, Transparency, and the Law
12:00pm – 12:45pm - Lunch Link-Up (Networking)
1:00pm – 1:45pm - Afternoon Plenary Session
- For Your Consideration Briefing - “National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture”
- Fireside Flash - “Amplifying Your Authentic Voice”
2:00pm – 2:45pm - Afternoon Plenary Session
- Fireside Panel - “The Forum: Leaders in Conversation”
3:00pm – 3:45pm - Breakout Sessions / Hybrid Roundtables
- Media Institute: Navigating Conflict and Crisis
- Collective Power: Inside the Labor Movement
- Education Policy in Practice
- Immigration Justice and the AAPI Community
4:00pm – 5:00pm - Afternoon Break
4:30pm – 8:30pm - Shuttle Service for AAPI LEAD Community Gathering
5:00pm – 9:00pm - AAPI LEAD Community Gathering
Day 3 - Sunday, July 19th
Closing Program
8:00am – 12:00pm
Community Service Activation
Food for Good - presented by PepsiCo
8:00am – 8:50am
Mentor Match Breakfast
Matched pairings in advance to help foster collabs + connections
9:00am – 9:50am - Morning Plenary Session
Interactive Session #2 - “Voices on Resilience and Reinvention”
10:00am – 11:00am - Morning Plenary Session continued
Fireside Flash #1 - “Affordability on the Ground”
Fireside Flash #2 - “Public-Private Partnerships for the Greater Good”
11:00am – 11:50am - Closing Session
Fireside Flash #3 - “Combatting Anti-Asian Racism / Alien Land Laws”
Closing Remarks
12:00pm – 1:50pm - Lunch Open
Affinity Group Convenings - ethnic, interest, or regional groups can meet in separate rooms
2:00pm - Summit Ends
*Check back regularly for agenda updates, and as additional speakers are announced.
Featured Conversations
& Experiences
Leadership & Public Service
“Power and Platform: Leadership in the Public Eye”
In politics, power and scrutiny are inseparable – every statement, vote, and misstep is amplified and dissected in real time. This panel explores what it means to lead under constant visibility, where influence is amplified by social media, press, and public opinion alike. Panelists will discuss the opportunities and pressures of leading in the spotlight, valuable lessons learned along the way, and what impactful leadership looks like when every move is on display.
“The Forum: Leaders in Conversation”
Join a dynamic conversation featuring prominent leaders from various sectors as they share their personal journeys, discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping their fields, and reflect on what representation and leadership look like today. This panel brings together diverse perspectives to explore themes of identity, resilience, and the evolving AAPI experience in professional spaces.
“Voices on Resilience and Reinvention”
They've been in the room before – and they have the stories to prove it. This interactive session puts veteran summit attendees and seasoned leaders in the hot seat, challenging them to respond to rapid-fire prompts on reinvention, resilience, and the hard-won lessons that only come with experience.
“Fresh Takes: Shaping the Future Together”
New to the room and ready to speak! This interactive session puts first-time attendees and newly-elected officials in the hot seat, challenging them to think on their feet and respond to rapid-fire prompts with minimal prep and no filters. Expect candid perspectives, unexpected answers, and maybe a few surprises. It's part icebreaker, part panel – and entirely unscripted.
Communication & Storytelling
“Amplifying Your Authentic Voice”
In a political landscape full of noise, competing priorities, and pressure to fit a mold, how do leaders stay true to who they are while making themselves heard? This conversation will bring together accomplished leaders and expert storytellers to discuss ways you can ensure your message lands with impact. Panelists will share personal experiences, and strategies for standing out, building trust, and showing up as your full self.
Media Institute: “Leadership Training”
Media Institute: “Crisis & Conflict Communications”
Policy & Community Impact
“By the Numbers: Understanding the AAPI Vote”
The AAPI electorate is growing – and elected officials can't afford to ignore it. This presentation breaks down voter registration trends, turnout data, electoral performance, and shifting political priorities across AAPI communities, equipping officials with the insights needed to better understand, engage, and represent one of the country's most dynamic voting blocs.
“Affordability on the Ground”
Rising costs are reshaping daily life – from rent and groceries to childcare and transportation. This panel brings together voices from government, business and education to discuss what affordability actually looks like at the local level. Beyond statistics, panelists will share firsthand insight into how families and communities are adapting, where policy is helping or falling short, and what practical solutions are emerging from the ground up.
“Immigration Justice and the AAPI Community”
From family reunification and visa backlogs to access to services and protection from discrimination, immigration policy shapes daily life for millions in the AAPI community. This hybrid roundtable discussion brings together advocates, legal experts, and community leaders to discuss the current immigration landscape, the unique challenges facing AAPI immigrants, and what meaningful policy and community support look like today.
“Education Policy in Practice”
Education policy is evolving fast, and elected officials are on the front lines of putting it into action. In partnership with APISBMA, this hybrid roundtable discussion digs into the issues shaping classrooms today – from funding and teacher shortages to the growing role of artificial intelligence in learning. Participants will share practical insights on navigating concerns and preparing students for a future that looks very different from the past.
“Trust, Transparency, and the Law”
Public trust is built – and easily broken – through how elected and appointed leaders navigate the legal and ethical responsibilities of their role. This workshop offers a practical overview of key legal obligations, ethical standards, and transparency requirements public officials should know. Participants will leave with clearer guidance on staying compliant, avoiding common pitfalls, and leading with integrity.
“Combatting Anti-Asian Racism / Alien Land Laws”
From pandemic-era hate crimes to the quieter bias that rarely makes headlines, anti-Asian racism remains a persistent challenge. This panel brings together organizers, scholars, and community voices to help unpack where it comes from, how it shows up today, and what real solutions look like. Expect a candid conversation on solidarity, shifting narratives, and turning awareness into action.
Economic Opportunity
& Workforce Development
“Small Business Roundtable
(in partnership with National ACE)”
Small business owners and entrepreneurs are the backbone of thriving communities – and they face real, persistent challenges. In partnership with National ACE, this roundtable discussion gives participants an opportunity to speak candidly about what's working, what's not, and what policymakers need to understand to better support Main Street, and how to translate those insights into actionable policy ideas.
“Collective Power: Inside the Labor Movement”
Unions and labor organizations have long been a driving force for workers' rights and economic justice – yet the relationship between labor and government isn't always well understood. This panel brings together union and labor officials to share how collective power is built and sustained, the challenges workers and organizers face today, and what public officials can do to be effective partners.
“Public-Private Partnerships for the Greater Good”
When government and industry align around shared goals, the results can outpace what either could achieve alone. This panel explores how public-private partnerships are being used to tackle pressing challenges. Panelists will discuss what makes these collaborations succeed, the trade-offs and accountability questions they raise, and how to structure partnerships that genuinely serve the public interest rather than narrow institutional gain.
Innovation & the Future
“Civic Innovation and Artificial Intelligence”
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how government and communities solve major problems. This session explores how cities, agencies, and technologists are putting AI to work, and the questions that come with it: who benefits, who's left out, and how to balance innovation with accountability. Participants will share real-world examples and discuss what responsible implementation looks like going forward.
History, Culture & Representation
“National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture”
This presentation spotlights the work of the bipartisan National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission, established by Congress to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. Hear about the Commission's ongoing national listening tour, its community-driven approach to shaping a future institution, and why elected officials have a critical role to play in ensuring this museum becomes a reality.
Community & Connection
Affinity Group Convenings
Mentor Match Breakfast
Community Service Activation
AAPI Community Gathering
*Agenda and topics subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
More Announcements Coming Soon
Additional speakers, special guests, session details, and networking opportunities will be added as they are confirmed.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates.
Featured Speakers & Special Guest
Hear from leaders shaping public service, storytelling and representation
This year’s Summit will bring together influential voices from across government roles, media, entertainment, and civic leadership for candid conversations about leadership, representation, public service, and community impact
The Honorable Judy Chu
U.S. House of Representatives (CA-28)
The Honorable Ted Lieu
U.S. House of Representatives (CA-36)
Adele Lim
Writer | Director | Producer, Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon, Joy RIde
Janet Yang
President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Rebecca Sun
Senior Editor of Diversity & Inclusion, The Hollywood Reporter
*Additional speakers and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
Why This Summit
A space designed for leaders like you
The AAPI LEAD National Summit is built specifically for AAPI elected and appointed officials, and is a space where conversations are relevant, relationships are meaningful, and the challenges of public service are understood.
Real conversations about governing, leadership, and impact
Cross-level connection with peers from across the country
Trusted community to exchange ideas and build lasting relationships
Opportunities to learn from experienced leaders and emerging voices alike
Las Vegas 2024 — Where It All Began
Every movement has a first moment. Ours happened in Las Vegas in 2024, when AAPI leaders from across the country came together for the very first AAPI LEAD Summit. What started as a vision became a room full of people who refused to wait for a seat at the table and decided to build their own.
That first gathering set the tone for everything that followed. Los Angeles in 2026 is the next chapter.
Atlanta 2025 — A Look Back
Last year, over 350 AAPI leaders gathered in Atlanta to share knowledge, build community, and push the conversation forward. What happened in that room didn't stay in that room. It traveled home with every attendee, into their organizations, their teams, and their work.
This is what we do. And in 2026, we will do it again, bigger, bolder, in Los Angeles.
Get in touch.
If you have any questions, please contact us at summit@aapilead.org
Founder’s Circle
