The People Behind This Event
Leadership, advisors, volunteers, and contributors working together to bring the national gathering to life.
People across the country contribute their time, expertise, relationships, and experience to make this possible.
Declaration of Independence 250: Asian American Celebration
For More info: Visit www.doi250aa.net
Celebrating 250 years of America’s founding principles—and building the next chapter together.
DOI250AA is a national initiative bringing Asian Americans and others together to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary through participation, connection, learning, and contribution.
Our belief is simple: we are already part of the American story—and each of us can be an active stakeholder in what comes next.
DOI250AA is non-partisan and non-advocacy, fiscally sponsored by Chinese Americans for Equal Rights (CAFER), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and an America250 Supporting Partner. Our conference is independently organized by DOI250AA and is not sponsored, funded, or operated by America250.
A Volunteer-Built National Effort
This work represents thousands of hours of contributed professional time, expertise, relationships, and service.
DOI250AA has been built largely through unpaid professional and volunteer contributions—from program development and outreach to partnerships, communications, technology, logistics, and event planning.
If this work were valued at professional market rates, the investment represented would be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But volunteer effort does not eliminate real costs.
Venues, technology, transportation, printing, insurance, communications, participant services, travel support, and other operating expenses still require funding.
Registration helps cover direct participant and event expenses. It does not fully fund the people, infrastructure, and ongoing work required to build and sustain this initiative.
Our 2026 National Gathering
America250 Asian American Stakeholders Conference & Future Builders
December 11–13, 2026 · Philadelphia
Bringing together established and emerging leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, students, parents, community builders, and everyday Americans for commemoration, conversation, connection, and participation.
Come as you are. Meet people. Exchange experiences. Build what comes next.
Event Leadership
Jack Hanna, Dr. Xiaoyan Zhang, Celine Fang, and Weihaur Lau work across the national event, supporting overall planning, coordination, programs, outreach, partnerships, fundraising, logistics, and event experience.
Dr. Xiaoyan Zhang
Secretary General · Lead Initiator
Supports the overall direction and development of DOI250AA, including civic and historical content, organizational coordination, and national participation.
Jack Hanna
National Event Chair
Provides leadership and coordination for the national event and works with event leadership, committees, collaborators, and participating communities.
Celine Fang
Executive Director · National Event Co-Chair
Provides executive coordination for DOI250AA and works across program development, partnerships, communications, outreach, fundraising, and national event implementation.
Weihaur Lau
Event Experience Director
Works across the conference experience, participant engagement, outreach, program coordination, and relationships that help bring people together for the national gathering.
Active Event Contributors
Recognizing the people consistently contributing their time, expertise, and effort to move the national gathering forward.
These contributors are actively participating in planning, meetings, outreach, program development, fundraising, operations, or other ongoing work needed to make the event happen.
Program: Wenbin Yuan, Ji Su, Qiang Bjornbak, Grace Song, Bell Pansap, Amanda Putnam, Jeannie Chong, Tracy Sun, Bryant Wong, Abdoulaye Mbengue, Mingli Chen
Outreach & Community Engagement: Jack Hanna, Xiaoyan Zhang, Celine Fang, Weihaur Lau, Wenbin Yuan, Wilson Wong, Jiao Wang, Ji Su, Parth Savla, Zachary Borja, Bell Pansap, Amanda Putnam, Tamuri Richardson, Edward Escobar, Jayme Hansen, Abdoulaye Mbengue, Stephanie Sun, Holly Meng, Joshua Ho, Tai Vaz
Fundraising & Sponsorship: Ji Winkler, Jayme Hansen, Julie Xing, Qiang Bjornbak, Parth Savla, Edward Escobar, Zhe Fan Little
Logistics & Event Experience: Matt Zhang, George Wang, Mandy Chan, Tracy Sun
Organizational Leadership & Advisors: Xiaoya Zhang, Celine Fang, Jack Hanna, Weihaur Lau, Wenbin Yuan, Wilson Wong, Tai Vaz, Ji Su, Zhida Song-James, Vivek Singhal, Chuck Li, Lewis Liu, Steve Hugh, Joshua Ho, Mingli Chen, Qiang Bjornbak, Margaret Yee, Julie Xing, Andrew Toy, Ellen Qingzhao Schicktanz, Siulin Santee, Abdoulaye Mbengue, Sukhwinder Lakhman, Ling Luo, Yawel Liu, Hongbing Liu, Lisa Gray
Working With Our Team
Members of our event team may contact individuals and organizations as part of their assigned conference responsibilities.
Want to verify someone’s involvement?
support@doi250aa.net
Team listings recognize individuals actively contributing to DOI250AA and the national event. Event roles do not independently authorize individuals to enter into contracts, make financial commitments, or make commitments on behalf of DOI250AA unless specifically authorized.
Help Sustain What We're Building
This work is powered largely by people who contribute their professional time without compensation. Your support helps provide the resources that volunteer effort alone cannot.
Event operations · Technology · Communications · Travel support · Youth participation · Civic education · Future programs
Registration helps us deliver the gathering. Support helps us build beyond it.