PEOPLE OF THE WEEKEND
Voices, Experience & Conversation
Meet the people helping bring the weekend to life.
From keynote and commemoration voices to panelists and Future Builders facilitators, they bring different experiences, professions and perspectives—but they are not here simply to speak from a stage.
Listen to their stories. Join their conversations. Share your own experience.
Featured Voices
Stories and perspectives that open the commemoration.
DR. DAVID S. YEE
Generations of Contribution
Six generations of contribution—from the Transcontinental Railroad to medicine, public service and AANHPI Heritage Month.
JAN DUPLAIN
Connecting History and Community
From family ties to George Washington to decades of cultural diplomacy connecting America’s past and future.
HON. MAYOR JOHNNY FORD
From Rights to Participation
Civil-rights leader, Tuskegee’s first Black mayor and founder of the World Conference of Mayors—turning rights into participation and leadership.
JAYME HANSEN
Service, Identity & Belonging
From Korean adoptee to a 36-year Army career, his journey connects service, identity and helping adoptees reconnect with their roots.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI
Opportunity & Public Service
From an immigrant family that experienced financial hardship to Princeton, Harvard Law and Congress—a journey through education, opportunity and public service.
DR. XIAOYAN ZHANG
Building & Participation
Entrepreneur, sociologist and civic organizer who has spent decades building businesses, organizations and initiatives that encourage participation and contribution.
Panel Conversations
Different experiences. Shared questions. Conversations that help us learn from one another.
Weihaur Lau
Awaken What You Don’t See
Helping people uncover blind spots, challenge limiting patterns, and awaken their authentic voice to connect, grow, and lead with greater awareness.
Dr. Abdoulaye Mbengue
From Participant to Stakeholder
Discovering how Ubuntu, cultural intelligence, and servant leadership turn shared humanity into personal responsibility, contribution, and action.
DR. JI SU
Belonging Through Contribution
Helping scientists and professionals turn belonging into confidence, responsibility, and meaningful participation in the workplace and community.
Qiang Bjornbak
Know the Law. Build Your Future.
Turning legal knowledge into informed decisions, civic responsibility, and greater confidence to create opportunities for yourself and others.
Charles Lu
From Success to Contribution
Turning professional and entrepreneurial success into service, participation, and lasting community impact.
Grace Song
From Personal Purpose to Community Impact
Turning personal experience into service, belonging, and lasting community impact—empowering the next generation to grow, give back, and lead.
Delegate Lily Qi
Democracy Favors Those Who Participate
From immigrant to public leader—showing how finding your voice, participating, and taking responsibility can become a pathway to leadership and impact.
lisa gray
Your Story Builds Connection
Turning personal stories into bridges that create connection, belonging, visibility, and a stronger sense of community.
Rudy Recile
Citizenship Through Service
A life of military, public, and community service showing how citizenship becomes meaningful through responsibility, integrity, and the courage to step forward.
Future Builders Facilitators
People helping guide smaller conversations where participants join in.
Jack hanna
Exploring how law, responsibility, and civic participation shape stronger communities.
Celine Fang
Finding belonging, recognizing possibility, and turning ideas into action.
Wenbin yuan
Building businesses, nonprofits, and communities by bringing people together around shared purpose.
Lewis Liu
Exploring the Constitution, America’s civic system, and the immigrant experience.
Jiao wang
Turning film and media into powerful stories that connect people.
Mingli Chen
Navigating law and complex challenges through critical thinking, judgment, and integrity.
Matt Zhang
Exploring technology, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship to recognize opportunities and build what’s next.
George Wang
Finding your voice, expressing your identity, and participating with confidence.
Parth Savla
Helping young people discover their potential, lead with purpose, and build what’s next.
Bell Pansap
Connecting generations so experience becomes guidance and young voices become leadership.
Mandy Chan
Expressing citizenship, patriotism, and belonging through service, gratitude, and song.
Jeannie Chong
Exploring mental health, belonging, and identity across cultures and life experiences.
Amanda P Putnam
Using history to understand where we’ve been and shape what comes next.
Karen Huang
Exploring identity, reinvention, and belonging through an immigrant and entrepreneurial journey.
Dr. Raymond D. Chong
Tracing generations of history to understand belonging, identity, and America’s story.
Vivek Singhal
Exploring values, responsibility, accountability, and our role as stakeholders in society.
Wei Chen
Turning lived experience into civic participation, community voice, and collective action.
Jiayin Ma
Turning technical expertise into visibility, influence, ownership, and leadership.
Tamuri Richardson
Finding your voice, communicating with confidence, and turning ideas into impact.
Daniel J. Sieh
Connecting history with youth leadership to inspire participation and shape the future.
Edward Escobar
Bridging cultures, industries, and communities through communication and shared participation.
Bryant wong
Bridging faith, culture, and generations to strengthen belonging and community.
Jasmine Chen
Empowering young people to embrace their identity, find their voice, and lead.
Joshua ho
Bringing diverse Asian American communities together to collaborate, participate, and build collectively.
Listen to Their Stories. Think About Yours.
Featured Voices begin the conversation, but the weekend isn’t built around watching accomplished people from an audience.
Listen to how others found ways to contribute, build, serve and participate. Then bring those ideas into the Stakeholder Conversations and Future Builders sessions.
Their journey is part of America’s story. Yours is still being written.
Don't Just Hear Them. Join the Conversation.
Featured Voices are part of the Saturday America250 Commemoration and Full Weekend Conference.
After the opening program, the weekend moves into Stakeholder Conversations, Future Builders, Philadelphia experiences and Sunday’s Future Builders Charter.
DECEMBER 11–13, 2026 • PHILADELPHIA