#379 3/2 Monthly Meeting; American Student in China; 2/26 Webinar on Talent; Jesse Jackson+

In This Issue #379

·      03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

·      An American Student in China

·      02/26 Webinar: Global Competition for Talent & International Students

·      In Memoriam: Jesse Jackson (1941-2026)

·      News and Activities for the Communities

03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET.

Rep. Grace Meng 孟昭文, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), will deliver her remarks on the current state of CAPAC and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, in addition to updates from:

·       Dennis Jing, Staff Attorney, Advancing Justice | AAJC

·       Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)

We are honored by and welcome the following confirmed distinguished speakers:

·       Kaohly Her, Mayor, St. Paul, Minnesota (invited)

·       Chiling Tong 董繼玲, Co-Chair, National APA Museum Commission

·       Mike German, Retired Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice

The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the Co-Organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org.

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Mayor Kaohly Her made history as Saint Paul’s first Hmong American mayor and was sworn in on January 2, 2026. She is a lifelong public servant with deep roots in community advocacy, education, and equity. Before serving as mayor of St. Paul, she represented St. Paul in the Minnesota State Senate, where she was recognized for her work on education, public safety, and economic opportunity. Mayor Her will provide an update on the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the Twin Cities.

As Co-Chair of the National APA Museum Commission, Chiling Tong will provide an update on recent developments, strategic priorities, and next steps toward establishing a national museum dedicated to Asian Pacific American history and culture.  She currently serves as President and CEO of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and is the Founding President of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF), a nonprofit organization established in 2000 to promote civic engagement, public service, and leadership development among college students and young professionals.

An American Student in China

In a recent Business Insider essay, Thomas Stack reflects on his 2013 study abroad experience at Zhejiang University (ZheDa 浙大) in Hangzhou, China — an institution that was recently ranked the world’s most productive research university by the Leiden Rankings. His account offers a compelling reminder of the value of cross-cultural academic exchange at a time when U.S.-China relations are often framed primarily through geopolitical tension.

As a sophomore at Tufts University majoring in international relations and Mandarin, Stack sought broader global exposure. What he encountered at ZheDa exceeded expectations. He describes modern dormitories, affordable freshly prepared meals, and a sprawling, multi-campus university environment. His coursework included four hours of daily intensive language instruction, as well as lectures on Chinese peasant history and the Chinese legal system, taught by professors with firsthand experience in pivotal periods such as the Cultural Revolution.

Most striking to Stack was the academic discipline of his Chinese classmates. Many had endured years of preparation for the highly competitive Gaokao national exam to gain admission to elite institutions like Zhejiang University. Unlike many American students accustomed to balancing academics with social life and travel, local students often devoted evenings and weekends to study. Grading standards were exacting, and even minor pronunciation or writing errors were marked down.

When Stack later learned that Zhejiang University had surpassed global peers in research output, he was not surprised. His experience revealed a scale of academic rigor and talent development that challenged his assumptions about higher education. More importantly, he credits the experience with expanding his worldview and deepening his respect for international academic excellence.

Stack’s reflection underscores a broader lesson: people-to-people exchange remains one of the most effective tools for fostering mutual understanding. Educational engagement builds perspective, reduces stereotypes, and strengthens the foundation for more informed dialogue between nations.

Read the Business Insider essay: https://bit.ly/4kwwbVy

02/26 Webinar: Global Competition for Talent & International Students

WHAT: Global Competition for Talent & International Students

WHEN: February 26, 2026, 8:00 pm ET

WHERE: Webinar

HOSTS: APA Justice, Committee of 100, US-China Education Trust

Moderator: Margaret K. Lewis 陸梅吉, Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law

Speakers:

·       Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of Association of International Educators (NAFSA)

·       Steven Chu 朱棣文, Professor of Stanford University and former U.S. Secretary of Energy

REGISTRATION:  https://bit.ly/1-15email

In Memoriam: Jesse Jackson (1941-2026)

Jesse Jackson died at the age of 84 on February 17, 2026.  He was an American civil rights activist, politician and ordained Baptist minister. A protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and James Bevel during the civil rights movement, he became one of the most prominent civil rights leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Jackson played a notable role in the aftermath of the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin 陈果仁, a Chinese American man in Detroit, which became a watershed moment for Asian American civil rights advocacy. Chin was beaten to death by two autoworkers who blamed Japanese competition for the decline of the U.S. auto industry, and the perpetrators initially received only probation and fines—a lenient sentence that outraged the Asian American community nationwide.

Jackson publicly condemned the killing and the weak judicial response, framing it within the broader fight against racial violence and injustice. He helped elevate national attention to the case, encouraging dialogue between Black and Asian communities in Detroit and across the U.S.

While historically tensions and misunderstandings existed between Black and Asian communities, particularly around economic competition in urban centers, Jackson consistently advocated for cross-racial solidarity. He supported the building of an Asian-Black coalition that sought to address systemic racism collectively, pushing for legislative reforms, hate-crime protections, and shared community empowerment. Over time, this coalition contributed to a broader awareness of Asian American civil rights issues within the national civil rights movement and highlighted the importance of multiracial alliances in combating racial violence and inequality.

Jackson’s engagement in the Vincent Chin case exemplifies his lifelong commitment to justice, showing his willingness to stand with communities beyond his own and to leverage his platform to challenge systemic bias and advocate for unity among marginalized groups.

Watch a PBS video of Jesse Jackson at Vincent Chin rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vdBbRrlr8 (0:51).  

Read the September 10, 2020 report by East Wind on “Asian Americans and Jesse Jackson – From Vincent Chin to the Rainbow Coalition – A Conversation with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.”

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:

2026/02/23 Sign On Deadline - Amicus Brief Opposing the Birthright Citizenship EO 14160

2026/02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern

2026/02/26 Global Competition for Talent & International Students

2026/03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/03/03 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Henry TangVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2. UC Riverside Chancellor S. Jack Hu Inauguration

On February 5, 2026, University of California at Riverside held an inauguration ceremony for its 10th Chancellor Shixin Jack Hu 胡仕新.  Prior to UCR, he served as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia.  Previously, Dr. Hu served as vice president for research at the University of Michigan. Dr. Hu was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2015.

A first-generation student, Dr. Hu earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Tianjin University in China before completing his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.

Read more about Chancellor Hu: https://chancellor.ucr.edu/about-the-chancellor.  Watch a video of the inauguration ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/Btf512TNRsQ (1:36:25).

3. Gary Locke in The News

Deseret News recently sat down with former Ambassador Gary Locke 骆家辉 for an in-depth conversation on the current state of affairs.  On February 15, 2026, it published a report of what he had to say about the question of “Is China a threat or an opportunity?”  

Read the Deseret News report: https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/02/15/is-china-threat-or-opportunity-us-ambassador-gary-locke/.

According to Government Executive on February 10, 2026, Janet Yellen and Gary Locke recently honored by the National Academy of Public Administration for their lifetime of public service said career civil servants are the backbone of effective government and warned that their loss and demoralization threaten agencies’ ability to function.

Janet Yellen, who was a senior leader in the Federal Reserve System during the 2008 financial crisis and Treasury secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic, said at the January 28 award ceremony that federal employees kept her grounded.

Gary Locke — who served as a Cabinet secretary and state governor — likewise advised a future president to rebuild the federal workforce. For Locke, his experience across federal and state government reinforced a central lesson: political leaders set priorities, but career employees deliver results.

Read the Government Executive report: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/02/former-cabinet-secretaries-urge-federal-employees-keep-faith-despite-threats-civil-service/411336/

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APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community.  For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.