1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116
Sister-to-Sister: Celebrating Asian & Pacific Islander Women of Tomorrow is an annual leadership conference developed for API girls who have been identified as engaging in at-risk behaviors as well as for those girls who are demonstrating a desire to develop strong leadership skills. Girls are given an opportunity to listen to speakers who look like them and have gone through similar experiences while meeting various community members and learning about the various organizations and services available to them and their families. The Conference includes workshops on topics such as substance misuse awareness, sexual health, cultural dance, dating and domestic violence, body image, self-defense, yoga, and healthy relationships. API girls ages 12 through 18 are eligible to participate.
The theme for this year’s conference is “RISE UP.” We want to empower participants to rise above adversity, to speak on issues that can influence change, and to advocate for oneself and others. We want each of you to be brave knowing in the process, we may or may not get our desired outcome— but that you stuck through it all and never gave up.
Asian American Recovery Services has been holding the Sister-to-Sister Conference for 23 years.
Here are the details for 2018’s conference:
Date: Thursday, April 26th, 8am – 4pm (registration opens at 8, conference starts at 9)
Venue: San Jose School of Arts & Culture, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116
This year’s Legacy Award recipient and keynote speaker is Ellen Kamei. Ellen is the daughter of a Chinese and Puerto Rican American mother from New York City and a third-generation Japanese American father born at Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming. Ellen grew up in the South Bay on a ten acre flower growing nursery with her parents and younger brother until she was fifteen-years-old. Currently, Ellen serves as the District Director for a Member of the California State Assembly. She has professional experience in city, county, state, and federal government. Ellen began volunteering on campaigns in elementary school and hasn’t stopped since. She is on numerous nonprofit boards in San Jose Japantown, Mountain View, and is the President of the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club (SVAPADC). She is also on the City of Mountain View’s Planning Commission.
Sister-to-Sister is funded through individual community sponsorships and donations.
