14th AACC Annual Celebration

Year: 1997
Host: Vietnamese American Community
Sponsor: Nghia Sinh International, Inc.
Venue: Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont
Theme: Unity in Diversity
Vision: Asian American 2000: Education, Economy and Ethnicity
Attendance: 2000
Highlights: The Grand Asian American Award was presented to the Hon. Jim Edgar, Governor of the State of Illinois. There was a day-long program with conferences on Immigration, Health Care, and Welfare Reform, workshops on Government Relations and Business Development, and forums on Community, Parents, and Interfaith Activities. The three distinguished keynote speakers were: The President of Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and the University of Chicago who shared their views on Education, Economy, and Ethnicity in the 21st Century. Proclamations from President Bill Clinton, Governor Jim Edgar, and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley were officially presented to the 1997 AACC host. The Vietnamese community handed over the AACC "Torch" to the next year's host of AACC, the Japanese community. Asian Americans from France, Canada, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, and Washington D.C., came to attend the AACC conference and celebration.