The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

DC Vote has selected LCCR President Wade Henderson and LCCR Executive Vice President Nancy Zirkin as recipients of its 2009 Champions of Democracy Award for their commitment to achieving full democracy for the District of Columbia.

In announcing the award, DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka said Zirkin and Henderson's "exemplary dedication to civil and human rights issues is apparent through their tireless work to pass D.C. voting rights legislation. They have been loyal champions of this cause, and we are extremely appreciative of their efforts." 

Henderson and Zirkin will be honored with fellow awardees Rep. John Conyers, D. Mich., and Alkridge Real Estate at the Champions of Democracy Awards Dinner on October 13 in Washington, D.C. 

Champions of Democracy are selected for "their dedication to fulfilling the promise of democracy and for the many ways they celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant communities of Washington, D.C."

It wasn't until I traveled outside America that I really felt American.  Growing up in the United States I always categorized myself ethnically as Chinese, because that distinction was much more apparent to me than any national identity. 

It wasn't until the past few years in discussing the merits and idiosyncrasies of my country to family in Beijing, students in London, and a traveling Australian in Vienna, that I realized my identity as an American defined me just as much as my ethnic identity.  I saw that I didn't just belong to my subset of America, but that I was part of a greater whole, and the attitudes and actions of my country were an integral part of me.

Since that realization, I have felt a responsibility as an American to be aware of the issues facing different groups in the United States and to encourage others to think beyond their individual identity to embrace the diverse interests and perspectives that make our country so unique. 

Interning at LCCR/EF has given me a wonderful opportunity to fulfill that responsibility by writing website posts about civil rights injustices, supporting the nomination of an extremely qualified Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court, and helping to organize events to spread knowledge to my peers about the need and opportunities for social justice work.  Working alongside the passionate and patriotic people at LCCR/EF has inspired anew my belief in social justice and my pride in being an American.

In a column published in today's Politico, LCCR President and CEO Wade Henderson takes on the "shouting heads" in the media for stirring up faux controversies around Obama administration officials Mark Lloyd, Cass Sunstein, John Holdren, Carol Browner, and Van Jones.  Jones recently resigned from his position as special advisor for green jobs in the administration because of such controversies.

"In a more sensible world, these media firestorms would be doused by the cold water of common sense," Henderson said. "Far from being bomb throwers, Browner was the longest-serving Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Sunstein is a professor at Harvard Law School, Holdren has taught at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Lloyd was an attorney at a leading communications law firm and Jones authored a best-selling book about how to create high-skill, high-wage jobs in environmentally friendly industries."

Henderson also said that the media controversies have nothing to do with Obama's appointees, who are all distinguished public servants, and everything to do with Obama himself. 

"While his adversaries have every right to criticize his policies and offer alternatives of his own, the nation needs more constructive conservatives like the late Jack Kemp and fewer bombastic broadcasters like Glenn Beck," Henderson said.

Interning with LCCR/EF was a great experience. Not only did I learn about Washington politics firsthand by attending conferences, congressional hearings, and events, but I also acquired an understanding of the contemporary civil rights issues facing Americans today.  I also had the opportunity to write more than a dozen articles for the website and to compile research on the 2010 Census. 

At the beginning of the summer, my greatest policy interest was affordable housing. But after learning more about equal opportunity, hate crimes, and the effect of state budget cuts on public education and health care, I feel motivated and equipped to help solve a broader range of problems. I'm confident the skills I acquired while interning at LCCR/EF will serve me well when I return to campus this fall and campaign for affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and issues relating to how student college tuition dollars are invested.  

Interning at LCCR/EF has instilled in me a greater sense of determination to translate my passion for civil rights into action. After I graduate, I'll most likely join the Peace Corps or engage elsewhere in grassroots activism.