On Saturday, October 19, 2019 the only place in the world to be was the Crowne Plaza Foster City!

We held out First NAPIPA Conference which featured three MCLE panels, job interviews with various prosecution offices across the country, and the evening finished with our 6th Annual Scholarship Banquet.

Our panels were co-sponsored by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA). Thank you to both organizations!

After a cocktail hour where attendees spent time meeting each other, getting photo booth pictures, and checking out the silent auction items, the doors to the grand ballroom opened for the 6th Annual Scholarship Banquet, entitled "Empowering the Community Through Representation & Inclusion"!

- Emcee Janelle Wang (Anchor, NBC Bay Area) charmed the audience with her wit and personality.

- National President Paul Jhin cracked up the crowd of 210 with a humorous PowerPoint speech dealing with API representation in the legal profession and Hollywood.

- Alameda District Attorney & CDAA President Nancy O'Malley was scheduled to speak but wasn't feeling well so Nor Cal Board member & Alameda DDA Nancy Tung ably pinch hit for her.

- NAPIPA Foundation CEO Charles Huang introduced keynote speaker Tim Kawakami (Editor in chief, The Athletic SF) who wowed the room with stories about being an API sports journalist, his thoughts on the NBA and China, and whether he believed Colin Kaepernick was blackballed from the NFL.

- NAPIPA Nor Cal President Johnny Gogo presented his good friend, newly promoted Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeff Mangar the NAPIPA Prosecutor of the Year Award. 

- NAPIPA member and Santa Clara DDA Alaleh Kianerci, the prosecutor in the Brock Turner rape trial, talked about the case and the diversity of the team that helped convict Mr. Turner. She then introduced a video of author Chanel Miller, who was honored with the NAPIPA Courage Award. (Her video acceptance is posted below in 3 parts.)

- Chicago Chapter President Christina Kye gave NAPIPA Scholarships for Justice awards of $1500 each plus KAPLAN bar review courses worth $2000 each to: Vincent Choi, Stephanie Dong, and Olivia Zhu. Congratulations, Vincent, Stephanie, and Olivia - no pressure but 12 of the 15 prior NAPIPA scholarship winners are currently working in prosecutors' offices!

- After the banquet, NAPIPA members flocked to 840 Wine Bar in Redwood City for some refreshments.

It was a great day filled with education, inspiration, and fun. We hope to see you all next year!