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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."

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.

In "American Chinatown," Bonnie Tsui explains how various Chinatowns came into existence, including the racial discrimination that led to their creation as ghettos, and how over time some of those areas became centers for cultural exchange and eventually courted the interest of outsiders.

Looking beyond the colorful tourist facades, Tsui takes us on a journey through five of America's most famous Chinatowns – in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Las Vegas – and describes how their residents relate to their Chinese heritage, and how they in turn shape the culture, the language, the food, and the history of America. In Los Angeles, for example, the residents of Chinatown had an impact on the film industry by actually appearing in movies in early 20th century, instead of being represented by White actors in "yellow face." 

Tsui also unveils just how much happens beneath the surface in each neighborhood by telling the personal stories of the people who form these vibrant and resilient communities. 

The Civil Rights Book Club aims to provide context and provoke discussion about today's top social justice concerns. Each week, we profile a book, a movie, or other media that represent the diversity of the contemporary social justice landscape on topics like voting rights, immigration reform, economic inequality, women's rights, and educational equity. You can help support The Leadership Conference by purchasing Book Club selections through the Amazon.com link on our website.

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. 

Interning at LCCR/EF this summer was a wonderful experience.

I had the opportunity to attend congressional hearings on a broad range of civil rights issues, including poverty and welfare, voting rights, and health care, which gave me a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges of these issues. I feel that I had the opportunity to make my own impact on LCCR/EF's work by assisting the staff with many projects and writing several posts for this website, Civilrights.org.

Working with and learning from passionate leaders on a daily basis, both at LCCR/EF and within the Washington civil rights community, also enabled me to recognize the importance of advocacy as a tool for positive social and economic change. I was inspired watching members of LCCR's 200-organization coalition working together on so many different issues. I now understand better the power of working in coalition – many groups pooling resources and working toward a common goal.

My determination and passion to contribute my time to civil rights issues has ultimately led to my desire to become a civil rights lawyer so I can continue to advocate for others who are often voiceless in our society.