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WASHINGTON,
DC -
September 8, 2008 - Secretary
of Labor, Elaine Chao, spoke
to an audience of middle and
high school students at the
National Leadership Summit
held in Washington, DC. The
students were attending the
youth leadership program sponsored
and run by LeadAmerica. Secretary
Chao emphasized the importance
of teens developing their leadership
skills and leading in the coming
decades. She shared her life
story, beginning with her arrival
in the United Sates at the
age of 8. She could not speak
English and her father, after
working three jobs, would translate
the notes she copied each day
at school. Chao explained how
she came to become the first
Asian American woman cabinet
member in the history of the
United States, and the longest
serving Secretary of Labor
since World War II.
 “In
the current state of anxiety
surrounding the present and
future viability of the US
economy, Secretary Chao provided
first hand insight and penetrating
analysis on issues as divergent
as international trade relations
and the minimum wage,” said
Andrew Potter, Associate Director
of Academics for LeadAmerica. “In
an election season where the
economy often becomes a politicized
enigma, students at LeadAmerica’s
National Leadership Summit
received an inside perspective
that was both illuminating
and refreshing.”
Secretary
Chao defended the importance
of trade and explained the
challenges that protectionism
could pose for the US economy.
Using the Chinese economy as
an example, she spoke of the
necessity of a business environment
that includes low corporate
taxation and minimal regulation
to allow it to act freely in
the global business environment.
Chao spoke to teenage leaders
at the National Leadership
Summit, a program for middle
and high school students, focusing
on the leadership at the national
level. Students learned to
confront pressing issues facing
our nation, build support for
real-world issues and create
platforms to support their
positions. As part of the experiential
learning environment of the
conference, students meet national,
state and local leaders.
About LeadAmerica
LeadAmerica is the nation's
premier youth leadership organization.
Wi t h a commitment to providing
quality leadership education,
LeadAmerica empowers teenage
leaders and instills in them
ethical and principled leadership
values, attitudes and skills.
Each of its high school conferences
is college-accredited and
its programs are approved
activities of the National
Association of Secondary
School Principals. LeadAmerica
sponsors the Congressional
Student Leadershi p Conference
for high school students,
the National Junior Leaders
Conference for middle and
junior high school students,
Ambassadors Abroad international
study programs in China,
Australia and Europe, and
Washington Summer Scholars,
a college-level academic program
held in partnership with American
University.
Contact:
Karen B. Sharp
VP, Marketing Communications
LeadAmerica
1.561.368.8085
media@lead-america.org |
