Boston welcomes National Association of Asian American Professional convention

The largest Asian American professional network in the country announced the kick off of their national convention in Boston Tuesday, detailing a line-up of networking events and business showcases.

“Here in NAAAP we create communities, and we build leaders,” said Harris Zhao, NAAAP Chapter President at a press conference at City Hall. “That is why this year we have chosen Boston to host our convention — I know because I was born and raised here that we are an inclusive city and a city of visionaries.”

The 2023 Leadership Convention will last from Thursday through Saturday at the Sheraton Hotel in Back Bay, organization leaders said, welcoming over 700 attendees to Boston. This year’s theme, speakers said, is unifying visionaries.

NAAAP will be hosting a Maker’s Market at the hotel from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring AAPI-owned businesses or creators. The following day the organization will host a Diversity Career Fair open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., offering networking opportunities for a number of industries and professional headshots.

The convention will also include over 70 speakers, six keynotes and a celebratory gala honoring AAPI leaders who’ve made significant contributions to the community.

“The fact that even in just a span of one summer, we have two leading national organizations dedicated to advancing and uplifting communities of color choose our city as a place to host their annual gatherings and chart a course for the future is not a coincidence,” Mayor Michelle Wu said at the press conference. “It’s a testament not only to the work that we are proud to be doing here at the city of Boston and City Hall, but to the work, more importantly, that our communities have been doing a long time in our neighborhoods.”