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New Generation Seminar Alumnus Elected to U.S. Congress

Kevin Yoder (Photo credit: Kevin Yoder's website)

Kevin W. Yoder (EWC Seminars 05) has been elected to the U.S. Congress from the state of Kansas as a result of the U.S. November 2010 elections. Kevin is Representative-elect for Kansas’ 3rd congressional district, which encompasses Wyandotte, Johnson and a portion of Douglas County (Lawrence, Eudora).

Prior to his election to Congress, Kevin was a State Representative in Kansas for eight years, serving the people of the 20th District which includes Overland Park and Leawood. When first elected in 2002, Kevin was the youngest Republican in the Kansas House. In his fourth and final term, he was chairman of the 23-member House Appropriations Committee and was serving his eighth year as a member of the Judiciary Committee. In 2009 Kevin was given the “Intergovernmental Leadership Award” by the Kansas League of Municipalities for his leadership in resolving the state’s fiscal crisis. As a State Representative, Kevin was an advocate for public education and the disabled, and provided leadership on criminal justice issues. In 2003, he was awarded the “Courageous Leadership” Award by the Kansas Disability Caucus for his legislative efforts on behalf of disabled Kansans.

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11.18.10

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EWCA Okinawa Chapter Organizes Event for 20th New Generation Seminar Participants

On October 3rd, 2010 the EWCA Okinawa Alumni Chapter and its Chapter Leader, Choko Takayama, organized a reception, which was hosted by the 20th EWC New Generation Seminar participants, in Okinawa.

The 20th New Generation Seminar focused on “Asia Pacific Security and the U.S. Role” with visits to Okinawa, Tokyo and Seoul. Participants explored the shifting political, economic and security dynamics in the Asia Pacific region and what it means for the future of the U.S. role. With the sinking of the Cheonan in March, the resignation of Japan’s new Prime Minister largely over the Okinawa base issues, resource conflicts in the South China Sea and new tensions between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands, the program felt very relevant to the important issues of the day.

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08.20.10

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EWC Associate Elected Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka

EWC Associate Sri Ranga Jeyaratnam was elected as Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka this April 2010. Mr. Sri Ranga participated in the 18th New Generation Seminar held in Honolulu, Youngstown and Washington D.C. during September and October of 2008.

The 2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election was held on April 8 and April 20, 2010, to elect 225 members to Sri Lanka’s 14th Parliament. 14,088,500 Sri Lankans were eligible to vote in the election at 11,102 polling stations. It was the first general election held in Sri Lanka following the conclusion of the 30 year long civil war.

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03.02.10

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EWC Alum Elected as Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland

On February 4, 2010, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake succeeded Sheila Dixon as mayor of Baltimore. It has been reported that Stephanie, at age 39, is the second youngest mayor in the city’s history; second only to Martin O’Malley, who was 36 at the time he entered office.

In November 2007, Stephanie participated in the East-West Center’s 17th New Generation Seminar, when she was Council President at the Baltimore City Council.

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