NIU will host a one-day leadership conference called APATITE, which stands for Asian Pacific Americans Transforming Illinois Through Education.

This is the first year since the conference’s inception three years ago that it will be held at NIU.

This weekend’s workshops will focus on leadership and activism.

The Asian-American Association hopes it will be the first of many conferences being brought to NIU.

“The workshops are to increase awareness of leadership roles on and off campus,” said Kevin Wong, president of the Asian-American Association.

Student leaders from around Illinois will hear a variety of speakers and attend various workshops.

The goal of the conference, according to the Web site, is to gather student leaders from all over Illinois in one place, to meet new people, share ideas and to learn more about being a leader.

Daren Mooko, director of the Asian-American Resource Center at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., will speak at the conference.

Gina Magsombol, of the Mango Tribe, an Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA) women’s interdisciplinary performance group founded on the belief that collective creation can be the most powerful form of art ,also will host a workshop on activism through the arts.

Willard Draper, NIU’s director of residential life, will host a workshop on communication styles and what a good leader is.

“We are trying to get more Asian-American students in leadership positions on campus,” said Mike Sue, graduate assistant for Asian-American Resources and third-year law student.

“We will be focusing on explaining Asian-American culture in Illinois,” said Ryan Billedo, vice president of internal affairs for the Asian-American Association.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Sixty to 70 people are expected to attend.