[Los Angeles, Sept. 21] As the 2026 U.S. midterm elections enter a critical stage, the Democratic Party hosted a midterm campaign dinner in Los Angeles, attended by a number of prominent figures from Congress, local government, and various sectors of society. The event focused on themes of educational equity, youth development, and social governance, becoming an important window into the future trajectory of U.S. policy.
Notable attendees included U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles County Supervisor and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, California State Assemblyman Mike Fong, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District Treasurer and former Assemblyman Mike Eng, as well as community representative Eileen Wang, among others. Several candidates and public affairs representatives also spoke on issues related to youth and education, underscoring the growing strategic importance of education in American society.
U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu (left) and Dream Get Education Chairman Yao Jitong (right)
Invited to attend on behalf of his institutions, Yao Jitong, Chairman of Dream Get Education and founder of the International Commonweal Support Organization (ICSO), issued an appeal on behalf of international students studying legally in the United States. He emphasized that international students are not only vital to research, innovation, and knowledge dissemination at American universities, but also serve as bridges for multicultural exchange and social inclusion, while contributing to economic vitality and cross-border cooperation. However, he pointed out that international students still face systemic obstacles in areas such as visa access, academic support, career opportunities, and social integration. Yao stressed that educational equity is closely tied to national competitiveness and social stability, and that the U.S. should incorporate the protection of international students’ rights into its core institutional agenda, working toward systematic, long-term, and sustainable policy frameworks.
Dream Get Education Chairman Yao Jitong (left) and California State Assemblyman Mike Fong (right)
Yao’s appeal drew considerable attention from policymakers at the event. Congresswoman Judy Chu remarked that international students play an important role in research, economic growth, and community development, and their rights should not be overlooked. Mayor Karen Bass noted that Los Angeles, as a hub of cultural diversity, must create a safer and more welcoming environment for international youth. Supervisor Hilda Solis stressed that the scope of educational equity must extend to all young people studying in the U.S., and the protection of international students should be integrated into the allocation of public resources. Mike Fong and Mike Eng both indicated that they would pursue further measures at the state and local levels to provide institutional support for international students’ academic and professional development.
Analysts observed that the dinner was not only an important component of the Democratic Party’s midterm campaign activities, but also highlighted the prominent role of education in U.S. public policy. Yao Jitong’s call on behalf of Dream Get Education elevated the issue of protecting legal international students’ rights to the center of policy discussion, showing that educational institutions are no longer merely service providers, but are playing increasingly important roles in policy advocacy and institutional innovation.
Dream Get Education Chairman Yao Jitong (second from left) and Los Angeles Mayor Hilda Solis (second from right)
Observers noted that as the U.S. grows increasingly dependent on global talent, the situation of international students will directly affect the country’s educational openness and scientific innovation capacity. Yao’s remarks at the event were regarded as a timely reminder for U.S. education policy: only through institutionalized protections can the United States maintain its competitiveness in the global landscape of education and research collaboration.
Looking ahead, issues of education and youth development are expected to climb higher on America’s social and political agenda. The protection of international students’ rights, as a key component of educational equity and social inclusion, is poised to occupy an increasingly important place in future legislative and policy frameworks. Dream Get Education’s appeal at the dinner not only provided fresh perspectives for U.S.-China educational exchange and international cooperation but also injected new momentum into building a fairer, more stable, and more inclusive global education ecosystem.
Gates Yao 