The Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain is awarded a Presidential Citation for its emergence as a leader in developing empathy, courage, and cooperation in the next generation of American leaders.
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation opened the institute at its annual 2024 pilgrimage located on the site where over 10,000 Japanese Americans were held against their will during World War II for the crime of looking like the enemy. Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Senator Alan K. Simpson witnessed firsthand what happened at Heart Mountain in 1942, and they understood the damage that can happen to a group of American citizens when our constitutional rights are disregarded. The two men met at Heart Mountain as young boys when Mineta was incarcerated behind barbed wire and Al was part of a boy scout troop who entered the camp for a jamboree. Mineta was elected as the first Asian American mayor of San Jose while Simpson served in the Wyoming House of Representatives. Both moved to the halls of Congress in Washington, DC, where Mineta served as a U.S. representative for California for 20 years, the Secretary of Commerce for a Democratic president, and the Secretary of Transportation for a Republican president. Meanwhile, Simpson served three terms as a senator from Wyoming and sat on multiple bipartisan commissions.
The need to build bridges and connections between differing opinions has never been greater than at this time in history. The institute will accomplish its goals through workshops for educators and leaders and books, podcasts, films and videos that will be distributed around the world. The institute’s work will be aimed at improving civic discourse, building alliances and advancing social justice. The facility will also host lectures and feature artists and their work to develop empathy between disparate parties and create a shared understanding of history.
The Mineta-Simpson Institute is located on the site of the award-winning Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a Smithsonian affiliate, and will be accessible to many in the community and nationwide.
In recognition of the tireless efforts involved in promoting this change, the American Psychological Association honors the Mineta-Simpson Institute with this Presidential Citation, acknowledging the work that needs to be completed to create a more harmonious climate in America today. Spearheading a new approach in interpersonal engagement and in conjunction with strong and ethical leadership, the institute exemplifies the highest ideals supported by the American Psychological Association.