Committed to Leadership, Education,
and Cultural Exchange

The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) is a non-profit, volunteer-based umbrella organization representing state and territorial societies in the Washington, D.C. area. Over the years, all 50 states—as well as the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) have maintained active participation.

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NCSS plays a distinctive and long-standing role in the National Cherry Blossom Festival®, organizing events that promote leadership, education, and cross-cultural understanding. A key highlight is the Cherry Blossom Princess Program, which empowers young women—college students and early-career professionals selected by their respective state societies and embassies to represent their communities. The program’s motto, "Aspiring Leadership and Empowering Young Women," reflects its focus on fostering the next generation of leaders.

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The festival itself is a vibrant collaboration involving many partners, including National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., the Mayor’s Office of D.C., the National Park Service, the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC, and NCSS, among others.