OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

11/28/2023

✨Participate in our Bingo and enter into a raffle to win Maia and Alex Shibutani's book! Remember to tag OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates!
Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

11/28/2023

📣This , donate to support our mission at OCA to empower the next 50 years of AANHPI leaders, advocates, and change-makers who will continue to shape our diverse society.
✨Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

Want another way to give? Donating appreciated stock can help your dollar go further with OCA, fueling grassroots advocacy while gaining tax benefits!
✨Donate here ➡️bit.ly/ocagivewithstocks

Your donation will help us create a brighter, more inclusive future for AANHPI youths!

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11/21/2023

Join us on December 5th in Washington, D.C. from 12 PM to 1:30 PM ET for a discussion on the critical importance of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding. Our panel of experts will discuss BEAD funding and its pivotal role in shaping a more equitable and connected future, particularly for underrepresented communities.

Please email OCA's Policy & Organizing Manager Eric Kim at [email protected] to RSVP or if you have any questions.

11/20/2023

4️⃣2️⃣ days left to support our 2023 Annual Giving Campaign!

This campaign is crucial for advancing our policy platform and advocating for the rights and interests of the AANHPI community. Today, we are focusing on intergenerational wellbeing and why it matters for our community.
   
Help us reach $500,000 by the end of the year. Together, we can empower the next 50!

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate.

11/18/2023

There’s only one day left to apply for priority consideration to the 2024 OCA Summer Internship Program! Learn more and apply at ocanational.org/summer-internship.

“Through the people I met in the OCA Summer Internship Program and my placement site I was continuously challenged every day to strive to be a better person,” says 2023 intern Gaomomee Yang. “I felt that I was able to further develop as an individual—both professionally and socially—and find a future career path that I am extremely passionate in pursuing!”

11/17/2023

The Olga May Wong Memorial Public Service Scholarship empowers AANHPI youth to take on unpaid internships in local, state, or federal public service roles. OCA is proud to expand our initiatives to open doors and make civil servant jobs more accessible to our community! Thank you to the Wong family for their support, trust, and partnership in launching this program. Read our press release to learn more about Isabel and the scholarship opportunity.

Washington, D.C. — OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates announced Isabel Lam as the first-ever recipient of the Olga May Wong Memorial Public Service Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund is supported by the generous donation of the Wong family, and grants $2,000 to a college student who has a

11/13/2023

4️⃣9️⃣ days left to support our 2023 Annual Giving Campaign!

This campaign is crucial for advancing our policy platform and advocating for the rights and interests of the AANHPI community. Today, we are focusing on bridging the digital divide, and why it matters for our community.

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate.
   
Help us reach $500,000 by the end of the year. Together, we can empower the next 50!

11/12/2023

There’s only one week left to apply for priority consideration to the 2024 OCA Summer Internship Program! Learn more and apply at ocanational.org/summer-internship.

“I met some of the most passionate, brilliant, and thoughtful people in my OCA internship cohort,” says 2023 intern Amanda Young. “The sense of community was truly so special. We laughed and cried together, and I feel so honored to have learned and grown alongside them! Although the summer has ended, I am excited to continue working with them on AANHPI advocacy issues from our respective college campuses.”

11/09/2023

There are less than two weeks left to apply for priority consideration to the 2024 OCA Summer Internship Program! Learn more and apply at ocanational.org/summer-internship.

"My summer as an OCA intern was so personally and professionally fulfilling," says 2023 intern Jenny Lee. "Thanks to the internship program, I was able to explore the reproductive freedom movement for the first time and integrate my knowledge of Asian American Studies at NARAL. I walked away with new knowledge of the reproductive freedom movement, a broadened outlook on the ways advocacy takes shape, and confidence in my ability to relocate to an unfamiliar city and build a community over such a short time span."

11/07/2023

✨Hear from Kirit Minhas, an OCA Summer 2023 intern. As part of the OCA Summer Internship Program, Kirit was placed at White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Your generous contribution can support interns like Kirit and allows us to sustain critical opportunities for the future leaders of the AANHPI community.

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

10/30/2023

Join us on Thursday, November 16th at 8 PM ET for a virtual conversation with author Amy Yip as we discuss her just-released book “Unfinished Business: Breaking Down the Great Wall Between Adult Child and Immigrant Parents.” We’ll be giving away signed copies of the book to a few lucky viewers! RSVP to this Zoom Webinar at bit.ly/ocareadsamyyip.

Too often, we hesitate to ask our parents about their lives, held back by mistaken beliefs or past conflicts. With warmth, wit, and vulnerability Amy Yip explores the profound influence her parents had on her life and offers you a roadmap to navigate conversations with your own parents.

In “Unfinished Business,” Amy takes us on a heartfelt journey from detachment to deep connection with her own parents as she delves into the stories she holds about them; from “My success will never be good enough for my parents” to “I must be mentally tough and never ask for help” and everything in between. She illuminates the power of conversation as she invites us to see the world through her and your parents' eyes. By engaging in meaningful dialogues and taking the time to truly understand their experiences and struggles, we discover that our parents are not just figures from our past, but complex individuals with their own hopes, dreams, and fears.

Each chapter provides a framework of self-reflective prompts, practical tips, and thought-provoking questions to ask your parents, empowering you to embark on your own journey of connection. Because, regardless of the generation we belong to, we all long to be heard and understood. And that includes our parents.

OCA Reads: A Virtual Conversation with Amy Yip is co-hosted with American University Asian Networks Association, Amherst College Asian American Writers’ Group, The Georgetown Anthem, Asian Pacific Americans for Action at Cornell University, Asian American Students in Action at Williams College, Brandeis Asian American Student Association, East Coast Asian American Student Union, Georgetown University Vietnamese Student Association, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Asian American Students Association.

https://www.ocanational.org/events-list/oca-reads-a-virtual-conversation-with-amy-yip

Join us on Thursday, November 16th at 8 PM ET for a virtual conversation with author Amy Yip as we discuss her just-released book “Unfinished Business: Breaking Down the Great Wall Between Adult Child and Immigrant Parents.” We’ll be giving away signed copies of the book to a few lucky viewers...

10/30/2023

✨ Hear from Un Leng Sit, an 2022 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship recipient.

Supporting AANHPI students through your donation ensures essential relief and resources for their academic journey!

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

10/26/2023

10/26/2023

🗳️ Did you know nearly three-fourths of Asian Americans voted early or by-mail in 2022? It’s safe, secure, and convenient!

Find out your early voting options by visiting apiavote.org/location!

10/25/2023

Our Executive Director, Thu Nguyen, will join Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) , allies, and community partners for a virtual press conference on Thursday, 10/26/2023, at 3pm ET to re-introduce the into Congress!

RSVP here: bit.ly/ascapressconference

The press conference will feature remarks from Members of Congress, partner organizations, students, and education policy experts.

10/24/2023

✨ Hear from Aalaya Gurran, an OCA Summer 2023 intern. As part of the OCA Summer Internship Program, Aalaya was placed at NAPABA - National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Your generous contribution can support interns like Aalaya and allows us to sustain these crucial opportunities for the next wave of AANHPI leaders.

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

10/23/2023

We're now accepting applications for our 2024 Summer Internship Program! Undergraduate students (and recent grads) who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander are highly encouraged to apply. Apply by November 19, 2023 to receive priority consideration. The final deadline is January 2, 2024.

Thank you Coca-Cola, Comcast NBCUniversal, and individual donors for making this program possible!

Learn more and apply:

OCA Summer Internship ProgramJune 3 — August 9, 2024Leadership Development • Professional Development • Personal Development For 35 years, OCA National Center has hosted the oldest and largest program for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students in the nation’s ...

10/20/2023

OCA stands with Yanqi Xu, Flatwater Free Press journalist who was subjected to disparaging remarks from Governor Jim Pillen. He discredited her article because of her nationality and questioned her credibility as a journalist, using dangerous anti-Asian rhetoric.
This manifestation of xenophobia is harmful to our country, and we must hold leaders accountable for perpetuating hate.

Learn more about the incident here:

"All you got to do is look at the author. The author is from Communist China. What more do you need to know?” Gov. Jim Pillen said last month when asked if he had read Yanqi Xu's article on his company.

10/20/2023

✨Hear from Collinn Tran, an 2022 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship recipient.

Your generous donation plays a crucial role in providing much-needed relief for AANHPI students, ensuring that they can access essential resources and support during their educational journey.

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

10/18/2023

✨Hear from Amanda Young, a OCA Summer 2023 intern. As part of the OCA Summer Internship Program, Amanda was placed at the 1882 Foundation.

Your generous donation enables us to continue providing these vital opportunities for the next generation of AANHPI leaders.

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

10/16/2023

OCA condemns anti-Muslim, antisemitic, or other xenophobic sentiments that continue to fuel hate.

Read our full statement here: ocanational.org/press-releases/oca-statement-in-response-to-murder-of-six-year-old-palestinian-american-child

10/08/2023

✨We are excited to invite you to join us in celebrating OCA’s 50th anniversary and to support our Annual Giving Campaign. This is a special occasion to honor the past, present, and future of OCA.

Hear from OCA National President Linda Ng and Executive Director Thu Nguyen on how OCA has served the AANHPI community for the last 50 years and how your contribution can help us shape the next 50 years.

Donate here ➡️ocanational.org/donate

10/06/2023

🎉OCA is commemorating its 50th anniversary and launching a fundraising campaign to secure $500,000 by the end of the year.

🌟A generous individual will match every dollar up to $50,000, so your contribution will have twice the impact. Don’t miss this chance to support OCA’s mission with a simple click ➡️ocanational.org/donate

💞 We appreciate your generosity and commitment to OCA’s mission. Together, we can celebrate our past and shape our future!

10/05/2023

💻In honor of Week, we are proud to share the AAPI Digital Access Survey report, which aimed to understand the broadband access and digital equity issues faced by AAPI households across the US. The report analyzes data from over 8,200 AAPI households and provides key findings and recommendations based on the survey.


Watch the presentation of findings here: youtube.com/watch?v=uSIOlKHAwCo&ab_channel=OCANational

10/04/2023

💡 In an increasingly digital world, inclusion is key. Everyone deserves equal access to technology, knowledge, and opportunities, regardless of background or circumstance.

Digital inclusion is vital to education, job opportunities, and vital services. It gives a voice to people who are being left out. Building connected communities is key for everyone to thrive. National Digital Inclusion Alliance

10/02/2023

🚀 Tech should be for everyone! This , let's amplify the importance of building connected communities. Join us in making technology accessible and empowering for everyone, everywhere. .

09/27/2023

AANAPISIs serve, educate, and prepare the next generation of AANHPIs to be civically engaged leaders and changemakers in their communities.

09/25/2023

📖From Sept 25 - Oct 1, we celebrate Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions with AANAPISI Week! AANAPISIs are critical in supporting AANHPI student success by promoting equity in higher education, access to college, and opportunities for low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented AANHPI students.

09/21/2023

Our Executive Director, Thu Nguyen, will be participating on Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Building Our Digital Infrastructure panel at their Virtual on September 27-28!

The APAICS Tech Summit brings together community and corporate leaders, subject matter experts, as well as elected officials for bipartisan policy discussions that affect the AA & NH/PI community and the nation at-large.

09/19/2023

OCA Calls on Congress for Immediate Action for Young Americans.

Read our full statement here: ocanational.org/press-releases/oca-calls-on-congress-for-immediate-action-for-young-americans

09/19/2023

🗳️ AAPIs are among the fastest-growing voting blocs in the country, and it shows. We are determining elections from coast to coast and making change in our communities. Be a part of the solution.

Register to vote today at apiavote.org/register!

09/12/2023

09/11/2023

Today, we pay tribute to the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks that changed our nation and the world forever. We also express our solidarity with the Asian American community, who has endured hate and discrimination since then and throughout the pandemic.

Read our full blog:

By Linda Ng

09/08/2023

We invite students, scholars, researchers, activists, and community members to attend the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Studies Summit on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 9am-5pm at Georgetown University, hosted by OCA-Greater Washington, D.C.

The program features a lineup of esteemed speakers who will share their expertise on various topics related to AANHPI studies and ways to expand ethnic studies. Through panel discussions, breakout sessions, and interactive workshops, you'll gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of the history of AANHPI studies, our current progress, and what the future could be.

Breakfast will be provided in the morning, and a lunch catered from Curry N Pie. Learn more and register at

Join us for a day of advocacy training, leadership development, and AANHPI panelists as we explore ways to expand AANHPI studies!

09/05/2023

Are you an undergraduate searching for internship, volunteer, or job opportunities? Register for The Asian American Dream, Inc. x Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) Q3 Virtual Career Fair on September 22, 2023 from 10am-4pm ET!

Register at: https://aadvirtualcareerfair.eventus.io/attendee_login

08/30/2023

For every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men working full time, year-round in 2021, NHPI women, working full time, year-round only earned 65 cents. The biggest wage gaps experienced by NHPI women are hidden in data that lumps Asian American (AA) Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people together.

08/29/2023

OCA mourns Jacksonville shooting victims and urges Congress to pass gun safety legislation.

Read our full statement here:

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates mourns Jacksonville shooting victims and urges Congress to pass gun safety legislation.

08/24/2023

📸We loved every moment of , we had the opportunity to learn from and connect with our amazing AANHPI community! Here are some of these moments from our townhalls👇

08/23/2023

🤝 Our mission and vision are driven by DEIB. Let us build a fair and diverse world together.