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UPDATES
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Apply for ACP Fellow Position
In June, OCA received a ~$700k federal grant to do outreach for the ** Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ([link removed])
. This program is one of the ways we're addressing OCA's policy on ** "Bridging the Digital Divide" ([link removed])
. Over the next two years, we will implement 600 outreach activities/events, reach 800,000 people, and hold 200 ACP enrollment events.

OCA National is hiring part-time Community Advocates (also informally called "ACP fellows") to work within their local AANHPI community to reach historically underserved and low-income populations. Through this work, OCA National will
1. Support low-income AANPHI communities with access to technology and broadband
2. Build and increase community engagement through OCA chapters across the country
3. Increase local membership numbers and engagement

Community advocates are paid contractors by OCA National ($25/hour) and work closely with National staff. If anyone is interested in applying, ** please email our Policy & Organizing Manager Eric Kim (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Affordable%20Connectivity%20Program%20(ACP))
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1st Annual Pitch Competition
Congratulations to our President's Circle Initiative winners! The following chapters have pitched their projects at Convention and will carry out their projects for one year using funds from PCI. The winning chapters will implement projects to promote mental health awareness (Tucson), strengthen community land ownership (East Bay), and develop scholarships and activity funds for AANHPI student organizations (San Diego).
Congratulations to our OCA Greater Tucson, East Bay, and San Diego chapters! And a special shout out to OCA Greater Cleveland for all of their hard work at the PCI Pitch.

Intern Advocacy Day
Our summer interns had a productive meeting with 17 prominent lawmakers from both parties last week for our annual Advocacy Day. They advocated for crucial issues such as enhancing mental health resources and fighting against stigma within the AANHPI community, implementing AAPI curriculum in K-12 education, and ending anti-immigrant legislation that has led to the detention of immigrants.

We want to express our gratitude to all of our generous sponsors who enabled this opportunity for our interns, including Coca-Cola, Comcast, Stan Lou, and individual donors
NEWS & POLICY
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Press Release: MSNBC/NBC News Anchor Richard Lui to Receive Outstanding Achievement Award at OCA National Convention
Richard Lui, a prominent Asian American journalist and caregiver, will be honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the OCA's 50th Anniversary National Convention.

** Read more here. ([link removed])

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Press Release: NARAL Pro-Choice America President to Receive Pioneer Award at OCA National Convention
Mini Timmaraju, a trailblazing Asian American leader in the reproductive rights movement, will be honored with a Pioneer Award at the OCA's 50th Anniversary National Convention.

** Read ([link removed])
** more here. ([link removed])

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Press Release: TV/Film Actor Tamlyn Tomita to Receive Pioneer Award at OCA National Convention
Tamlyn Tomita, a celebrated Asian American actor who has portrayed diverse and complex roles in movies and TV shows, will be honored with a Pioneer Award at the OCA's 50th Anniversary National Convention.

** Read ([link removed])
** more here. ([link removed])

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Press Release: Past OCA-NJ President Virginia Ng to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at OCA National Convention
Virginia Ng, a beloved and respected leader of OCA-New Jersey who devoted her life to serving the AAPI community, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously at the OCA's 50th Anniversary National Convention.

** Read ([link removed])
** more here. ([link removed])

** ([link removed])

Press Release: Japanese American Citizens League to Receive Legacy Impact Award at OCA National Convention
The Japanese American Citizens League, a venerable civil rights organization that has advocated for the rights and dignity of Japanese Americans and other AAPIs for 94 years, will be honored with the Legacy Impact Award at the OCA's 50th Anniversary National Convention.

** Read ([link removed])
** more here. ([link removed])

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Press Release: OCA Congratulates 2023 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholars
OCA announces 2023 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain scholarship recipients for first-generation AANHPI students.

** Read ([link removed])
** more here. ([link removed])

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Press Release: Over 100 AANHPI Advocates Visit Congress in First OCA Day on the Hill
Over 100 AANHPI advocates from OCA met with 40 lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for mental health, AANHPI history, and civil rights as part of OCA's 50th Anniversary National Convention.

** Read ([link removed])
** more here. ([link removed])

EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
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We're Hiring! Apply to be our new Development Manager
OCA National Center is seeking a Development Manager to oversee OCA's fundraising portfolio, in collaboration with OCA staff and Board of Directors. Key responsibilities include planning and executing annual fundraising events, leading donor stewardship activities, and managing OCA’s portfolio of institutional funders and corporate sponsors. ** Learn more and apply ([link removed])
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Help us update our OCA Intern Alumni Directory
We are requesting all OCA National internship program alumni to fill out the OCA Intern Alumni Directory Form to help us update our internal database so we can stay in touch with our intern alumni from the last 30+ years. ** Fill out the form ([link removed])
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CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
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OCA-Greater Houston Chapter
Houston's annual ** AAPI Restaurant Weeks ([link removed])
, held during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May 1 - June 15), was a success! Participating restaurants offered exclusive specials to patrons who generously donated to support low-income seniors by providing rice bags. We are thrilled to announce that on August 29, 2023, we will be conducting our food distribution. Please join us and volunteer from the button below.

** REGISTER HERE ([link removed])

OCA - Tucson Chapter
OCA 50th Anniversary Gala in Tucson
OCA Greater Tucson held the OCA 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 10th at Viscount Suites, Tucson. A strong Southwest flavor pervaded with the award-winning Mariachi Aztlán band, Pueblo High School at the start and a Southwest menu. OCA National President Linda Ng was the keynote sharing her experiences with OCA and the growth of OCA advocacy scope over the decades. Our focus continues with civic engagement and modernizes with decreasing the digital divide, inclusion of AANHPI curriculum in K-12, situation awareness training in light of anti-Asian violence, and mental health awareness. We were delighted our partners could celebrate with us: League of Women Voters Greater Tucson, Pan Asian Community Alliance, RaytheonASPIRES, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, and YWCA of Southern Arizona.

Entertainment included Siva Maia Polynesian Dancers, Shu ching Cheng, Chinese folk songs and Broadway tunes on piano, and Duochinoiserie, classical guitar and guzheng. Party favors were Chinese pearl necklaces for the ladies and Chinese lucky coins for the gentlemen.

OCA - Wisconsin Chapter
Each year OCA-Wisconsin is proud to provide scholarships to talented students in our community. This year we awarded 5 scholarships. Pictured are 4 scholarship recipients - left to right are Samuel Vang, Mei Lin Molsbee, Emily Yang, Julius Zakaria and Albert Chen (scholarship chair).

OCA-Wisconsin members enjoyed great weather and food at the annual picnic held in July..

Pictured - Tony Lam and Gary Chan ready to carve the roast pig

OCA - San Mateo Chapter
1000 Origami Cranes Stringing Day (July 9, 2023)
About 25 San Mateo OCA members and friends gathered at Fire Station #1 in Menlo Park to string origami cranes together for the art installation to be displayed at the Half Moon Bay Library. The group of all ages and backgrounds gathered for this fun community building activity. On 7/18, the Half Moon Bay City Council formally accepted the 1000 cranes donation at their monthly council meeting.

San Mateo OCA Donors and Volunteers Recognition Lunch (July 22, 2023)

About 25 donors, students, volunteers, and supporters were recognized at a luncheon at the home of the chapter's president, Aimee Yan, for their of San Mateo OCA's programs, including the annual High School scholarship program and the Speak and Lead with Pride Program for youth. High school volunteer, Elizabeth B and college intern Danny C. were both recognized for their hard work helping with middle school projects, the 1000 cranes project, and gala planning. The Mayor of Redwood City was present to hand out the awards and gifts to donors and volunteers.
CHAPTER EVENTS
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8/13 Meet the Film Maker of "Jeweled Bird" by OCA - San Mateo Chapter
Are you thinking of becoming a film maker? Do you want to know what it takes to realistic make a feature length movie? This is an opportunity for you to hear from Carol Lee Hall who is in the process of making the movie, "The Jeweled Bird"

Carol Lee Hall is a local San Francisco Bay Area film maker who, along with her creative team in Los Angeles, is in the final process of making a blockbuster feature length fictionalized movie based on historical facts that occurred in SF Chinatown during the late 19th century. The story revolves around the lives of young Chinese girls who were sold into slavery in Chinatown but freed with the help of a Presbyterian missionary, Donaldina Cameron and the brave Chinese women during the time of unjust exclusionary laws against Chinese barring their legal entry into the US. The movie highlights the ongoing problem of human trafficking even today. It offers today's generation of young women and leaders hope that the power of one individual can indeed make a difference in the lives of many.

You can view a promotional trailer ** HERE ([link removed])

** SIGN UP HERE for the Zoom talk ([link removed])

Questions? Contact ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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The Asian American Vote 2022 Exit Survey Presentations
During the November 2022 midterm elections, AALDEF conducted a national multilingual exit poll, surveying thousands of Asian American voters. This exit poll, which is the largest nonpartisan survey of its kind in the country, covered multiple cities across nine states, including Texas.

This presentation will delve into various aspects of Asian American voting behavior, their attitudes towards crucial issues in the 2022 election, insights into first-time voters and party enrollment, as well as their English proficiency and the barriers they faced in exercising their right to vote.

HOUSTON | 8/9/2023 | 6:30PM
Mezban Restaurant
6655 Harwin Dr. #108 Houston Tx 77036

AUSTIN | 8/10/2023 | 11:30AM
Asian American Resource Center
8401 Cameron Rd, Austin Tx 78754

Dallas | 8/10/2023 | 7:00PM
Swamp Cafe
17721 Dallas Parkway, Dallas Tx 75287

** REGISTER HERE ([link removed])
** ([link removed])
Apply to Be an Alief Votes 2023-2024 Fellow
Alief ISD High School students are invited to apply for the AliefVotes Fellowship Program. In the fall, students receive comprehensive civic training. In the spring, students organize and attend community events.
Due September 1, 2023.

** APPLY TODAY HERE ([link removed])
** ([link removed])

August 15: Activate YOUR Power
Join us for our upcoming Situational Awareness Intervention Workshop!

Our training is a 1.5-hour, interactive training to gain tools & knowledge on how to intervene and become a confident and effective bystander against racism and discrimination.

📆 August 15th, 2023
⏰ 6 pm - 7:30 pm
📍 Zoom (** REGISTER HERE ([link removed])
)

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OCA National Center
Embracing the hopes and aspirations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

900 19th St. NW, 6th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006

Copyright © 2023 OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, All rights reserved.

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