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UPDATES
How to Support Maui and the Victims of the Wildfires
 
We're devastated by recent fires in Maui and the destruction of Lāhainā, the former  capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. These fires, now the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century, have deep-rooted causes in colonization, militarism, and the extractive tourism industry. Climate change puts the Hawaiian Islands at the edge of disaster from intensifying storms and sea-level rise to drought that sparks wildfires. 

At many points throughout history, people in power have failed to honor Native Hawaiian life and land, but we can show up in solidarity today.

Sign this petition by Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action to prevent predatory land grabs by developers in the wake of the fires.
 
TAKE ACTION NOW
Below you can find links you can send donations
 
Hawai'i People's Fund
Maui Aloha: The PeopleÊ»s Response is dedicated to providing a safe and trusted conduit to move kƍkua (help) quickly in support of community organizers and organizations already engaged in this work, on the ground.

Kākoʻo Maui Fund
Led by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Donations received will go to Maui-based relief efforts for Native Hawaiian orgs, small businesses, ‘ohana, and cultural groups.

Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action
Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action champions social, economic, and environmental justice throughout Hawaiʻi. They have put together a comprehensive list of resources, including vetted mutual aid funds, disaster response resources, local volunteer opportunities, and more. 

ʻĀina Momona
‘Āina Momona is a community organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty. They are working with community members on the ground to provide immediate funds to verified GoFundMe fundraisers and Venmo fundraisers to families who lost their homes in the wildfires. 

Below you can find links for organizations you can follow

Kāko'o Haleakalā
Kāko'o Haleakalā's mission is to protect and preserve the land and native species of the Hawaiian Kingdom. 

‘Āina Momona
Āina Momona is a community organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty.

Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action
Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action champions social, economic, and environmental justice throughout Hawaiʻi.

Maui Rapid Response
An ahupua’a based citizen disaster response team providing real time links to resources and needs
 
NEWS & POLICY
Press Release: OCA Denounces Shooting in Jacksonville and Demands Gun Reform
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates mourns Jacksonville shooting victims and urges Congress to pass gun safety legislation.

Read more here.
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Apply for ACP Fellow Position
In June, OCA received a ~$700k federal grant to do outreach for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This program is one of the ways we're addressing OCA's policy on "Bridging the Digital Divide". 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.
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.
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.
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
OCA - New York Chapter
 
OCA-NY is partnering with StoryCorps to uplift the stories and voices of the Thai community in the first community oral history project for Little Thailand. Little Thailand Way in Queens, New
York encompasses the vibrant Thai restaurants and businesses near the Buddha Thai Thavorn
Vanaram Temple, and all the individuals who make up the community.

During the summer, OCA-NY collaborated with assemblymember Steven Raga and Thai Community USA to host a neighborhood walking tour of Little Thailand. The tour explored all the culinary gems as participants experienced the warmth, hospitality, and resilience at the core of the Little Thailand community in Assembly District 30.

Trained community facilitators have recorded conversations with the head monk of Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram, assemblymember Steven Raga, and many of the business owners in the neighborhood. This fall, we hope to continue recording more conversations to learn more about the stories and needs of the Little Thailand community.
OCA - Wisconsin Chapter
 
OCA Wisconsin hosted Dr. Hongyan Yang's oral history research project “Places of Their Own: Learning Chinese American Legacy in Milwaukee Through Oral History.” The presentation focuses on how Chinese Americans, as one of the AAPI immigrant groups in early 20th century Milwaukee developed places of their own through their family restaurants, laundries, and grocery stores to make a living in order to survive and thrive. 
 
OCA Wisconsin hosted Dr. Hongyan Yang's oral history research project “Places of Their Own: Learning Chinese American Legacy in Milwaukee Through Oral History.” The presentation focuses on how Chinese Americans, as one of the AAPI immigrant groups in early 20th century Milwaukee developed places of their own through their family restaurants, laundries, and grocery stores to make a living in order to survive and thrive. 
 
CHAPTER EVENTS
Oct0ber 15: China, Taiwan, and the US
Colonel Roger Dong  will speak on the geopolitical tensions between China and the US over Taiwan. Hear what he has to say as an expert on China relations. In the coming months, will there be peace? Will there be war? 

📆 October 15th, 2023
⏰ 3 pm - 4:00 pm PST
📍 Zoom (REGISTER HERE)
Questions: Contact [email protected]
GIVE TO OCA
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