View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]

============================================================
UPDATES
** ([link removed])
2024 OCA National Membership Survey

🗣️Your voice matters! Help us shape the future of OCA by taking this 15-minute survey. Share your thoughts on your identity, policy issues, civic engagement, and OCA membership.

Your responses are anonymous and confidential. We will use them to make our programs, campaigns, and initiatives better for you and our community. Plus, you can enter a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

You have until March 14th to complete the survey.

** TAKE THE SURVEY HERE ([link removed])
** ([link removed])
2024 OCA Partner Survey
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors, whose unwavering support continues to drive our mission in advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of AANHPIs. Your contributions make a profound impact, empowering us to make a positive difference in our community and beyond.

Thank you to our January-February donors
* Leslie Moe-Kaiser
* Andrew Lee
* Yaqin Xu

If you would also like to participate in the 2024 OCA Partner Survey, click the button down below.
** TAKE THE SURVEY HERE ([link removed])
** ([link removed])

** ([link removed])

2024-2025 President's Circle Initiative

Apply to be part of the 2024-2025 cycle of the President's Circle Initiative!

Chapter proposal applications are now live, and we are continuing to fund chapter initiatives that are related to community building and advocacy. You may apply and submit your proposal by clicking the button below through April 30.

To submit a proposal, chapters must have a funder in the circle who pledges a minimum of $1,000. More information on pledges can be found ** HERE ([link removed])
.

** SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE ([link removed])
** (mailto:[email protected])

** (mailto:[email protected])

Nominate for OCA Executive Committee Positions

Here's an election you can get excited about!

Nominate your favorite Board Member, or self-nominate for one of 11 OCA Executive Committee positions.

Application package available in March. Nominations are open until July, and elections will be held in November 2024.

Email ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
with interest or questions.
** ([link removed])
2024 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarships

We are now accepting applications for the 2024 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarships, sponsored by UPS !

👉 $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to 12 high school students who will be graduating high school this year and starting college this fall.

👉 $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to 4 undergraduate students who will be starting their final year of college/university or community college this fall.

👉 Students must identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and first-gen to be eligible. Applicants DO NOT need to be a U.S. citizen. DACA students or undocumented students must have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

👉 Apply before Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT. Learn more via the link in our bio!
** LEARN MORE AND APPLY ([link removed])
** ([link removed])
2024-2025 Spectrum Scholars Program Deadline Extended
Spectrum Scholars is an educational program for eligible rising college juniors with financial need. The annual program awards college students $20,000 each, half during their junior year and half during their senior year. In addition, students are paired with a Charter mentor and have the opportunity for a paid internship with the company. The deadline to apply has been extended to April 1, 2024.

To be considered, applicants must:
* Be a rising college junior pursuing a Bachelor's degree
* Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
* Demonstrate financial need
* Identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and/or Native American
* Reside within 50 miles of a Charter corporate office in Stamford, CT, Charlotte, NC, St. Louis, MO, Denver, CO, Austin, TX or be willing to relocate
* Have authorization to work in the U.S. without restrictions or need for employer sponsorship

** LEARN MORE AND APPLY ([link removed])

Michigan Governor's Lifetime Humanitarian Award
On November 28, 2023, our Vice President of Public Affairs, Roland Hwang, received the Governor's Lifetime Humanitarian Award in a ceremony at the Fox Theater in Detroit. Roland's work with OCA and OCA - Detroit Chapter was mentioned on the award page from the program booklet as well as a mention in the local town magazine The 'Ville attached above.
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
** ([link removed])

Next Edition of IMAGE Magazine

We are preparing our next edition of IMAGE Magazine to celebrate 50 years of OCA’s existence and impact, and we want your contributions! The theme is "Community: how do you define it, and how has OCA nurtured it over the decades?" Share your stories, poems, and artwork that reflect this theme with us. Please send your submissions by February 28th to Socheata, ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
. If you want an idea of what past contributions consisted of, check out past editions of IMAGE Magazine ** HERE ([link removed])
.

We are also looking for a talented designer to create the cover of our next edition. This is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity and skills, and we are offering a $200 honorarium as well as a free physical copy of the magazine. If you are interested, please contact Socheata at ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
.
** ([link removed])

Fuel the Next 50

After introducing potential donors to your work, they may find giving appreciated stock attractive. Stock giving means their contribution will go even further to support your chapter’s initiatives, all while saving on taxes. ** Learn how to give stock today! ([link removed])
** ([link removed])

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])
.

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

OCA - Central Virginia

Lunar New Year celebration on 2/10:
OCA - Central Virginia Chapter successfully hosted the Lunar New Year celebration at Godwin High School on 2/10. Thousands of people came and enjoyed authentic Chinese food, festive decorations, art displays, kids activities, and live performances. It was a great opportunity for people to come together as a community and share cultural diversity.

Lunar New Year Street Food Festival at the RVA Moonmarket on 2/24:
On 2/24, OCA - Central Virginia Chapter collaborated with Kasama Collective to host the first Lunar New Year Street food festival. People from all over central Virginia came to enjoy food, lion dance, live music and performances, and arts and crafts. It was another great event to build stronger and more inclusive community.

AASoCV Legislative Day on 2/24:
On 2/26, OCA-CVC participated in the AASoCV Legislative Day event. Our board members expressed several issues the AANHPI community were facing and stressed the importance of building a harmonious community.

OCA - Greater DC

Mobilizing for Change: Advocating for Asian American Studies in Maryland Schools
In a remarkable display of advocacy and solidarity, Adrienne Poon, OCA-DC immediate past President, and Yvonne So, OCA-DC member, mobilized OCA-DC members, and students from elementary and high schools in Maryland to testify in favor of HB1363, a bill to include AANHPI curriculum in Maryland K-12 public schools. This crucial initiative aims to recognize the milestone contributions of the AANHPI community to American history, ensuring a more comprehensive and inclusive education for all students.

The recent events unfolded in Annapolis, where over 30 individuals signed up for both in-person and virtual testimony, with countless more submitting written testimonies. You can watch the testimony
** here ([link removed])
and timestamps below. A special shoutout to our Chapter’s young advocates Jasper & Miles Chen, and Albert Lee for testifying in person.
* 1:15:10 is where student testimony starts
* 5:58:13 when HB1363l is officially heard

The OCA-DC team, led by President Mary Tom, Anti-Asian Bias Advocacy Coordinator Erika Braun, Communications VP Ariel Le and student leaders Ethan Huang and Anna Jhon swiftly mobilized through student outreach, social media and email to lend their support for the impressive turnout. The success of this movement would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of numerous partners including organizations such as Asian Americans of Frederick, Frederick County Progressives, Dear Asian Youth, Sikh Coalition, United Chinese Americans, and Montgomery County Progressive Asian American Network.

This marked a crucial step forward in the legislative process. However, the journey is far from over. The success of HB1363 hinges on several critical factors. One such factor is the need to pressure Eric Ebersole, the head of the Educational Subcommittee, to prioritize the bill for discussion within his committee. Advocates are urged to reach out to Eric Ebersole at
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
to ensure the bill's inclusion on the agenda.
OCA - Greater Cleveland

During the NBA Lunar New Year game, the Cleveland Cavaliers honored Lisa Wong, president of the OCA Greater Cleveland Chapter, with the Community Diff Maker of the Game award for her positive impact in Northeast Ohio. The celebration included the Kwan Lion Dance team as the Halftime show and various activations from the AAPI community including the Cleveland Asian Festival, Greater Cleveland Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Asian Services In Action, AsiaTown Cleveland, and OPWAL as well as performances by Shojoji Japanese Dancers.
** ([link removed])
OCA - Detroit

The Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) / OCA - Detroit Chapter welcomed the Year of the Dragon with much fanfare and traditional flair at its Lunar New Year Banquet held on February 24th at the Royal Palace Restaurant in Troy, Michigan. The event, attended by 193 members and guests from diverse backgrounds, was a vibrant celebration of culture, community, and new beginnings.

The banquet commenced on a high note as Mr. Richard Mui, the newly elected President of the Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), took the stage to welcome attendees and initiate the festivities. In his brief remarks, Mr. Mui not only set the tone for the evening but also expressed gratitude and recognition to the generous sponsors whose support made the event possible.

** Read more here. ([link removed])
COMMUNITY PARTNER EVENTS
** ([link removed])
Young Voices Contributor Program

What is Young Voices?
Young Voices provides fledgling writers with the guidance needed to succeed during the most critical years of their early career. We do so by acting as a copy editor, agent, and mentor to a roster of pro-liberty writers through our cornerstone Contributors Program. Our network generates 50+ commentaries in print, online, TV, and radio every single month. On top of our public relations capabilities, our writers have exclusive access to continuing education opportunities through our program, including training and mentorship from top think tank scholars. In short, Young Voices is a one-stop-shop for aspiring intellectuals to build their brand and develop their expertise as advocates for market solutions.

What is the Contributor Program?
Young Voices’ Contributor Program is the cornerstone of our operations. Upon acceptance into the program, each new contributor has access to Young Voices’ staff of editors and media experts. We’ll act as your nonprofit PR agency, editing and pitching your articles to top publications and scheduling interviews in broadcast media. ** Click here to apply! ([link removed])

Key info about applying to the Contributors Program:
* Young Voices accepts applications from writers ages 18-35.
* Applicants should be prepared to submit their resume, an unedited op-ed draft, and a two-minute introductory video explaining why they’d like to join Young Voices. Applications are reviewed twice per year for classes of 30-40.
* Applications for the Fall 2024 class (which begins July 1, 2024) are open now and will close on May 31, 2024 at 11:59PM ET. All questions can be directed to ** [email protected] ([link removed])
.

** (mailto:[email protected])
Recruiting AANHPI Students for Mental Health Survey

NAAPIMHA is partnering with Child with ** Child Trends ([link removed])
, and ** The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) ([link removed])
to conduct a series of focus groups to look at mental health among AANHPI youth. They are on a very short turn around time and are particularly interested in identifying students representing the following populations: 1) South Asian; 2) Southeast Asian; 3) Filipinx; 4) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Multiracial and multiethnic individuals are encouraged to sign up. Study participation will include participating in completing a 15-20 minute online survey prior to the focus group and a 90-minute virtual focus group with Child Trends and AANHPI youth researchers. All activities are voluntary. Participants will be compensated with a $30 electronic gift card for their time after completion of the online survey and joining a focus group.

Interested young people or their parents/caretakers may email Winnie Chan (** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
) to sign up. We are grateful to TAAF and and Child Trends for their leadership in conducting this survey.
** (mailto:[email protected])

** (mailto:[email protected])

Cancer Pain Management: A Technology-based Intervention for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors (CAI)

Despite few studies on Asian American breast cancer survivors, it is well known that these women shoulder unnecessary burden of breast cancer because they rarely complain about symptoms or pain, delay seeking help, and rarely ask or get support due to their cultural values and beliefs and language barriers. This demonstrates a definite need for support in this specific population. However, survivorship programs that are increasingly instituted at cancer centers have serious impediments to providing information and coaching/support because of the lack of staff time and insurance reimbursement.

Furthermore, the pressure of fast-paced clinical patient-provider interactions leaves little time for health care providers to provide up-to-date information and coaching or support for these women based on their cultural attitudes. All these circumstances necessitate an innovative and creative delivery method of information and coaching/support. A technology- based approach using computers and mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) promises to meet this necessity with high flexibility and accessibility, and minimizes the cost of the intervention in busy and costly health care settings. Also, a technology-based intervention that does not involve face-to-face interactions could work better for many women from cultures where breast cancer is still a stigmatizing experience. Therefore, based on Preliminary Studies (PSs), the research team has developed and pilot-tested a theory-driven technology-based information and coaching/support program that is culturally tailored to Asian American
breast cancer survivors using multiple features.

The purpose of the proposed randomized intervention study is to develop an existing technology-based cancer pain management program with additional components for Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms (ABD) and the individual optimization functionality (CAI) and to test the efficacy of CAI in improving cancer pain experience of ABD. The specific aims are to: a) develop and evaluate CAI through an expert and a usability test; b) determine whether the intervention group will show significantly greater improvements than the control group in primary outcomes (needs for help, physical and psychological symptoms, and quality of life) from baseline (pre-test) to Time Points 1 (post 1-month) and 2 (post 3-months); c) identify theory-based variables (attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and social influences) that mediate the intervention effects of the CAI on the primary outcomes; and d) determine whether the effects of the CAI on the primary outcomes are
moderated by background, disease, genetic, and situational factors.

The proposed study will be guided by the Bandura's Theory of Behavioral Change. This study adopts a randomized repeated measures pretest/posttest control group design in 330 Asian American breast cancer survivors.

The long-term goals are to: (a) implement the program into various health care settings; (b) determine if the CAI will lead to long-term improved health outcomes; and (c) fundamentally enhance the methodology/paradigm of culturally tailored technology-based interventions for ethnic minority groups of breast cancer survivors.

If you have any questions, please contact us (contact information: ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
).
** GIVE TO OCA ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** OCA National Website ([link removed])
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 © 2024 OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.