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2025 OCA Summer Internship Program

We are now accepting applications for our 2025 summer internship program, which will be hosted in Washington, D.C. from June 2 to August 8, 2025. Undergraduate students (and recent grads) who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander (AANHPI) are encouraged to apply.
 

What to know:

  • This is a full-time, paid internship. Interns will receive a $5,250 stipend for the 10-week program.
  • Interns will gain valuable professional work experience at congressional offices, federal or local government agencies, for-profit corporations, and nonprofits (including OCA National Center).
  • Interns will attend leadership development, professional development, and personal enrichment programming, learn more about issues affecting AANHPIs, meet with legislative officials to advocate for AANHPI causes, and more.

 The Priority Deadline to apply is Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT.

The Final Deadline to apply is Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT. 
Learn More & Apply

For 35 years, OCA National Center has hosted the longest-running program for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students in the nation’s capital.

The internship program seeks to cultivate future leadership for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community by providing opportunities to work in the public sector and learn about issues affecting AANHPIs. Based in the nation's capital, interns will learn to build relationships, meet with legislative officials, and engage in leadership development workshops.

The program has successfully led past interns to become more active on their college campus and increased the presence of the AANHPI community in local, state, and federal governments. OCA intern alumni have become executive directors, legislative staffers, OCA National Executive Council members, and are leaders in the private and public sector.

Selected applicants relocate to Washington, D.C. for the duration of their internship, where they are placed to work full-time at nonprofits, federal agencies, congressional offices, for-profit corporations, and other organizations. Each Friday, interns gather at the OCA National Center office to discuss issues and engage in workshops dedicated to AANHPI issues. We call these convenings “Sama Sama” which is Tagalog for “together.” Interns also must attend and staff OCA’s National Convention, an APIA-U: Leadership training, and participate in Advocacy Day, in which they’ll be split into groups to meet with their respective members of Congress to advocate for causes important to the AANHPI community. In addition to these events, OCA interns are provided opportunities to build their professional, personal, and advocacy skills to create compassionate leaders in the AANHPI community.

Ignite the Future:
35 Years of AANHPI Advocacy

In celebration of the remarkable milestone of 35 years of the OCA Summer Internship Program, we are hosting a giving campaign to raise funds to continue offering this impactful program for the next generation of AANHPI leaders. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation or participate in our peer-to-peer fundraising competition with a chance to win a grand prize valued at over $2,500!
Learn More & Donate

In their own words

Alethea Franklin, 2024 Intern: "This internship has left me with an incredible experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. OCA has facilitated an incredible community among its interns, and we have formed deep bonds that stretch across the country. Professionally, I have a greater understanding of both the political and corporate space. I feel more confident navigating different office spaces and work environments. Being placed in such an incredible office, I feel like I am a better advocate for positive working environments as well. Through my responsibilities, I am better able to handle public facing roles, communicate more effectively, and network efficiently."

Aalaya Gurram, 2023 Intern: “The OCA internship program has been beneficial professionally as I was able to secure a full-time job as a policy associate with NAPABA, which was my OCA placement, after graduating. I was able to prove my ability to be resourceful and hardworking at NAPABA through the internship. I also gained more crucial skills in adapting to the specifics of working at NAPABA through the internship, which made me a more competitive applicant for the policy associate position.”

Jay Moran, 2022 Intern: “What makes the OCA internship program unique to me is the focus on community, real growth, and a desire to promote both professional and personal development. I have been in many internship programs throughout my life, and OCA is the only one that has continually been an active part of my life. I still keep in regular touch with my cohort and internship coordinator. OCA still shares opportunities and information with its intern cohorts. This internship goes beyond a mere summer. For many of us interns, OCA is something that stays with us for our lives, and inspires us to stay connected and do positive work for the AANHPI community. I know for myself personally, I am truly dedicated to joining an OCA Chapter or helping start one depending on where I live in the future. This is a program that sparks change and connection, and I know that so many intern alumni feel the same.”

Ana Luo Cai, 2020 Intern: My internship exposed me to the greater OCA network and the depth of Asian/American advocacy work across the country. I most likely would not have become an OCA-NY board member had I not been an intern with National first. I have become even more involved with my local NYC community than I would have anticipated and it all goes back to my internship experience in Summer 2020 with OCA."
Watch the 2024 OCA Summer Internship Recap Video
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