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UPDATES
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Seattle Convention Early Bird Ends on April 30
🚨 Don’t miss the EARLY BIRD deal! Register for #OCACON now to secure discounted prices. Gain exclusive access to convention events, including luncheons, dinner receptions, and a seat at the Awards Gala!
** GET YOUR TICKETS ([link removed])
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Unfinished Event Series
🌟 This April, OCA will host Unfinished – Cycles We Break, Stories We Rewrite, a special event series featuring Susan Lieu and Elizabeth Ai. Held in anticipation of APAHM, the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American resettlement in the U.S., and Mother’s Day, the series explores personal and intergenerational narratives at the heart of Lieu’s memoir and Ai’s film.
** REGISTER FOR THE EVENTS HERE ([link removed])
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2025 President's Circle Initiative
📢Calling all OCA Chapters!

Want to fund your community project and make an impact? The President’s Circle Initiative is your chance! Submit a proposal to receive funding for community-building and advocacy projects—and pitch your vision to donors at the 2025 OCA National Convention in Seattle! 🌟
🔹 Chapters must have a $1,000+ funder in the Circle to qualify
🔹 Submit your proposal now: ** bit.ly/2025pciproposal ([link removed])

🔹 Learn more: ** bit.ly/joinocapci ([link removed])

Don’t miss this opportunity to amplify your chapter’s voice! 💪🏽✨

** SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE ([link removed])
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NCAPA Story Collection
We are looking for AANHPI perspectives on how recent executive orders have impacted different members of the community. We are looking to collect stories from community members and organizations on how they currently rely on federal programs, such as health care, social security, and language access or adversely impacted by policy changes to immigration, education, equity and inclusion, and beyond. We would be grateful for your perspective on these federal changes if you have them and also if you could support us in sharing our storybank with your partners, members, and community.
** SHARE YOUR STORY TODAY ([link removed])
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Share Your OCA Origin Story!
For 50 years, OCA has been a powerful voice for our communities, growing and evolving—from the Organization of Chinese Americans to OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates. But our true strength comes from you—our members, volunteers, and supporters who have shaped this journey.

We want to celebrate your experiences, your impact, and the stories that connect us. Whether you've been with OCA for decades or just joined, your voice matters. Take a moment to share your story and be part of the legacy we continue to build together!These testimonials will play a vital role in our storytelling efforts, helping us highlight the impact of OCA through our members' voices.

Your story could be featured in IMAGE Magazine, on our social media, or in our monthly newsletter!
** SHARE YOUR OCA STORY TODAY ([link removed])
2025 JACL/OCA Leadership Summit
From March 15-18, JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) and OCA partnered to host the annual JACL/OCA Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. The summit brought together 28 members from both organizations, providing them with opportunities for education and advocacy. The event culminated in congressional visits to support key legislation, including the “Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act,” the “Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act,” and the “Neighbors Not Enemies Act.”

We extend our gratitude to State Farm for their generous support, which makes this invaluable experience possible every year. We also sincerely thank AT&T for providing the meeting space to help creating an engaging and productive environment for all participants.
March Donors
Thank you to our March donors, Amy Wipfler, Mons Lovaas, Rich Cheng, Christine Okoko, Dennis Barnes, Linda Jean Bain, and Andrew Lee, for your generous contributions towards the President's Circle Initiative! Your contributions directly support local OCA chapter programs and projects that impact AANHPI communities around the country.
MEET OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBERS
Cassandra "Cassie" Micah (she/her) is the Programs Associate at OCA National Center, where she supports the development and facilitation of OCA's youth programs, including high school and college leadership and advocacy training and OCA's scholarships and internships. Cassie was born in Guam and raised in the Pacific Northwest to Micronesian parents. She later moved to Washington, D.C. to attend George Washington University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in International Affairs, focusing on conflict resolution and the Asia-Pacific region. Throughout her academic career, she dedicated her research to studying issues impacting Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. and globally. As an undergraduate, Cassie interned at two federal agencies - Homeland Security Investigations: Honolulu and the Office of Personnel Management's Office of Congressional, Legislative, and Intergovernmental Affairs, and an NHPI nonprofit - the National Association of Pasifika Organizations, all of which
cultivated her passion for service. Outside of the classroom, she also oversaw the programming for a student experiential learning organization and engaged in an Oceania youth leadership program, experiences where she found joy in youth development and programming. Cassie is excited to bring her experiences in advocacy and youth programming to OCA to uplift her community. In her free time, Cassie enjoys dancing ori Tahiti at her local Pasifika cultural center, visiting cafes and museums with friends, and baking.
Amelia Lagna (she/her) is the Programs Intern at OCA National Center placed by the UCDC Internship Program. She is a third-year English major at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Growing up in Palo Alto as a first-generation American with half Japanese and half Italian heritage, Amelia developed a unique perspective on cultural identity. This multicultural upbringing fostered her appreciation for her Asian heritage and shaped her commitment to advocating for AANHPI communities. At UCSB, Amelia has pursued her passion for educational equity through her Research Internship with School Kids Investigating Language in Life and Society (SKILLS), exploring teaching methods for multilingual K-12 students. Before transferring to UCSB, she tutored diverse students as a Peer Statistics Tutor at Foothill College's Pass the Torch Program, working with adult learners and ESL students. Amelia aims to continue this work by pursuing a career in educational advocacy for underserved minorities,
particularly within the community college system where she began her higher education journey. She is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments that honor diverse cultural perspectives, complemented by her artistic interests—as demonstrated in her work researching arts-based teaching methods with SKILLS. In her free time, Amelia enjoys bouldering, playing musical instruments, watching movies, reading literature, writing and drawing.
Skyler Murao (she/her) the Communications Intern at OCA National Center placed by the UCDC Internship Program. She is a third year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Sciences as well as a minor in Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of California, Irvine. She was born in the Washington D.C. area and grew up on Oahu, Hawai’i. Surrounded by family and raised with a deep understanding of her heritage, she has cultivated a passion for serving her community, fostered by the local culture in Hawai’i. Skyler is interested in mental health care, particularly in improving accessibility for marginalized communities. Additionally, Skyler’s interests in equity and social justice drive her dedication to advocacy and empowering overlooked groups. Her background and identity equips her to connect with and support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Skyler has experience working with nonprofit organizations such as the
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i and the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders as an undergraduate student, helping design and lead community engagement projects and resources focused on education and youth leadership. She also volunteers at Spill the Tea Café, a nonprofit mental health clinic and safe space for teens that focuses on accessible mental health care and mentoring. On her campus, she is a staff member of the UCI Art Club Collective where she collaborates to build a supportive space for women and queer student communities. Her academic pursuits, combined with these valuable experiences, have bolstered Skyler’s passion for community engagement and connection.
PRESS RELEASES & STATEMENTS
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Campaign Legal Center Sues Elon Musk and DOGE for Exercising Unchecked Power and Harming Everyday Americans
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates joins the Campaign Legal Center (CLC), the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the Sierra Club, and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in taking legal action against Elon Musk and DOGE for unlawfully cutting federal funding, dismantling agencies, and firing employees. ** Click here to read more. ([link removed])

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OCA Joins Lawsuit Challenging President Trump’s Executive Order Targeting Voter Registration
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates has joined a lawsuit against President Trump’s executive order on voter registration, arguing that it unlawfully overrides congressional and state authority and threatens to disenfranchise millions. ** Click here to read more. ([link removed])

EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
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U.S. Writers Aid Initiative Grant Opportunities
** The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative (USWAI) ([link removed])
is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported. Grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis by a volunteer committee of literary peers in consultation with PEN America staff.

Writers currently enrolled in degree-granting programs are also not eligible. Writers do not have to be Members of PEN America to receive a grant, but all recipients of emergency funding will be given a complimentary one-year PEN America membership.

Questions may be addressed to ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Website link ** HERE ([link removed])
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** ([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 35 years. ** Fill out the form ([link removed])
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CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

OCA - Greater Los Angeles Chapter
Los Angeles Day of Remembrance
Saturday, February 15, 2025

The Day of Remembrance commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and authorized the U.S. military to forcibly remove persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast. The executive order set into motion the incarceration of roughly 120,000 people of Japanese descent in concentration camps locates in mostly remote and harsh regions throughout the Western United States during World War II. Because the event’s annual host, the Japanese American National Museum, is under renovation, the Los Angeles DOR event took place at the Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple also located in Little Tokyo.

OCA - Greater Los Angeles has been a proud supporter of the annual event and a longtime member of the event planning committee. A program highlight was a compelling panel honoring Nikkei Women who dedicated their lives in the pursuit of justice for the unconstitutional imprisonment of Japanese Americans and the continuing stigma that still haunts many in the present. OCA - GLA member Sharon Oda, the daughter of camp veterans and redress advocates, was one of several emcees.
Monterey Park Community Cleanup
Saturday, March 1, 2025
On Saturday, March 1, 2025, OCA - Greater Los Angeles (OCA - GLA) organized a Monterey Park Cleanup event with the support of community volunteers from Southern California Gas, California State University Los Angeles, Mark Keppel High School, Gabrielino High School, Compass Realtors, and concerned residents of the City.

Teams assigned to the north and south blocks of Garvey Avenue were provided cleanup tools by Clean California, a statewide program that aims to reduce litter and beautify California. The program includes litter clean-up projects, community engagement, and job creation. Volunteers were armed with canisters, pickup claws, gloves, safety vests, trash bags and mini digital scales to weigh the trash collected.

Funding and donations of resources and services for the community beautification of Monterey Park were made possible by Clean California (Solsken Public Relations & Marketing), San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD), May Lam Kunka (Compass Realtor), Konrad Loo (audio services) and the City of Monterey Park Recreation and Community Services.

The City of Monterey Park Mayor Vinh Ngo and Council members Henry Lo and Thomas Wong participated in the cleanup event.

Volunteers were acknowledged and thanked by Monterey Park Mayor Ngo, SGVMWD Board member and former MPK Mayor Mike Eng, and OCA-GLA President Emeritus Edward Lew.

More than 100 pounds of litter, garbage, debris were collected along Garvey Avenue between Atlantic Blvd. to the West and New Avenue to the East. The collected trash was safely disposed of by MPK Recreation and Community Services.

Ed Lew Emcees the Firecracker 5K/10K
Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9, 2025

An annual celebration that involves almost all of Los Angeles Chinatown and surrounding communities, the annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker is one of the largest and oldest running races in the United States. The two-day celebration features the Lunar New Year run, walk, cycling, and dog walk events at the historic Los Angeles Chinatown Plaza. One of the event’s recognized fixtures is OCA - GLA’s Ed Lew who has served as the event host or co-host since 2022. As emcee, the former Greater Los Angeles Chapter president and National Board officer and member provides participants with important information about the weekend’s events, including course rules and safety guidelines and tips. He also acknowledges and introduces sponsors and supporters and entertains participants at the starting line. As timekeeper, Ed helps to ensure that our event stays on schedule. Firecracker weekend doesn’t end with outdoor activities. Its post-events festival also is a two-day expo featuring exhibitors, vendors,
children’s programs, a beer garden, and plenty of live entertainment free to the public.
OCA - Greater Tucson Chapter
March 8 - Resume Writing & 2-Minute Speech Workshop
On March 8, OCA - Greater Tucson hosted a Resume Writing & 2-Minute Speech Workshop for Pima Community College (PCC) AANHPI students, the Chinese Student Association of University of Arizona, and OCA high school members. PCC graciously offered the venue and AANHPI faculty as coaches, alongside management level professionals from OCA. They provided personalized assessments to 12 participants, helping them develop strong resumes and speaking skills for job searches and interviews. The workshop focused on creating impactful self-introductions and boosting self-confidence. Giveaways and lunch were generously provided by OCA members and eHotPot. Special thanks to coaches Yoshi Delgado, Richard Koo, Karen Tham, and others, as well as Clint Mossman for creating an eye-catching flyer for the event.
March 15-16 - Tucson Festival of Books
Dedicated individuals and supporters generously offered their time to staff the OCA - Greater Tucson Booth at the Tucson Festival of Books on March 15-16. With attendance of over 130,000, this event provided a fantastic platform to share the OCA story with a broad audience. High school volunteers Loan Tran and Olivia Slaughter led booth presence by setting up the booth, handing out Chapter brochures, and showcasing the 2025 Calendar of Programs. The booth saw over 170 visitors, with around 20 new subscribers signing up for the Chapter Newsletter. Some attendees took voter registration forms, while all enjoyed chocolate fortune cookies—we ran out—supplied by eHotPot. Owner Wendy Karahalios, Immediate Past Tucson President, generously donated gift certificates to each volunteer.
March 20 - Chinese Student Association, University of Arizona. 2-Minute Elevator Speech Workshop
The Chapter sponsored the elevator speech workshop which was attended by fifteen members of the Chinese Student Association. Students developed or strengthened their existing elevator speeches with the assistance of two AANHPI professors, and PhD. Candidate from the Communications Department who led breakout groups. Each student gave their sound bites to their group and came away with valuable, practical feedback. For seniors, the workshop was especially beneficial for interview preparations. Treats were provided by OCA - Greater Tucson.

OCA - San Mateo Chapter
A cohort of 22 students completed OCA San Mateo's 6 week Speak and Lead with Pride Program. A speech contest was held on 3/5/24 with 4 finalists winning cash prizes. This is the 21st year that this popular program has been offered to high school students to help them improve their public speaking skills and confidence.

OCA San Mateo held their Lunar New Year Spring Luncheon on 3/16 with 50 people attending. The theme was "Prosperity in the Year of the Snake". Participants had an opportunity to network and learn about financial scams, how to start a small business, and financial literacy.
CHAPTER EVENTS
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Night Market Gala by OCA - St. Louis Chapter
OCA - St. Louis Chapter is thrilled to host our Night Market Gala again this year, offering a unique and engaging experience. Our Night Market Gala is a fundraising and community event scheduled for Sunday, May 18 from 7-10 pm at Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park.

We are pleased to offer early bird discounts from now until midnight on April 15, 2025. For General Admission, use the code "earlybird150" to save $25 per ticket. For Young Professional tickets, use the code "earlybird45" to save $5 per ticket.

Now more than ever, it’s important to uplift and celebrate our local pan-Asian community. Join us for an evening of fun, delicious food, dancing, and community building while supporting local AANHPI businesses and organizations!
OCA Advocate STL has been dedicated to advancing the social, political, and well-being of the AANHPI community for over 50 years, with St. Louis as a founding chapter. We aim to empower the next generation of leaders.

By attending, you will be supporting our mission of advocacy, programming, education, and supporting the AANHPI community. OCA’s programming has included our Women’s Summit, Mentorship Programs, Educational film screenings, Youth Prize, the Tao Leadership Scholarship, Community Picnic, and forthcoming Get Out The Vote efforts and more, contributing to a lasting impact in the city and beyond.
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OCA National Center
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