📣 Take the 2025 OCA Audience Survey! Your feedback helps us better understand our members and supporters, including who you are, what issues matter most, and how OCA can best serve our communities in today’s social and political climate.
Your feedback will guide OCA’s priorities, programs, and advocacy. You’ll also have a chance to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards! 💳
As part of our holiday giving, and with a recognition of potential gaps in SNAP payments, we are increasing our support for hunger-relief and community partners
We have added a one-click donation as part of the Thanksgiving Holiday Meal Basket — we will match those donations up to $500,000. We will also run a round-up on Walmart.com to support Salvation Army throughout December, which we will match customer online donations 1:1 up to $1 million.
We are running a round-up campaign on Walmart.com to meet immediate needs of military families, supporting Operation Homefront, and increased our match of customer online donations from 1:1 to 2:1, up to $2 million.
$3.5 million.We will match associate donations made on our platform 1:1 during our upcoming Season of Giving Campaign. For donations to Feeding America and its food banks, we added a 2:1 match, for a total commitment up to
We’re also leveraging our Spark Good platform to support local organizations during this time. If your organization wants to mobilize local support, here are a couple of helpful resources:
Spark Good Registry — Verified nonprofits and schools can create lists of needed products and gift cards to share with supporters. Walmart ships purchased items directly to the organization, while perishable items like food are shipped to a local Walmart store for convenient pickup by the organization or customer. This makes it easy to coordinate drives or events – including food drives – and share via social channels or newsletters.https://walmart.com/sparkgood
Spark Good Round Up — Supporters can round up their purchases on Walmart.com or in the Walmart app to benefit an eligible nonprofit. When customers select an organization at checkout, they’re prompted to donate their spare change.https://walmart.com/sparkgood
Walmart and Sam’s Club donate food every day through Feeding America® and its network of local food banks and partner pantries. This ensures that products from our stores, clubs, and distribution centers move quickly and safely to those who need it most, helping meet urgent needs at scale. Last year, we donated more than 750 million pounds of food to local food banks across the country. You can use this [link] to find your local foodbank partner https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank.
Location: Chinese Culture Center at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District, 750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
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As part of our effort to build a national museum dedicated to Asian Pacific American history and culture, the bipartisan, congressionally appointed National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission is hosting convenings and listening sessions across the country. Your voice and perspective will help shape this historic initiative.
To be considered to present during the listening session, we invite participants to share their comments or reflections ahead of time. You may submit your input to the Commission by following the instructions below.
We hope you will join us for this important gathering and help shape the future of telling our communities’ stories.
For questions, and ADA / ASL / language interpretation requests, email [email protected].Â
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COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
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To be considered to present comments during this event, please submit comments (no more than 250 words) to [email protected]. Please note that submission does not guarantee a speaking role; you will receive written confirmation if you are pre-selected to present your comments during the listening session.
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Your comments can answer any of the following questions and topics:
How do we ensure Asian Pacific American history and culture are adequately represented in a future national museum?
How can we best engage Asian Pacific Americans in the museum’s creation?
Should the museum be in Washington, DC or elsewhere?
(Below are optional, only if applicable to you/your knowledge)
Should the museum be part of the Smithsonian Institution?
What do you see as the impact of a national museum on regional Asian Pacific American history museums, cultural centers, and academic institutions?
Following the event, all participants will have an opportunity to further provide written input to inform the Commission’s findings.
Thank you to our October donors: Rogene Gee Calvert, Andrew Lee, Huy Pham, Katherine Coleman, Chih-Wu Chang, Jeff Shieh, Austin Tao, Julie Mak, and Amy Wipfler 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.
PRESS RELEASE
OCA Mourns the Passing of Labor Leader Kent Wong
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates honors the legacy of Kent Wong, a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication to justice, labor, and civic empowerment transformed immigrant rights and helped build enduring bridges between the AANHPI, labor, and civic engagement movements. Click here to read more.
OCA Condemns SNAP Cuts Amid Government Shutdown
The federal government’s failure to fund SNAP during the shutdown and refusal to use contingency funds threatens millions of families, including AANHPI communities. Click here to read more.
OCA Celebrates Historic AAPI Victories Nationwide
This historic election year saw groundbreaking AAPI victories driven by language access and cultural organizing, with voters prioritizing housing, the economy, and rejecting anti-immigrant rhetoric. Click here to read more.
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.
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!
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 35Â years. Fill out the form.
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
OCA - Greater Los Angeles Chapter
OCA-GLA PARTICIPATES IN CHINESE MASSACRE COMMEMORATION
On Friday, October 24, 2025, the Chinese American Museum (CAM) of Los Angeles held a commemoration for the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre of 1871, one of the worst atrocities in American history. Â The deadly violence committed by approximately 500 white and Latino Americans claimed the lives of 18 Chinese residents in the old Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles 154 years ago on October 24, 1871. Â Victims of racial hate were attacked, threatened, robbed, and murdered. Â The victims never received justice nor reparations or compensation for their losses. A few perpetrators were initially convicted of manslaughter, however their convictions were later overturned on technicalities, and no one served significant prison time. Â The tragedy was largely forgotten but CAM continues with its annual observance. Â OCA-Greater Los Angeles was one of many local community organizations invited to participate in the solemn event by sponsoring wreaths for each of the victims. An outreach table offering free LA vs. Hate information was manned by OCA-GLA member volunteers.
The LA vs. Hate program is L.A. County's anti-hate initiative to support residents and combat hate crimes and incidents through community-centered messaging, support for victims, and a system for reporting hate. It is led by the LA County Commission on Human Relations and collaborates with organizations like 211 LA to provide resources and promote healing and solidarity. Visit LAvsHate.org for more information.
OCA-GLA JOINS DIALOGUE WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS IN CIVICS DAY 2025
The Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) of Los Angeles hosted Civics Day 2025: Listen. Learn. Lead, where six elected officials engaged with an audience that included young activists and voters, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the C.A.C.A. Los Angeles lodge in Chinatown.
The six panelists were Stan Liu, councilmember, City of Diamond Bar; Henry Lo, mayor pro tem, City of Monterey Park; Jeff Maloney, vice mayor, City of Alhambra; Denise Menchaca, mayor, City of San Gabriel; Jeff Prang, assessor, Los Angeles County; and Thomas Wong, councilmember, City of Monterey Park. OCA-Greater Los Angeles served as a community sponsor and OCA-GLA Board Member Christopher Nakatsuka served on the panel of interviewers.
The young interviewers posed questions to the panelists organized into broad themes, which allowed them to address issues such as divided government, immigration, hate, and voter participation based not so much on panelists' roles in government, but through sharing their observations, personal and practical philosophies, and work experience. The discourse was candid, lively, educational, and inspiring. Â Because one of the themes addressed the alarming polarization and divisiveness in society, C.A.C.A. Los Angeles heralded the public forum as part of the United Against Hate Week (October 19-25) of Los Angeles County.
OCA-GLA MENTIONED IN ARTICLE ON THE MAHJONG POPULARITY IN L.A. COUNTY
LAist is the independent nonprofit media organization that provides news, culture, and storytelling for Southern California through its NPR-affiliated radio station (LAist 89.3 FM), website (LAist.com), and podcasts. Last month it featured an article on the growing popularity of mahjong in Southern California across all ages, mainly focused on the grassroots organization Mahjong Underground that provided support and training for OCA-GLA's Intergenerational Community Mahjong program earlier this year. Â In the article, the group recognized OCA-GLA as laying the groundwork for the mahjong events at Monterey Park's Langley Senior Center, made possible by a grant from the Monterey Park Community Healing Fund established in the wake of the 2023 mass shooting to promote unity and celebrate resiliency.
OCA - Georgia held a fun-filled Mooncake Friendsgiving to fellowship with members on October 9th, 2025. Â
Over 50 attended, including our past presidents Rosemary Watts (2005) and Philip Wu (2001–2004), as well as Wooi Yi (wife of beloved, late Alfred Yi).
Dinner was catered by General Tso, and generously sponsored by owner Patrick Cheng. Â The evening was made more special with an impressive performance by High Schooler, Sophia Naddaf on the Guzheng and another by Arianna Phathammavong on a Cambodian Xylophone or Roneat.
Some chatted over board games and mahjong. Most excitingly, five guests expressed interest in joining OCA Georgia, and three new members signed up.
OCA - Wisconsin Chapter
OCA - Wisconsin Chapter is proud to have elevated the history of Chinese Americans who have been part of the fabric of Milwaukee’s community since the late 1800s as first generation immigrants and subsequent generations in making Milwaukee their home. The OCA - Wisconsin team proposed for and was awarded a historical marker by the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) to commemorate the Chinese Laundry Era which lasted over 110 years. At its peak in the 1940s there were over 75 hand laundries in Milwaukee. The families in these hand laundry businesses washed, dried, and pressed clothes before home laundry machines and dryers became the norm.
The Laundry Era historical marker is now installed at the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin which includes the building where the Fred Moy Laundry was in business from 1940-1976. The YWCA bought the building in the 1990s to house their operations, and then seamlessly integrated it with their subsequent expansion.
OCA - Wisconsin is proud to honor this place-based history with the YWCA through the unveiling of the WHS historical marker on October 24th and sharing of the histories of our communities. At our celebration event we had a capacity audience of over 125 community leaders who witnessed our presentation and unveiling ceremony, along with a short documentary about the significance of our marker to the Milwaukee community.
Many thanks to Adam Carr, Adrian Chan, and Anna Wong of OCA - Wisconsin for developing the proposals for the WHS historical markers, the YWCA team for partnering in creating this dedication celebration, and the Pomeroy Foundation and Wisconsin Historical Society for granting us this opportunity to honor this history. We also thank filmmaker Yinan Wang for creating the short doc. And hats off to the Milwaukee Chinese American community from this era for sharing their experiences and stories.
OCA - San Mateo Chapter
OCA - San Mateo was at the City of Millbrae’s 20th Japanese Cultural Festival on 10/5/25 with a booth on voter education and gave away paper peace cranes. It was also the Autumn Moon Festival so they hung up colorful handmade paper lanterns and set up a mahjong table that attracted curious onlookers. Standing next to San Mateo chapter president Aimee Yan is Claudine Cheng, a former National President of OCA NationalÂ
OCA - Greater Tucson Chapter
OCA - Greater Tucson supported the APIDA Fund Launch through Board Members on October 16, 2025.
In addition to supporting community projects, the Launch was a branding and reputation opportunity for OCA - Greater Tucson to demonstrate the Chapter’s collaborative philosophy. Wendy Karahalios, owner eHotPot and Treasurer/Immediate Past President and Leslie Moe-Kaiser, owner Dynasty Pearls and President were sponsors of the launch of the APIDA Fund of Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. They are also founding contributors to the Fund which will support AANHPI Tucson projects developed by small nonprofits.Â
CHAPTER EVENTS
Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America by OCA - St. Louis Chapter
You’re invited to an exclusive, free film screening of Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America this Sunday, November 9!
Join OCA this Sunday in St. Louis for this exclusive, free film screening.
Making Waves is a timely, thought-provoking about the vital role that ethnic studies have in shaping the narrative about Asians in America. Asian American Studies (AAS) dramatically influenced and empowered a generation of activists who leveraged their heightened awareness of systemic racism to build community organizations, political power, and cross-racial alliances. Making Waves tells the story of past and present Asian American movements fueled by a legacy of anti-Asian hate. Activist, educators, and the profound voices of youth articulate the necessity to counter the harmful stereotypes that persist in America and share the stories of Asian America as a vital chapter of this country’s history.
Advocacy Leadership Summit by OCA - Greater Phoenix Chapter
The Advocacy Leadership Summit 2025 is a three-day intensive event designed for college students, recent graduates, and community leaders to move from passion to impact. Through expert mentorship, strategic advocacy training, and powerful networking opportunities, participants will learn how to transform ideas into action, engage directly with policymakers, and build lasting partnerships.
DATE: Saturday, November 15 - Monday, November 17 LOCATION: Sema Foundation (325 N. Austin Dr #4 Chandler, AZ 85226)
You're Invited to the OCA Greater Tucson Gala! Meet our Special Guest, Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva! Join us as we celebrate leadership and honor outstanding individuals.Â
DATE: Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM MST LOCATION: 7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson, AZ 85756
