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Action Alert: Help End Racial Profiling

🚨 On November 1-5, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC will launch a week of action focused on the racial profiling of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants. We invite you to join us as we conduct legislative visits and push for an end to the government's profiling of scientists, researchers, and scholars of Asian descent.
⚖️ Why this matters: In addition to the recent spike in anti-Asian hate this past year, there have also been increased efforts to racially target Asian Americans and Asian immigrants via the U.S. Department of Justice’s “China Initiative.” This resurgent xenophobia has created enormous fear among our communities as we see teachers, friends, and family members being stigmatized as “perpetual foreigners” and profiled as spies in a country they call home.

GET INVOLVED

📅 Attend a training session: Learn more about how to speak with congressional offices on Oct. 18 and Oct. 26.

🗣️ Join our week of action: Participate in virtual meetings with House and Senate offices and share your concerns about racial profiling.

🏛️ Amplify facts: Lift up the stories of Asian Americans and immigrants affected by racial profiling on social media. Follow @OCANational and @AAAJ_AAJC on Twitter for updates!

📧 Questions? Email Associate Manager of Policy & Advocacy Michael Nguyen if your chapter would like to participate.

UPDATES

This Week: 2021 Corporate Achievement Awards

Each year, OCA National Center recognizes AAPI excellence, achievement, and leadership in the corporate sector through our Corporate Achievement Awards. Join us all week for our 30th annual virtual celebration featuring two special panel discussions followed by our awards gala!

Panel — Beyond the Hashtags: What Else Can Companies Do?
Wednesday, October 13 at 4:00 PM EST
👉 Register here.

Panel — What's Your Role? How Can Individuals Get Involved Both Within the Company But Also Community?
Thursday, October 14 at 4:00 PM EST
👉 Register here.

Corporate Achievement Awards Virtual Gala
Friday, October 15 at 6:00 PM EST
👉 Register here.

✍️ Other updates you may have missed...

Announcement — Meet Our New Development & Policy Associate!
We're excited to welcome Caroline Buaron (she/her) to the OCA team! A proud Filipina-American from New Jersey, Caroline hopes to be a part of the effort in disaggregating AAPI data in order to create and recommend policies that justly represent each distinct community. Read more.

🎓 Update — OCA Names First-Ever S.Y. & S.F. Fung Public Service Scholar
Last week, we announced that University of Massachusetts Boston graduate student Jessica Wong will be awarded $2,000 as part of OCA’s mission to increase AAPI participation in advocacy and government. Read more.

News — California Gov. Signs Angelo Quinto Act Into Law
On Sept. 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill named after Angelo Quinto, who died last December after a police officer knelt on his neck for five minutes during a mental health crisis. Our hearts go out to Angelo’s family who continue to seek justice. Read more.

🍿 From the Blog — Review: No Time to Die
Writer and director Cary Joji Fukunaga ends Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond with an emotionally-satisfying conclusion, writes OCA Associate Manager of Programs Kent Tong. Read more.

POLICY CORNER

✏️ Update — K-12 AANHPI Curriculum Project
We're working with educational partners and OCA chapters to create a national database of AANHPI curriculum that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive of its treatment of AAPI history. If you know any K-12 teachers, please encourage them to fill out this teacher survey (particularly those identifying as SEA, South Asian, and/or NHPI). And if you are interested in learning more about the project and joining a subcommittee, please complete this survey. Congratulations to the following Subcommittee Co-Chairs: Yvonne So and William Gow (Advocacy & Outreach Subcommittee) and Ting-Yi Oei and Anusha Nadkarni (Curriculum Development & Vetting Subcommittee).

🗳️ Recap — National Voter Registration Day
On September 28, we partnered with APIAVote to celebrate National Voter Registration Day! The AAPI community remains the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., and as our population grows, so does our potential to influence policymakers. Congratulations to OCA's Utah chapter for organizing an in-person voter registration drive in Salt Lake City!

SUPPORT OUR WORK

Have questions for OCA's policy team? Contact [email protected].

SPOTLIGHT

More than 1,200 people attended a community healing + solidarity event organized by OCA's New York chapter and more than a dozen partners in Brooklyn's Sunset Park last month. 500+ free backpacks, 300+ boxes and bags of fresh groceries, and 700+ safety alarms were distributed to families and seniors. View a video recap of the event here. Photo courtesy of Brianna Cea.

OCA's Greater Los Angeles chapter held its annual summer picnic in Garvey Ranch Park on September 19. The popular tradition had been cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but OCA-GLA made up for it by treating attendees to a delicious meal that included tri-tip, smoke-roasted chicken, and rice from The Park's Finest, a past Image Award recipient. Photo courtesy of Edward Lew.

📅 EVENTS + OPPORTUNITIES

October 15: Preventative Healthcare for AAPI Women

Join OCA National Center for our third Instagram Live Baking event on Friday! In this episode, we'll be baking strawberry cupcakes while discussing the importance of preventative healthcare for AAPI women. 👩‍🍳 Learn more.

📚 October 21: Experiencing AAPI History Through Literature
Learn about the historical significance of terms like "yellow peril" and "perpetual foreigner" through an exploration of Young Adult Literature with OCA-Greater Phoenix Board Chair Yvonne So. Email [email protected] for details.

October 23: APA-Y 2021
Enjoy a free, half-day interactive training for AAPI high school leaders with OCA's Greater Phoenix chapter in Arizona! Attendees will develop leadership skills, discuss the importance of advocacy, and investigate concepts surrounding AAPI identity. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Register here.

🏆 October 30: OCA-GLA Image Awards
Save the date for OCA-Greater Los Angeles' 30th Annual Image Awards! This year's in-person, outdoor reception (which includes tea, desserts, and sandwiches) will be held from 3-5 PM PST at the Chado Tea Room in Little Tokyo. Register here.

From Our Partners: UPS Positions Available!

UPS has part-time and seasonal positions available as it gears up to deliver packages to millions of customers during the holiday season! Applicants must be 18 years or older to apply. Scan the QR codes above for details.

GIVE TO OCA

OCA National Center
Embracing the hopes and aspirations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

1322 18th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

Copyright © 2021 OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, All rights reserved.

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