Last week, New Jersey created an AAPI curriculum requirement for public schools, following in the footsteps of Illinois’ TEAACH Act.

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** A Victory for AANHPI History Advocates 🎉
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* What’s happening: OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates is working with Diversify Our Narrative, Teach For America, the 1882 Foundation, and OCA chapters to create a national database of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander curriculum that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive of its treatment of AANHPI history.
* Why this matters: Last week, New Jersey became the second state ([link removed]) to create an AAPI curriculum requirement for public schools, following in the footsteps of Illinois’ TEAACH Act ([link removed]) and indicating that the push to teach our communities’ history to K-12 students is picking up steam.
* The latest: Our team is currently developing lesson plans that encapsulate the mission of OCA’s K-12 AANHPI Curriculum Project ([link removed]) . We’ve also launched a new digital hub that will house resources and classroom materials for students, parents, and educators.

GET INVOLVED

✏️ If you know of any K-12 teachers (particularly those identifying as Southeast Asian, South Asian, or NHPI), encourage them to fill out this survey. ([link removed])

📝 If you are interested in joining a subcommittee, please complete this survey. ([link removed])

📷 Participate in our photo gallery! This will be featured on our website to encourage folks to join the project. Details can be found here. ([link removed])

🗣️ We're collecting local stories to use in our lesson plans. Email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for more details.

❤️ Finally... We're hiring a K-12 AANHPI Curriculum Development Project intern! ([link removed])

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UPDATES
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Celebrating the Year of the Tiger Stamp

Last week, OCA welcomed the unveiling of the United States Postal Service’s latest ** Lunar New Year commemorative stamp ([link removed])
, with the “First Day of Issue Dedication Ceremony” for the Year of the Tiger taking place in New York City.

Why it matters: The idea of a commemorative stamp honoring Chinese and Asian American cultures and history came from OCA Georgia Chapter member Jean Chen in 1986. In 1991, then-OCA National President Claudine Cheng spearheaded a campaign urging USPS to consider the proposal. The concept was widely welcomed and the first Lunar New Year Stamp celebrating the Year of the Rooster was unveiled at OCA's National Convention in San Jose in 1992. ** Learn more here. ([link removed])

✍️ Other updates you may have missed...
* ** OCA and JACL Release Joint Statement on the Anniversary of the January 6th Insurrection ([link removed])
* ** AAPI Advocates Respond to President Biden’s Voting Rights Speech in Georgia ([link removed])
* ** State Farm Awards $217,500 to Support OCA’s 2022 Youth and Professional Development Programs ([link removed])

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📰 OCA in the News — Penn Dean Pursues Sanctions Against Anti-Asian Professor
OCA National Center ** joined with our Philadelphia and Pittsburgh chapters ([link removed])
in urging the University of Pennsylvania to fire racist law professor Amy Wax, leading to coverage in the ** Philadelphia Inquirer ([link removed])
, ** KYW Newsradio ([link removed])
, and other local media.

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January 28: AAPI Hate Crimes Webinar — The Inconsistent Treatment of Filipino Americans
Join OCA National Center's Lady Marie Bulilan this Friday at 6pm ET for our next AAPI history webinar, where we'll discuss the evolution of the Filipino American experience as well as the U.S.'s record of exploitation. ** Register now. ([link removed])

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🔥 2022 Summer Internship Applications are Live — Priority Deadline: January 30
Applications for OCA National Center's Summer Internship Program are open, and the priority deadline is less than a week away! All undergraduate students (and recent grads) who apply before 1/30 will be considered for this full-time, paid opportunity in Washington, D.C. ** Learn more. ([link removed])

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We're Hiring! — Apply to be Our K-12 Curriculum Development Project Intern
You'll work closely with OCA's K-12 AANHPI Curriculum Task Force to develop and promote educational resources and curricula that are inclusive of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander histories and issues. This is a remote, part-time, and paid opportunity. ** Apply now. ([link removed])

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🚗 From the Blog — Review: Drive My Car
Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s film is one of the best of 2021, delivering a subtle, yet rich tale of grief, acceptance, forgiveness, and moving on, writes OCA Associate Manager of Programs Kent Tong. ** Read more. ([link removed])

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Call for Submissions — IMAGE Magazine
OCA National Center is now accepting submissions for the 2022 issue of IMAGE, one of the oldest and longest-running English-language publications serving AAPI communities in the U.S. We're collecting art, op-eds, poetry, creative writing, and other forms of digital media. ** Email submissions to [email protected]. (mailto:[email protected]?subject=IMAGE%20Magazine)

POLICY CORNER
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Promoting the Affordable Connectivity Program

The Infrastructure and Jobs Act, signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021, established the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP's funding of $14.2 billion will modify and extend the Emergency Benefit Broadband Program (EBB), helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet services, and ensures they can afford the broadband needed for work, school, healthcare and more.
* Why you should care: The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
* What's next: In the coming months, OCA will be mobilizing organizations and chapters to help raise awareness about the ACP Program. Check out the ** website ([link removed])
for information on eligibility criteria and how to enroll, as well as the ** ACP Consumer Outreach Toolkit ([link removed])
, which includes social media images, fact sheets, and other outreach content and materials that can be customized for consumer awareness campaigns.

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🗳️ Update — U.S. Senate Fails to Pass Voting Rights Bills, But the Fight Continues
Thank you to the OCA chapters that joined 150+ AAPI community organizations in demanding for a vote on H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. 2022 is a crucial year for our democracy, and we will fight to protect AAPI communities’ access to the ballot box. ** Read more. ([link removed])

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Now Open — JACL/OCA Leadership Summit
Our next advocacy training with the Japanese American Citizens League will take place in Washington, D.C. from May 21-24! You must be nominated by your chapter president and provide proof of vaccination to participate in this program for rising AAPI leaders. ** Applications are due on August 13. ([link removed])

🤔 Questions? Contact our Associate Manager of Policy & Advocacy Michael Nguyen at [email protected].
COMBATING HATE
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Hollaback! x AAJC Bystander Intervention Training

Hollaback! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC are now offering sessions in Chinese, including Cantonese and Mandarin, for our Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American & Xenophobic Harassment. ** Sign up or share with your Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking community. ([link removed])

Our Asian language trainings are 75 minutes long, facilitated live by two trainers and a team of interpreters, and interactive. During our time together, we deepen our understanding of the reality and history of Anti-Asian harassment, learn how to be active bystanders, and practice what we learn. Our training is completely free, and we do not expect any kind of commitment in return.

Hollaback!與亞裔推進正義協會合辦的消除反亞裔種族主義和仇外騷擾的旁觀者乾預培訓現在提供包括粵語和普通話在內的中文課程。** 請直接報名或分享給說粵語或普通話的人士 ([link removed])
。

培訓時長為75分鐘，由兩名導師和口譯小組互動直播。在這段時間內，我們將對反亞裔騷擾的現況和歷史有更深地了解，學習如何成為積極的旁觀者並將所學付諸實踐。我們的培訓完全免費，而且不求回報。

Hollaback!与亚裔推进正义协会合办的消除反亚裔种族主义和仇外骚扰的旁观者干预培训现在提供包括粤语和普通话在内的中文课程。** 请直接报名或分享给说粤语或普通话的人士 ([link removed])
。

培训时长为75分钟，由两名导师和口译小组互动直播。在这段时间内，我们将对反亚裔骚扰的现况和历史有更深地了解，学习如何成为积极的旁观者并将所学付诸实践。我们的培训完全免费，而且不求回报。
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January 30: Asian Justice Rally
OCA's Greater Chicago and Los Angeles chapters are participating in a nationwide rally to remember the hundreds of victims of anti-Asian violence and all those subjected to anti-Asian hate, including 84-year old Thai grandfather Vicha Ratanapakdee. ** Learn more. ([link removed])

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📢 February 15: Situational Awareness Workshop
OCA's Greater Houston chapter continues to host regular sessions to arm individuals with the education and tools to intervene as bystanders. Free 1.5-hour trainings on how to be a confident and effective bystander against anti-Asian hate are scheduled to begin on February 15. ** Register here. ([link removed])

EVENTS + RESOURCES
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February 5: ACA Lunar New Year Celebration
The Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), OCA's Detroit chapter, is hosting a virtual Lunar New Year celebration for the arrival of the Year of the Tiger! Tune in for Chinese folk dance, traditional operas, and more. ** RSVP here. ([link removed])


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📅 February 16: Celebrating Light, Unity and Inclusion
Join OCA's San Diego chapter on February 16 for a "Lantern Parade for Inclusion" from 4-6pm PT. Meet at Frazee State Beach in Carlsbad, at the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine. Bring own lanterns or get one onsite for $5 donation. ** Learn more. ([link removed])

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Get Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Now
The federal government is distributing rapid COVID-19 tests to every American home that requests them. ** You can now order four free tests per residential address at covidtests.gov. ([link removed])


Note: No ID, credit card, health insurance information or proof of citizenship is required.

** ([link removed])

📱 Digital Inclusion Program: Apply before January 28
The Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) is partnering with Comcast to train students ages 13-17 on life skills, digital literacy, basic Python, data science, photography, and Photoshop/video editing. The program begins February 13, but you must register by January 28. ** Learn more and apply. ([link removed])

** GIVE TO OCA ([link removed])
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** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** OCA National Website ([link removed])
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Embracing the hopes and aspirations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

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