A Victory for AANHPI History Advocates 🎉

• 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 to create an AAPI curriculum requirement for public schools, following in the footsteps of Illinois’ TEAACH Act 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. We’ve also launched a new digital hub that will house resources and classroom materials for students, parents, and educators.

✏️ 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. 

📝 If you are interested in joining a subcommittee, please complete this survey.

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

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

❤️ Finally...  We're hiring a K-12 AANHPI Curriculum Development Project intern!

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, 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.

✍️ Other updates you may have missed...

• OCA and JACL Release Joint Statement on the Anniversary of the January 6th Insurrection
• AAPI Advocates Respond to President Biden’s Voting Rights Speech in Georgia
• State Farm Awards $217,500 to Support OCA’s 2022 Youth and Professional Development Programs

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 for information on eligibility criteria and how to enroll, as well as the ACP Consumer Outreach Toolkit, which includes social media images, fact sheets, and other outreach content and materials that can be customized for consumer awareness campaigns.

🤔 Questions? Contact our Associate Manager of Policy & Advocacy Michael Nguyen at [email protected].

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.

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。

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。

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。