Two years after the pandemic led to the cancellation of our biggest events, OCA will finally host its 49th National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada!

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** Mark Your Calendars for a Vegas Welcome! ✨
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* 📅 Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic led to the delay or cancellation of our biggest programs and events, we’re excited to announce that OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates will host its 49th National Convention ([link removed]) in-person in Las Vegas, Nevada!
* ❤️ Why this matters: Since 1973, tens of thousands of OCA members from across the country have gathered to facilitate discussions on AAPI identity and develop the next generation of AAPI leaders. OCA’s Las Vegas chapter looks forward to welcoming you on August 4-6 with the theme “Building Our Community’s Heroes,” which aims to celebrate unsung AAPI figures and highlight the importance of mentorship.

📱 STAY UPDATED

Registration for OCA's 2022 National Convention will open shortly. Be the first to know by signing up here ([link removed]) . If you received this briefing, you're already set!

Download our event app via Apple ([link removed]) or Google Play ([link removed]) to create your own customizable agenda, and visit our virtual hub ([link removed]) to explore tracks, workshops, and speakers once they become available.

Interested in reaching diverse audiences? Learn about sponsorship opportunities here. ([link removed])

Plus: Follow @ocanational on Twitter ([link removed]) , Instagram ([link removed]) , and Facebook ([link removed]) .

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UPDATES
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April 15: Free SAW Training + Concert in Boston!

In partnership with ** THE CHINATOWN TOUR ([link removed])
(featuring jason chu, Alan Z, and MC Tingbudong), we are excited to offer a free Situational Awareness Workshop (SAW) on Friday from 4 PM to 5:30 PM at the Pao Arts Center.

🎤 Space is limited for this training, so be sure to register to reserve your spot! And after the training, be sure to attend the FREE concert later that night!
** 👉 REGISTER NOW ([link removed])
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Deadline Extended — Apply to Become a 2022 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholar by April 17
Asian American and Pacific Islander students who are the first in their immediate families to attend college may be eligible to receive awards of up to $2,500 from the UPS Foundation. Learn more about eligibility criteria and awards for ** graduating high school seniors ([link removed])
and ** rising college seniors. ([link removed])

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🏛️ News — OCA Applauds Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Confirmation
Earlier this month, the Senate voted to confirm Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a long-overdue step to restore trust in our judicial system and build a government that looks like America, writes OCA's Executive Director Thu Nguyen. ** Read more. ([link removed])

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Upcoming Event — Hear Our Voices
Join OCA and the Center for Asian Pacific American Women on April 25 for a conversation on violence and xenophobia, featuring the perspectives of community, corporate, small business, and nonprofit leaders. Thank you to National ACE, AARP, and Walmart for providing support for this event. ** Register here. ([link removed])

POLICY CORNER
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📖 K-12 AANHPI Curriculum Development Project

On June 17, OCA will participate in a national online summit, "Organizing for Asian American Studies: Stopping AAPI Hate and Advancing Educational Equity," which will bring together communities currently advocating for AAS in K-12 education. The overall aim of the summit is to learn best practices for organizing AAS, share resources, and network. Workshops include best practices in passing AAS requirements, implementing AAS, and the Stop AAPI Hate model curricula framework. All OCA members are invited to attend this free summit; a code to register will be shared upon request and upon availability in the coming weeks.
* 🎓 Other updates: Under the leadership of Will Gow and Yvonne So (Co-Chairs of the Advocacy & Outreach Subcommittee), we have launched a series of teacher focus groups that will vet the over 60+ lesson plans throughout the month of April and May. This feedback will be incorporated into finalizing the lesson plans as we approach completion of our national database of AANHPI curriculum for K-12 educators.
* ✏️ Drumroll… The project's new social media handle is @k12aanhpi_project. Please keep an eye out for the launch of our Instagram page, where we will promote the project and upcoming events! To learn more, please email ** OCA's Associate Manager of Policy & Advocacy Michael Nguyen (mailto:[email protected]?subject=K-12%20AANHPI%20Curriculum%20Project)
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April 14 — Citizenship Workshop
OCA National Center staff will discuss how volunteers can be trained to conduct workshops and help eligible immigrants with the naturalization process at 7 PM ET. Previous meeting notes can be found ** here ([link removed])
. ** Join the Zoom link here. ([link removed])

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💻 May 17 — Connecting AAPI Households to Affordable Internet Services
Join Rep. Grace Meng and the AAPI Tech Table for a webinar on how AAPIs can afford to access reliable internet service through the new Affordable Connectivity Program! ** RSVP here. ([link removed])

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Coming Up — May Public Affairs Check-in
OCA National Center is now hosting monthly public affairs and communications check-ins during the first Tuesday of each month to discuss local priorities and messaging. Please join us for our next meeting on May 3 at 12 PM ET. We'd love to hear from chapters on what is happening in your communities. ** Join the Zoom link here. ([link removed])

🔦 CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT
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OCA-NY Leads in Community Care

As violence against Asian Americans continues to ** dominate the headlines ([link removed])
, OCA’s New York chapter has visibly mobilized to protect the community while fighting for fair representation in the looming redistricting process. Led by Brooklyn voting rights organizer Brianna Cea, the group’s work has been featured in ** Vox ([link removed])
, ** The New Yorker ([link removed])
, and elsewhere in the past month.
* ❤️ Two weeks after Christina Yuna Lee’s murder in March, OCA-NY hosted a ** free self-defense class for 50+ AAPI women, girls, and femmes ([link removed])
at Two Bridges Muay Thai in Chinatown, Manhattan (pictured below). The chapter also partnered with Sisters of Self Defense and Sour Over Hate to distribute self-defense devices like pepper spray, along with refreshments from local bakeries.
* 🗳️ OCA-NY also joined with a coalition of Asian American civic organizations who ** rallied on the steps of New York City Hall ([link removed])
earlier this month, demanding representation in the upcoming city redistricting cycle.

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📸 Learning self-defense: Instructors teach foundational martial arts techniques, situational awareness, and bystander prevention at Two Bridges Muay Thai in Chinatown on March 19, 2022. ** The event was organized by OCA-NY and Soar Over Hate. ([link removed])
EVENTS + OPPORTUNITIES
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April 16: Celebrating Pittsburgh’s Historic Chinatown

Join OCA’s Pittsburgh chapter at 1 PM as they commemorate the Chinese Americans who first came to the city in the 1880s, along with the Chinatown district they built downtown. This is a free outdoor event with cultural performances and music, cultural crafts and activities, Lion Dance teams, and an Asian marketplace. 👉 ** Learn more. ([link removed])

Note: There will be a 45-minute walking tour of historic downtown spaces with Shirley Yee at 12 PM. Meet at 514 Court Place if you are interested in participating.
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April 19: 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. The next free, 1.5-hour training on how to be a confident and effective bystander against anti-Asian hate is scheduled for April 19. ** Register here. ([link removed])

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🔥 April 25 Deadline: Apply to Join ACA's Immersion Internship Program
The Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) is now looking for summer interns! High school juniors and seniors and college students from accredited universities are eligible to apply. Submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, and two references by April 25. ** Learn more. ([link removed])

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May 21-22: Cleveland Asian Festival

As one of the founding organizations, OCA Greater Cleveland is proud to present the 2022 Cleveland Asian Festival on May 21 and 22 in Cleveland's Asiatown neighborhood for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The event features live entertainment, cultural performers, martial art demonstrations, authentic Asian foods, a World Marketplace, a Health Pavilion for free screenings, the Colors of Asia Fashion Show, an Asian Pop Dance competition, and more. 👉 ** Learn more at ClevelandAsianFestival.org. ([link removed])
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