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OCA's Statement on the Release of Immigration Legislation Framework
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30 April 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, D.C. OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates, commends Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV), Sens. Charles Schumer (NY) and Robert Menendez (NJ) for taking an important step towards comprehensive immigration reform. They were joined by Senators Richard Durbin (IL), Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Patrick Leahy (VT) at yesterdays press conference releasing the Real Enforcement with Practical Answers for Immigration Reform (REPAIR) Proposal. For over three decades, Asian Pacific Americans, along with other impacted communities and civil rights organizations have been fighting for immigration reform. Just earlier this week, OCA criticized Arizonas new anti-immigrant law and called for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level. Recently, OCA members joined over 200,000 advocates in a March For America immigration rally to remind President Obama and Congress of the need to fix Americas broken immigration system. The REPAIR Proposal includes solutions to providing a path to legalization, addressing backlogs of family-based immigration and managing the future flow of immigrants. However, OCA has serious concerns over the proposals inclusion of programs like 287(g), which reports by the Department of Homeland Security have condemned as poorly managed, lacking in accountability and crippling to the trust between communities and law enforcement. More work must be done to ensure immigration enforcement measures protect due process and civil rights of all Americans. OCA looks forward to working with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress, as well as the Obama administration, on a bipartisan common sense solution to the current broken immigration system. What you can do to join us in supporting fair and humane immigration reform: Find and Participate in a May Day rally on May 1st near you! Sign the Reform Immigration FOR America petition telling the President and Congress America needs comprehensive immigration reform today - don't let the rest of the nation follow Arizona's lead! Endorse the Reform Immigration FOR American national campaign. Back to the Top OCA Reads APA Heritage Month 1st Weekly Author Feature: Janet Wong
OCA 1st Weekly Author Feature: Janet Wong As a part of the OCA National APA Heritage Month Children's Book Tour, OCA will do weekly interviews with participating authors on their experience as an APA children's book author. This week, we are featuring Janet S. Wong, author of Me and Rolly Maloo. Janet Wong is the author of 21 books for children and teens, including Apple Pie 4th of July, The Trip Back Home, and Minn and Jakes Almost Terrible Summer. A graduate of Yale Law School, Ms. Wong became a children's author because she "couldn't think of anything more important than working with kids." While half of her books are inspired by her Chinese and Korean heritage, the other half are "just about growing up." Ms. Wong has performed her work at the White House, in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China, and at many schools and libraries in between. She also has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her latest book is Me and Rolly Maloo. Who or what inspired you to write your first book? There were many "first books"; I received over two dozen rejection letters for about a dozen picture book stories! The problem was that I was writing about totally made-up stuff, things that had no connection with my real life or heritage. I found success when I wrote about myself and my family in Good Luck Gold, A Suitcase of Seaweed, The Trip Back Home, Apple Pie 4th of July, and This Next New Year. My grandfather, my GongGong, was a real source of inspiration. My favorite poem, "GongGong and Susie" (in A Suitcase of Seaweed) features his story of how he survived through the Depression by hunting for skunks, snakes, and owls. He was quite a tough and resourceful man, as most immigrants of that time (the 1920s) were. How did you come up with the plot and title for the book youre reading for the book tour? I'm not sure how I came up with the idea and title for Me and Rolly Maloo, but once the idea took hold, I knew that it would be my most important book. Why do we let ourselves be defined by the people around us rather than defining ourselves? This is why the name of the main character, Jenna Lee, isn't even in the title. She is defined in this book by her longing to be friends with Rolly Maloo, the most popular girl in school. Are the characters/plot based on your own experiences? If so, how much? Me and Rolly Maloo is about a number of things: feeling like an outsider, finding your true place in a community, peer pressure, the way gossip spreads, and having to make hard ethical decisions. The particularly hard ethical decision involves cheating on a math test. Have I ever cheated on a math test? Sadly, yes--but I'll spare you the gory details here. Invite me to your local school or library, and I'll tell all! Nearly everyone has cheated, or has been tempted to, or has been asked to cheat. I hope that Me and Rolly Maloo inspires family and classroom discussions. Our children need to talk about what to do when someone puts you in a difficult spot. Have you always wanted to be a childrens book author? I haven't always been a children's author. Twenty years ago I was a lawyer! What were your favorite childrens books growing up? The Story of Bubbles the Whale was a favorite. It tells the story of a pilot whale who is captured in the ocean and brought to Marineland. When I was a child, I loved going to zoos, aquariums, and amusement parks. We lived in Los Angeles, so I went to Marineland several times. Last month I read that book again (for the first time in forty years), and I was quite surprised. A lot has changed in our thinking about whales, and I found the story to be very sad. But children need to hear sad books, complicated books: books create wonderful opportunities to talk about difficult issues. Do you have a favorite APA author? I have many favorite APA authors--choosing just one would be very hard. Two of my favorite authors (and people) are Grace Lin (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon) and Justina Chen (Girl Overboard). They are brilliant writers, excellent speakers, and people who do a lot for their communities. Can you share any projects in the works with us? I'm working on a third Minn and Jake book, one where Jake's parents are trying to decide whether to treat him with Human Growth Hormone because of his height. This raises important issues of body image and the bias against short people. I'm only 4'11"--so this is a subject that really comes from the heart. I'm also working on a second book in the Rolly Maloo series, one called Me and Jenna Lee. This one is told from the point-of-view of Shorn L. Loop, Jenna's no-nonsense African-American friend. What do you like to do in your free time outside of writing? When I am not writing, my favorite thing is to speak at schools. I make half my income this way but, more important, it also gives me a chance to connect with my readers. I truly love my work. Apart from work, my favorite activity is being a fencing mom. My son is a saber fencer. He groans about the volunteering that I do (organizing tournaments and helping to run our division) because he finds it embarrassing to have me around his fencing club all the time. I suppose that is natural for a 17-year-old! But I'm happy that I've found a way to be an active participant in my son's life. He will be going to college in another year, though, so I'll be able to devote more time to another hobby, gardening. It's about shaping a community on a smaller scale--getting the bugs and deer to work with me and not gobble up all my plants! Come see Janet speak at George Marshall High School on Sunday, May 2: OCA-Northern Virginia Chapter George Marshall High School 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043-2498 Sunday, May 2 Or attend one of the other many events in our APA Heritage Month Children's Book Tour: OCA-Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter Key Elementary School 2300 Key Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 Friday, May 7 Author: Cynthia Chin-Lee Roscoe Nix Elementary School 1100 Corliss Street, Silver Spring, MD 20903 Friday, May 14 Author: Pooja Makhijani D.C. Mayors Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 Saturday, May 15 Author: Pooja Makhijani OCA-Wisconsin Chapter Wauwatosa Public Library 7635 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Saturday, May 8 Author: Milly Lee OCA-Greater Los Angeles Chapter Alhambra Civic Center Library 101 S. First St, Alhambra, CA 91801 Saturday, May 15 Author: Icy Smith Los Angeles Chinatown Branch Library 639 N. Hill Street Saturday, May 29 Author: Lisa Yee OCA-St. Louis Chapter Chinese Culture Day Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110 Saturday, May 15 OCA-New Jersey Chapter Forest Avenue School 118 Forest Ave, Verona, New Jersey 07044 Friday, May 21 Author: Kam Mak OCA-Central Illinois Chapter Thomas Metcalf School 7000 Illinois State University Normal, IL 61790-0001 Time: Monday, May 24 Author: Kam Mak OCA-Las Vegas Chapter Paseo Verde Library 280 S. Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89012 Saturday, May 22 Author: Milly Lee OCA-San Mateo Chapter Foster City Public Library 1000 East Hillsdale Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404 Saturday, May 22 Author: Cynthia Chin-Lee OCA-Westchester Hudson Valley Chapter Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival Kensico Dam Plaza County Park, Valhalla, New York 10595 Saturday, May 29 Author: Pooja Makhijani Back to the Top OCA Announces National APA Heritage Month Children's Book Tour
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 28 April 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, D.C. OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates, is pleased to announce the launch of OCA Serves National APA Heritage Month Childrens Book Tour in May. OCA is always looking to improve our communities and this book tour will inspire and give children tools to develop as future leaders, said OCA National President Ken Lee. The OCA Serves book tour consists of a series of readings, aimed at providing children of all backgrounds with a connection to the APA experience and community. OCA chapters will host childrens book hours across the country featuring live readings by APA authors. The book tour features APA childrens book authors: Cynthia Chin-Lee, Milly Lee, Kam Mak, Pooja Makhijani, Icy Smith, Janet S. Wong and Lisa Yee. OCA will donate over 500 APA books to local libraries, elementary schools, and youth attendees through 13 readings across the country. This OCA Serves APA Heritage Month Childrens Book Tour is made possible through a partnership between OCA, Nordstrom and designer Phillip Lim. Nordstrom has collaborated with Phillip Lim on a limited-edition T-shirt, which will be sold exclusively at 16 Nordstrom stores and online at www.Nordstrom.com/apahm for the month of May. All after-cost proceeds will benefit OCAs youth programs. OCA Serves Readings during APA Heritage Month: OCA-Northern Virginia Chapter George Marshall High School 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043-2498 Sunday, May 2 Author: Janet S. Wong OCA-Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter Key Elementary School 2300 Key Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 Friday, May 7 Author: Cynthia Chin-Lee Roscoe Nix Elementary School 1100 Corliss Street, Silver Spring, MD 20903 Friday, May 14 Author: Pooja Makhijani D.C. Mayors Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 Saturday, May 15 Author: Pooja Makhijani OCA-Wisconsin Chapter Wauwatosa Public Library 7635 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Saturday, May 8 Author: Milly Lee OCA-Greater Los Angeles Chapter Alhambra Civic Center Library 101 S. First St, Alhambra, CA 91801 Saturday, May 15 Author: Icy Smith Los Angeles Chinatown Branch Library 639 N. Hill Street Saturday, May 29 Author: Lisa Yee OCA-St. Louis Chapter Chinese Culture Day Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110 Saturday, May 15 Author: TBD OCA-New Jersey Chapter Forest Avenue School 118 Forest Ave, Verona, New Jersey 07044 Friday, May 21 Author: Kam Mak OCA-Central Illinois Chapter Thomas Metcalf School 7000 Illinois State University Normal, IL 61790-0001 Time: Monday, May 24 Author: Kam Mak OCA-Las Vegas Chapter Tanaka Elementary School 9135 West Maule Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89148-4859 Saturday, May 22 Author: Milly Lee OCA-San Mateo Chapter Foster City Public Library 1000 East Hillsdale Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404 Saturday, May 22 Author: Cynthia Chin-Lee OCA-Westchester Hudson Valley Chapter Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival Kensico Dam Plaza County Park, Valhalla, New York 10595 Saturday, May 29 Author: Pooja Makhijani Back to the Top OCA Criticizes Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 April 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, D.C. OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates, raises strong concerns over Arizonas new immigration law, SB 1070. As a community of immigrants, APAs have historically suffered from harsh discriminatory policies based on perceived ethnic heritage. Signed by Governor Jan Brewer last Friday, SB 1070 will further increase discriminatory practices by allowing police officers to detain anyone based on the suspicion that they are undocumented. Such a far-reaching and general stipulation for questioning will undoubtedly perpetuate racial profiling in a state that already has a history of anti-immigrant legislation. SB 1070 sets a dangerous precedent of legalizing and engendering racial profiling as the status quo. Implementation of Arizonas anti-immigrant law will have a negative impact on all communities of color and immigrants, including those who are U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, by fueling discrimination and debilitating trust between immigrants and law enforcement. SB 1070 demonstrates the urgent need for the immigration reform on a comprehensive federal level. The broken immigration system must be addressed nationally by providing a fair path to legalization, restoring due process, alleviating backlogs of family-based immigration, and creating additional programs for individuals to enter legally into the U.S. to work temporarily or permanently. OCA calls for action on comprehensive immigration reform legislation to prevent the onslaught of further harmful state legislation. What you can do to join us in supporting fair and humane immigration reform: Sign the Reform Immigration FOR America petition telling the President and Congress America needs comprehensive immigration reform today - don't let the rest of the nation follow Arizona's lead! Contact Arizona Governor Jan Brewer with the following message: I am deeply concerned that you have signed SB1070. This law promotes racial profiling and will be detrimental to all communities of color, including people who are citizens and legal permanent residents. I ask that this law be rescinded immediately. Her office can be reached at (602) 542-4331 or azgov@az.gov Find and Participate in a May Day rally on May 1st near you! Back to the Top OCA Mourns the Passing of Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Height
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 April 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, D.C. -- OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization, mourns the passing of Dr. Dorothy I. Height, a pioneering activist for civil and womens rights. Dr. Height passed away this morning at the age of 98 from natural causes. She will be remembered as an icon for social justice, making invaluable contribution to the civil rights movement. Dr. Height remained active as chair of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation's premier civil and human rights coalition of over 200 national and community organizations. OCA has been a long-time member of The Leadership Conference and is engaged in the civil rights work of which Dr. Heights was a prominent and respected leader. For over seven decades, Dr. Height has been a leading voice in the fight for civil rights and equality. In addition to her work at the Leadership Conference, she first served in 1933 as an organizer for the United Christian Youth Movement of North America, then as president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, as president of the National Council of Negro Women for over 40 years, and as a trusted advisor to other civil rights leaders and heads of states. Dr. Heights garnered many accolades for her dedication to fighting inequality, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. Her legacy will continue in the movement she has dedicated her lifes work to and as an inspiration to civil rights advocates around the world. Back to the Top Phillip Lim Signature T-shirt to Benefit OCA Youth Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19 April 2010 MEDIA CONTACTS Victoria J. Rumsey | OCA Development Manager 202 223 5500 Kendall Ault | Nordstrom, Inc. 206 373 3031 Washington, DCOCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), is pleased to announce a partnership with Nordstrom during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to benefit OCAs Youth Programs. In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Nordstrom has collaborated with designer Phillip Lim on a limited-edition T-shirt that will be sold exclusively at Nordstrom for the month of May. These limited-edition T-shirts will be available at 16 Nordstrom stores and online at Nordstrom.com/apahm beginning May 1st. T-shirts will sell for $85 each with all after-cost proceeds benefiting OCA. After a successful campaign last May, we are pleased to partner with Nordstrom once again and have Phillip Lim, leading Asian American designer, design a t-shirt that will benefit the future generation of APA leaders, says OCA National President Ken Lee. Last May, limited edition T-shirts were created by Anna Sui and Koi Suwannagate and were sold online and at 15 Nordstrom locations. All net proceeds benefited OCAs Scholarship fund, bringing in over $27,000 to continue to provide assistance to APA students in achieving their dream of a higher education. We are excited to partner with Phillip Lim in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, said Amelia Ransom Letcher, vice president of Diversity Affairs for Nordstrom. Our collaborative effort in support of OCAs youth programs is one that we can all be proud of. Lim has described his work as classic with a sense of madness, and has a talent for designing accessible, wearable clothes with an edge. I was interested in this project because I was impressed by Nordstroms past success in raising funds to help Asian Pacific American children in need, said Phillip Lim. The T-shirt design is my signature in repetition like a graphic print. Its simple, but acknowledging my full name was a part of growing up as an Asian American and accepting the two cultures that I am a part of. This is a cause thats personal to me, and I hope that in my small way I am able to contribute to this great program." T-shirts will be available online at Nordstrom.com/apahm and 16 Nordstrom stores across the country including: · Ala Moana Center Honolulu · Brea Mall Brea, Calif. · Downtown Portland Portland, Ore. · Downtown Seattle Seattle · South Coast Plaza Costa Mesa, Calif. · Fashion Square Scottsdale, Ariz. · Fashion Valley San Diego · Mall of America Bloomington, Minn. · Michigan Avenue Chicago · Pentagon City Arlington, VA · Roosevelt Field Garden City, N.Y. · San Francisco Centre San Francisco · The Grove at Farmers Market Los Angeles · Topanga Plaza Canoga Park, Calif. · Valley Fair San Jose, Calif. · Village of Merrick Park Coral Gables, Fla. About Phillip Lim 3.1 phillip lim is a global brand offering innovative, effortless fashion for the modern world. Lims mission is to provide an approachable designer experience, with beautiful, everyday clothes accented by touches of whimsy. The result is unexpected looks for women and men that express an urban elegance and ease. Phillip Lim debuted his collection, 3.1 phillip lim, in 2005 to instant critical and commercial success. Approaching its sixth year, the brand including clothing and shoes and accessories for women and men, and a kid by Phillip Lim line is represented in 50 countries and available in over 400 boutiques and department stores worldwide. Flagships include New York City, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tokyo. About Nordstrom Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 190 stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 113 full-line stores, 74 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques and one clearance store. Nordstrom also serves customers through its online presence at www.nordstrom.com and through its catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN. Back to the Top OCA-Verizon College Scholarship Deadline Extended to May 10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13 April 2010 CONTACT Iimay Ho | Program Manager 202 223 5500 | iho@ocanational.org Washington, DC - OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, economic, and political well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), is extending the application deadline for the OCA-Verizon College Scholarship to May 10, 2010. The OCA-Verizon College Scholarship is a $2,000 award that will provide opportunities to APA college students who wish to continue their higher education while facing financial difficulties. 10 scholarships will be awarded. In order to be eligible, applicants must be a current undergraduate student who identifies as Asian Pacific American entering their junior or senior year in Fall 2010, demonstrate financial need, be a permanent resident or US citizen, have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale), and must be pursuing one of the majors below. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Eligible Majors: Accounting Business Administration Computer Electronics Computer Programming Computer Information Systems Computer Engineering Computer Science Economics Electrical Engineering Finance HR Management Industrial Engineering Information Technology International Business Management Information Systems Marketing Mechanical Engineering Network Administration The application must be completed online. For more information about the OCA-Verizon College scholarship or to access the application, please visit www.ocanational.org and click Verizon College Scholarships under Programs. The application must be submitted in its entirety by 11:30 PM EST on May 10 to be eligible. Back to the Top ACTION ALERT: Mail in your Census Form!
Have you turned in your 2010 Census form? If not, you still have a few days to mail it in! Beginning in May, Census workers will start visiting households that did not mail in the initial form. Mail your form in by April 19th and you won't get a Census visit. It's easy, confidential, and very important, so please return your Census form TODAY! You can also call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance now to fill in your form over the phone. English: (866) 872-2010 and TDD: (866) 783-2010 If youve already turned in your form, take a look at the TAKE 10 MAP to see how your region is doing in its Census participation rate. Is your city in the top 50? Thank you everyone who came to the OCA Census Week of Action Events! We had 14 Census events across the country with over 3000 participants in all. A big congratulations to the OCA-Greater Los Angeles Chapter for winning our Census commitment form competition! OCA-GLA has won a free registration and travel to OCA National Convention in Houston, Texas (June 17-20th) for collecting over 200 commitment forms at their Census event. But our work is not over. We cant stop until all members of our community have turned in a Census form to ensure that we get the funding, political representation, and accurate count that we deserve! MAKE YOURSELF COUNT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY! MAIL IN YOUR 2010 CENSUS! Please share these in-language resources with those who need help filling in their forms: English 2010 MMC: http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/fill-out-your-form/its-easy-english.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc8TeatQVaM media download site: http://mediadownload.census.gov/content/its-easy-english Chinese-Mandarin 2010 site (language page - Simplified): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/chinese-simplified.php 2010 site (language page - Traditional): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/chinese-traditional.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJv8EPUc9g8 media download site: http://mediadownload.census.gov/content/its-easy-chinese-mandarin Chinese-Cantonese 2010 site (language page - Simplified): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/chinese-simplified.php 2010 site (language page - Traditional): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/chinese-traditional.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsfSsIWlMho media download site: http://mediadownload.census.gov/content/its-easy-chinese-cantonese Vietnamese 2010 site (language page): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/vietnamese.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t5HRKDeYXQ media download site: http://mediadownload.census.gov/content/its-easy-vietnamese Korean 2010 site (language page): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/korean.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq0LG3yweqk media download site: http://mediadownload.census.gov/content/its-easy-korean Japanese 2010 site (language page - Japanese): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/japanese.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S3SJ5bkU_E Lao 2010 site (language page - Lao): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/lao.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIadMH6x-QU Thai 2010 site (language page - Thai): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/language/thai.php YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9VI92IyklY Back to the Top The AXA Foundation Awards $24,000 to OCA's Scholarship Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 April 2010 CONTACT Victoria J. Rumsey | Development Manager 202 223 5500 | vrumsey@ocanational.org Washington, DC OCA a national organization with 80 chapters and affiliates dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), is pleased to announce they received a $24,000 grant from the AXA Foundation. The grant provides for 12 scholarship awards of $2,000 each to graduating APA high school seniors who demonstrate ambition and drive, determination to set and reach goals and the ability to succeed in college. "We developed AXA Achievement because we understand how challenging the road to college can be said Faith Frank, president of the AXA Foundation, which underwrites AXA Achievementsm scholarships. " OCA-AXA Achievementsm Scholarship winners are young people who have accomplished something special, who show the determination to set and reach goals." Since 2004, the AXA Foundation has provided more than 60 scholarships for APA high school students through the OCA Scholarship Program. Scholarships like OCA-AXA Achievement provide necessary assistance to hard-working students in their academic careers, said OCA National Executive Director George C. Wu. OCA believes in the power of education and wishes these and all college students great success. The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and its related entities. The Foundation directs the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence. Since 2003, the AXA Foundation has awarded $17.5 million in scholarships through its multifaceted flagship program, AXA Achievement, which provides resources that help make college possible: access and advice. More than 3,600 students, known as AXA Achievers, have received scholarships. For more information visit www.axa-achievement.com. Back to the Top A Message from the OCA National Center
Dear OCA Members and Partners, Happy Census Day! For those of you who have been working with us to educate the public on the importance of the 2010 Census to the Asian Pacific American (APA) community, I want to thank you for making sure APAs are counted. Please remember that you can find detailed Census information specifically tailored to the APA community at www.ocanational.org and www.fillinourfuture.org. Be sure to fill out your forms and mail them in today. Here in Washington, D.C., the OCA National Center has been busy with all our programs and initiatives during the first quarter. From our APIA U Leadership 101 trainings at colleges and universities nationwide to the immigration rally here in the nations capital, OCA remains firmly committed to developing APA leaders who believe in our social justice mission. Our recent Leadership Conference in collaboration with the Japanese American Citizens League, brought 32 community leaders from around the country to be trained as effective advocates and coalition builders. And it is my pleasure to report some changes at the OCA National Center. Pei-Un Yee was recently promoted to Associate Director of chapter development and member engagement. At the beginning of the year, Iimay Ho was promoted to Program Manager of student leadership development programs. In February, Lan Nguyen joined as a Program Associate focusing on member engagement and advocacy, and former OCA intern Mary Kong became a Program Assistant. Along with Kelly Tian, our Administrator, and Victoria Rumsey, our Development Manager, the entire OCA National Center staff looks forward to another successful year and your visits to the OCA National Center. In the meantime, we have a few updates for you: OCAs Annual National Convention is approaching and I encourage you to take advantage of early bird rates now by registering online at www.ocanational.org. This years Convention will be hosted by our OCA-Greater Houston Chapter at the Westin Galleria from Thursday, June 17th to Sunday, June 20th. As you know, OCA members receive a significant discount and you can sign up for your membership at the same time. You should also check back regularly on our website to find updates on Convention speakers and honorees. As we prepare for May Heritage Month, the OCA National Center is putting the finishing touches on a new campaign with Nordstrom, an OCA Serves campaign featuring APA childrens book authors, a special-edition IMAGE magazine and a newly designed eNewsletter. So stay tuned for more and we hope to see you in Houston! Cheers! George Wu Executive Director Back to the Top REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2010 OCA NATIONAL CONVENTION, EARLY BIRD RATES END APRIL 30!
REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2010 OCA NATIONAL CONVENTION, EARLY BIRD RATES END APRIL 30! Hotel deadline is May 18, 2010. Visit the website for more hotel info. The Westin Galleria 5060 West Alabama Houston, TX 77056 Tel: (713) 960.8100 (Hotel rates are $119/night for single or double occupancy, plus 17% hotel tax.) + Save up to $100 by purchasing the Full Registration Package at the Early Bird Rate! Become and OCA member and save even more! + Register for FREE Workshop Tracks and Job Fair! + To become a sponsor or exhibitor please contact Development Manager, Victoria J. Rumsey at vrumsey@ocanational.org. Dont delay, register now! Back to the Top OCA Participates in the Census Week of Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 23 March 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, DC OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates, is participating in the Census Week of Action, March 22-28. Census Day is only 8 days away and OCA encourages all members to fill out their 2010 Census forms before April 1. The decennial Census count will directly shape how the United States is viewed for the next ten years, making it crucial for Asian Pacific Americans, as one of the fasting growing minority populations to be accurately counted. Census data will influence the allocation of over $400 billion in federal funding for our communities and determine the districting for political representation. OCA has been involved in Census work for the last 30 years and we are happy to work with our many chapters in helping to make the 2010 Census the most accurate count of our community yet, said Ken Lee, OCA National President. As a Census Information Center, OCA is committed to not only getting an accurate count, but also to help utilize the Census statistics to offer more support and resources to our underserved communities. Several OCA chapters, including the Greater Sacramento, San Mateo, Seattle, Detroit, Wisconsin, Georgia, New York, Eastern Virginia, and South Florida chapters have held successful Census events leading up to the Week of Action. Below are chapters holding events in the upcoming week: OCA-Greater Los Angeles chapter is collaborating with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association to table in front of Empress Pavilion (988 North Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90012) on March 27 and 28, from 8:30AM-2:30PM. They will be reminding and helping people fill out their Census forms. OCA-Orange County chapter is tabling in front of 85C Bakery (2700 Alton Pkwy, Ste. 123, Irvine, CA 92606) on March 27 from 10AM-2PM to encourage people to complete their Census form. A Census 2010 specialist will also be there to answer any questions. OCA-Colorado chapter is partnering with other AAPI organizations in a community-focused event to actively encourage locals to complete and submit their Census forms. OCA-Greater Houston chapter, in addition to the many Census events they have been holding, will also be answering questions about completing the Census forms on March 27 from 9AM-1PM at the Chinese Community Center (9800 Town Park, Rm 251, Houston, TX 77036). OCA-St. Louis chapters Fill in the 2010 Census event will be held at the parking lot of the St.Louis Chinese American Newspaper Office (8041 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130) on March 27 and 28, from 1-4 PM. OCA-Columbus chapter is partnering with the Asian American Community Services center (4700 Reed Road, Columbus, OH 43220) and will have volunteers be available to help people fill in their Census forms during office hours 9AM-5PM from March 22-26. OCA-Pittsburgh chapter is holding a "Fill out your Census form" party on March 28 with a Chinese school, the Tzu Chi Academy, where they will ask OCA members and parents to bring their Census forms to complete. On hand will be a local Census partnership specialist to answer questions. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Washington, DC, OCAs mission is to advance the social, political and economic well-being of APAs. Working with many national, regional, and local APA organizations through sub-grants from the Asian American Justice Center, OCA has been closely involved in outreach efforts and distribution of educational Census materials to hard-to-reach communities. OCA is also a part of the National Asian American Census Task Force (NAACTF), spearheaded by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. OCA has collaborated with NAACTF partners on a Census briefing for congressional staffers and co-sponsored several Census monitoring calls. For more information on APAs and the Census, please visit FillinOurFuture.org, which includes a comprehensive calendar of events. Back to the Top OCA Celebrates Passage of Historic Health Care Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 March 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, DC OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates, is pleased with last nights passage of health care reform legislation by the United States House of Representatives. Over 30 million Americans, including many APAs, will have for access to affordable health care for the first time and all Americans will benefit from changes to the health care system. OCA applauds Congress for taking this historic leap toward providing quality and affordable health care to all Americans, said Ken Lee, OCA National President. This is wonderful for the Asian Pacific American community, which includes a high percentage of families, individuals and entrepreneurs who currently have no meaningful access to health insurance. Once signed into law, the bill will extend health insurance coverage to as many as 32 million currently uninsured Americans. The legislation includes expanded support for community health centers, which is crucial for preventive and low-cost care. With disproportionately high rates of Hepatitis B and liver cancer in the APA community, these vital changes are a step towards closing the gap in health disparities for minority populations. "OCA looks forward to the signing of the Health Care bill by President Barack Obama tomorrow and the continued national conversation on how to build healthy communities," said OCA Executive Director George Wu. OCA strongly believes additional improvements to the American health care system will be needed, especially lifting the five-year bar on access to Medicaid for legal permanent residents. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Washington, DC, OCAs mission is to advance the social, political and economic well-being of APAs. In addition to engaging local communities on health care reform, OCA has worked closely with the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, the National Coalition on Health Care, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Through support from the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, OCA chapters led dialogues around the country on health access and disparities with community members and congressional leaders. Back to the Top OCA Marches in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 March 2010 CONTACT Lan Nguyen | Program Associate 202 223 5500 | lnguyen@ocanational.org Washington, DC OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates, joined tens of thousands of Americans in support of comprehensive immigration reform in the nations capital yesterday to remind President Obama and Congress of the need to fix Americas broken immigration system. As an organization of Americans with a strong connection to this nations immigration system, OCA urges President Obama and our Congressional leaders to never forget the families torn apart from visa backlogs and unjust immigration policies, said Ken Lee, OCA National President, whose father was detained at Angel Island, California, prior to entering the United States in 1927. OCA members and partners from Illinois, New York, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia traveled to Washington, DC to continue OCA's multi-decade campaign to improve the U.S. immigration system and ensure that the benefits of family-based immigration continue for all Americans. Some OCA members endured 14-hour bus rides to march with the estimated 200,000 people on the National Mall in support of immigration reform. Yesterday, we stood in solidarity with Americans of all immigration and ethnic backgrounds to ensure this nation of immigrants takes the necessary steps to provide a fair and just system for families to be united, communities to grow, and businesses to prosper, said OCA Executive Director George Wu, who immigrated as a child to the United States under the family-based system in the 1980s. In attendance at the rally were Qing Hong Wu and his fiancée, who recently worked with the OCA-New York Chapter to successfully prevent Wus deportation. Qing Wu is a Chinese American immigrant who was sentenced to a correctional facility in his youth for committing muggings. While serving his sentence, Qing Wu turned his life around by earning his GED and gaining early release for good behavior. He went on to become a respected community member and the vice president of internet technology at a national company, but when Qing Wu applied for naturalization to become a United States citizen, his file was flagged by immigration officials. Due to immigration law changes in 1996, Qing Wu's childhood offenses made him deportable and he was abruptly detained. Through massive collaborative efforts between OCA-New York Chapter and other committed community organizations that appealed for his release, Wu was pardoned by Governor Paterson for his offenses as a minor, which cleared him of any grounds for deportation. Wus success story is one of the few victories among many tragic stories of unjust deportations that will continue without comprehensive immigration reform. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Washington, DC, OCAs mission is to advance the social, political and economic well-being of APAs. OCA is a part of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans immigration committee, which works closely with the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign. OCA encourages its chapters to endorse the national campaign to strengthen the APA voice in the comprehensive immigration reform movement. Back to the Top |