College Affiliate

Become a College Affiliate

Join the OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates family by becoming an OCA-Greater Houston ("OCA-GH") College Affiliate today! Founded in 1979, OCA-GH has helped to protect the right of AAPIs to vote through the national APA Voter Exit Survey, suing the State of Texas for Voting Rights Act violations, advocating for language access/inclusion, economic empowerment, Census outreach/organizing, and assisting green card holders to apply for citizenship for the past decade with our community partners. We work to develop the leadership pipeline of informed and civically engaged youth through our leadership and organizing year round training program in partnership with MiFamilia Vota and run the Houston AAPI Film Festival to educate on issues and support the stories of AAPIs. We are part of the larger movement for racial, social, and economic justice. 

Asian Americans are the fastest growing immigrant community and have a growing social responsibility.  We ask you to join our movement and be part of growing a powerful Asian American organization that fights for equality for all. Become an OCA-GH College Affiliate today! 

Our hope is that our College Affiliates can serve as a channel to learn more about the issues impacting our community members at the grassroots level. This local to national channel directly informs OCA’s national campaigns, policy agenda, and other projects. As an OCA-GH College Affiliate, you will have access to our national network of Asian and Pacific Islander folks, receive “affiliate only” merchandise, be invited to meetings and events, and make meaningful contributions to our organization’s work. We are only as strong as our members!  For more information, please contact us at info@ocahouston.org.

To become an OCA-GH College Affiliate, you can fill out this online form.

Apply Now!

Affiliate Benefits 

Why should my school be part of OCA’s College Affiliate network?

• Shape the future for Asian American Pacific Islanders through Political Awareness & Civic and Social Participation
• Get access to Education & Scholarship Opportunities
• Networking – 100+ chapters & affiliates across the US and a National HQ in Washington D.C.
• Make meaning contributions to OCA and the greater AAPI community

• Notices on upcoming local and national events relevant to Asian Americans
• Opportunities to meet with Asian American community and political leaders
• Opportunities to network with Asian American professionals
• Receive the OCA-Greater Houston and OCA National Center eNewsletters
• Receive the National publication, IMAGE, keeping you current on the nationwide concerns of Chinese and Asian Americans
• OCA’s interactive training on Situational Awareness, also known as Bystander Intervention. In response to the increased rise of Anti-Asian/American, xenophobic harassment, and anti-hate towards marginalized communities of color, OCA is providing educational and awareness tools to combat these types of systemic oppression. 
• Access to internship opportunities
• A booth at our in-person festivals and events and be able to auction gifts at our GALA to help raise money for your organization 
• Student discount for our national convention and our professional development conference 
• Community Service hours 
• Organizing skills and trainings 
• Organize exclusive film screenings at your college that support AAPI artists and filmmakers
• Discounts on our OCA merchandise
• 10% off dining at Shabu House restaurant in Houston Chinatown 

What do we as College Affiliates have to do for OCA-GH? 

• Work with our College Affiliate programs associate year round 
• Help recruit students and volunteers for our civic engagement work. OCA-Greater Houston works year round to educate our community on the importance of voting and encouraging people to fulfill their civic duty by registering and voting. 
• Commit to doing one voter registration event per semester
• Help promote OCA-GH  events on social media
• Organize one TEA Talks session per semester. OCA-GH’s TEA Talks brings together a diverse group of API’s and allies to educate and raise awareness about issues affecting the API community. Our vision for TEA Talks is to build an intentional community of API advocates, informed about issues that affect APAs both locally and nationally and grounded in strong relationships that enable effective action, powerful advocacy, and change for our communities. Examples of workshop topics include: Asian American Immigration History in the South, Housing policies that protect affordable housing for low-income tenants, Understanding Election Runoffs, etc. 
• Attend one (1) local OCA-chapter event OR one (1) additional OCA National event

Join us as we strive to enhance the lives of Asian Americans, immigrants, and people of color through education, advocacy, and organizing! Become a College Affiliate today! 

College Affiliate Partners