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In This Issue
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1.
OCA Internship
2. SCA5
3. Monthly Sustainers
4. 2014 CAA and Convention
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Spotlight: The OCA Civil Rights Fellowship
The OCA Civil Rights Fellow is a full-time fellowship, central to the organization's advocacy efforts: such as immigration reform, hate crimes, military hazing, xenophobia, and other
civil rights issues that affect the 19 million Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) in the United States.
The fellowship is 100% funded by members, chapters, and supporters. Because of this, OCA can advocate independently of grant restraints and guidelines, on issues impacting its chapters and the APA community.
OCA's advocacy efforts would not be possible without the work of the Civil Rights Fellow. Your financial support is critical to ensure equity, equality, and the fullest expression of our civil liberties for all APAs. Give to the OCA Civil Rights Fellowship
today!
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OCA Internship Program Application Deadline Approaching
As we celebrate 25 years of empowering the community one leader at a time, we welcome all students to apply to the 2014 Summer Internship program. The Internship has successfully led former participants to become more active on their college campus and significantly
increased the level of APA civic engagement in local, state, and national public policy issues. To apply and learn more about the OCA Summer Internship program, click
here or visit
www.ocanational.org.
Applications and materials must be submitted by Monday March 3, 2014; 11:00PM PST
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OCA Monitors SCA5 in California
 California
State Senator Ed Hernandez (West Covina) introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment 5 (SCA5), which has passed the California State Senate and is currently being read for the first time in the California State Assembly. SCA5, as written, would provide public
higher education institutions in California the ability to consider the use of race, sex, color, ethnicity, and national origin in recruitment, admissions, and retention programs.
OCA is concerned that the Asian Pacific American (APA) community was not consulted on this matter before the vote was called in the California Senate. Senator Hernandez, the principal author of the bill, should be accountable, especially because his district
has a large APA population. OCA is also looking at the narrow focus of the bill, and why it chose to not address public employment and contracts.
OCA has consistently supported affirmative action in education and strongly opposed caps and quotas. Higher education institutions should take a holistic approach in their review of qualified candidates and not solely focus on race, ethnicity, or sex.
It is difficult to determine if this legislation will have any impact on Asian Pacific Americans due to the lack of disaggregated data. OCA is seeking additional data from the University of California and will be hosting a call with its California chapters
to address potential direction for advocacy on this issue in the next two days. Additionally, OCA is planning to host an online discussion in the coming weeks on SCA5.
On immigration, OCA helped coordinate a meeting with Congressman Pete Olson’s office in Sugarland, TX to push for fair and commonsense immigration reform. The OCA National Center will follow-up the conversation by meeting with the congressman’s office in Washington,
DC.
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OCA Launches Monthly Sustainers Program
Launched in July of 2013, The I AM, WE ARE OCA Monthly Sustainers Program is a new organizational fundraising initiative that brings sustainability and consistency through donors who give on a monthly basis
to help maintain and grow OCA.
Participants receive exclusive benefits and discounts while supporting local and national efforts. Monthly gifts begin at $20/month. To learn more about the I AM, WE ARE OCA Monthly Sustainers Program, click
HERE.
2014 OCA Corporate Achievement Awards:
Save the Date!
OCA is pleased to announce that the 2014 OCA Corporate Achievement Awards will be held on
October 3rd at the Hilton Arlington in Arlington, Virginia. The annual event is dedicated to celebrating and recognizing APAs in the corporate sector who exemplify not only excellence in their profession, but also leadership and commitment in their respective
communities, and to the existing corporate culture of diversity.
2014 OCA National Convention Reminders
The 2014 National Convention will take place from
August 7-10 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California. This year's Convention theme is
On Location for Advocacy will focus on our advocacy efforts both nationally and locally.
Registration for the 2014 OCA National Convention will launch on
March 7, 2014. Sign up early to receive exclusive discounts!
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