OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

🚨 Deadline Extended! More Time to Apply! 🚨 Good news! The 2025 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship deadline has been extended for first-generation rising college seniors! ⏳ Do not miss your chance to earn a scholarship! 👉 $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to 12 high school students who will be graduating high school in 2025 and starting college in the fall. Apply by March 18, 2025. 👉 $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to 4 undergraduate students who will be starting their final year of college/university or community college in the fall of 2025. Apply by April 1, 2025.   Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gCcgcqcj

We had a jam-packed weekend the last few days facilitating workshops at not one, not two, but THREE simultaneous student conferences! Thank you to my amazing teammates Lady Marie Bulilan and Hojin Kim for their hard work in making all three events successful. Thank you IMPACT National Conference, Mid-Atlantic Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (MAUVSA), and Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest for having us. And thank you to our long-time supporters Katherine Coleman and State Farm for giving us the opportunity to provide leadership and advocacy trainings to high school and college students!

🔥 Joshua Tran, a 2023 OCA intern, reflects on the vital lessons he learned about community and advocacy's impact on local AANHPI communities. Through personal stories and his project work, he gained insights into coalition building and practical steps to address issues facing the AANHPI community. 🔥 Learn more: ocanational.org/eoyc

🔥 Ashley Rajavadee, a 2019 OCA intern, shares how the program highlighted the importance of community and connection as a young professional. Although networking felt daunting, she gained valuable skills and techniques from OCA to enhance her experience at mixers and conferences. 🔥 Learn more: ocanational.org/eoyc

🔥 Ana Luo Cai, a 2020 OCA intern, reflects on how her internship connected her to the wider OCA network and deepened her understanding of Asian American advocacy. She credits her experience for inspiring her involvement with her local NYC community and her subsequent role as an OCA-NY board member. 🔥 Learn more: ocanational.org/eoyc

🔥 Jay Moran, a 2022 OCA intern, recalls the excitement of Advocacy Day, when his group’s hard work paid off. He reflects on the sense of accomplishment they felt after contributing to meaningful change for the community, an experience he will never forget. 🔥 Learn more: ocanational.org/eoyc

🔥 Olivia Zalecki, a 2017 OCA intern, shares how the program helped her envision a future in AAPI-focused work. She highlights the lasting connections formed with her cohort and the inspiration she continues to draw from her peers in advocacy and political education. 🔥 Learn more: ocanational.org/eoyc

📣 We are now accepting applications for the 2025 OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarships, sponsored by UPS! ⁠ 👉 $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to 12 high school students who will be graduating high school in 2025 and starting college in the fall.⁠ ⁠ 👉 $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to 4 undergraduate students who will be starting their final year of college/university or community college in the fall of 2025.⁠ ⁠ 👉 Apply before Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gFcmQ7NE

🔥 Alex Lee, a 2023 OCA intern, reflects on how the weekly intern presentations left a lasting impact. He was inspired by how each intern's identity and heritage shone through their stories, highlighting the power of shared experiences and advocacy. 🔥 Learn more: ocanational.org/eoyc

Join us for an enlightening and enriching event focused on understanding and healing intergenerational trauma with Kristen Jiin Park, Ed.M., and Calvin Wei Ting Lee, M.A. Don't miss this chance to learn, connect, and embark on a journey of healing across generations! RSVP here: bit.ly/gens-of-healing