OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

In early 2009, a photograph of Miley Cyrus circulated online in which she had the corners of her eyes pulled back, displaying a slant-eyed expression, while friends, including an Asian male, surrounding her posed in other manners. OCA was one of the first groups to respond to the photograph, by offering criticism and disapproval, hoping that "...Miley Cyrus will apologize to her fans and the AAPI community for this lapse in judgment and takes the opportunity to better understand why the gesture is offensive."[5] A few days later Cyrus responded on her website defending her actions, saying that "in NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity!" [6] OCA Executive Director George Wu responded to Cyrus's response, by adding that, "It's not a real apology. We’re not backing down without a fuller apology."[7]

A training session at Rice University in November 2009

Sponsored by State Farm, OCA visits colleges and universities every Fall and Spring semester to conduct a college leadership training program for Asian American and Pacific Islander student leaders and activists. The program focuses on the development of leadership and organizational skills that are relevant to AAPI campuses and communities.

The interactive college leadership training program involves hands-on exercises, small group discussions, and presentations led by two qualified AAPI facilitators. The one-day training assembles 60 students from each region and focuses on self-awareness, team-building, and direct action organizing. Participants are asked to challenge themselves, share their experiences, and develop leadership tools in order to serve effectively as catalysts for change.[8]

2009 Summer Interns (of the 20th anniversary class) pose for a photo at a local OCA chapter picnic

The OCA internship program was first established in 1989 and has been a flagship component of OCA's involvement with college youth. The internship program enables college interns to learn firsthand about national issues and policies that affect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Washington, DC. In particular, the competitive summer program is known for attracting the best and brightest college students, as it is a 10-week-long program that places interns on Capitol Hill, at federal agencies, or at non-profit organizations (particularly AAPI affiliated organizations).

In the past, the summer program has offered interns the opportunity to participate in brown bag lunches on key issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders such as immigration reform and health care, and has included visits to congressional office buildings, where interns meet with representatives, AAPI staffers, and members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Interns have also met with members of various government agencies such as the United States Department of Justice, the United States Department of Defense, and even White House staff members and directors to discuss issues concerning civil rights and voting rights, especially as it pertains to the AAPI community. In addition, summer interns have also assisted the OCA National staff and the host OCA chapter staff at the annual OCA National Convention.

The main internship placements are:

• The OCA National Office (Summer, Fall, Winter & Spring)
• Capitol Hill (Summer only)
• Federal Agencies (Summer only)
• Non-Profits (Summer only)[9]

For over 10 years, OCA has provided assistance to deserving AAPI students achieve a college education. OCA partners with United Parcel Service, Verizon Wireless, and the AXA Foundation to offer a diverse group of scholarships based on the criteria of achievement and financial need.[10]

This program aims to provide relevant professional development, peer networking and mentoring to aspiring AAPI professionals; expand BAC engagement, best practices and mentoring; and leverage venue for corporate employee resource group.

It was recently launched in the Fall of 2009.[11]

In 2009, OCA and the Asian American Studies Program of the University of Maryland at College Park (UMD) cooperated in creating a demographic study of Chinese Americans. Entitled A Portrait of Chinese Americans,[12] the study analyzed the latest population statistics and maps and found extraordinary socioeconomic diversity within the Chinese American population at odds with prevailing stereotypes. The study also found evidence of career limitations and unequal pay even for highly educated Chinese Americans, many of whom earned substantially less than their equally educated white counterparts.

In July 2009, OCA, in collaboration with the JACL, State Farm, and the Asian American Studies Program of University of Maryland, College Park, produced the 2009-2011 National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students. The Directory provided a 140-page, full-color description of the mission, criteria, award amount, period, application deadline, and contact information of each scholarship, internship, and fellowship for Asian American and Pacific Islander students.