Who We AreOCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.
To fulfill its mission, OCA has established the following goals: to advocate for social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment; to promote civic participation, education, and leadership; to advance coalitions and community building; and to foster cultural heritage. Founded in 1973 as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA aims to embrace the hopes and aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. OCA is engaged in organizing its over 100 chapters and affiliates across the nation to develop both leadership and community involvement. OCA chapters and our affiliates are establishing strong local programs in all parts of the country. OCA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. gives the OCA National Center an effective vantage point for monitoring legislation and policy issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans. In addition, OCA is able to build national support and to work in coalition with other national groups around issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans. OCA takes no collective position on the politics of any foreign country, but instead focuses on the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans. |
Our Vision |
An American society which consistently affirms the human rights and dignity of all Asian Pacific Americans as contributors, citizens, and defenders of democracy. This positive recognition of APAs shall be evidenced by inclusion in leadership roles, access to vital resources, and positive as well as accurate portrayals in all forms of media without regard to xenophobia and other forms of racial and ethnic myths, stereotypes, and disparaging characterizations.
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Our History |
In 1973, OCA held its first National Convention and catalyzed into being with the vision of uniting Chinese Americans across the United States into one representative voice. Interest and concern had been stirring in different pockets of the country since the late 1980s. The movement started to grow as numbers of the Chinese American communities began to rally together.
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