​OCA-NY is kicking-off a new round of voter registration drive to increase voting participation in advance of this year’s statewide elections.  We will be mobilizing resources in Asian American communities to help eligible citizens to register to vote.  The drive will include setting up registration tables around various communities, phone banking, and door knocking to help Americans register for the upcoming election.
 
OCA-NY will begin its voter registration drive with community partner, First American International Bank (恆通銀行), at their Flushing and Elmhurst locations starting this Saturday, August 18.

The voter registration drive will continue every Saturday and Sunday until end of September.  For time and location each week, please visit www.oca-ny.org
 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you or your friends/family is able to volunteer a few hours on the weekends for this critical work, please email us at info@oca-ny.org or call us at (347) 988-0189.
 
Best regards,
 
OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
info@oca-ny.org | http://www.oca-ny.org

Our community partner The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) is hosting a DACA Renewal Immigration Clinic this Sunday, February 25.  Please share with anyone who may be benefited from this event.

Pro Bono DACA Renewal Immigration Know-Your-Rights Clinic
Sunday, February 25, 2018
12:30-3:30 PM
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Student Lounge
250 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), Brooklyn Law School Immigration Society, National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ), and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will be holding a FREE one-day legal event.


Best regards,

OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
info@oca-ny.org | http://www.oca-ny.org

Join us at OCA-NY's Networking Mixer on 3/8 at Asia Roma, 40 Mulberry St (see attached)!  Come learn about what OCA-NY's been up to with the Get Out the Vote efforts!  We'll be signing up people for the Mentoring Asian American Professionals program. Meet and mingle with other OCA members and supporters over appetizers and drinks!  RSVP at info@oca-ny.org

  Hope to see you there! 

                       OCA-NY

We are excited to share to with you OCA-NY will again hosting the Mentoring Asian American Professionals (MAAP) Program this year in New York City!

​MAAP is a three month program with four 1:1 mentoring meetings and three mentoring network sessions.  Mentors and mentees are strongly encouraged to meet at least once a month to discuss specific career-building topics.  Discussion guides will be provided for each topic. 

The OCA MAAP program, with the generous sponsorship of UPS and Southwest Airlines, will cultivate the next generation of Asian American professional leaders through mentoring, skills building, and networking.  The program pairs Asian American professionals with experienced leaders.  As part of the mentoring process, participants will create a personal strategic plan allowing them to identify ways to achieve their professional as well as personal goals.

The 2018 application is now open!  Click here for details and submit your application.

If you have specific questions, feel free to contact our MAAP Program's Chair/Board Co-Treasurer David Fung at fungdl8@gmail.com

Best regards,

OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
info@oca-ny.org | http://www.oca-ny.org

To celebrate Black History Month, the Lewis H. Latimer House Museum is hosting a free screening of 13th, as part of its 2018 Race and Immigration Film Series.
This 2016 Academy Awards-nominated documentary is centered on race in the United States' criminal justice system. The film is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlaws slavery.

2:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.Saturday, February 24, 2018
Lewis H Latimer House 
34-41 137th St, Flushing, New York 11354
Queens
Directions to this location

​The event is free. Please RSVP with Rose at 718-740-3824 or email TheCyberRose@yahoo.com

Best regards,
OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
info@oca-ny.org | http://www.oca-ny.org

Report by World Journal New York: ​聯邦政府關門在即 亞裔催生純粹夢想法案

ASIAN AMERICAN LEADERS CALL FOR A CLEAN DREAM ACT
AND OTHER IMMIGRANT PROTECTIONS
 
New York City: This morning, the Asian American Federation (AAF), in partnership with elected officials and immigration advocates, held a press conference on City Hall Steps calling on Congress to pass a clean DREAM Act and other immigrant protections as the Friday, January 19th deadline for the federal spending bill approaches.
 
The Federation organized this event to highlight the importance of immigration for Asian American communities, including the impacts on the pan-Asian community from policies that threaten to keep families apart. The press conference highlighted the critical need for a clean DREAM Act without sacrificing any of the other immigration programs, such as Temporary Protective Status (TPS), the diversity visa program, family-based immigration, refugee protections, and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  There are currently 1.6 million applicants from Asia on the family-sponsored visa waitlist as of November 1, 2017, and Asians accounted for 46% of all family sponsored visas from last year.  In 2016, family-sponsored preference visas accounted for nearly one in four of all new Asian legal permanent resident visas. 
 
====
 
“I am the product of one of those family reunification visas.” Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian American Federation said. “After 45 years in this country, my family has contributed to this country in myriad professions. My family is the living reminder of the promise of this country. As a U.S. citizen, a voter, and the head of the Asian American Federation, I am committed to ensuring that the door remains open for many more families, whether they come through family or work visas, as refugees or as DREAMers. I ask our elected leaders to honor the spirit of this country by ensuring that these programs continue.”
 
“With the clock running out, it is imperative that Congress take action to provide a permanent legislative solution for the hundreds of thousands of DREAMers – including the 130,000 AAPI DREAMers – who are at risk of being deported through no fault of their own,” said U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens). “It is also essential that such a solution not make any cuts to the family-based immigration system that has been a bedrock for the Asian American community. DREAMers have greatly contributed to our nation; they’ve bolstered our economy, enhanced our communities and have become woven into the fabric of America. Congress must act immediately to protect them.”
 
“With Congress getting down to the wire to pass a bipartisan immigration plan, I stand with Dreamers, advocates and allies to renew our call for a clean DREAM Act without punitive add-ons that threaten to subject immigrant families to lives of constant fear,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin (D-Lower Manhattan). “As the Trump Administration continues its hostile attacks on immigrant communities, we need leaders in Washington to join our fight against intolerance and racism, and uphold the fundamental principles of inclusion and opportunity on which our country was founded. Thank you to the Asian American Federation for organizing today’s rally, and to all the advocates fighting for immigration reform to forge a reality where no one is forced to live in the shadows.”
 
NYC Council Member Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn), Chair of the NYC Council Committee on Immigration, stated “We must always remember the great contributions 30,000 Dreamers make to our City and how hard we must work to protect them.  This is a new year and we face continuing threats to DACA from a hostile federal government.  We will combine our strengths and fight for national legislation that sustains DACA permanently. The vast majority of all Americans agree that Dreamers deserve to stay in safety and security and that partisan politics should not tear families apart and shatter communities.”
 
“We stand here with a simple message for Washington: pass a clean DREAM Act, protect our immigrant communities and stop breaking our families apart,” said Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou. “Every hour that passes without a clear decision on these issues is an hour of agony for thousands of families and young men and women across our nation. We ask that that Congress work with us and extend protections to our Dreamers, refugees, TPS recipients and other hardworking immigrants. Many of the individuals affected by these policies are Americans in every way but in a single document, and we demand that the federal government do the right thing and let our families remain in their homes.”
 
NYC Council Member Peter Koo (D-Flushing, Queens) emphasized, “We must provide a pathway to citizenship for the countless Dreamers who have built their home here without resorting to unreasonable and inhumane demands that tear apart families. Thank you to the Asian American Federation and all the advocates for standing up for this important cause.”
 
“The time to pass a clean DREAM Act is now,” said NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst), whose district is home to thousands of immigrants.  “The United States is great because of the millions of immigrants who have settled here.  A clean DREAM Act complete with family visas will establish a path to citizenship for these men and women, helping them realize their full potential. Congress must take immediate action to fix our broken immigration system and keep our families together.”
 
“For generations, America has been a beacon of light for millions of people throughout the world seeking a better life,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “It is disgraceful that any administration would reject those seeking refuge or deport those who contribute so much to our society and economy. I want to thank the Asian American Federation for heeding the call to join together and demand a DREAM Act that protects all those who consider this country their home.”
 
“The discussion of immigration in Washington has become morally unhinged, and it is time for every elected leader to reject the hate and scapegoating that have characterized this debate, regardless of party or political consequences,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Every member of Congress who still possesses an ounce of moral clarity must insist that we keep our promises to the people who were brought to this country as children and the people who were offered refuge from war, famine, and disaster by our government.”
 
NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said, “Even though eight in 10 Americans support DACA, the GOP continues to use lives as legislative leverage. It’s as heartbreaking as it is horrific. We’re a country of immigrants — and we always will be. That’s why we need a clean DREAM Act, and we need it now.”

​...
 
Joining the emergency rally were leaders from: Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), CMP, Council of Peoples Organization (COPO), Japanese American Social Services Inc (JASSI), The Japanese American Association of New York Inc., MinKwon Center for Community Action, The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) and OCA-NY.

OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
2017 Annual General Meeting Agenda
Saturday, December 16, 2017
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Confucius Plaza Community Room (33 Bowery, Ground Floor)
 

1. Activities Highlight – PowerPoint presentation
2. President’s Welcome Remarks
3. Introductions of Board Candidates
4. Election of 2018 Board Members
5. Treasurer’s Report
6. Updates on Fund Raising / Development Activities
7. Guest Speakers: Jill and Vera Sung
8. Q & A from Audience
9. Announcement of Newly Elected Board Members
10. Sworn-in by Councilwoman Margaret Chin and Judge Doris Ling-Cohan
11. Lunch
12. 2018 Board Members
13. Updates on Membership
14. Discussion on 2018 Priorities
15. Raffle
16. Meeting Adjournment

OCA-NY’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The location of the AGM this year will be at the Confucius Plaza Community Room (33 Bowery, Ground Floor).  Anyone planning to attend the meeting must RSVP by 5 p.m. Friday, December 8, 2017 with the number of attendees in your party by emailing info@oca-ny.org

We are glad to share with you we will be joined by guest speakers: Jill Sung, President & CEO, Abacus Federal Saving Bank and Vera Sung, Director, Abacus Federal Saving Bank.  They will speak on experience in taking over Abacus Federal Savings Bank from their iconic father; major challenges they face as minority and women in leadership positions when dealing with bank regulator; and in in regards to the “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” what lessons can be learned so as a community we can prevent this kind of discriminatory action from happening ever again.

Abacus Federal Savings Bank was founded in December, 1984 by a group of business leaders from the Chinese community in New York City.  The founders' purpose in starting Abacus Bank was to provide financial services to immigrants and local residents of lower Manhattan. As the Chinese immigrant population grew, Abacus Bank has retained its original mission, but has expanded its size. It now has 6 branches covering New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Abacus Bank provides deposit services, safe deposit boxes and loans for both residential and commercial real estate properties to its communities. Besides the traditional banking services, Abacus Bank also provides life insurance and annuities to its customer through its subsidiary, Abacus Insurance Agency Corp.

2017 OCA-NY AGM program:

• Activity highlights
• Board Election
• More details to follow

Light lunch and refreshments served.

We look forward to your participation and see you, soon!

Sincerely,


Chi Loek
President, OCA-NY

Dear Members and Friends:

We would like to share with you an invitation we received from Congresswoman Velazquez, regarding the Chinatown Small Business Conference today at 6 pm in the Confucius Plaza Community Room.

Representatives from Renaissance Economic Development Corporation, SCORE NYC, Pace’s SBDC, NYBDC and SBA were invited to speak about the many programs and services they provide and about the small business loans that are available.

Attached please find the event flyer, RSVP to NY7Event@mail.house.gov or call (212) 619-2608.

Please feel free to share with anyone you think may be interested.


Regards,

OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
http://www.oca-ny.org
​

Dear Members and Friends:

We are 14 days away from the big day! We want every eligible Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) voter to exercise their freedom to vote this Election Day, Nov. 7th. OCA-NY is committed to informing the AAPI community of their rights and privilege, and to ensure that our voices are heard. To do so, we are seeking volunteers to join us in this endeavor:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Do you have a few hours of free time on Saturday, November 4th and/or Sunday, November 5th? OCA-NY will be conducting a series of door knocking efforts in Lower East Side, Manhattan and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

We are also looking for volunteers who want to do phone banking with us or who want to call from wherever they are located. Find a friend or two to join you so we can remind even more AAPI voters about their freedom to vote! We will provide training and scripts.

Our preliminary goal is 500 door knocks and 1,500 live phone call attempts.

Will you be able to help us reach these goals?

If you are able and willing to volunteer a couple of hours in the beginning of November, please email us at info@oca-ny.org. We will get in touch with you.

Best regards,

Chi Loek,
President, OCA-NY
OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates
info@oca-ny.org | http://www.oca-ny.org