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Press Releases

OCA SUMMER FAMILY PICNIC

9/12/2021

 
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TEENS CITYWIDE REACT TO SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES"#ART WILL DEFEAT HATE" ACT. RESPOND. TRANSFORM.

8/6/2021

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​​Contact: 
​Elizabeth OuYang, Supervisor Tel. 718) 650-1960
Averi Suk, Coordinator Tel. (818) 903-5648
WHAT: OPENING - OCA-NY Hate Crimes Prevention Art Exhibit, "#ART WILL DEFEAT HATE", ACT. RESPOND. TRANSFORM. AMAZING ARTWORK SHOWCASED. FIVE TOP PRIZE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED. (see attached flyer announcing exhibit opening)
This contest, in its 15th successful year, showcases "artivism" from teenagers citywide. The theme focuses on the rise in hate crimes this past year against many marginalized groups, notably Asian Americans who have been scapegoated for COVID-19.

WHY: FromJanuary1,2021toMay31,2021,therewere322reportedhatecrimes,compared to 128 the same time last year. Of this number, hate crimes increased:
  • 335 % against Asian Americans with 87 reported hate crimes. From 2019-2021, anti-Asian hate crimes rose from 1 to 30.
  • 188% against LGBT with 23 reported hate crimes.
  • 37% against Jews with 86 reported hate crimes.​

WHEN: Thursday, August 12, 2021 (online) 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
​

WHO: Averi Suk, Coordinator (Columbia University college student) High school project interns
Recent victim of hate in New York City
Brianna Cea, OCA-NY President
Jason Chu, performance rapper
Faith Onukaogu (project intern), dance “Black, Asian, Latinx Lives Matter” State Senator John Liu

Manhattan Borough President Gayle Brewer
Deborah Lauter, Exec. Director, New York City Office of Prevention of Hate Crimes John Leo, Regional and Community Affairs Manager, Con Edison
Dennis Chuang, Eastern Regional Leader, East West Bank
David Ho, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Home Care Division

(list in formation)
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APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force Launches Art Contest for High Schoolers "This is Where I Belong"

5/13/2021

 
Redistricting is where power lies. It happens every 10 years after the decennial census.  The 2020 Redistricting Cycle has begun! To engage youth on why redistricting is important, APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force is launching an Art Contest for high schoolers living in Manhattan, Queens, and  Brooklyn. Prizes will be awarded in each of these boroughs: $750-lst Prize; $250-2nd Prize; $100-3rd Prize. The Voting Rights Act requires majority APA districts to be drawn where possible. To be stronger advocates  for educational equity, language access, fair immigration policies, affordable housing, and public safety, Asian Americans communities with shared interests should be kept in the same district.  How districts are drawn determine which candidates run and which voters can vote for them.  

"Redistricting impacts high schoolers. Who is elected  impacts funds for education, youth development, and summer employment. " - Ramdat Singh, Director of Civic Engagement, Caribbean Equality Project 

"Through art, we can share the rich history and culture of Asian Americans in the US, our resilience in building safe and healthy communities, and our role in the fight for equality with other  disadvantaged groups.  Let's see young people tell their stories and hopes for AAPI communities to fair representation and access to resources." - Asian Americans For Equality Co-Exec.  Directors Jennifer Sun & Thomas Yu.

"Since time immemorial, art has been a catalyst for social and political change. The visual artwork from youth will uplift the Task Force's resounding message -keep our communities whole." -Aminta Kilawan-Narine, Founder and Director, South Queens Women's March.  

"It is important to reach young people by giving them multiple platforms to show we belong and that our communities deserve to be fairly represented in redistricting". - Brianna Cea, President, OCA-NY.

APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force Art Contest Committee
:  Asian Americans for Equality, Caribbean Equality Project, OCA-NY, and South Queens Women's March.  All 15 member groups will judge the contest.  Winners will be announced in July.
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APA Voice Redistricting Task Force launches 14 Leading APA Civic Engagement Groups Form Task Force TO ENSURE FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO POWER

3/22/2021

 
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In the last year alone, New York City has experienced a 2700% increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Asian American communities of interest must be kept whole to be strong and united in electing candidates who will protect our communities. Congressional and state lines are redrawn every 10 years based on the decennial census. Asian Pacific Americans now make up 14% of New York City. Our voices must be heard to ensure a fair and equal opportunity for a representative democracy.

Role of APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force in 2020 Redistricting Cycle 
"The 2019 American Community Survey predicts Asian Americans constitute 14.09% of the City, up from 11.8% in 2010. This represents an increase of approximately 51,689 Asian Americans to the City's population for an estimated total of 1,186,608 Asian Americans. 75% of this growth is in Brooklyn and Queens alone. This growth is
expected to increase our power to form more districts where we can elect a candidate of our choice." - John Park, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action

Accomplishments in 2010 Redistricting Cycle 

"In the 2010 Redistricting cycle, the first majority Asian American State Senate District and three majority Asian American Assembly Districts were drawn. We supported the creation of Congressional District 6 which led to the election of Grace Meng, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress from New York State." - Elizabeth R. OuYang, Coordinator, APA Voice Redistricting Task Force

Perspectives from new and seasoned groups involved in redistricting 
"Our organization is literally on the border between two Assembly districts. The lines between assembly district 40 and 25 in Flushing don't really reflect the way people think about their neighborhoods. The people who live in the immediate area, don't see our neighborhood ending at our doorstep. When neighborhoods are unnaturally split between two or more elected districts, it makes it hard for social service agencies like SACSS. When a crisis hits, we have to seek the assistance of multiple elected officials and coordinate among many offices." - Rehan Mehmood, Director of Health Services, South Asian Council for Social Services

"During the 1990 Census, we helped residents get counted in Manhattan's Chinatown since many had no experience. The final results showed what we had observed for a number of years, that the community was split into two districts-resulting in its voice being diluted. At the 1990 redistricting hearings, we advocated for districts that would reflect the reality of the area. Those efforts were successful resulting in the community no longer being divided along the Bowery." - Mae Lee, Executive Director, Chinese Progressive Association

"Cracked" Neighborhoods 
"We understand how challenging it has been for neighborhoods like Elmhurst and Jackson Heights to find leadership that accurately represents the communities that live there and supports their shared interests. They need to elect a leader who will champion affordable housing and immigrant integration. - Farzana Linda, Associate Director of Programs, Advocacy and Organizing, CHHAYA

Community Development Corporation

"It is crucial that we draw these lines using data that is accurate, up-to-date, and community-focused. We want to make sure that our communities and our interests are kept whole and together for the next ten years." - Kevin Cho, Assistant Director, Korean Community Services

"After the 2010 redistricting process, the neighborhoods of Richmond Hill/South Ozone Park, Ozone Park, and Woodhaven were split among 6 different Assembly districts and multiple State Senate districts. Worse yet, the district lines were drawn in a way that none of these neighborhoods have a substantial part of any district. This is a clear case of vote dilution. We are asking, in the current redistricting process, to keep these neighborhoods whole and together. These neighborhoods have a strong common root in the South Asian diaspora. The people who live in these neighborhoods share common schools, share common transportation lines and they shop in the same shops." - John Albert, Executive Director, Taking Our Seat

Brooklyn 
“We recommend unifying our communities of interest in Sunset Park, Bensonhurst and Homecrest in one State Senate District. Currently, Sunset Park is divided into two districts: District 20, which primarily consists of Brownsville and Crown Heights, and District 17, which primarily consists of Borough Park. There are few connecting factors between these neighborhoods and Sunset Park in terms of languages spoken, resources accessed, and transportation. Divided, Sunset Park will receive fewer resources. We have seen that translated into t overcrowded schools, lack of affordable housing, increased homelessness rates, and rising food insecurity and unemployment.” - Mon Yuck Yu, Executive Vice-President and Chief of Staff, Academy of Medical and Public Health Services

“We hope in the next round of redistricting the neighborhoods like Bensonhurst and SHeepshead Bay are kept together because there is a community of interest bounded by language, culture, and needs.” Karen Zhou, Executive Director, Homecrest

Bronx
 
"The history of Indo- Caribbeans is a complex one and the census data does not adequately reflect Indo- Caribbean populations in NYC. Due to British Colonialism, Indo- Caribbeans, of South Asian descent, were forced into indentured servitude by unclear contracts or lack of English language skills. This has led to an inadequate census count because some Indo-Caribbeans classify themselves as Asian while others put “other” on all government paperwork. In Assembly District 87, in the Bronx, the Asian population in 2019 was 11% and the other category at 8%. We expect an even further increase in the Asian population in District 87, when the census data is released. The Bengali and Indo-Caribbean community should remain in the same district because they share a common history, are primarily renters, and have other socio-economic factors in common, such as high rates of poverty and working class occupations. - Mohamed Q. Amin, Executive Director, Caribbean

Equality Project
Educational Campaign 
"APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force will embark on an ambitious educational campaign. We will be educating the public about the redistricting process using multilingual flyers in English, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and Bangla. We will tap into our popular ESL, music and computer classes to engage with underserved populations on how redistricting will impact their daily lives. We plan to launch an art contest for high school students on why redistricting is important to them. Today, we are launching a multilingual survey. The district you are in can determine whether your elected official addresses or ignores your concerns. The survey simply asks if you are familiar with any of the elected officials who represent your neighborhood and, if you asked them for assistance, what your experience was like." - Thomas Yu, Co-Executive Director, Asian Americans for Equality

“To encourage greater civic engagement, empower everyday New Yorkers to learn about redistricting and hear their stories, we have created a social media toolkit, surveys and other resources to help our community understand what is at stake in 2021. #MapOurFuture. - Brianna Cea, Executive Vice-President, OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advocates

Independent Redistricting Commission
“We at the APA Voice coalition are asking the Governor to fully fund the Independent Redistricting Commission to ensure our communities have a district that represents their interest and not the politicians. The Independent Redistricting Commission needs at least 4 million dollars to do their work, yet the Independent Redistricting Commission has yet to receive 1 million. We ASK that the governor fully fund the redistricting commission as quickly as possible to make sure this important work gets done.” - Howard Wong, Civic Engagement Manager, Chinese-American

​Planning Council
Legislative Campaign 
"In addition to testifying at hearings before the Independent Redistricting Commission, APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force will also request a meeting with LATFOR to share our support and concerns regarding the 2010 redistricting results. We also plan to meet with elected leaders currently representing a majority Asian American district or areas where Asian American communities of interest exist to learn and discuss each others' perspectives to ensure our voices are heard. - Tirtho Dutha, Program Coordinator, SHETU

Coalition Building on Redistricting
"APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force will contribute to the Unity map, a joint effort spearheaded by the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, Latino Justice, and AALDEF; participate in the New York Immigration Coalition's Redistricting Initiative, and through the Civic Engagement Table, be trained by Common Cause on community mapping. The Task Force will also support New York State League of Women Voter's efforts to seek full funding of the Independent Redistricting Commission. - Sandra Choi, Civic Participation Manager, MinKwon Center for Community Action

OCA Dismayed in Reversal of White House Affirmative Action Guidance

7/8/2018

 
5 July 2018
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Thu Nguyen | Communications Associate
202.223.5500 | [email protected]
 
Washington, DC – OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates released the following statement in reaction to the reversal of the current Affirmative Action guidance by the Trump Administration, a non-binding guidance for educational institutions:
 
This Administration completely ignores the reality of race in America. The fact is that we do not live in a post-racial society. Race often informs where students live and go to school, and along with their opportunities for employment. Affirmative action has historically helped Asian Americans and women access institutions of higher learning. Still, certain Asian American and Pacific Islander communities still face considerable educational barriers. For example, only 17 percent of Hmong and Cambodian Americans have a bachelor’s degree, along with only 8 percent of Samoan and 10 percent of Tongan Americans. Holistic admissions inclusive of race in higher education is critical to engendering equity and equality for students of color. Although non-binding, this reversal sends a clear political message that diversity and our communities’ lived racial experiences do not matter. Courts have ruled time and again the legality of affirmative action policies. The President must reverse this decision, uphold the law, and reaffirm our federal government’s obligation to diversity and access in our schools.
 
OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national organization of community advocates dedicated to the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs.)​

OCA Disappointed in SCOTUS Decision to Uphold Travel Ban

6/27/2018

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 JUNE 2018
 
Contact: Thu Nguyen | Communications Associate
202.223.5500 | [email protected]
 
Washington, DC – In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Administration’s Travel Ban, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates released the following statement:
 
Yesterday, our justice system upheld the Administration’s Travel Ban – a policy that is rooted in xenophobia rather than facts. Despite the context surrounding its intention, Justice Roberts and the majority opinion defended the ban on national security grounds. The United States has a history of disenfranchising and targeting communities without stating the obvious. Notably, Executive Order 9066 did not specify Japanese Americans, but it was applied to over 120,000 Japanese Americans on the grounds of national security. Indeed, it is extremely hypocritical of the majority opinion to utilize their decision to overturn Korematsu v. United States; exchanging one racist policy for another only harms our country. In light of the Court’s failure, we call on members of Congress to advance legislation prohibiting the implementation of the travel ban.
 
OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national organization of community advocates dedicated to the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific American Islanders (AAPI’s.)

OCA-NY Questions the Proposed Changes to NYC’s Specialized High Schools’ Admissions Process

6/18/2018

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     CONTACT:  Chi Loek, OCA-NY President
June 8, 2018                                                                          (917) 697-2842
New York, NY - ​OCA New York - Asian Pacific American Advocates, questions Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC School Chancellor Richard Carranza’s proposed Bill A10427A which calls for changes to the current single-admissions test criteria to the city’s Specialized High Schools with the hope of improving fairness for all students seeking admissions and greater diversity at each of these Specialized High Schools.  While we applaud the Mayor and the Chancellor for trying to make changes that diversifies the classrooms for all children, eliminating the single-test criteria in the near-term is a slap-in-the-face to the Asian American communities of this great city.  Asian Americans make up nearly 16% of the public school population, many of whom are recent immigrants.  They arrive in this city with hopes and dreams of educating their children so they can have a better life.  Striving to gain admissions to an elite secondary school is the first-step in this process. 
 
The data establishes that Asian Americans constituted 52% of those admitted to the 8 Specialized High Schools.  Furthermore, many of these Asian American kids come from low-income families and/or are recent immigrants where English is not their first language.  Yet, these students work hard, focus, and work diligently to excel to gain admissions to one of these schools.  In their announcement for these proposed changes, the Mayor and Chancellor displayed racial undertones and stereotyping of Asian Americans that were deplorable.  What they have done is pit one community of color with another.   The Asian American community deserves a public apology from both the Mayor and the Chancellor. 
 
“OCA-NY strongly believes in diverse schools and communities.  However, what the Mayor and the Chancellor have proposed did not take into consideration the concerns of the Asian American communities.  The city did not engage all communities before announcing its recently proposed changes.   This is unacceptable to our community.  Unless all New Yorkers, including Asian Americans, are part of the decision-making process, we cannot support A10427A or any efforts to reform the admissions process.”
 
Moving forward, OCA-NY invites the Mayor and the Chancellor to a community meeting with Asian Americans to discuss possible approaches to enhancing admissions fairness and diversity.     

OCA-NY Announces Voter Registration Drive

3/2/2018

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     CONTACT:  Edward T. Lau, Program Manager
March 2, 2018                                                                       (347) 988-0189 | [email protected]
                                                                                                            
OCA-NY Announces a Voter Registration Drive Ahead of Municipal and Statewide Elections
 
[New York, NY] OCA-New York - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA-NY) announces a voter registration drive to increase voting participation in advance of this year’s municipal and statewide elections.  The organization will be mobilizing resources in Asian American communities to help eligible Americans 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 be kicking-off its voter registration drive with community partner, Abacus Federal Saving Bank, at their Bowery and Flushing branches starting on Saturday, March 3rd from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The voter registration drive will continue every Saturday in March.
 
“These local elections have a direct impact on people’s daily lives,” said Chi Loek, President of OCA-NY. “The election outcome impacts the schools our children attend, police and fire protection, resources allocated to our senior citizens, parks, transit system, taxes, investments, and much more. The partnership with Abacus Federal Saving Bank will allow eligible voters to register quickly and easily in convenient community locations.”
 
Every year, millions of Americans, especially those in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, do not claim their right to vote because they miss a deadline, move, change names, or simply do not know how to register to vote. With over 25% of eligible Americans having not voted at all, the voter registration drive is a chance to make a difference in helping build a more representative democracy, starting within the New York City AAPI communities.
 
“Abacus Bank is proud to partner with OCA-NY in its 2018 Voter Registration Drive,” said Jill Sung, President and CEO of Abacus Bank. “Voting is a fundamental right that all Asian American citizens should exercise so that our civil rights as individuals and a community are protected and preserved.”  Abacus Bank was founded by Thomas Sung to ensure that financial equality is provided to the AAPI community, particularly to those who through no fault of their own, have been prevented access to the financial system.  Achieving both economic and socio-political empowerment is necessary to ensure the AAPI community’s strength now and for the future.
 
Abacus Federal Saving Bank     Bowery Branch:               6 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
                                                           Flushing Branch:             36-30 Main St, Flushing, NY 11354
 
Founded in 1976, OCA-NY - Asian Pacific American Advocates is a Chapter of OCA. OCA is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans. OCA-NY is also a member of APA VOICE, a non-partisan, pan-Asian collaboration of organizations and individuals seeking to increase civic engagement in the Asian American community.
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OCA-NY HOSTS IMMIGRATION FORUM IN SUNSET PARK

6/2/2017

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2017
 
Contact: Eddie Lau | Program Manager, OCA-NY Advocates
347-988-0189 | [email protected] | [email protected]
 
OCA-NY HOSTS FREE IMMIGRATION FORUM IN SUNSET PARK
What Immigrants Need to Know in This Time of Fear and Uncertainty
 
New York, NY – OCA New York - Asian Pacific American Advocates, today announce a free Immigration Forum will be hosted in Sunset Park, Brooklyn this Saturday, June 10, titled “What Immigrants Need to Know in This Time of Fear and Uncertainty.” Attendees can expect to learn latest immigration information from the District Attorney’s Office, among many immigrant representatives.
 
In order to address the major uptick in immigration arrests happening nationwide. New data released by ICE last week showed that since President Donald Trump signed an executive order on immigration enforcement, arrests are up by 40%.
 
OCA-New York invites members of the immigrant community to attend “What Immigrants Need to Know in This Time of Fear and Uncertainty” at the Chinese Promise Baptist Church on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 2 to 4 p.m., 842 41st Street, Brooklyn NY 11232.  The event is free and all are welcome. Simultaneous Chinese translation will be provided.
 
Chi Loek, President of OCA-NY stated, “In recognizing that we're a country of immigrants, we contribute to the growth of the economy, diverse culture, religion, and strength of our community. In times of need, we need to embrace and support our newcomers because they will be our future, just as I came to America as an immigrant more than 48 years ago.”
 
Winnie Hu, OCA-NY Board Member, Event Organizer and Chair of Development Committee stated, "There are a lot of immigrants who get in trouble with the law who are feeling very uncertain and fearful of how this would affect their petition for family members to come to America or how this would affect their citizenship status. Many of these immigrants are living in fear of deportation and are under great stress mentally and emotionally under the new Trump administration. We hope that by providing this Immigration forum, people can become more educated to protect themselves and their families"
 
Eve Guillergan, OCA-NY Member and Immigration Attorney stated, "There are a lot of immigrants who get in trouble with the law who are feeling very uncertain and fearful of how this would affect their petition for family members to come to America or how this would affect their citizenship status. Many of these immigrants are living in fear of deportation and are under great stress mentally and emotionally under the new Trump administration. We hope that by providing this Immigration forum, people can become more educated to protect themselves and their families"
 
TJ Mills, Regional Immigration Attorney, Justice for Our Neighbors stated, I am honored to take part OCA-NY’s immigration forum and any other action that might provide our immigrant neighbors a safe haven from a Government that has run amok.
 
Other confirmed speakers include Jose Interiano from Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and Tiffany Wheatland-Disu from The New York Immigration Coalition.
 
The Forum will be conducted in English, moderated by Elizabeth R. OuYang, Immigration Attorney & Adjunct Professor at Columbia and NYU. Simultaneous Chinese translation/free light refreshments will be provided.
 
To register, please go to http://bit.do/ocanyforum or contact Winnie Hu at (347) 208-2733.
 
This event is sponsored and made possible by Brooklyn Community Foundation, New York State Assembly Assistant Speaker Felix W. Oritz, New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney, NYC Human Rights, UA3, Light & Love Home New York, Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York, New York Justice For Our Neighbors, Chinese American Planning Council, United East Athletics Association, Chinese-American Sunshine House, The New York Immigration Coalition, Asian Americans For Equality, MinKwon Center For Community Action, Asian American Bar Association of New York, etc.
 
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Founded in 1973, OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national non-profit civil rights organization promoting and protecting the political, economic, and cultural rights of Asian Pacific Americans in America.  We are interested in working with anyone who shares our mission of creating a stronger America by advocating for the values of equal liberty and justice for all.
 
OCA-NY is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our financial statements are submitted annually to the IRS. All of our board members are volunteers.
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OCA-NY is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our financial statements are submitted annually to the IRS. All of our board members are volunteers.

PO Box 3233 Church Street Station, New York 10008-3233
  • home
  • About
    • Our Team
  • Programs
    • Self Defense Program
    • Civic Engagement/ ​APA VOICE
    • Hate Crimes Prevention Project >
      • Hate Crime Prevention Art Project Archival Artwork
    • Little Thailand >
      • StoryCorps x OCA-NY
    • Sunset Park Community Health Fair
    • REACH Coalition
  • Events
    • Lunar New Year Parade
    • Annual Gala
    • OCA National Convention
  • Get Involved
  • Contact