OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA) is holding it’s 50th anniversary convention in Washington, D.C. through July16th at the Capital Hilton, for five days of “education, discussion, celebration, advocacy, and outreach,” OCA announced.
OCA, the abbreviation coming from the organization’s original name, the Organization of Chinese Americans, is one of the nation’s oldest Asian American advocacy organizations, founded in 1973. With the expansion of the organization’s focus to all AAPIs, the 50th anniversary is using the alternative backronym “Organize, Connect, Act!”
The 50th national convention includes events such as OCA day on Capitol Hill and three town halls on coalition-building, healthcare access and civic engagement.
At the convention, OCA will recognize a number of outstanding Asian American individuals and organizations, presenting a series of awards on July 15th.
Pioneer Awards will be given to NBA player Jeremy Lin, actor Tamlyn Tomita, and Mini Timmarau, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. OCA’s Outstanding Achievement Award will be going to Richard Lui, an MSNBC anchor, and their Legacy impact award to the Japanese American Citizens League.
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Jeremy Lin is the first Taiwanese/Chinese American NBA player, who “inspired a generation of AAPIs to play basketball,” according to OCA President Linda Ng. Tamlyn Tomita is being awarded for her presentation of a “strong, independent, but still respectful young Asian woman” in Karate Kid Part Two. Mini Timmaraju is the first Asian American to run the nation’s oldest abortion advocacy group.
Further, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded posthumously to Virginia Ng, the former president of OCA-New Jersey.
Richard Liu will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award for being the first Asian American to host a daily national cable news show.
The conference is free and open to the public, with full-package registrations to Saturday’s Awards Gala available for purchase at OCA’s website.
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