Chapters
Chapter’s Corner: OCA–Greater Los Angeles
Lisa Thong | Chapter President, OCA–Greater Los Angeles
T
he heat lamps flickered as a cold
breeze swirled the aroma of chashu
tacos around the patio. Everyone had
silenced, moving to the edge of their
seats, waiting for the announcement.
“The winner of the OCA-GLA’s
inaugural APA InQUIZitive Minds
Trivia Night is…Team ‘Aiyah’!” The
crowd cheered and roared as the
winning team raced to the stage to
accept their prize.
One look around the room and you
knew this was an OCA-Greater Los
Angeles (GLA) event—in one night,
awareness was raised about historic
Asian Pacific American (APA) milestones
and individuals, APA Heritage Month
was honored and celebrated, and
community members from diverse
personal and professional backgrounds
got to better know one another through
friendly competition while enjoying
some of the best food Los Angeles has to
offer in historic Monterey Park. Events
and programs like InQUIZitive Minds
and the participation of a myriad of
community members has branded OCAGLA as a distinct presence in Greater
Los Angeles.
From its inception in 1991, OCAGLA has made an impact through
community service, advocacy and
organizing, education, and leadership
development. In 2013 alone, OCA-GLA
was one of the first organizations
to speak out against Days Above
Ground’s song and music video “Asian
Girlz” as well as a proposed “Modern
Latin Alphabet” Signage Ordinance
in Monterey Park that would have
mandated modern Latin lettering on
business storefront signs. Days Above
Ground was consequently dropped
14 • IMAGE • Spring/Summer 2014
from a House of Blues performance
and “Asian Girlz” was removed from
major media platforms. Similarly, the
Monterey Park City Council voted
unanimously to table the “Modern
Latin Alphabet” ordinance indefinitely
after OCA-GLA collaborated with
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
– Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA) to mobilize
youth and the city’s residents to speak
out against the proposed ordinance.
OCA-GLA also played an instrumental
role in speaking out against a breach of
voting rights in the City of San Gabriel
that involved the election of an Asian
American candidate. Over and over
again, OCA-GLA has been the first to
provide a voice for the APA community
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