National Scholarship Directory Now Available

The 2010-2011 National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students is now available online. Sponsored by State Farm Public Affairs and the University of Maryland, and partnered by OCA and JACL (Japanese American Citizens League), the website is http://www.aast.umd.edu/

No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition

OCA Greater Philadelphia has joined over 50 other community organizations by being part of the No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition.

As part of this coalition we commit to mobilizing our constituency and bringing our own strengths and resources to the work of the Coalition

• We oppose putting a casino in the heart of our city.
  
  A Center City slots parlor aims to take money from the pocketbooks of Philadelphians who can least afford it (especially low-income, elderly, and people of color, riders of mass transit, center city workers, Chinatown workers and residents, and Gallery shoppers).
  
  
• We decry the unfair fast-tracking of the Gallery casino.
  
  It is patently discriminatory for our public servants to work to protect some communities from this noxious industry and then to move at a feverish pace to impose it as quickly as possible in a place that will expose the maximum number of Philadelphians to it.
  
  
• We reject actions by our public officials that make them active partners with the casino industry – promoting gambling to our residents and transit riders and redesigning our central historical, business and residential corridor around a gambling anchor.
  
  The slots business is a predatory industry that profits off addiction and impoverishes its clientele. We do not build a healthy economy or a balanced budget by increasing levels of poverty and addiction among our citizens.
  
  
• We reject the choice of any site for a casino that would threaten the health and welfare of any neighborhood.
  
  No casino should be sited in any neighborhood that would change the nature and character of the neighborhood, or interfere with that neighborhood's sustainable economic development.
  

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Festival Pictures!

Hi All,

Thanks again for all of the volunteers and attendees who showed up to last month's APA Heritage Month Festival at Franklin Square Park! There are some professional pictures online at the link below!

http://madampil.smugmug.com/panasian

Community Carnival

The 55th Annual Chinese Christian Church and Center Carnival will be taking place this Saturday (6/27th). There will be games, food, and the traditional Flea Market, but most of all there will be lots of wholesome fun with people. This is a great way to enjoy a nice evening and meeting new friends!

What: CCC & C 55th Annual Community Carnival
Where: 10th and Spring Streets (Chinatown)
When: June 27th, Afternoon

Paid Internships/Jobs at Saigon Broadcasting Television Network

Saigon Broadcasting Television Network (SBTN) is the first 24-hour Vietnamese television network in North America.

SBTN is working to increase the participation of young talented Vietnamese American youths in broadcasting and television industry. We are looking for interns to work side by side with producers, directors, and other staff and crew. As an intern with SBTN you will have the unique opportunity to be a real part of a network leading in Vietnamese American media.

Internship Positions:

Red Carpet Intern
--Help staff reporter at red carpet events, movie premiers, celebrity interviews
--Opportunity to be on-screen if necessary

Newsroom Intern
--Work closely with the team’s Producers and will perform various Production Assistant functions such as: answering phones, logging tape, researching story ideas, printing scripts, retrieving video.

Primetime Intern
--Research & help work on production elements for our programming
--Will work with Producers to produce key elements of the show such as graphics and scripts

Technical Operations Intern
--Will receive hands-on instruction with staff supervision in Editing (cuts-only, Avid, Online and Non-Linear), Studio Operations (Camera, Stage Managing,Teleprompter, Studio Lighting), Control Room Operations (Technical Director, Audio, Video, Playback, Electronic Graphics), and Remote Operations (Live Shot coordination, Satellite/Fiber feeds, field logistics).

On-Air Graphics Intern
--Will assist in the research and creation of graphics for all SBTN programs that will be used on-air
--Will receive hands on experience with the latest graphics equipment and software

Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Intern
--Assist with planning, developing, and implementing marketing strategies, communications, and public relations activities.

Videographer/Editor (PT/FT)
--Operate, carry and maintain all assigned A/V equipment.
--Provide video and audio coverage/documentation with quality equal to commercial industry standards
--Edit material for studio and remote production
--Position will lead to permanent and full-time depending on performance

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates interested in applying for an internship at SBTN should mail, fax, or email a resume and cover letter specifying which internship you are interested in to:

SBTN (Saigon Broadcasting Television Network)
ATTN: SBTN Internships
PO Box 127
Garden Grove, CA 92842
Tel: (714) 636-1121 Ext: 4107
Fax: (714) 260-0236
Email: KimChi.Nguyen@sbtn.tv
Application deadline: Internships accepted on a rolling basis. Summer interns are encouraged to begin ASAP as schedule permits.

2009 OCA National Convention in San Francisco

Registration is online here. Be sure to book your hotel by July 2.

This year’s convention theme, “A Call to Action: Empowering Asian Pacific American Voices,” will focus not only on strengthening our diverse community’s voice, but also solidifying our efforts to be more inclusive so that each APA group within our community is empowered to raise its own voice as well. This theme also reaffirms OCA’s commitment to advocate for social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment.

This is the third time an OCA convention has been held in San Francisco, where APAs are the fastest growing population and comprise more than 30 percent of the greater Bay Area’s total population. We are anticipating over 1,000 attendees from the local area and across the country at our Gala Awards and other exciting events.

Our Pioneer and Outstanding Citizens Award recipients will be: YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, Fashion Designer Anna Sui, Congressman Mike Honda, Groundbreaking Historians Phil Choy and Him Mark Lai (Posthumous).

This year’s highlights include:

Workshops
Career Fair & Community Health Fair
Reception at City Hall
Angel Island Picnic and Tour
Programs for APA youth & college students
Corporate Employee sessions
OCA Gala Awards Banquet

Early Bird Registration ends June 30, so DON’T DELAY!

Voter Registration for 500 New Citizens (training included)

The largest citizenship ceremony of the year is around the corner, it will take place on July 1st in conjunction with Independence Day. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition's New Citizens/New Voters campaign assists new U.S. citizens to register to vote immediately following the ceremony, and then provides follow up information, phone banks, and educational forums about voter rights and how to use voting machines.

This work is done by volunteers like you! Be part of building the immigrant vote by assisting new citizens to complete voter registration forms. The volunteer shift will begin with a short training at 10:30am on how to complete voter forms and answer questions in a non-partisan way.

What: Voter Registration for 500 New Citizens (training included)

Who Can Volunteer: Anyone interested in civic participation. You do not need to be a citizen or 18 years of age (two requirements for voting) in order to participate.

When: Wednesday, July 1st, 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM @ PA Convention Center

This is a non-partisan event. Please do not bring or wear any political propaganda.

To RSVP and for more information about the event, please contact Hillary Blecker at
picc.organizer@gmail.com, or by phone at (215) 832-0895.

UPDATED Stance On Issues Page

Please check out updated Stance on Issues page to learn more about the policy positions that OCA - GP and OCA National supports.

JACL/OCA/State Farm/AAST — 2009-2011 National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Students

JACL, OCA, State Farm, and the Asian American Studies Program, University of Maryland, proudly present 2009-2011 National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Students. The Directory provides a 140-page, full color description of the mission, criteria, award amount, period, application deadline, and contact information of each scholarship/internship/fellowship for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders students.

Following the scholarship directory is an introduction of the resources and tips for college students.

http://www.aast.umd.edu/directoryenter.html

US Department of State Intership

US Department of State will be accepting applications for the U.S. Department of State's 2010 Spring Student Internship Program

At the U.S. Department of State, we like to say we're the face of America to the world. As an intern, you will be, too. Some of our students work in Washington, DC, and others have the opportunity to work at an embassy overseas. Positions are both paid and unpaid, and many are available during spring, summer or fall.

Eligibility requirements
You must be:

· a U.S. citizen. U.S. citizenship and good academic standing are required, along with the successful completion of a background investigation, and the ability to receive either a Secret or Top Secret clearance (34kb, PDF). Random drug testing will be performed.

· a Student. A student is an individual who has been accepted for enrollment, or who is enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an accredited college or university

· a full- or part-time continuing college or university junior, or graduate student (including graduating seniors intending to go on to graduate school.) An applicant is considered a junior if he/she will have completed all sophomore credits (60 or more hours or 90 quarter hours) by the time the internship begins will be entering at least the junior year immediately completion of the internship.

Application Process

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs.html#SIP) for more information and to start the online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is July 1, 2009.

URBAN CONVERGENCE Opening Reception

URBAN CONVERGENCE
a high-energy exhibition

Exhibit: June 12 – August 2, 2009 (see below for gallery hours)

Opening Reception: Friday, June 12, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- Music by DJ Phantastic
- Live b-boy performances by Dreamerz & Stylers Crews

Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street (Chinatown North)

The marriage between art and culture has never been more prominent than it is today. Examples abound: Damien Hirst’s paintings as the backdrop of Jay-Z’s music videos; Takashi Murakami’s designs on Louis Vuitton’s accessories and Kanye West’s album cover; graffiti art on Converse sneakers, Sprint advertisements, and energy drinks; Shepard Fairey’s iconic “HOPE” portrait of President Obama.

These collaborations reflect an unprecedented merging and morphing of artistic genres and culture—high art with street art, underground with pop, fine art with street culture—that is breaking down social barriers and dated paradigms and clearing space for new ideas and aesthetics.

Hailing from metropolitan hubs throughout the country—Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington D.C.—these artists will share exciting work in a variety of mediums and styles that demonstrate a nationwide convergence toward a fresh contemporary sensibility with an urban edge: Pose II, Joshua Mays, Dave Cramske, Isaac Lin, Rodney Camarce, Jesse Olanday, Sun You, Figments by Ciriaco, Anjni Raol, Shin Ae Tassia, Chanika Svetvilas, Bret Syfert, Junghwa O’Connell, Miss Tina Wong, Teel MUL, and Dan “R5” Barojas.

Urban Convergence is curated by Jeff Cylkowski, a Korean American adoptee and Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary painter, muralist, and hip-hop artist. Before receiving a formal art education from the Pratt Institute, he spent years immersed in urban subcultures. The spirit of that experience continues to inform his work today. In summer 2009, he will be Artist-in-Residence at the Asian Arts Initiative.

The residency will include a six-week series of painting and mural-making workshops with local youth in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, beginning July 6 and culminating with an exhibition of new work on August 14, 2009.

Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday – Friday
(215)557-0455 or www.asianartsinitiative.org

OCA-GP: Summer Solstice Celebration

Bring your sneakers, bikes, baseball caps, jerseys, racquets, frisbees, balls, birdies - bring it all!

FDR Park has biking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds, lots of grassy fields, picnic sites, and best of all, a lively street market!

The market features hot-off-the-grill Khmer-style BBQ, papaya salad, fried banana, and many other delectable treats! Cash only!

Everyone is welcome!

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: FDR Park in South Philly (Specific Picnic Site TBA)
Street: Broad St & Pattison Ave (across the street from the stadiums)

OCA Stands in Solidarity with US Journalists Sentenced in North Korea

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10 2009

CONTACT

Sarah Smith Nester | Communications Manager

202 223 5500 | ssmith@ocanational.org

Washington, DC--U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested in March and sentenced to 12 years hard labor after a closed-door trial for what North Korea has called the "grave crime they committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing." Ling and Lee are reporters for California-based Current TV station, and were covering a story on the China-North Korea border.

OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), is concerned about the length of sentencing and closed trial, and hopes for the immediate and safe release of the two journalists. OCA also hopes for the swift reunification of Ling and Lee with their families. Ling is said to have serious health problems and Lee is the mother of a young child.

"As citizens, we are all called to ensure all US citizens are protected and given a fair trial overseas. Sentencing of 12 years of hard labor is harsh and excessive," said OCA National President Ken Lee. "OCA will continue to monitor this situation closely in hopes that tensions will subside."

Leeway Foundation - Program Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION
The Leeway Foundation is Philadelphia-based independent foundation that supports individual women and transgender artists working toward individual and community transformation. We envision a world where art is recognized as an essential part of the human experience; where it is employed and respected as a powerful catalyst for personal and social change; and where women and trans artists are honored as role models, mentors, and leaders.

JOB DESCRIPTION
This position supports the Leeway Foundation’s office operations in alignment with organizational and program needs; assists with maintaining program related information, general office and communication systems. The Program Assistant collaborates with staff and board as appropriate and reports to the Executive Director.

Please submit your materials on or before June 30, 2009 at 5PM EST via regular mail or email to:

Leeway Foundation
Attn: Program Assistant Search
The Philadelphia Building
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 832
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Email: jobs@leeway.org

Asian Arts Iniative - Artist Apprenticeship

The Asian Arts Initiative is excited to offer an Artist Apprenticeship in summer 2009!

The apprentice will assist multidisciplinary painter, muralist, and hip-hop artist Jeff Cylkowski (BFA, Pratt Institute) during his residency at the Asian Arts Initiative. Projects will include a site-specific installation, two group exhibitions, and a 6-week series of youth arts workshops on painting and mural-making.

Applicants must submit a short letter explaining their interest and 5-10 images of their work. All majors are welcome although Fine Arts majors specializing in Painting are preferred. Applicants must commit to 10-20 hours per week from the end of June to mid-August.

Applications will be received on a rolling admissions basis. Please e-mail your application or inquiries to toni@asianartsinitiative.org