OCA Greater Cleveland

Celebrate Cleveland's International Cultural Community at a BBQ on Saturday, July 27th, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Michael Zone Recreation Center (6301 Lorain Ave, Cleveland).

We will have a booth for members and volunteers to gather and share volunteer opportunities and information about the upcoming General Election. We will share the booth with the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation to promote and recruit volunteers for the 78th Annual One World Day (in August).

Enjoy a free day of fun for the whole family!
🏆 Competitions:
⚾️Softball and basketball 🏀
⚽️Soccer, dominoes, and co****le
🌭Delicious Foods 🍗
🍦Refreshing Ice Cream🍨
Inflatables for kids

🎭 Plus:
Cultural performances include:
3:00 p.m. Poonam Dance Group 🇮🇳
4:00 p.m. Shojoji Japanese Dancers 🪭
4:30 p.m. Stellar Acrobatic Dance Academy & LingYun Rising Star Gymnastics Dance School 🇨🇳
5:00 p.m. Dominican Club Cultural Dance 💃

⚾️Meet Baseball All-Star Carlos Baerga and get his autograph!

RSVP and invite friends via the FB link at the 2024 International Cultural Community BBQ!

The Neighborhood Leader Panel at the MidTown Collaboration Center Retreat, hosted by Jumpstart and MidTown Cleveland, highlighted the importance of building trust and fostering relationships in the community.

OCA Greater Cleveland Chapter president Lisa Wong represented the Asiatown neighborhood, Community Advocate Caroline Allen from the Hough neighborhood, and Johnny Robinson from The Friendly Inn Settlement in the Central neighborhood.

The MCC will include about 10 multisector organizations and aims to establish a hub for innovation, collaboration, and community development.

Learn more at https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/about/headquarters/mt-bldg/

Celebrate the World on Stage: The Cultural Gardens welcome the Pan-Am Masters Games 2024 on Saturday, July 20th, from 6-8 p.m. at the Centennial Peace Plaza on MLK Dr.

Join Athletes of the World with exciting performances from three Continents, Kwan Lion Dance, PIAST Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, and Djapo Cultural Arts Institute.

Schedule of Events:
Kwan Lion Dance sponsored by OCA Greater Cleveland
Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble
Djapo Cultural Arts Institute

A free walking tour of the gardens begins at 5 p.m. from the Italian Garden (Upper Level) provided by the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation.

Food Trucks:
Kona Ice of Westlaketeriyaki

Note: Road closure on MLK Blvd from Irish Garden to Italian Garden.

There is free parking at Willson Elementary School (1126 Ansel Rd, Cleveland, OH 44108) and Stonebrook-White Montessori Campus (1000 E 92nd St, Cleveland, OH 44108) parking lots.

Congratulations and welcome to the 66 newly naturalized U.S. citizens at the Courthouse, with the Honorable Judge Calabrese administering the oath of allegiance.

OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to register 52 new Americans from nine counties in Ohio in registering to vote with three volunteers.

Are you vote-ready? Check your voter registration at VoteOhio.Gov.

7/5/2024 - Congratulations and welcome to the 67 new citizens at last Friday's Naturalization Ceremony at the Federal Courthouse with the Honorable Magistrate Judge Jonathan Greenberg who administered the Oath of Allegiance. OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to assist 54 new Americans from 10 counties in Ohio in registering to vote with four volunteers.

AsiaTown News and Beyond July 2024 https://mailchi.mp/379254056964/asiatown-news-and-beyond-july-2024

[OCAGC] July News 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/b062043cda05/ocagc2024july

Join us on Saturday, July 13 from 2-5 p.m. for a local watch party at Li Wah of the 2024 AANHPI Presidential Town Hall livestream from Philadelphia, PA.

Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP at https://forms.gle/ewNqzUWhCSPsaRQC6

Invite friends via the Facebook Event at https://www.facebook.com/share/mZbji391s5h2Ggq4/

On this Fourth of July, let's celebrate our democracy by taking action to ensure our voices are heard. If you're not yet registered to vote, take a moment today to register. If you're already registered, verify your registration at VoteOhio.Gov. It's important to note that 159,000 voters are being purged in Ohio, so let's make sure everyone who is eligible can exercise their right to vote.

Visit https://voteohio.gov/

OCA Commemorates the Anniversary of Vincent Chin’s Death

On this day in 1982, against a backdrop of rising anti-Japanese sentiment in the American automotive industry, Vincent Chin, a Chinese American, was tragically killed by two white autoworkers.

Read the full statement at https://www.ocanational.org/press-releases/oca-commemorates-the-anniversary-of-vincent-chins-death

Congratulations and welcome to the 61 new Americans who participated in Friday's Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Judge Christopher Boyko administered the Oath of Allegiance and spoke about the power of the individual over the government, the significance of being an American, and the importance of voting. OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to help 46 individuals from 10 counties in Ohio register to vote with four volunteers.

Celebrate the 79th Annual Cleveland Obon Festival on Sunday, July 21, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cleveland in Shaker Heights.

Sponsored by Shojoji Japanese Dancers and the Cleveland Japanese American Foundation (CJAF).

6/14/2024 — Congratulations to the U.S. Army enlistees and 25 new citizens who participated in today's Flag Day, U.S. Army 249th Birthday, and Naturalization Ceremony.

The Honorable Judge Dan Polster administered the oath of allegiance to the United States of America to the new citizens from 18 nationalities. OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to assist 18 individuals in registering to vote.

The celebration was sponsored by the Joint Veterans Council of Cuyahoga County, the Association of the United States Army, and the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and hosted by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

6/7/2024 - Congratulations and welcome to the 68 newly naturalized citizens at the Friday Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. delivered the oath of allegiance and spoke about the importance of upholding our republic. He encouraged the new citizens to take essential steps in contributing to the republic by registering to vote, voting, and keeping themselves informed.

OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to assist 62 Americans in registering to vote with eight volunteers.

Are you seeking volunteer hours or credit for volunteer work this summer? Check out our internship opportunities with OCA Greater Cleveland.

Apply at https://forms.gle/Ls2dD9dtcNbrdhTD9

AsiaTown News and Beyond June - https://mailchi.mp/64d897952a7a/asiatown-news-and-beyond-june

Thank you, Cleveland Guardians, for hosting the AAPI Night Celebration at Progressive Field, especially with Steven Kwan returning for last Friday's great win! There were so many incredible, nice touches of appreciation.
• Exclusive pre-game networking with MotivAsians for Cleveland
• The Kwan Lion Dance pre-game performance welcomed fans as the gates opened.
• The Cleveland Asian Festival mascots: Caf Panda, Lau Hu the Tiger, and Wu Shu the Dragon - greeting fans.
• Pacific Paradise Entertainment greeted guests with Leis in traditional Polynesian style.
• Our OCA Greater Cleveland youth jumped in to help untangle thousands of Leis so the PPE ladies could greet the incoming fans.
• The National Anthem was performed by Filipina Artist Jeserey Sanchez.
• Steven Kwan jersey painting unveiling by artist Glen Infante.
• Ceremonial first pitch by community advocate Matthew Ahn
• Our chapter president, Lisa Wong, and vice president, Wayne Wong, along with other AAPI leaders, are featured on the Scoreboard for the OSU O-H-I-O callouts with “Hang on Sloopy.”
• Sweet Hospitality Suite for community leaders to relax, chat, and enjoy the win.
• Exclusive AAPI Cherry Blossoms "C" logo Red T-shirts for Special Package Ticket holders (proceeds benefit Global Ambassadors Language Academy - GALA)
• Beautiful, limited edition AAPI Cherry Blossoms "C" logo Red T-shirts and gift bags in the suite.
• K-Pop Themed post-game fireworks
• Artwork on display from Cleveland School of the Arts students
• AAPI-themed photo opportunities throughout the concourse
• Special giveaways featuring the AAPI “C” logo
• AAPI Trivia and other in-game fun on the scoreboard and more.

Photographers and Videographers (volunteers) are needed for the 78th Annual One World Day. If. If you are available, please visit https://www.clevelandoneworldday.org and sign up.

We are also looking for volunteers, performers, and exhibitors.

Home - 78th annual One World Day 50,000 attended in 2023 Celebrate our mottto: peace through mutual understanding Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.| Rain or shineHosted by the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation with Councilman Kevin Conwell and the City of Cleveland. Become a sponsor! No commercial solicitation, pol...

Celebrate Children’s Day in Asiatown Cleveland

Saturday, June 1st, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. for a fun-filled afternoon of free arts & crafts, games, activities, performances, fix-it workshop ft. the Bike Co-op, and more!

Bring the whole family to the square dancing parking lot (3236 Payne Ave) and enjoy a day of togetherness and community spirit in our neighborhood!

Memorial Day is an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May. It honors the men and women who sacrificed for our nation's freedom. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe it by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades.. Many Americans observe it by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades.

White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Great Lakes Regional Network's COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE

Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Time: 10:00AM to 3:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Location: Ariel International Center, 1163 East 40th Street, Cleveland, Ohio

Cost: Free admission

Featured Speakers on:
• Financial Literacy for Small Businesses and Individuals
• Promoting Language Access, Educational, and Employment Protections
• Plus, Opportunities for Professional Networking

This event is CLOSED to the media.

RSVP at https://eeoc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_cACWmby5TpqB-8RlSWI6Rg.

Agenda:

AAPI History, K-12 Curriculum Advocacy, and Cross-Racial Solidarity: Lessons from the Field

Are K-12 students across the country being taught complete American history? Research has shown just how few states include Asian American history as part of their K-12 social studies standards—some do not have any at all.

In response to COVID-fueled anti-Asian hate, the movement for the inclusion of Asian American history became widespread. In 2021, Illinois became the first state in the nation to require Asian American history to be taught in public schools. Since then, several states have passed laws requiring Asian American history. But laws alone do not guarantee our histories will be taught responsibly. It was community-led, cross-racial efforts in Illinois that helped pass legislation and also ensure its implementation into K-12 classrooms.

At the same time, inclusive learning is under scrutiny. Books centering on marginalized characters, including Asian American and LGBTQ+, are being banned, while African American studies and Palestinian history are being removed from the curriculum. It is more important than ever for AAPIs to advocate for inclusive curriculum in solidarity with allied communities of color and marginalized communities.

Join us as we bring together local leaders across the country who have advocated for the inclusion of AAPI history as part of broader racial justice efforts. We will highlight the creative strategies they have used in various states and political climates to ensure that the enactment and implementation of curriculum mandates advance racial justice priorities—in education policy and beyond.

Guest Speakers:
Grace Pai, Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice |Chicago
Sookyung Oh, Director, Hamkae Center
Lily Trieu, Executive Director, Asian Texans for Justice
Estella Owoimaha-Church, Executive Director, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities

Join us on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 2:00–3:30PM ET by registering at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2yPuKub_QJCVyy5tKOCfzw #/registration

A big welcome to the 66 newest citizens who chose the United States (specifically NEO) as their new home. We look forward to you enriching our community and country. In addition, congratulations to the 56 new citizens OCA Greater Cleveland help registered to vote today 🗳️!

[OCAGC] May News 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/e79341152eec/ocagc2024may

5/3/2024 Naturalization Ceremony

Congratulations and welcome to the 64 newly naturalized U.S. citizens! OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to register 58 new Americans at Friday's Ceremony at the Carl B. Stokes United States Courthouse with Judge Patricia A. Gaughan administering the Oath of Allegiance.

Congratulations and welcome to the 65 newly naturalized U.S. citizens! OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to register 51 new Americans at Friday's Ceremony at the Carl B. Stokes United States Courthouse with the Honorable Judge Calabrese administrating the oath of allegiance.

Almost six in 10 Asian Americans reported they have faced discrimination because of their race or ethnicity, and 63% said they felt not enough attention was given to anti-Asian discrimination, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.

"For many Asian Americans, discrimination experiences are not just single events, but instead come in several often-overlapping forms," the report said.

Seventy-eight percent of Asian American adults said they've been treated as a foreigner, even if they were born in the U.S., including having their names mispronounced, being told to go back to their country, being scorned for speaking a language other than English and facing assumptions that they can't speak English.

Most Asian Americans say they face discrimination and are often treated as foreigners In a Pew survey, Asian Americans reported facing the "model minority" stereotype, which assumes they're smarter and more well off, as well as being treated as outsiders even if they were U.S. born.

11/17/2023 - Congratulations and welcome to the 64 newly naturalized U.S. citizens at today's ceremony. The Honorable Judge Pamela Barker administered the Oath of Allegiance and OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to assist 47 new Americans in registering to vote.

Meet Author Curtis Chin TODAY, Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Public Library Beachwood Branch as where he will discuss his new memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.

A cofounder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in New York City, Curtis Chin served as the nonprofit’s first executive director. He went on to write for network television before transitioning to social-justice documentaries. Chin has screened his films at over six hundred venues in sixteen countries. He has written for CNN, Bon Appétit, and the Boston Globe’s Emancipator. A graduate of the University of Michigan and a former visiting scholar at New York University, Chin has received awards from ABC/Disney Television, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more.

In Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, nineteen eighties Detroit was a volatile place to live, but above the fray stood a safe haven: Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine, where anyone—from the city’s first Black mayor to the local drag queens, from a big-time Hollywood star to elderly Jewish couples—could sit down for a warm, home-cooked meal. Here was where, beneath a bright-red awning and surrounded by his multigenerational family, filmmaker and activist Curtis Chin came of age; where he learned to embrace his identity as a gay ABC, or American-born Chinese; where he navigated the divided city’s spiraling misfortunes; and where—between helpings of almond boneless chicken, sweet-and-sour pork, and some of his own, less-savory culinary concoctions—he realized just how much he had to offer to the world, to his beloved family, and to himself.

RSVP at https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/8703478

Meet Author Curtis Chin Join us when author Curtis Chin visits to discuss his new memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.