OCA San Diego - Asian Pacific American Advocates
Our Mission
To advance the social, educational, and political well-being of Asian American Pacific Islanders through civic engagement, policy advocacy, and coalition building to empower and promote safety and inclusion in our communities.
Our History
K.L. Wang and Alex Mark founded the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) in 1973 to create a unified voice for Chinese Americans in the civil rights movement. The original three chapters in Washington D.C., Detroit, and St. Louis would grow into an organization with over 35 chapters and affiliates around the country.
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As the AAPI community continued to grow and diversify, OCA understood the importance to reflect the needs of the community. In 2013, the organization rebranded to be OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates and advocate on behalf of all Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
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The San Diego chapter was established in 2021 and led by a resident of Oceanside, CA, Brocade Wu-Harmon, who felt compelled to speak out against hate and violence during the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, xenophobia, and racial scapegoating at the height of the global pandemic.