OCA Greater Cleveland (OCAGC) had a very successful 2014 and we would like to give a big Thank you to our members and supporters! We are honored to serve the Asian Pacific American communities in Northeast Ohio and look forward to your involvement, partnership and/or membership in 2015.
OCA Greater Cleveland’s 2014 Year in Review
- At the 2014 Inauguration of OCA Greater Cleveland Board Members and new President Lisa Wong, we were honored by the attendance of over 80 community leaders and esteemed guests including OCA National President Sharon Wong, City of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and City of Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi. The event was hosted by Margaret Wong & Associates and included Organization highlights, cultural performances, and refreshments.
- The OCA Greater Cleveland Dragon Dance Team premiered at the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day parade on behalf of the Cleveland Asian Festival. In partnership with the Confucius Institute of CSU, the Dragon Dance Team then performed at eight venues throughout the year sharing this lively and exciting Asian custom with thousands of area residents. Performances where held at the Cleveland Asian Festival, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Toledo Museum of Art, Cleveland Dragon Boat Race, CSU’s China Day, and NEON Gala at Landerhaven.
- At the OCA National Convention held in Los Angeles, our OCA Greater Cleveland chapter won two Chapter Excellence Awards for Emerging Chapter Award for “Programs and Projects” and “Community Building.”
- President Lisa Wong received a Proclamation on behalf of the OCA Greater Cleveland chapter from the City of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson during the 2014 OCAGC Inauguration and from the City of Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi during a Brunswick City Council meeting.
- OCA Greater Cleveland continues to use media effectively to advance the mission of OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates online via OCA Image TV Ohio and weekly via OCA Asiatown Voice on WJUC’s 88.7 FM.
- As part of the University of Akron’s Rethinking Race Film Festival, OCA Greater Cleveland partnered with Asian Services in Action and University Libraries to host the film “Linsanity.” OCAGC Vice President Wayne Wong served on the post-movie Q&A Discussion Panel. “Linsanity” is the undrafted, unwanted, unwavering, true story of NBA Basketball Star Jeremy Lin.
- As a community partner of the 38th Cleveland International Film Festival, OCA Greater Cleveland proudly sponsored “A Time in Quchi” at the Festival. “A Time in Quchi” follows a boy’s coming of age during his summer vacation in the rural Quchi.
- OCA Greater Cleveland provided Level 1training in English & Mandarin to local Business Owners and Operators in collaboration with the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Asian Services in Action, Margaret Wong & Associates, and the Minority Business Assistance Center as an initiative of Project RAISE (Reaching Asian-Americans through Innovative and Supportive Engagement).
- As one of the founding organization, OCA Greater Cleveland helped to bring over 37,600 attendees to the 5th annual Cleveland Asian Festival to spurs economic development in Cleveland’s Asiatown neighborhood.
- OCA Greater Cleveland organized the first of our Seeds for Success series focused on Career Role Models with speakers representing fields in Government, Medicine, Law, Science and Engineering.
- This summer, OCA Greater Cleveland awarded a $500 scholarship at the Annual Chinese Community Picnic sponsored by the Cleveland Chinese Benevolent Association. The scholarship was awarded to the 1st place High School graduate Miguel Guan for her high achievements. Miguel graduated from Berea-Midpark High School and is currently studying Chemical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
- Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History – In September, OCA Greater Cleveland celebrated the traditional Holiday with a successful community event that included Moon Cakes, Crafts, Chinese Music, Dancing, and the Museum’s “Traveling the Silk Road” exhibit. The event also had the first collaborative performances between The Kwan Family Lion Dance Team and the OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team (in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at CSU).
- “A Brush with Danger” movie screening – OCA Greater Cleveland presents the movie screening at Tower City Cinemas and informal community conversation at Koko Bakery with filmmaker, director, and stuntwoman Livi Zheng and her team from Los Angeles, CA.
- Voter Engagement – OCA Greater Cleveland held Voter Registration Drives in the Asiatown Neighborhood and lead Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts in Northeast Ohio as part of a national movement to increase civic engagement among Asian Pacific Americans for the November General Election.
- Community Advocacy Town Hall Meetings on MetroHealth – In November, OCA Greater Cleveland organized two town hall meetings in Cleveland’s Asiatown regarding the sudden closure of the MetroHealth Asia Town Health Center in Asia Plaza. Residents of the neighborhood were able to voice their dissatisfaction to public officials, media, and key MetroHealth administrators. Although the Health Center eventually closed, a task force was developed to provide culturally appropriate guidance for MetroHealth’s Broadway Health Center and the Cuyahoga County Council to implement a notification requirement for future significant actions.
- Film Screening on Immigration – OCA Cleveland partnered with Facing History and Ourselves for a community conversation and screening of the documentary “I Learn America: One High School, One School Year, Five New Americans”, a new documentary that is inspiring viewers at film festivals across the U.S.
Once again, thank you to all of OCAGC’s members and supporters. We look forward to continuing to work with and for you in Advocating for the Asian Pacific American community in 2015.
Happy New Year,
Lisa Wong, President – OCA Greater Cleveland