Asian Wisconzine Section/Heidi M. Pascual
Asian American News & Features
OCA-Wisconsin
OCA-Wisconsin is a Milwaukee-area organization that aims to promote Chinese cultural heritage and advocate for the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans.
From left to right: Tony Lam (green shirt) and Gary Chan (blue shirt) ready to cut the roast pig; Mayhoua Moua, executive director of MCHH (pink shirt) and a representative of OCA (green shirt); OCA-WI High School Merit Scholarship and OCA-WI Community Scholarship recipients
CA-Wisconsin donated money to MCHH (Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health). This donation helps the Hmong community in areas of health outreach, education and navigation.
Every year we give out scholarships. This year we gave out three scholarships at our annual picnic. There were two for graduating high school seniors: OCA-WI High School Merit Scholarship and OCA-WI Community Scholarship. The OCA Wisconsin UWM Scholarship Fund was awarded to a college senior from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM). We asked people to nominate a person with a short essay on their achievements and how that person has helped the AAPI community. We received a good response. We voted to award 2 people with the AAPI Community Hero Recognition Program. The recipients did not have to be OCA members.
We also had our annual picnic which was attended by 100+ guests on July 23rd. The roast pig is our centerpiece hence we call our picnic — pignic.
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OCA Statement on Biden Student Loan Announcement
Washington, D.C., Aug. 25 — OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates commends the Biden Administration on a big step towards cancelling student debt. The President’s student loan cancellation plan that was announced yesterday includes:
* $10,000 in individual debt relief for non-Pell Grant recipients;
* Additional $10,000 relief for Pell Grant recipients for individuals making under $125,000 a year (or families making under $250,000) – this is not granted to graduate student loans;
* Individuals with undergraduate loans could cap their repayment plan to 5% of their monthly income;
* And, a final pause on student loan repayments through December 31, 2022.
"Student loan debt has been a major barrier to equity for communities of color, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, so we are optimistic about this great step towards student loan cancellation,” said OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates National President Linda Ng. “Receiving a higher education is one of the main values of AAPIs and of our country, yet the crippling student debt that results has impeded the economic success of graduates. With this Executive Order, the Biden Administration is providing low-income AAPIs the opportunity to work towards purchasing their first homes, start small businesses, and better provide for their families.”
“While we welcome the President’s plans to reduce student loan debt, we know that this is merely a band-aid in making higher education affordable and accessible to all American communities,” said OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates Executive Director Thu Nguyen. “We know that the AAPI community is not a monolith, and that millions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are low-income or live in poverty. Higher education is touted in America as a key to economic mobility, and we join our partners in calling on the Biden Administration and Congress must take further action to provide accessible and affordable college education.”
