OCA to Open New HQ in DC

Three buildings on Dupont Circle to serve as hub of APA advocacy, cultural displays, as well as offices

AAV Staff

The Organization of Chinese Americans will realize its longtime dream of establishing a permanent organizational headquarters in the Dupont Circle area of the nation's capitol.

Called the OCA National Center for Asian Pacific American Leadership, the new space will officially be launched in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 12, 2007 -- the culmination of what the organization says has been a decades-long planning and fundraising effort.

According to a release from last fall, OCA completed the purchase of the property on September 21, 2006, but had delayed moving in while renovations were being made.

“The acquisition of a permanent home for OCA has been a true grassroots effort and heartfelt testament to the vision of our founders, KL Wang and Alex Mark, 33 years ago,” said OCA National President Ginny Gong in the release. “It has been an incredible journey - one that has been daunting, exhausting, humbling, and above all, inspiring. The last nine months have been a demonstration of the passion and the commitment of our members and chapters across the country. It is our belief in OCA’s destiny to have a presence in Washington, D.C. that this vision is now finally a reality,” she added.

The headquarters consists of three adjoining buildings totaling over 12,000 square feet. In addition to administrative and programming functions, the new OCA headquarters will also have a Community Room, Library, Technology and Media Center, and a gallery, as well as board and conference rooms.

In the release, OCA National Center Campaign Chair Claudine Cheng stressed the importance of the new property in establishing a foothold for organized APA advocacy in the Beltway.

“In 1973, OCA was the first national APA organization to incorporate and establish headquarters in Washington D.C.," Gong said. "With this purchase, OCA will be the first national APA organization to establish a permanent presence in our country’s capital. The concept of permanency is very important as OCA has dedicated itself for over 30 years to be an effective national voice for the APA community and advocating for civil rights, and political, social and economic empowerment.”

To provide additional information about the center and continue its fundraising efforts, OCA has produced a new website at http://www.ocanationalcenter.org/.