​Our History

​The Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance was founded in 1997 and focused on research, advocacy, and education around issues of health within Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. By 1999, OCAPICA expanded to include legislative education and advocacy as well as youth, cultural arts, and curriculum development. Since then, OCAPICA has grown even more to respond to the needs of AAPI and other under-served communities, expanding its programming in: mental health and wellness for youth and families; civic engagement and voter empowerment; youth employment; and academic mentoring and college readiness. OCAPICA also partners with local area universities on research, evaluation, and service learning. 

​A Moment in Time with OCAPICA

1997

• OCAPICA was originally known as OCAPIHA
• OCAPIHA builds a home at Lewis Street
• Founding Board holds first meeting & first retreat
• OCAPIHA builds a partnership with UCLA to conduct behavioral health research related to breast cancer prevention focusing on the Hmong community

1998

• OCAPIHA changes name to OCAPICA
• AAPI Tobacco control project

1999

• OCAPICA in partnership with SSG receives 1 of 42 national REACH 2010 grants to address breast and cervical cancer disparities among API women in Southern California
• OCAPICA becomes the first Orange County group to organize the annual statewide legislative conference, APIsCAN (Asian and Pacific Islanders’ California Action Network)
• OCAPICA begins the Youth Coffeehouse Program, a monthly project highlighting cultural arts & expression among high school and college-age youth.

2000

• Vietnamese American curriculum developed by staff and board
• Asian and Pacific Islander census outreach
• OCAPICA helps to organize Orange County’s first Asian American Citizenship Clinic serving 1,000
• OCAPICA received tax exempt status as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization

2001

• OCAPICA moves to a new location – occupying 1, 600 square feet with new programs and staff
• Press Conference regarding PATH, need data, LEP

2002

• OCAPICA begins its first financial literacy program for youth (Financial Literacy Leadership Program)

2003

• OCAPICA launches the After School Program, academic assistance and mentorship
• OCAPICA launches the 2nd edition of the Vietnamese American Education curriculum
• The DUI prevention program, Grandma/Grandpa Keep Me Safe, and PIHP are developed

2004

• OCAPICA expands and develops a technology and training center
• The second multi-partnership cancer collaborative is formed with OCAPICA – Achieving Cancer Control Together (ACCT)
• Southeast Asian youth work with OCAPICA to lead research on children (0-5) issues – the Southeast Asian Children’s Health Research Project
• OCAPICA is awarded a 2-year grant from NIH/DOD to work on an educational multimedia study with the Thai community about cervical cancer
• OCAPICA hosts the 5th Annual Unity Games, an Olympics-style event promoting physical fitness and fellowship among Orange County youth, while helping to dispel negative stereotypes.

2005

• OCAPICA helps to develop the Mendez vs. Westminster curriculum
• OCAPICA in partnership with CSUF received National Cancer Institute funding as 1 of 25 Community Network programs, and 1 of 3 national programs focusing on Pacific Islander cancer disparities

2006

• OCAPICA helps to form the Asian Pacific Islander Behavioral health Collaborative and establishes Mental Health Programs

2007

• OCAPICA names one of eighteen national Centers of Excellence to Eliminate Disparities
• OCAPICA turns 10 years old
• CA-BCRP study funded to evaluate Patient Navigation
• Project FOCUS is established to serve API children and families with moderate-to-severe mental health needs

2008

• Voter mobilization/Phone Banking

2009

• OCAPICA hosts their 1st Annual Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration, with the office of Senator Lou Correa
• OCAPICA receives funding from the College Access Foundation of California to sustain the OCAPICA Scholars, program supporting students who are the first generation in their family to attend college

2010

• OCAPICA establishes its Youth Employment Program, supported through the Orange County Workforce Investment Board with Worksforce Investment Act Funds
• OCAPICA hosts the Asian & Pacific Islander Leadership Summit, helping to provide Civic Engagement in the community
• OCAPICA launches OCAPICA Scholars Program to support underserved Asian American, Pacific Islander and other students through their transition to college.

2011

• OCAPICA renames its after school programs as OCAPICA BRIDGES, and continues partnerships with Magnolia High School in Anaheim and Bolsa Grande High School in Garden Grove to serve students on campus
• OCAPICA launches the Well(ness)essity Program, a Preventive and Early Intervention Program supported by the Mental Health Service Act

2012

• OCAPICA expands its volunteer program by partnering with CSU Fullerton Asian American Studies Program to host a service learning class that provides college students hands on experience in a community based non-profit
• OCAPICA launches the HAPI-YEP after school program, it aims to address health concerns and improve higher education access for all students at Magnolia HS. HAPI-YEP is a partnership between CSUF, OCAPICA, AUHSD
• OCAPICA turns 15 years old

2014

• OCAPICA launches FAFSA Completion Program at Magnolia High School in Anaheim to increase FAFSA Completion rates.
• OCAPICA joined the Your Vote Matters! campaign headed by Asian Americans Advancing Justice and in partnership with 14 other southern Californian organizations. OCAPICA was in charge of the Orange County region and was able to make over 12,000 phone calls with 32 volunteers. 

2015

• OCAPICA launches the Allied Health Academy at Magnolia HS; it aims to support diverse underserved students in North Orange County from high school to community college and into a four year college toward an allied health career. Allied Health Academy is a partnership between CSUF, Cypress College, and AUHSD.