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
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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)
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.
2006
- OCAPICA helps to form the Asian Pacific Islander Behavioral health Collaborative and establishes Mental Health Programs
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
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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
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2014
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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.