OCA SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Important Dates
Applications: Postmarked by March 15
Offers: Announced by 1st week of May
Acceptance Deadline : Received by 2nd week of May
Requirements
 | Undergraduate (If graduate students are interested in volunteering or working as fellows if funds are available, please contact the OCA office at 202-223-5500.) |
| Demonstrated interest in public affairs |
| Oral and written communication skills |
| Commitment to work for a minimum of 10 weeks (Internship term start and end dates are flexible and may work around intern's schedule.) |
About the Program
OCA's program is largest internship program for APIA college students
in Washington, D.C. and it is the oldest program. We have produced many interns
who have continued their careers in the public sector or have remained active
within the APIA community.
The OCA Summer Internship Program recruits approximately 24 undergraduate or graduate students from an applicant pool of over 200 applications. Decisions are often based on complete, written applications, and interviews are not necessarily given. The position compensates $2000 for 10 weeks of full time work and, based on available funding. In addition, OCA sets aside funds for each intern's travel expenses to the OCA Convention, held in Las Vegas this year. OCA also assists interns in finding affordable and local housing resources for out-of-town interns' transitions into the Washington, DC area.
Each year OCA recruits 20-25 interns to participate in the Summer Internship Program. Some past placements include: Capitol Hill offices of Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL), Representative Nancy Pelosi (CA), Representative Susan Davis (CA) and Representative Diane Watson (CA); the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Department of Commerce; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Health and Human Services; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; National Education Association; and within the OCA National Office.
In addition to the interns' placements, OCA's Summer Internship Program provides unique supplementary experiences, incorporating the Brown Bag Luncheon Series (the Brown Bag Luncheon Series is coordinated by OCA with the help of the various national APA organizations. Weekly sessions address issues commonly focused on), leadership training, Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) events, visits with Hill staffers and federal agency workers, meetings with Senators and Representatives, OCA Convention planning, and staff and other meetings.
Some of the projects that intern classes have completed as a group include the creation and production of the OCA 30th Anniversary video and the summer intern class PowerPoint presentation; White Papers on affirmative action, HR 333 (AAPI Serving Institutions), hate crimes, post 911 civil liberties and the USA Patriot Act, immigration, election reform, and Proposition 54; writing and editing articles for OCA's quarterly publication, Image; and writing letters in response to issues such as hate crimes and HR 333 and media incidents; the annual OCA Convention; and the OCA Building Campaign.
Application
Please see our Internship Program section of our website (www.ocanatl.org ) for an application.
Special thanks to this program's past sponsors including PepsiCo, Ford Motor Company, OCA chapters and individual donors, the FF Fraternity, and special trust funds of Mary Anne & Paul Yu Internship Fund and the Ken & Karen Lee Foundation.
Organization of Chinese Americans, oca@ocanatl.org