Spotlight: OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates & Growing Up Asian in the West

​Welcome to the July ALA Brain Trust!

​As we celebrate summer milestones like Canada Day and America's 250th, we are stepping past corporate metrics and national borders to focus on something much closer to home: the lived experience of growing up Asian in a Western society.

​We will also spotlight one of our key nonprofit partners, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, featuring their Executive Director, Thu Nguyen.

​This session is all about holding space for the personal narratives that shape us—navigating identity between two worlds, honoring our family histories, and mapping out a supportive path for the youth coming up behind us.

​What to Expect:

• ​🌱 OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates Spotlight: We are partnering with OCA to explore their legacy of grassroots advocacy, youth leadership pipelines, and intergenerational empowerment. They will also give us an inside look at their upcoming National Convention in Detroit (July 23-26), which is entirely focused on inspiring and mobilizing the next generation.

• ​💭 Open Community Dialogue: We will transition into a casual, authentic community huddle. Come ready, pull up in an open forum format to share your own reflections, stories of navigating cultural expectations, or ideas on how our organizations can foster deeper mentorship for the youth in our networks.

​Join us to listen to OCA’s journey, and share your own story in a warm, casual space.