OCA’s National Convention is heading to Seattle, WA!
This year’s theme, “Passage to Seattle: From AYPE 1909 to AANHPI Rising 2025,” reflects our commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders while recognizing the pivotal role college campuses, like the University of Washington, have played in historic civil rights movements.
Co-hosted with OCA-Greater Seattle, the conference will feature interactive workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and engaging activities for students, professionals, thought leaders, and community members. Together, we will reflect on our history—both the progress and the injustices—and take actionable steps toward strengthening a multi-racial democracy where equity and justice thrive.
Join us in Seattle as we honor our past, empower our communities, and shape the future!
About the Theme
Designed by OCA-Greater Seattle intern Brooklyn Hose, this year’s convention logo is a reimagined version of the original AYPE event logo. The original design was highly orientalist and primarily represented Japanese imagery, whereas this refreshed logo is more inclusive, reflecting the diversity of the AANHPI community.
About University of Washington
As we gather in Seattle, we acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the ancestral lands of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot Peoples, whose ancestors have stewarded this land for generations. We honor their history, resilience, and ongoing contributions to the region, and we recognize the continued fight for justice and recognition by Native communities.
The theme draws inspiration from the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE), a world’s fair that opened on the University of Washington’s campus on June 1, 1909. Like many world fairs, AYPE aimed to foster cultural exchange and introduce visitors to new ideas and communities. However, it also reflected the exclusionary attitudes of its time, perpetuating stereotypes, marginalizing communities, and treating other cultures as mere spectacles rather than equals.
Now, more than a century later, we return to this historic site to acknowledge its past and actively confront those injustices while building a future rooted in inclusion, justice, and equity. Hosting this conference at the University of Washington—the No. 18 ranked university in the world, No. 4 among U.S. public universities, and which boasts the top American Ethnic Studies undergraduate program in the Pacific Northwest—is an act of reclamation, recognizing the past while shaping a more inclusive tomorrow.
College campuses have long been catalysts for transformative movements, from the Civil Rights Movement to the Third World Liberation Front’s fight for ethnic studies, immigrant rights, and AANHPI visibility. This year’s conference continues that legacy, creating a space for learning, organizing, and envisioning a future where all voices are heard and valued.
UPGRADE TO GET THE FULL OCA CONVENTION EXPERIENCE
For even more perks, consider purchasing the full registration package, which gives you access to the following:
Friday: Youth Recognition Luncheon
Saturday: Breakfast Plenary
Saturday: OCA Membership & Chapter of the Year Luncheon
Saturday: OCA Awards Gala Dinner
Free Convention T-Shirt
*Senior tickets are designated for individuals who are 65 years of age and older.
*Youth tickets are available if you are currently enrolled as a student in a K-12 or higher education institution. OCA intern alumni who are not students must purchase either OCA member or non-member tickets.
**Please be advised that if you are unable to attend, you have until July 11th to request a full refund for your ticket.
This year's OCA National Convention was made possible thanks to the support of the University of Washington American Ethnic Studies Department and Chinese Student Association.
