ACA held its second Virtual Reading Program this Spring. Dillan Lau, Shanshan Ye, Ingrid Huang, and Nicole Zhong were Discussion Leaders. The Spring 2021 ACA Reading Program lasted ten weeks over the months of January and February. Every week, a new book was assigned on the topics of Asian American Pacific Islander experience, adoption, and Asian culture. Upon completion of the book, a weekly Zoom meeting was Sundays at 7pm EST led by our Discussion Leaders to check-in as well as to encourage all participants to share what they read. In addition to checking comprehension of reading material, Discussion Leaders engaged the participants by connecting book topics with critical real-life issues such as diversity, inclusion, and equity. The major goal of the program was to imbue the students with strong core fundamentals and create lifelong learners actively engaged in our society. A closing ceremony was held last on the last Sunday to recognize all the participants in their reading achievements.

Recently, the ACA Detroit Chapter of OCA received four awards at the OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates National Chapter Excellence Awards. Among the awards, the Virtual Youth Reading Program won 3rd place for Project of the Year. Congratulations to the ACA and the Teen Volunteer Committee. The TVC members are happy to continue supporting the program for future iterations. We hope to have more student volunteers join us.

Founded in 1973, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit, membership-driven organization based in Washington, D.C. with over 50 chapters and affiliates around the country. Touching hundreds of thousands of AAPIs each year, OCA works with its organizational partners, members, chapters, and supporters to empower the next generation of leaders. Find learn more about the OCA here.