OCA Summer Internship Program

Program Overview

Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2024, the internship program seeks to cultivate future leadership in the next generation of youths by providing opportunities to work in the public sector and learn about issues affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Based in the nation's capital, interns will learn to build relationships, meet with legislative officials, and engage in leadership development workshops.

The program has successfully led past interns to become more active on their college campus and increased the presence of the AANHPI community in local, state, and federal governments. OCA intern alumni have become executive directors, legislative staffers, OCA National Executive Council members, and are leaders in the private and public sector.

Selected applicants relocate to Washington, D.C. for the duration of their internship, where they are placed to work full-time at nonprofits, federal agencies, congressional offices, for-profit corporations, and other organizations. Each Friday, interns gather at the OCA National office to discuss issues and engage in workshops dedicated to AANHPI issues. We call these convenings “Sama Sama,” which is Tagalog for “together.” Interns also must attend and staff OCA’s National Convention, an APIA-U: Leadership training, and participate in Advocacy Day, in which they’ll be split into groups to meet with their respective members of Congress to advocate for causes important to the AANHPI community. In addition to these events, OCA interns are provided opportunities to build their professional, personal, and advocacy skills to create compassionate leaders in the AANHPI community.

Program Details

• Priority Deadline: Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT.
• Final Deadline: Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT.

• Monday, June 1, 2026 to Friday, August 7, 2026 (ten weeks).

What will OCA summer interns receive?

• $5,250 stipend for the ten-week internship program (pre-tax)

• The stipend is pre-tax, meaning interns will be required to file taxes on this income the next tax filing season.
• On rare occasions, a placement site may choose to pay the OCA intern themselves, instead of relying on OCA’s stipend. In such cases, the placement site must at minimum match the amount of OCA’s stipend.
• Interns who do no complete ten (10) full weeks of the internship program will have their stipend reduced.
• Professional work experience
• Networking and leadership development
• Access to OCA alumni network
• One (1) year free OCA membership upon completion of the internship

What are the program requirements?

• Attend an in-person internship program orientation on Monday, June 1, 2026.
• Work up to 35 hours a week for ten weeks at their placement site.
• In addition to their work at their respective placement sites, all interns are required to participate in the following mandatory OCA internship programming:

• Sama Sama (five hours every Friday)

• Interns are required to attend weekly Friday “Sama Sama” sessions to discuss AANHPI issues, hear from guest speakers, participate in workshops related to leadership, professional, and personal development, and more.
• Interns may be required to do short presentations on a topic of their choice to educate their fellow cohort members, to be presented during Sama Sama.
• APIA-U: Leadership training (date TBD)

• Interns will participate in an APIA-U: Leadership training. APIA-U is a full-day leadership and advocacy training we provide for all college students in the DC area that consists of a series of workshops.
• OCA National Convention (July 23-26, 2026)

• Interns will work in a variety of roles, many that include manual labor and social networking, alongside OCA National Staff at the annual OCA National Convention.

• Tasks may include providing logistical support, tech/AV support, moving equipment and supplies, set-up and breakdown, registration, etc.
• All travel, meals, and lodging for interns for the 2026 National Convention in Detroit, MI will be covered by OCA National.
• Each intern will share a room with one or more OCA interns.
• An example schedule of the week for interns may look like:

• Wed: Intern arrival to venue; move supplies; assemble conference swag bags; Hours can vary on this day.
• Thurs: Interns call time at 8 AM; go to assigned work stations (workshop rooms, registration, set-up for banquet); lunch at 12 PM; go to assigned work stations (workshop rooms, registration, clean up); Dinner event at 6 PM (Interns will check tickets and help attendees into the room; Interns dismissed at 9 PM.
• Fri: Breakfast at 7:30 AM; go to assigned stations; lunch at 12 PM; go to assigned stations; Dinner event at 6 PM; interns dismissed at 9 PM.
• Sat: Breakfast at 8AM; go to assigned stations; Lunch at 12PM; go to assigned stations; Awards Gala at 6PM; Interns Dismissed at 11PM.
• Sun: Clean and pack supplies; return to DC.
• Advocacy Day (date TBD)

• Interns will be split into groups and given training to meet with their respective congressional offices for Advocacy Day to advocate for issues impacting the AANHPI community.
• Mentorship

• Each intern will be assigned mentor and must meet with them at least once a month. More details TBA.
• Interns will attend tentative programming that OCA co-hosts with partner organizations, including intern networking events.
• Complete mid-term and final evaluations with OCA’s internship program coordinator.
• Complete an exit memo at the end of the internship, detailing your work over the summer.
• Comply with OCA policies regarding work performance and personal conduct.

FAILURE TO FULFILL ANY OF THE ABOVE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM AND/OR REDUCTION OF YOUR STIPEND.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students currently e