OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA National Center)Internship

$5,250 OCA Summer Internship in Washington

Nov 29, 2026 23:59:00 PT

Opportunity type

Internship

Funding

Partially Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Nov 29, 2026 23:59:00 PT

About this opportunity

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, a national civil rights organisation in Washington, D.C., has run this paid summer internship since 1989 for college students who want to work on issues affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Interns work full-time for ten weeks at a placement such as a congressional office, federal agency or nonprofit, and meet every Friday as a cohort for workshops, speakers and advocacy training. The 2027 programme runs in person from 7 June to 13 August 2027.

What you get:

A $5,250 stipend for the ten weeks (pre-tax, so you file taxes on it)
A full-time placement found for you, at a congressional office, federal agency, nonprofit, political organisation or company
All travel, meals and shared lodging covered for the OCA National Convention in Sacramento, 28 July to 2 August 2027
A professional mentor, leadership training and access to OCA's alumni network
One year of free OCA membership once you complete the internship

What you'll do:

Work up to 35 hours a week at your placement site for ten weeks
Join Sama Sama, five hours every Friday at the OCA office, for workshops, guest speakers and short presentations
Take part in an APIA-U: Leadership training day and an Advocacy Day meeting your members of Congress
Staff the OCA National Convention, including set-up, registration and logistics
Meet your mentor at least once a month and complete mid-term and final evaluations and an exit memo

Key dates:

Priority deadline: 29 November 2026, 11:59 PM PT (earlier decisions)
Final deadline: 3 January 2027, 11:59 PM PT
Orientation: 7 June 2027
Programme runs 7 June to 13 August 2027
OCA National Convention: 28 July to 2 August 2027, Sacramento

More information:

Programme details and FAQ: https://www.ocanational.org/summer-internship
Questions: cassie.micah@ocanational.org

Who can apply

Full-time undergraduate at an accredited institution, or a graduate within one year of the internship
Must have completed at least the first year of college by the June 2027 start
Must be interested in AANHPI issues; you do not need to identify as AANHPI
U.S. citizenship not required, but you must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the first day; DACA or undocumented students need an SSN or ITIN
Some placements require U.S. citizenship, so fewer placements are open to non-citizens
Must relocate to Washington, D.C. for the full ten weeks
Not open to former OCA National summer interns, or to children or dependents of OCA National staff, Executive Council or Business Advisory Council members
Apply with a 300-word bio, a resume, a transcript showing GPA, one 300-word short answer, two 500-word essays and two references (no letters)

AI Verification

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Cross-checked 12 of 13 key facts

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Good to know

+Run by an established national civil rights nonprofit since 1989, nearly 600 alumni
+Clear published dates, stipend, eligibility and FAQ on the organisation's own page, updated 22 October 2026
+No application fee; form read in full
+Not limited to U.S. citizens; DACA and undocumented students with an SSN or ITIN can apply

Worth checking yourself

!OCA does not cover housing or relocation to Washington, D.C.; it provides a housing guide only. The $5,250 stipend must cover ten weeks of D.C. living costs
!The stipend is pre-tax and is reduced if you complete less than ten full weeks or miss required programming
!You do not learn your placement until several weeks after accepting, and it may not match your interests
!You must be eligible to work in the U.S. by 7 June 2027; some placements require citizenship
!Priority deadline 29 November 2026; the final deadline is 3 January 2027 (both 11:59 PM PT). Apply by the priority date for earlier decisions
!Convention staffing involves long days and manual work such as moving equipment

Sources checked

OCocanational.orgApplyOCocanational.orgApplyOCocanational.orgApplyFSfs27.formsite.comOfficial

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.