Founded in 1973 as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA aims to embrace the hopes and aspirations of nearly 12 million Asian Pacific Americans across the country. Headquarter in Washington D. C., OCA has over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country participating in community involvement and developing the leadership potential and skills of the next generation.

OCA is a national civil rights advocacy and educational organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, to securing the rights of Asian and Pacific Islander American citizens and permanent residents through legislative and policy initiatives at all levels of the government., and to bettering the lives of the more than 12 million Asian and Pacific Islander Americans across the country.

OCA strives to promote active participation of Asian Pacific Americans in both civic and national matters; secure social justice, equal opportunity and equal treatment of Asian Pacific Americans; eliminate prejudices, stereotypes and ignorance of Asian Pacific Americans; and promote the cultural heritage of Asian Pacific Americans.

OCA takes no collective position on the politics of any foreign country, but instead focuses on the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.