OCA Greater Cleveland

05/06/2026

Waiting on election results? 🗳️Make sure you're getting updates from trusted sources.

📢 Official results aren't instant; It may take multiple days for them
to be released. In the meantime, stay informed by checking:
🔹 Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website: boe.cuyahogacounty.gov
🔹 Ohio Secretary of State website: voteohio.gov

05/05/2026

Today is November 5, 2026, Primary Election! Polls in Ohio open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

To find your polling location or to view a sample of your ballot, visit VoteOhio.Gov or your local board of elections website.

All regular Vote-by-Mail / Absentee ballots must be received at the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. in order to be counted.

Have questions or need help voting? Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683). Bilingual assistance is available in English, Mandarin (普通話), Cantonese (廣東話), Korean (한국어), Vietnamese (tiếng Việt), Tagalog, Urdu (اردو), Hindi (हिंदी), Bengali/Bangla (বাংলা) and Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ).

Learn more at https://apiavote.org/how-to-vote/multilingual-voter-hotline/.

05/04/2026

📍 2 STAGES. 50+ EVENTS. May 16-17 in the heart of Asiatown Cleveland!
The 2026 Cleveland Asian Festival will be packed with a record number of amazing cultural performances, competitions, and martial arts events! The performances, sponsored by founding partner organization OCA Greater Cleveland with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, range from traditional Kwan Lion Dance that has been an area favorite for four decades to the newly formed Silk Road Cultural Collective showcasing armor and hanfu; from martial arts to traditional music; from Asian cultural dances, to the most recent Asian-Pop hits.

CAF Competitions and Showcases: Asian-Pop Dance Competition, Egg Roll Speed Eating, Trivia Challenge, Colors of Asia Fashion, Asian Cosplay Showcase, Best Food Awards, and K-Pop / Asian-Pop Dance mix.

Use the color-coded schedule and for all our new fans, swipe to see the stage locations and photos! 📸

WHERE TO WATCH:
✨ The JACK Stage (Sponsored by JACK Cleveland Casino )
Location: Payne Ave. & E. 27th St.
Setup: A raised stage under a large tent with audience in front!

✨ The Cleveland Foundation Stage (Sponsored by the Cleveland Foundation )
Location: SW corner of Payne Ave. & E. 30th St. (Parking Lot)
Setup: A larger flat dance floor under a spacious tent with audience on three sides

HOW TO READ THE SCHEDULE:
📅 Day 1: Saturday, May 16
📅 Day 2: Sunday, May 17
🌸 Left Column: JACK Stage
🌸 Right Column: Cleveland Foundation Stage

Our schedule is color-coded by event type and general cultural heritage. Share with your friends and families.

Lead MC: Wayne Wong
Guest MCs: Lynna Lai ,
Supporting MCs: Alex Wong , Oanh Loi-Powell, Jennifer Luu Roper, Raymond Bondad, Lauren Puljic

Which performance are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!

05/02/2026

Today at 2:30 p.m. at the Independence Public Library!

Join us for the free screening of Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America. This documentary explores the vital role of Ethnic Studies in redefining the narrative and promoting service to Asian American communities across the country. From the birth of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State to present-day movements, Making Waves documents the stories of Asian American activism and efforts to lift up Ethnic Studies as a strategy to address present and future waves of anti-Asian hate.

The event will feature panel speakers: Ron Falconi, mayor of Brunswick, and Meran Rogers, Executive Director of Global Ambassadors Language Academy.

Time: Saturday, May 2, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Cuyahoga County Public Library - Independence Branch
6361 Selig Dr, Independence, OH 44131

RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzdXvR3-EfqDhKcPeK4esOnw5IU_PWvQppPxAMfo6wweyZyA/viewform

Synopsis: Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America explores the vital role of Ethnic Studies in redefining the narrative and promoting service to Asian American communities across the country. From the birth of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State to present-day movements, Making Waves documents the stories of Asian American activism and efforts to lift up Ethnic Studies as a strategy to address present and future waves of anti-Asian hate.

FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1736374081077096

05/01/2026

5/1/2026 - Congratulations, and welcome to the 34 new citizens from 23 countries at today's Naturalization Ceremony.

The Honorable Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. administered the oath of allegiance and offered words on keeping our republic.
"I urge you to take some important steps in keeping the republic by registering to vote and then voting. And keep yourselves informed."

As James Madison, father of the Bill of Rights, once said: "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: People who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

OCA Greater Cleveland was honored to assist 35 new and current naturalized citizens in registering to vote, with three volunteers.

04/30/2026

AsiaTown News and Beyond - May - AAPI Heritage Month - https://mailchi.mp/0fbe9dcce3c4/asiatown-news-and-beyond-may-aapi-heritage-month

04/30/2026

Join us for the free screening of Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America. This documentary explores the vital role of Ethnic Studies in redefining the narrative and promoting service to Asian American communities across the country. From the birth of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State to present-day movements, Making Waves documents the stories of Asian American activism and efforts to lift up Ethnic Studies as a strategy to address present and future waves of anti-Asian hate.

The event will feature panel speakers: Ron Falconi, mayor of Brunswick, and Meran Rogers, Executive Director of Global Ambassadors Language Academy.

Time: Saturday, May 2, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Cuyahoga County Public Library - Independence Branch
6361 Selig Dr, Independence, OH 44131

RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzdXvR3-EfqDhKcPeK4esOnw5IU_PWvQppPxAMfo6wweyZyA/viewform

Synopsis: Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America explores the vital role of Ethnic Studies in redefining the narrative and promoting service to Asian American communities across the country. From the birth of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State to present-day movements, Making Waves documents the stories of Asian American activism and efforts to lift up Ethnic Studies as a strategy to address present and future waves of anti-Asian hate.

FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1736374081077096

04/26/2026

[OCAGC] May News 2026 https://mailchi.mp/5b39e30464b3/ocagc2026may

04/24/2026

4/19/2026 - OCA Greater Cleveland mourns the passing of Donald Chan, a valued senior volunteer, who died at age 91. A former manager at Ohio Bell until 1990, Donald dedicated his later years to volunteering and supporting the Asian community. His contributions included helping with citizenship classes, voter registration, transportation, and volunteering at UH Parma Hospital, Asian Services In Action, OCA Greater Cleveland, and the Cleveland Asian Festival.

He loved talking with community members, reminiscing, and sharing Cleveland's history. He participated in the OCA Greater Cleveland documentary, “The History of Cleveland’s Chinatown - An Oral History of Chinese Americans in Cleveland,” available on YouTube.

The family will receive friends for a memorial visitation on Friday, May 1, from 5-7 PM at Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville. A memorial service in Donald's honor will be held at 7 PM at the funeral home. The interment will take place on Saturday, May 2nd, at 10 a.m., at Westpark Cemetery, section 31. Join us in remembering and honoring the life of Donald Chan.

https://www.bognerfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/donald-chan/obituary

04/24/2026

3/17/2025 - Cleveland Asian Festival marching in Cleveland's St. Patrick's Day Parade (published in the Erie Chinese Journal, By Wayne Wong)

The Cleveland Asian Festival was one of 125 units that made up about 10,000 marchers in the 183rd Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade held on a beautiful sunny Monday, March 17. The parade is one of the biggest Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country and it is the biggest single day event in the city of Cleveland. While some may consider it peculiar that the Asian Festival is part of this long revered parade based on the Irish traditions, both the Asian Festival and the Parade symbolize and celebrate the wonderful diversity of Cleveland.

The Asian Festival group had about 40 people including founding organization OCA Greater Cleveland's Dragon Dance Team, the Kwan Family Lion Dance Team, the Cleveland Glory Drum Team, DJ Rox, Tita Floras, CAF mascots CAF Panda and Wu Shu, along with many volunteers. Lisa Wong, co-founder and co-producer of the Cleveland Asian Festival, who also coordinated the CAF parade unit said: “It’s important to represent our Asian culture and to also support this important celebration of Irish and Cleveland heritage.”

The Lion, Dragons, and Panda were greeted with many cheers by the hundreds of thousands that lined Superior Avenue to enjoy the many entertaining units that marched by. Afterwards, the CAF unit enjoyed a delicious meal provided by Ed Hom of Li Wah Restaurant who continues to provide much appreciated support to the Festival.

Join us at the Cleveland Asian Festival on May 17-18 to enjoy the Best Showcase of Asian Food and Culture! www.clevelandasianfestival.org

04/24/2026

🚨 CALLING ALL DANCE CREWS! 🚨
The CAF Stage is calling, and the $1,000 Grand Prize is waiting. Are you ready to bring the heat to the 2026 Cleveland Asian Festival? 🏆

We are looking for the most talented dance crews to compete in our annual Asian-Pop Dance Competition! This is your chance to showcase your choreography, energy, and K-Pop, J-Pop, or various Asian-Pop styles in front of a live audience on SUNDAY, May 17th (Day 2 of CAF).

THE STAKES:
🥇 1st Place: $1,000
🥈 2nd Place: $500
🥉 3rd Place: $250
Event sponsored by OCA Greater Cleveland - Asian Pacific American Advocates.

HOW TO ENTER:
1️⃣ Record your crew’s performance. 🎥 Keep it raw! No or minimal editing - we want to see your live-performance energy. (Excessive editing = disqualification).
2️⃣ Head to clevelandasianfestival.org to read the full rules and submission guidelines.
3️⃣ Submit before the clock strikes midnight on April 15th!

Don’t wait - the final deadline is April 15, 11:59 p.m. ⏳

A huge thank you to all of our amazing past Finalists who danced their hearts out. We want to see your submissions!

Tag your crew below and let’s see who’s taking the crown in 2026!

04/23/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 CAF Asian-Pop Dance Competition Finalists❗

Watch them compete on stage SUNDAY, May 17th @ 5:15 pm, at our JACK Stage! (stage sponsored by JACK Cleveland Casino ) @ E. 27th & Payne Avenue. The event is sponsored by OCA Greater Cleveland Asian Pacific American Advocates, and the top three teams will receive:
💰 $1000, $500, and $250
Along with beautiful custom "Year of the Fire Horse" A-Pop Dance trophies crafted by Cleveland 3D Printing.
___________________________
The 6 Finalists were selected after careful review of many fantastic dance routine video submissions! Thank You to everyone that submitted!

⭐THE FINALISTS⭐
• BLACKFIRE (from .dance.crew_ )
• Dulce Dance ( )
• Elek:Trik ( )
• Flambé ( )
• Ineffable Heist ( )
• Xpirgo Bunny Unit ( .crew )

We are so looking forward to seeing you all shine on stage!
___________________________
🌟Event Hosts🌟
Performance Chair: .a.wong
A-Pop Co-Leads:
DJ: .djrox