OCA Wisconsin

06/10/2026

OCA Wisconsin is proud to announce that from June 20 to November 15, 2026, the Lynden Sculpture Garden is featuring "Homecoming", an exhibit of sculptures by Warren King, a Chinese American artist whose work has been inspired by his personal and family journeys, as he explores his roots and Chinese American identity.

Warren King’s personal story is a Milwaukee intergenerational immigrant family story. He was born in Madison to Chinese immigrant parents, and the family settled in Brookfield. His father was a structural engineer who wanted Warren to follow his footsteps, and young Warren dutifully did so, getting degrees in structural engineering and then working in his father’s firm. But he found his calling later, using his skills to honor his roots and explore his Chinese American identity through creating sculptures crafted of cardboard. He now lives in New York City and many of his sculptures depict scenes and portraiture inspired by NYC’s Chinatown community.

Warren’s "Homecoming" exhibit at Lynden Sculpture Garden reflects his desire to honor his Midwestern roots while exploring his cultural identity.

Lynden Sculpture Garden is located at 2145 West Brown Deer Road, River Hills, Wisconsin. It is a wonderful family destination with impressive sculptures spread out through their beautiful grounds. Warren King’s exhibit takes place in their gallery. Free admission.

Here is a link to Lynden Garden’s description of his exhibit.
https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/exhibitions/WarrenKing

06/10/2026

Mark your calendar!

On June 23, 2026 at 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Lisa See features her newest novel "Daughters of the Sun and Moon". Milwaukee Public Library Centennial Hall, 733 N. Eighth Street, Milwaukee

In her new novel, author Lisa See draws on the vibrancy and turmoil of post-Civil War Los Angeles to tell the story of three Chinese women whose unexpected friendship helps them survive and eventually thrive, despite all odds.

Lisa See is a widely acclaimed author of numerous novels, including On Golden Mountain, Lady Tan's Circle of Women, Shanghai Girls, Dreams of Joy, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, and The Island of Sea Women.

Co-hosted by Milwaukee Central Library, Boswell Book Company, and OCA Wisconsin.

Please register at:

Boswell Book Company - 2559 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee, WI

06/10/2026

From now until June 24, 2026, come view OCA-WI's "Historical Markers, Living Legacy Exhibit: Milwaukee's Chinese American Experience" at the Milwaukee Central Public Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee.

It features OCA-WI's special collection of personal immigration stories that we gathered, exploring stories of the early Chinese American immigrants to Milwaukee who were part of the history as commemorated by two historical markers, "Milwaukee Chinese Laundry Era" and "Chinese Cemetery Garden" that were granted by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The exhibit is in the Chinese Room, a former Milwaukee Public Museum collections space on the library's main floor, which was opened up by the library just for our exhibit.

A short 15-minute documentary "From Section 48 to King Drive" that filmmaker Yinan Wang created with OCA-WI is also being shown for continuous viewing at the exhibit. The film honors the significance of the two historical markers to Milwaukee's history.

05/18/2026

OCA Wisconsin and Milwaukee Central Library co-hosted a reception today for our Historic Markers, Living Legacy Exhibit honoring Milwaukee’s early Chinese American history. Thank you CBS 58 for covering the reception and exhibit!

The exhibit is being featured through June 24 and is in MPL's "Chinese Room" which is a former Milwaukee Public Museum collections space, and we are honored that the library has specially opened this room (which is usually closed to the public) for this exhibit. MPL has also supplemented the OCA-WI exhibit with materials from their special collections.

The library has also graciously created a kiosk next to the exhibit for folks to view our short documentary created by filmmaker Yinan Wang "From Section 48 to King Drive." This film uncovers a seldom-told narrative of Milwaukee’s Chinese immigrant history through the installation of two state historical markers.

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A special exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Library recently opened to the public for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It features two historical markers honoring

05/02/2026

Come see OCA Wisconsin’s “Historic Markers, Living Legacy: Milwaukee's Chinese American Experience” exhibit through June!

For May AANHPI Heritage Month OCA-WI is honored to be partnering with the Milwaukee Central Library to host a special exhibit featuring the stories of Chinese immigrants who lived in Milwaukee in the early 1900’s.

The exhibit centers on the historical significance of two markers about Milwaukee’s early Chinese community granted to OCA-WI by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

As part of the exhibit the short doc “From Section 48 to King Drive” is being shown. OCA-WI partnered in creating this 15-minute film with filmmaker Yinan Wang, which further explores the relationship of Chinese American immigration with Milwaukee’s history.

This free exhibit is in the library’s “Chinese Room” which was created in the 1940’s when the Public Museum was originally housed in the library building. You’ll also get to see an incredible mosaic of a Chinese dragon on the floor! This room is usually closed to the public but the library staff graciously made this room available for this exhibit, and contributed materials from their special collections.

04/21/2026

REMINDER: The deadline to apply for OCA-WI’s Graduate Leadership Scholarship is soon, April 30.

Follow our link to learn about the full eligibility details, required recommendations, and for the application form:
https://bit.ly/OCA-WI_2026GradScholarApp

04/10/2026

Thank you CBS 58 and Ellie Nakamoto White for your coverage of OCA Wisconsin’s dedication ceremony at Forest Home Cemetery on April 2, 2026 of the Chinese Cemetery Garden historical marker granted by the Wisconsin Historical Society. This commemoration honors the early Chinese immigrants who are part of Milwaukee’s history in the 1900s.

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A new historical marker at Milwaukee's Forest Home Cemetery honors the legacy of the city's early Chinese immigrant population.The marker was granted to the Wisconsin chapter of the

04/10/2026

Nice coverage by FOX6 News Milwaukee of OCA Wisconsin’s dedication ceremony at Forest Home Cemetery on April 2, 2026 of the Chinese Cemetery Garden historical marker granted by the Wisconsin Historical Society. This commemoration honors the early Chinese immigrants who are part of Milwaukee’s history in the 1900s.

03/23/2026

Tomorrow is likely to be unlike what we have seen in airports as T is sending ICE agents to a number of airports to “do TSA’s work.” Our OCA National office says they are “hearing from some immigration attorneys that if you're anything other than an American citizen, it would be best to cancel upcoming travel at least for this first week or so, until we can understand how ICE is behaving within the airports across the country. Much easier to stay totally out of it, much harder if you happen to get detained for whatever reason they come up with.”

More chaos in the airports. Here is info on “What to Carry” which may be helpful.

02/21/2026

OCA-WI is pleased to announce that applications for our 4th annual OCA-WI Graduate Leadership Scholarship are being accepted through April 30, 2026. This scholarship is awarded to a graduate student of Asian descent enrolled at a Wisconsin college or university who shows potential to become a community leader. All application materials must be submitted electronically by April 30, 2026. The award recipient will be notified by the end of May 2026. OCA-WI is the final judge for this award.

Please share this opportunity with AAPI graduate students who will be enrolled in a graduate program in a college or university in Wisconsin in the 2006-2027 academic year.

Follow our link to learn about the full eligibility details and for the application form: https://bit.ly/OCA-WI_2026GradScholarApp

Questions? Email us at [email protected]