In its 21st year, the OCA Summer Internship program, which is part of the largest DC-based internship program for APA students, places interns from around the country in Congressional offices, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations in Washington, D.C. Here we feature three of OCA’s 2010 summer interns, reflecting on their internship experience so far:

Matthew Yagyagan is a progressive Pilipino American poet, activist, community organizer and student at UC Berkeley, double majoring in Political Science and Ethnic Studies. Originally from San Diego, Matt is passionate about access to higher education, representation of communities of color, and issues of equity in governmental institutions. He hopes to one day become a Professor of Ethnic Studies, simultaneously researching the intersectionality of race and gender while implementing and acting on such theories as a committed and engaged member in the APA community at large.

1) Where are you placed and what kind of issues are you working on?  I am currently placed in the Office of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. As an intern I have been researching a variety of issues, with the majority of my work being around education policies, No Child Left Behind, and the Re-Authorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

2) What has been the best part of your experience so far as an OCA intern?  The best part of my experience thus far has definitely been the camaraderie and family I've felt among my 2010 OCA Intern Class. I'm fascinated by the overwhelming diversity of APA experiences in our class and am opening my perspective to the APA experience in the Midwest and the South. As a California and Hawaii native, I've never felt the way other folks from middle American and the South, so it's eye opening to see a variety of perspectives.

Laura Nolan is a rising senior at Scripps College, pursuing a dual major in History and American Studies. At school she is a part of the Political Action Committee of the Asian American Student Union, serves as a resident advisor and works extensively with two college access non-profits that focus on low-income, first generation youth. Laura is passionate about working within the AAPI community, especially around the areas of education, access to federal resources and food justice.

1) Where are you placed and what kind of issues are you working on?  I am interning at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI). This office was created under executive order by President Obama and aims to increase AAPI's access to federal resources. Two major areas I am focusing on include working with the Southeast Asian community affected by the BP Oil Spill and sustainable urban food projects.

2) What has been the best part of your experience so far?  I am amazed by my experience so far. My internship is outstanding; it is the perfect marriage of the national and local. I am inspired by the other staff in the office and the ground-breaking work we are involved in. Without fail everyday I leave work with a better understanding of the diversity of the AAPI community and the steps we all can take to ensure a better quality of life. The best part of my experience so far is feeling engaged and empowered to make sustainable change and being in the company of other individuals, whether at my work or in OCA, who feel the same way.

Muttika Chaturabul is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley majoring in Social Welfare and minoring in education. Although she grew up in Southern California after moving to the U.S., the Bay Area will always be where her heart is. During her years at Berkeley, Muttika found a family within the Southeast Asian community while working with the Southeast Asian Student Coalition (SASC) to mobilize Southeast Asian students—particularly those bounded by the historical context of the U.S. war in Southeast Asia—to address the social injustices, economic inequalities, and political under-representation that they face. Berkeley has taught Muttika many things, but SASC has taught her so much more than any institutions could ever teach her.

1) Where are you placed and what kind of issues are you working on?  I am currently interning at the OCA National Center. As an intern, I work on OCA’s youth programming, the OCA National Convention in Houston, and conducting research on education policies.

2) What has been the best part of your experience so far?  The best part of my experience thus far is having the privilege of gaining first hand experience on what it means to advocate for my community at the policy level and within the national non-profit organizing sector. Equally important, having the space to be surrounded by APAs across the nation who wrap their communities around their hearts has been an eye opening experience.

Click HERE to watch 2010 intern class video!