<![CDATA[OC Focus]]>https://www.ocfocus.orghttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VexG!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0bcd7bcd-1885-47cf-b1c3-2c1407785766_750x750.pngOC Focushttps://www.ocfocus.orgSubstackMon, 06 Apr 2026 05:58:53 GMT<![CDATA[Building Bridges]]>https://www.ocfocus.org/p/building-bridgeshttps://www.ocfocus.org/p/building-bridgesMon, 30 Mar 2026 16:15:42 GMT

Join us for our annual exhibit featuring art, storytelling, and student-led dialogues.

RSVP by Apr 8

About OC Focus: Since 2023, we’ve been creating spaces to exchange knowledges, question harmful dominant narratives, and reimagine a world that prioritizes our collective well-being. Through our yearlong program, we contextualize our own stories by learning about the resistance, place-making, and creativity of racialized and marginalized communities who are often excluded from the historical record presented in our school classrooms.

Event details

  • Date: April 11, 2026

  • Time: 2-4 pm

  • Location: Cypress Community Center (255 Visions, Irvine, CA 92620)

  • Cost: Free!

At this event, attendees will:

  • Hear students’ perspectives on navigating, repairing, and transforming harm in our communities

  • Engage in student-facilitated conversations about ways all of us can “build bridges” across differences in our interactions, whether in our classrooms, workplaces, homes, or other spaces of gathering

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by Wednesday, April 8.

RSVP Today!

]]><![CDATA[Care Beyond Cages]]>https://www.ocfocus.org/p/care-beyond-cageshttps://www.ocfocus.org/p/care-beyond-cagesMon, 30 Mar 2026 16:15:42 GMT

Join us on April 26 from 1-4 pm for an afternoon of art, community, and political education!

RSVP by Apr 24

At this event, we’ll:

  • Learn about prison abolition with system-impacted speakers, artists, and prison abolition organizations

  • Resist the violence of the carceral system through hand-written postcards for people incarcerated in prisons

$5-10 suggested donation—no one turned away for lack of funds!

  • Donate five or more books for FREE ENTRY (see attached for book guidelines). All collected books will go directly to people behind bars through the Prison Library Project.

  • Screen-printed shirts for sale

100% of proceeds go toward:

  • Keeping our program and community events free and accessible to all people

  • Supporting individuals and organizations engaged in prison abolition

Why donate books?

With nearly two million people behind bars at any given time, the United States has the highest incarceration rate of all countries in the world. Rather than investing in community well-being (quality, accessible, and affordable education, healthcare, housing, food, etc.), the nation spends about $445 billion to lock up nearly 1% of the adult population. By expanding access to reading materials for people who are incarcerated, we hope to support successful reentry and transform punishment-centered culture into one rooted in restorative justice and collective care.

RSVP Today!

]]><![CDATA[Crafting Identity]]>https://www.ocfocus.org/p/crafting-identityhttps://www.ocfocus.org/p/crafting-identitySun, 13 Apr 2025 01:00:00 GMTFrom October through April this school year, ​high school students from across Irvine came together to critically examine local histories, document their stories, and explore how love, community, and resilience have shaped moments of contestation and coalition-building.

At our culminating event for this year’s program, community members listened to our stories, viewed student-produced artwork, and engaged in an interactive presentation to learn about how youth of color negotiate their identities. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported our mission and hope to continue sharing youth perspectives on challenges faced by our community while cultivating empathy among people of all ages and backgrounds.

View our work

]]><![CDATA[Bringing Youth Stories Into Focus]]>https://www.ocfocus.org/p/belonginghttps://www.ocfocus.org/p/belongingSun, 14 Apr 2024 01:00:00 GMTThis year, our virtual program served 12 IUSD high school students. Using PhotoVoice (photographic storytelling), they shared their stories of love, community, and resilience.

OC Focus is incredibly grateful for the support we have received this year from Asian American Youth Leaders, especially Dr. Tony Hwang, Professor Judy Wu, Mary Nguyen, and Phuc To, as well as the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association, the UCI History Project, Mayor Farrah Khan and all of our participants and their families. This program would not have been possible without their commitment to investing in youth leaders.

View our work

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