NARAL Pro-Choice America President to Receive Pioneer Award at OCA National Convention
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2023
Media Contact:
Socheata Sun, Communications Fellow
socheata.sun@ocanational.org
Ken Scudder
ken.scudder@ocanational.org (917) 226-1681
Washington, D.C. — NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju, the first Asian American to run the nation’s oldest abortion advocacy group, will receive a Pioneer Award at the OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA) 50th Anniversary National Convention July 12–16, 2023 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
“Mini Timmaraju has been advocating for women of color, including the AAPI community, throughout her career,” said OCA President Linda Ng. “Having her represent us on the national stage is inspiring for us all.”
Timmaraju will receive her award at the OCA Awards Gala on Saturday, July 15. Others being honored that night are NBC/MSBNC anchor Richard Lui, NBA player Jeremy Lin, TV and film actor Tamlyn Tomita, OCA-New Jersey past president Virginia Ng, and the Japanese American Citizens League.
“I am proud and humbled to receive this award,” Timmaraju said. “I am honored to be recognized alongside such a distinguished group of AAPI leaders, some of whom I am happy to call friends. Knowing that attacks on abortion rights and access affect women and pregnant people of color most harshly, the fight for reproductive freedom is one we cannot afford to lose. The support of organizations as esteemed as OCA is essential as we work to restore the constitutional right to abortion that we counted on for half a century and expand access.”
Prior to her work for NARAL, Timmaraju served as the Women’s Vote Director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. In 2013, she became the first Indian American Congressional Chief of Staff, working in the office of Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA). She was the National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, where she managed legislative, advocacy and communications strategy for a coalition of 34 Asian Pacific American organizations, and Executive Director of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team for Comcast Corporation. She is a past board member of OCA Greater Houston Chapter.
The awards gala is only one part of the five-day OCA National Conference. Other highlights include OCA Day on the Hill on Thursday, as well as three town halls that will highlight coalition building, equitable access to healthcare and well-being, and civic engagement. Notable speakers for these town halls, and over 20 breakout sessions, include Deputy Assistant to the President and AANHPI Sr. Liaison Erika Moritsugu, Journalist Helen Zia, Professors Janelle Wong and Xiaoxing Xi, author Curtis Chin, and many other government officials, community and academic leaders, and youth organizers.
The conference is free and open to the public. RSVP is encouraged to reserve your seat, and full-package registrations to access the Friday evening concert and Saturday night Awards Gala are available online at www.ocanationalconvention.org.
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About OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates
Founded in 1973, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national, member-driven social justice organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Learn more about our work at ocanational.org/about.