WASHINGTON--September 21, 2006 will go down in history as the day the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) transformed into reality its dream and that of the Asian Pacific American community to have a national headquarters here in the nation’s capital.

                At 1 p.m. the law offices of Covington & Burling, Ms. Gong signed the settlement documents for a $4.1-million acquisition located in the heart of the nation's capital, on Massachusetts Avenue and18th Street North West near Dupont Circle.

                "The OCA National Center for Asian Pacific American Leadership will be inaugurated on January 12 next year after basic renovations have been completed," a visibly elated OCA National President Ginny Gong told Asian Fortune at the APIAVote gala held on the day after the signing.

                The Center consists of three adjoining buildings totaling over 12,000 square feet. Aside from administrative and programming facilities, the new OCA headquarters will feature a Community Room, Library, Technology and Media Center, a gallery, as well as board and conference rooms.

                Surrounded by members of the OCA National Center Campaign Committee, other officers and members of the organization, and national office staff, Ms. Gong signed the purchasing documents--culminating over a decade of fund raising efforts to fulfill OCA’s vision and quest to secure a permanent home here.

                "The acquisition has been a true grassroots effort and heartfelt testament to the vision of OCA founders KL Wang and Alex Mark 33 years ago," Ms. Gong added. With permanent headquarters, OCA will be able to focus on expanding and adding programs that will nurture and develop the leadership potential and skills of the APA community's future leaders.

                "This is a significant occasion not only for OCA, but also for the entire APA community," said OCA National Center Campaign Chair Claudine Cheng. In 1973, OCA was the first national APA organization to incorporate and establish headquarters in the nation’s capital.