Workshop Session 3:
Sat, 11:30am - 12:45pm

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Rooted in Culture, Rising in Leadership [Waldo Hall 240]

This workshop aims to share the various Pacific Islander led and centered research and projects taking place at the University of Washington and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. We will also talk about our Pacific Islander led research group known as Research Family and how our group has allowed us as Pacific Islander students to discuss the barriers and challenges of working within a museum and university space while also sharing how we shift these spaces towards serving our communities and students. We are practice based and dedicated to supporting Pacific Islander students, families, and communities which is evident in the research students do. This workshop will share Research Family stories and initiatives, as well as engaging activities to illustrate how we bring familial values into our spaces.

Presenters: Janae Puni , Kaleigha Perez , Evangeline Paulo, Kinikiele Ta’aga (she/her, Samoan), Kamiliannah Eseroma, Trinity Porotesano, Julius Napa’a

  • Janae Puni, She/her, Sophomore, Major: Journalism

  • Kaleigha Perez, She/her, Sophomore, Major: Family and Human Services

  • Evangeline Paulo, She/her, Senior, Major: Psychology

  • Kinikiele Ta'aga, She/her, Senior, Major: Human Physiology.  Minor: Sports Business

  • Kamiliannah Eseroma, She/her, Sophomore, Major: Human Physiology.  Minor: Disability Studies

  • Trinity Porotesano, She/Her, Junior, Major: Journalism, Minor: Sports Business

  • Julius Napa'a, He/him, Junior, Major: Physics

We Belong: MiraCosta’s Mana Scholars Redefine Samoan Identity for Representation and Unity [Waldo Hall 201A]

Our 4 outstanding Mana scholars will share how they all identify as Samoan yet in distinct, diverse ways. From the differences between indigenous and diasporic identities to grappling with the notion of “authenticity” as afakasi with mixed heritage, our students will acknowledge how tension and exclusion carry over into Pasifika spaces intended for them. To combat these continuities of intra-NHPI discrimination, they will each share how during their participation in our Mana classes, talanoas, and student club activities, they have worked on first navigating their own identities in order to find a sense of community.

Presenters: Selena Ioane, Letrina Keila, Robert (Paki) Zepeda, and Jadyn Taupule & Dr. Jade Hidle

  • My name is Selena Salaiga'aloa Ioane. I am the daughter of two beautiful Samoan parents and the sister of four siblings. My mother, Totoa Fono Luafalemana, is from the island of American Samoa, specifically the village of Aua, and my father, Feausi Ioane, is from the island of Western Samoa, specifically the village of Falefa. I am also a mother of two girls, named Passion and Phoebe Garcia. I once experienced the loss of my favorite angel in heaven, the father of my babies, but now I have a loving husband who embraces my family of three. I am a returning student, back to finish my degree that I first started in 2016, majoring in Sociology and Counseling. I plan to be a high school counselor to serve all students, but also use that tool to support and uplift the Pacific Islander students on campus. I want to bring awareness to my Pacific Islander youth and their families that furthering higher education is an option for them because they have full support from our community. 

  • Malo Soifua, O lo’u igoa o Letrina Letutusa Keila. O lo’u matua na sau mai o le nu’u o Nu’uuli ma Se’etaga i Amerika Samoa. Na ‘ou fanau i Oceanside, Kalifonia ai o a’u o se Teine Samoa. ‘Ou te agoa i MiraCosta Community College. ‘Ou te su’esu’eina i mataupu fa’aleaganu’u, numera ma saienisi.

  • I am Samoan and Hispanic, and my major is BioManufacturing. My career goal is to go back into the biotech industry and work on stem cells to help people with Type 1 diabetes, developing more natural ways to create longer lasting food sources for our communities. My other interest is mixed martial arts.

  • Talofa lava my name is Jadyn Joshua Taupule. I am 19 years old and am a very religious man. I love preaching about the gospel, which I believe is important because Jesus wants us to be with him. I also love my Pasifika community. I also love to cook, as food is a big aspect of my life. I would love to be a chef one day and cook for not only my Pacific Islander community but for all people so they can get a taste of Samoa.

Creating Change As An Organizer [SEC 354]

Want to fight for change in your community? What does it mean to be an organizer? Let's be so real... it's difficult to create change while also being a student. Join us to walk through stories and exercises to help you walk away with learning more about yourself and how to contribute to the movement of transformative change and justice.

Presenter: Kareena Salvi, Youth Engagement and Field Associate at APIAVote

  • Kareena Salvi, she/her, is a South Asian American, an ally and currently working at APIAVote as the Youth Engagement and Field Associate. She oversees youth programming and implements leadership and civic engagement training to uplift and support Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Asian American students across the nation. Outside of APIAVote, she is a community organizer at heart and a fighter inspired by her grandpa. Currently holds a BA from Drew University with a major in Political Science and minors in Spanish, Dance, and Law, Justice and Society. Some of her previous work is at Sikh Coalition, the nation’s largest Sikh civil rights organization as a Policy and Advocacy intern handling hate crime data collection. She also uses dance as a social justice tool such as her piece on Decolonization!

Geneology - Exploring our Genogram [SEC 254]

We inherit so much from past generations - family land, cultural stories through song and dance, biological features including our personality traits and mannerisms - but how much have you considered mental health-related inheritances? In this workshop, we will walk through building your individual genogram and explore patterns of behavior and how that impacts our mental health. We’ll learn about what a genogram is and what types of information gets put on it. Then we will encourage open dialogue both in small groups and individual reflection to ask the questions about our mental health inheritances.

Presenter: Ria Galo

  • Ria is a proud Samoan woman, who currently works as a child and family therapist, currently practicing in the State of Oregon as a Professional Counselor Associate and a Qualified Mental Health Professional for Options of Southern Oregon. She is also an adjunct professor at Rogue Community College teaching courses in Psychology and Human Services. She is a proud mother to two beautiful daughters, married to her husband who is so supportive of her work, and a daughter to a pretty cool and smart dad that she calls, “Dr Dad”. Outside of her professional roles, Ria plays piano and uses her talents to direct music for the Samoan Mission United Methodist Church in Medford, Oregon. Ria has loved being a part of PISACON since she was an undergraduate over 15 years ago! But her goal to stay involved as a workshop presenter is to continue to be part of the empowerment of Pacific Island students at any level of their educational journey and send a message that our Pacific Island way of life equips us with more than enough to accomplish our educational and career goals!

We SEA You: Powering PI Students [SEC 112]

Come be part of hands-on, action-packed activities that uplift Pacific Islander voices and student success across Oregon through the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Student Success Plan. This is a space to share what real mental health support looks like, speak up, and help shape the look and future of the Plan so it truly reflects the diversity and strength of Pacific Islander cultures.

Presenter: Carol K. Matsuzaki, Caleia Capoccia and Mahina Ajifu-Santos

  • Carol Matsuzaki is a proud Native Hawaiian woman with a deep-rooted passion for empowering students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. With over three decades of experience in education, Carol has dedicated much of her career to supporting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, families, and communities. She has successfully led several Native-serving educational grants in Hawai`i, focusing on fostering academic growth and creating opportunities for underserved populations. Currently, Carol serves as the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Student Success Plan Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Education. In this role, she oversees the agency's efforts to uplift NHPI students, including the launch of a new grant program aimed at expanding educational opportunities for these communities. Born and raised in Hawaii, Carol is deeply committed to honoring her heritage while making a positive impact in the lives of students. She holds a Bachelor's in Geology from the University of Hawaii, a Master's in Business Administration from Chaminade University, and a Master's in Higher Education Administration from Georgetown University. Carol’s work is driven by the belief that every student deserves the chance to succeed, and she continues to work tirelessly to remove barriers and create pathways for success in education.

  • Hi, I’m Caleia Capoccia, a student at Portland State University. As a Palauan student, I’m passionate in advocating for Pacific Islander communities, focusing on creating spaces where we feel seen and supported.

  • Mahina is an alumna of University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA). She currently holds a position on the Oregon Department of Education's NHPI Student Success Plan Advisory Group.

Tåli Talks: The Ties that Bind. Exploring Connections/Relationships through Rope Making [APCC]

This workshop invites Pacific Islander college students living in the diaspora to explore their personal stories and relationships through the traditional craft of rope making, or tåli in Chamoru. In a relaxed and open environment, we’ll reflect on our connections to land, community, and identity while exploring values of inafa maolek (maintaining harmonious relationships), reciprocity, and respect.

Presenter: Daniel Brown

  • Daniel Brown is a Queer Chamorro and Filipino social practice artist whose work centers storytelling, collective care, and culturally grounded facilitation. He holds a Bachelor of science in Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation and Human Services and some  Masters coursework in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy. He is originally from Guam and spent most of his life living and working Marianas  with more than a decade of administrative professional experience spanning both the public and private sector in Banking, Education, Higher Education, Judicial administration and court services. He is also passionate and proven leader in organizing community engagement and service, leading multiple community wide events and a recipient of the Northern Marianas College Class of 2020 Excellent in Student Leadership Award for his commitment to service for his fellow students and island community. His facilitation approach is also informed by personal experiences of grief, recovery, and reconnection to community, culture, and self. This shaped his commitment to structured, trauma-aware storytelling spaces grounded in consent, listening, and collective care. He began offering Tåli Talks workshops since 2024 in Guam, Saipan, Oregon and Washington. Daniel enjoys using storytelling as a creative method to transform challenging experiences into collective meaning, mirroring his own process of turning grief into connection, resilience, and community-strengthening. These workshops engage participants in guided rope making, and/or weaving and storytelling circles exploring identity, belonging, and collective care. Inspired by other indigenous artists and Pacific Islander research, these workshops are rooted in Chamorro concepts of inafa’maolek and Filipino kapwa, Tåli Talks integrates these values and cultural knowledge into a contemporary participatory art practice. Stories are treated as fibers woven into collective “ropes,” creating lifelines of connection, memory, and shared meaning.