As we begin the 2026–27 academic year, VOPIN looks to the future with hope and renewed purpose. A new school year is more than a fresh start—it is another opportunity for our students to learn, grow, reconnect, discover their strengths, and dream bigger.

We also know that many students and families are beginning this year carrying real challenges. Rising costs, housing and food insecurity, transportation barriers, and other hardships can follow a young person right into the classroom. That is why VOPIN will continue meeting our students and families where they are—with tutoring, mentoring, culturally responsive support, and Care Navigation when families need a helping hand.

As we approach the end of the 2025–26 academic year, VOPIN’s Navigating Education (NE) Program celebrates the incredible accomplishments of our students. For more than five years, our Education Navigators have walked alongside students at Bremerton High School and Mt. View Middle School, providing guidance, encouragement, and support through both challenges and successes.

On April 27, 2026, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners officially proclaimed May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month—a meaningful milestone for our Pasefika youth and community. This recognition represents more than a date on the calendar; it is an acknowledgment of our presence, our contributions, and our right to be seen and heard.

2026 March Newsletter

Talofa, Hafa Adai, Aloha, Ran annim, Kumusta, Mole e lelei, Bula Vinaka, Kia ora, Hola, and Hello to our Dear VOPIN Community!

Stronger Together: A Commitment to Our Youth and Families!

As we begin the second semester, our Navigating Education program is slowly taking shape through the introduction of our Talanoa of Hope curriculum. This year, the Talanoa of Hopecurriculum supported more than 100 Pasefika and other students, each with unique strengths, stories, and aspirations. What remains clear is that when students feel a sense of belonging, their confidence increases — and as confidence grows, so does engagement and achievement.

Talofa, Hafa Adai, Aloha, Ran annim, Kumusta, Mālō e lelei, Kia Orana, Kia ora, Hola, and Hello to our VOPIN community!

In recent months, we’ve experienced a true roller coaster—moments of joy alongside sobering reminders of the challenges still before us. Through it all, one truth endures: our community grounds us, strengthens us, and carries us forward.

Amid shifting economic conditions and widening inequalities, many families continue to face difficult choices between rent, groceries, and medicine. These pressures deepen existing disparities and weigh heavily on the youth we serve. Yet even in the face of hardship, unity remains our greatest strength.

VOPIN stands firm in its mission to provide culturally responsive services that eliminate educational and opportunity inequities. We continue to serve as a bridge—connecting students, families, schools, and the broader community—so that every child feels seen, supported, and valued.

Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) is seeking a compassionate, culturally grounded, and community-oriented individual to join our team as an Education & Family (Care) Navigator.

This dual-role position supports both educational success and overall well-being for students and families in Kitsap County. The Navigator will work directly with youth through our Navigating Education program and serve families through Olympic Connect, a regional care coordination network.

We want to share a heartfelt update. After careful consideration, we made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Together for Education fundraising event. We recognize the importance of an event like Together for Education; it brings people together, celebrates Pasefika heritage, and shines a light on youth who are too often unseen. But the resources required to host it are significant, and we recognize that too many in our community are also navigating financial uncertainty.

This month has been a true roller coaster—marked by moments of profound joy and sobering reminders of the challenges that remain. As we reflect on June, one truth stands firm: through every high and low, it is our community that grounds us, strengthens us, and propels us forward.

Amid growing hardship, the widening gap between wealth and poverty weighs heavily—especially on our most marginalized communities. The obstacles can feel overwhelming. Yet in the face of adversity, unity remains our greatest strength. When we stand together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.