Continuing Our Commitment to Community and Education
Talofa, Hafa Adai, Aloha, Kumusta, Malo e lelei, Ran annim, Kia Orana, Bula, Kia ora, Ia orana, and Hello, Nica,
Despite challenges and uncertainties, VOPIN remains dedicated to empowering our communities. We proudly continue our Navigating Education program at Bremerton High School and Mountain View Middle School, ensuring Pacific Islander students receive culturally responsive tutoring, mentoring, and ongoing support to thrive academically.
Additionally, our partnership with Olympic Connect actively bridges gaps between communities and essential resources, promoting equitable access to opportunities. Our collaboration with Kitsap Community Resources is pivotal in preventing eviction and homelessness, providing families with critical support during their most vulnerable times.
Currently, federal funding freezes have significantly impacted our resources, placing our crucial work at risk. Now more than ever, your support is essential. Please consider making a monthly donation or volunteering your time—every contribution directly impacts and changes students' lives.
Together, we can continue this vital work. Our mission persists, our commitment unwavering.
Thank you for standing with VOPIN.
With warmest regards,
The VOPIN Team
The Navigating Education Project
Changing Lives One Student at a Time
Student Profile: Albert Tagoa'i
Albert Tagoai, a vibrant ninth-grader at Bremerton High School, has found both community and growth through his involvement with Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN). Albert enjoys football, basketball, cooking, and spending quality time with friends. He describes VOPIN as a place where "they help us get on task with our grades and even with housing things too, like moving. They've offered me a lot, including some career things."
Albert credits VOPIN for not only fostering his cultural pride but also supporting his academic achievements. He especially values the opportunity provided by VOPIN's summer program, where he embraced cultural dance, noting, "It was my first time performing in front of people dancing, especially culturally. It was really cool doing some cultural dances for the first time."
Albert emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive programs at his school, noting their role in helping Pacific Islander students succeed both academically and personally. "It's very helpful information that they teach us cultural things and academic things. It's important to know those things."
Looking to the future, Albert is considering several paths, including trade school, film school, or higher education. Film has been a passion since fifth grade, and he's excited about exploring this interest further. Albert encourages fellow Pacific Islander students to actively participate in community initiatives, emphasizing VOPIN as a welcoming environment where students can "talk and have some fun."
Albert's experience reflects how culturally responsive support can empower students to explore their identities, aspirations, and full potential. Way to go, Albert!
Get Connected
At Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN), we remain deeply committed to the well-being and success of our Pasefika (Pacific Islander) communities.
We are excited to announce our new partnership with the Olympic Community of Health (OCH) with the Olympic Connect program, a valuable new resource designed to support and uplift our families.
Olympic Connect is a regional Community Care hub serving Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties. This collaborative initiative aims to build a coordinated and accessible care network to better address essential needs such as housing, food security, education, and healthcare.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out directly to our Care Navigator:
Phone: 360-712-2247
Email: nica@vopin.org
Thank you for being a cherished member of our VOPIN family. Together, we will continue building stronger communities and brighter futures.
Invest In Your Community!
Support VOPIN through Kitsap Great Give!
On March 11th, join Kitsap Great Give—a 24-hour celebration of generosity and community support. Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) proudly continues our Navigating Education program at Bremerton High School and Mountain View Middle School, connecting communities to essential resources through Olympic Connect, and working to prevent eviction and homelessness alongside Kitsap Community Resources.
Federal funding uncertainties have significantly impacted nonprofits like ours, making your support more critical than ever. Your donation helps sustain these vital programs, directly changing students' and families' lives.
Every dollar counts, and your generosity can help us secure bonus funds and prizes provided through Kitsap Great Give. Let's unite as a community—together, our impact multiplies!
Donate now: Support VOPIN through Kitsap Great Give
Thank you for your continued support!
#KitsapGreatGive #IGiveLocal #VOPIN #CommunitySupport #GiveLocal #SupportLocal
You can change lives one Student at a Time!
Unleash Your Inner Hero!
You can invest in a brighter future for our youth with a $10 monthly contribution. It's not just a donation but an investment in their dreams and aspirations!
Together, we'll supercharge our Navigating Education program, igniting a fire of purpose and optimism to guide our students toward a prosperous future! As we stand together for our Pasefika students, their voices unite in gratitude:
Fa'afetai tele, Mahalo, Si Yu'os Ma'ase, Salamat, Malo-e-lelei, Kinisou, Kinisou chapur, Whakawhetai koe.
Thank you for your boundless generosity in making a monumental difference!
Embrace your inner hero and change lives today!
Other ways to donate
Support Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) with a tax-advantaged stock gift in minutes!
Reduce taxes* on capital gains while deducting the fair market value of gifted stock held more than one year.
Amplify your generosity with a pre-tax gift (let the nonprofit keep the proceeds that would have been paid in taxes)
It’s fast, safe, and free to donate stock through the most trusted name in stock gifting.
* Capital gains tax and NII tax rates range from 18.8% to 37.1%, depending on your income and locality. Donate through DonateStock
King County employees: Donate through the King County Employee Giving Program
Washington State employees: Donate through the Washington State Combined Drive
