May 2, 2025

May 2025 Newsletter

Despite the uncertainties and challenges facing our communities, we at VOPIN remain steadfast in our mission. A stronger community exists when people can shape decisions, control resources, and drive changes that directly impact their lives! With the support of the community, the VOPIN team continues to do our best to serve, uplift, and care for one another, especially the most vulnerable among us. Through it all, we celebrate the small victories that remind us why our work matters.

Olympic Connect: Free Support, Right Here in Kitsap

Olympic Connect connects individuals with essential resources such as housing, healthcare, employment, education, and more. Through Olympic Connect, our team has successfully achieved the following with their programs:

Housing Hope: We helped a hardworking gentleman find stable housing after months of searching. With support from our team, he now has a safe place to call home and a fresh start.

Eviction Prevention: A single mother, worried about losing her home, reached out to us just in time. We connected her to emergency rental assistance and helped her avoid eviction, keeping her and her children safely housed.

Helping Families Rebuild: We are walking alongside unhoused families, helping them navigate complex systems to find permanent housing and regain stability. Their resilience inspires us every day.

Caring for Our Elders: We continue to assist an elderly Pasefika gentleman who was struggling to access healthcare and transportation. With our support, he's received rides to his medical appointments and ongoing help connecting to services that honor his needs with dignity.

The first step to building a stronger community is helping those in need. Together, we can ensure that no one feels alone while navigating life's challenges. Please, use the 'Sign up here' green button below to help someone connect to services that they need. Kitsap County is where every voice matters!

Fa‘afetai tele, Mahalo, Si Yu'os ma'ase, Salamat, Malo-e-lelei, Vinaka, Kia ora, Kinisou—Thank you.

With gratitude,

The VOPIN Team

NAVIGATING EDUCATION CORNER

Our Youth Voices!

Our youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the changemakers of today!

An Unforgettable Life Experience

With the support of the VOPIN team, Albert and Davuan had the opportunity to travel with their Bremerton High School choir class to Hawaii and share their unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It was a dream that once seemed unlikely, but it became a reality! Through this experience, we discovered and learned:

Learning traditional cultural dances and art
Getting temporary tattoos
Visiting the world-famous Polynesian Cultural Center
Relaxing on the beach and soaking in the island’s natural beauty
Exploring local malls and shops
Performing at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Meeting new friends and making lasting memories with classmates
It was a trip filled with joy, connection, and discovery—a reminder of the importance of culture, community, and belonging.

A heartfelt Fa'afetai tele, Si Yu'os ma'ase, and thank you to the VOPIN staff and community for caring and your unwavering support. You have given us a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will always cherish! We deeply appreciate your efforts and encourage everyone to continue supporting VOPIN, so that future students can have the same incredible opportunity that we were privileged to experience!

May the good Lord bless you and your families! With much Chamorro and Samoan Love!

Davuan and Albert

A Rising Star ~ Rebecca Smith

Rebecca began her high school journey at Bremerton High School by joining VOPIN's 'Navigating Education (NE)' program. Since then, the NE staff has been inspired by her remarkable transformation into a confident leader and her impressive academic achievements. At first, Rebecca struggled with math and was frustrated at times because high school math was getting too difficult for her. With support from our NE staff, Not everyone is good at math, but you can do it! and Rebecca kept pushing to improve her math skills. Rebecca is currently taking Geometry in her sophomore year with confidence!

Rebecca is determined to follow in her father's footsteps, and her journey is truly inspiring. She takes immense pride in wearing her JROTC uniform and was recently promoted to the rank of Ordnance Officer, the sailor responsible for overseeing the unit's weaponry. Her JROTC instructors proudly say, "She's awesome!" In ninth grade, Rebecca faced a fear of math, but instead of backing down, she used it as motivation to tackle geometry with new confidence. Her perseverance paid off, earning her a solid 'B' in the first semester. We couldn't be prouder of her unwavering determination, resilience, and drive to succeed!

As an Army veteran, this one is for you: Go Navy!

2025 Kitsap Youth Rally

The Kitsap Youth Rally for Human Rights is an annual event that brings together high school students from across Kitsap County to share their voices and express their opinions. The 2025 rally was an exciting and memorable experience for Navigating Education (NE) students Vadin, Aniya, Davuan, T.J., and Yahry.

Vadin is truly an inspiration! He is never shy about trying new things, dedicating his heart and mind to everything he does in his pursuit of success. Demonstrating his artistic talents, Vadin painted "Pacific Love" on a shopping bag that will be handed out to customers at the Bremerton Safeway — proudly sharing his Chamorro culture with the community.

When Vadin began his journey with Navigating Education two years ago, he dreamed of becoming a teacher. His goal is to return to Guam and teach at the very elementary school he once attended. Now, with just one year left of high school, Vadin is determined to attend college and pursue his dream of becoming an educator.

"My disability may limit my body, but my mind and spirit are strong. I feel and understand when you talk to me, and I want you to know — I love you!"

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Breaking the Silence

Racism inflicts profound and enduring harm on children's emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Its repercussions are not limited to individual children; they can resonate across generations, influencing how families heal, develop resilience, and narrate their stories.

Davuan, T.J., and Yahry actively engaged with white students through role-playing to confront the realities of racism and its impact on people of color. These important conversations empower children to process their pain, confusion, and anger constructively, rather than suppressing those emotions. By equipping young people with the ability to articulate their experiences with racism, we cultivate advocates for themselves and others, laying the groundwork for future leadership and transformative change.

In our talking circles and after-school activities, which serve as vital spaces for healing, we foster an environment where students feel safe to ask questions, express their feelings, and share openly without fear of judgment. Establishing these nurturing spaces is crucial for building trust, resilience, and empowerment in our youth.

Moreover, it is essential to acknowledge that culture can be a powerful catalyst for healing. Embracing one’s cultural identity, especially when faced with adversity, fortifies resilience. It enables individuals to draw strength from their heritage, using it as a foundation to overcome challenges. A strong sense of cultural pride not only counters the damaging effects of discrimination and racism but also empowers individuals to stand firm in their identities and move forward with confidence.

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Students at Olympic High School Celebrate Filipino Culture Through Tinikling

Tinikling dance—one of the oldest and most iconic folk dances of the Philippines.

Tinikling originated in the Visayan region, particularly in Leyte, during the Spanish colonial period (1521–1898). The dance is named after the tinikling bird, known for its swift and graceful movements as it weaves through grass stems and dodges bamboo traps set by farmers.

According to legend, the dance has somber origins. During Spanish rule, Filipino laborers who worked too slowly were punished by being made to stand between two bamboo poles that were clapped together. If they didn’t move fast enough, they would be struck. Over time, this painful practice evolved into a powerful form of artistic expression, with dancers mimicking the bird’s quick, light-footed steps as they move in and out of rapidly clapping bamboo poles.

Sharing culture in this way allows students to both celebrate their heritage and invite others to learn about it. Whether in classrooms, clubs, or communities, these exchanges help foster understanding, break down stereotypes, and promote respect among diverse groups.

The event was not only meaningful—it was a lot of fun!

Give Hope Alive

COMMUNITY POWER

"Community power" is the idea that when people in a community come together, they can create real, lasting change — for themselves, for their neighborhoods, and for future generations.

Paying Tribute to the Sacrifices That Shaped Our Journey — Honoring Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (now often called Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month) is celebrated every May in the United States to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S.

The idea for the celebration began in the late 1970s. In 1977, U.S. Representatives Frank Horton and Norman Y. Mineta introduced a resolution to designate the first ten days of May as "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week." Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate. President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution in 1978 to officially make it a week-long celebration.

In 1990, under President George H. W. Bush, the observance was expanded from a week to the entire month of May. It became official in 1992 when Congress passed a law permanently designating May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Why May?

May was chosen to commemorate two key events:

The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843.
The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, was a project in which a large number of Chinese immigrants played a crucial role.

The AANHPI umbrella includes more than 50 ethnic groups and over 100 languages—from East Asia (e.g., China, Japan, Korea), Southeast Asia (e.g., Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines), South Asia (e.g., India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), and the Pacific Islands (e.g., Hawai‘i, Samoa, Guam, Tonga).

Happy AAHNPI Heritage Month!

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To Our Pacific Islander Service Members:

With deep respect and gratitude, we honor your unwavering commitment, strength, and sacrifice. Your service in uniform reflects the proud traditions, resilience, and warrior spirit of your heritage. You stand not only as protectors of our nation but as powerful representatives of your communities and culture.

Thank you for your courage, your loyalty, and your dedication. Your presence inspires, and your contributions will never be forgotten.

Fa‘afetai tele, Mahalo, Si Yu'os ma'ase, Salamat, Malo-e-lelei, Vinaka, Kia ora, Kinisou—Thank you.

In times of uncertainty and challenge, it's easy to feel overwhelmed—but it's in these very moments that hope matters most. Across America, people are still showing up: helping neighbors, speaking out for justice, creating change, and building bridges across divides.

Hope isn’t blind optimism—it’s the quiet strength to keep moving forward, to believe in the power of unity, compassion, and the promise of a better tomorrow. Let’s hold onto that hope, nurture it in our communities, and carry it forward together!

As we honor the rich heritage and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, may we also carry forward the spirit of resilience, unity, and pride. Let’s celebrate the past, uplift the present, and keep hope alive for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Give Hope Alive

Community Events in Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month

A Night of Comedy with Rex Navarrete:

May 2nd, at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA)

Pacific Horizons Community Luau:

May 3rd, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at BIMA

Finding Peace: 1st Annual Korean Heritage Night:

May 8th at Woodward Middle School

Celebrating Melanesian & Pacific Islander Culture:

May 16th at BIMA

Asian Monologues:

May 17th at BIMA

Indipino/Filipino Family Stories and the 100% Project:

May 18th at BIMA

2nd Annual Asian Arts and Heritage Festival - Finale Celebration:

May 31st at Filipino American Community Hall

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

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.

Getting started with Olympic Connect is simple:

Use the QR Code provided on the enclosed flyer to visit the Olympic Connect website.

When registering, please select "Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN)" as the organization that you prefer to work with.

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.

Knowledge Is the Gift That Lasts a Lifetime

Donate

GIVEBIG (May 6th & 7th)

Your donation helps VOPIN expand essential educational services, including Navigating Education, Arts and Culture programs, and vital family support services. By contributing, you're not just supporting programs — you're making a direct impact on the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community. With your generosity, we can continue providing life-changing services and create a brighter, more hopeful future for those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference!

A Message from 501 Commons

Nonprofits are the foundation of strong communities. They are our safety nets, our innovation hubs, and our champions for change. At a time when many organizations are facing immense challenges, there's a proven solution that we can all take: Giving!

Help us build positive momentum for May 6-7 by donating to nonprofits you care about during Early Giving. Then, encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to follow in your footsteps!

Share using #GiveBIG #ThatGivingFeeling #VOPIN #PasefikaPride

Help Fuel Dreams Through Education!

Unleash Your Inner Hero!

Make a lasting impact on our youth with just a $10 monthly contribution. This isn’t just a donation; it’s a meaningful investment in their dreams and aspirations. Together, we will elevate our Navigating Education program, igniting a powerful sense of purpose and optimism that empowers our students to create a successful future. United in our commitment to our Pasefika students, we celebrate their voices with deep gratitude:

Fa'afetai tele, Mahalo, Si Yu'os Ma'ase, Salamat, Malo-e-lelei, Kinisou, Ngā mihi nui ki a koe, Sulang, and Thank you!

Be a Hero

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