Mission & Vision
Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) aims to inspire Pasefika (Pacific Islander) students and families by providing high-quality, culturally responsive services and resources to eliminate educational and opportunity disparities. We act as a bridge, strengthening connections among students, families, schools, and the community.
Description
Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 as a grassroots response to the academic crisis impacting Pacific Islander (PI) families. VOPIN began with parents, grandparents, educators, youth, and community members united by a shared vision: to improve educational outcomes and academic achievement for Pacific Islanders.
For many years, VOPIN operated entirely through the dedication of volunteers and its Board of Directors, who remain deeply committed to advancing our mission and vision. Through collaboration with our Board, volunteers, community members, and a technical assistant, we built the organizational infrastructure needed to grow sustainably. This includes developing a Strategic Plan, Sustainability Plan, Community Needs Assessments, and Policies and Procedures. Guided by these efforts and community collaboration, our strategic plan established three core departments: Youth and Young Adult Services, Family Services, and Arts and Culture.
The academic crisis facing PI students is longstanding and deeply rooted. During the 2018–19 academic year, only 36% of PI youth met English Language Arts standards compared to 67% of White students. Just 26% met math standards, 21% met science standards, and only 27% of PI children entered kindergarten school-ready.
These disparities are compounded by poverty. In 2017, 15.4% of Pacific Islanders lived at or below the poverty level, compared to 9.6% of Whites. Nearly half of Washington’s PI population lives below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and PI communities experience some of the highest rates of working poverty—full-time employment without economic stability. PI students face homelessness at two to three times the state average, and 21% of PI 10th graders reported that their families reduced or skipped meals due to food insecurity.
VOPIN believes education is a pathway out of poverty. Our Youth and Young Adult Leadership Program is designed to help students reach their fullest potential. We developed innovative models such as Student Research Practice (SRP) and Youth Membership on our Board of Directors to foster responsibility, leadership, and civic engagement. Through SRP, youth independently research and present on issues shaping their futures, including climate change, education equity, youth mental health, and socioeconomic inequality.
The future of our community—and the preservation of our culture and history—rests with our youth and young adults. Serving as a youth board member provides leadership development and executive-level experience while empowering youth to understand community challenges and drive meaningful change. Both youth board members and SRP participants earn scholarships in recognition of their contributions.
VOPIN supports youth through evidence-based, culturally grounded programming. Academic Support offers tutoring and educational assistance. Youth Advocacy promotes positive youth development, leadership training, educational equity, and cultural ambassadorship. Tutoring and Mentorship provide one-on-one or group academic and social-emotional support, as well as guidance for student activities such as school clubs.
Family plays a central role in PI culture and is a critical influence on students’ educational success. Through Family and Community Engagement, VOPIN builds strong relationships with families, helps them navigate school systems, connects them to resources, and empowers them to support their children’s education.
Many PI families experience an acculturation gap, with generations navigating different cultural worlds. Research shows that culture is a protective factor that reduces substance abuse, delinquency, and violence while strengthening resilience and academic success. VOPIN’s Arts & Culture Program uses a comprehensive, culturally rooted approach to increase student engagement and strengthen identity through in-school PI arts and culture clubs and community cultural events.
VOPIN’s mission and vision cannot be realized without community investment. The data shared reflect the real and urgent challenges facing PI children and families. Your donation sustains our programs and brings hope, opportunity, and equity to communities that have been marginalized for far too long.
Fa’afetai tele lava (thank you) for making a difference in the lives of Pacific Islander children and families.