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March | April 2026 | Issue #38 |
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Talofa*Aloha*Alii*Bula*Fakaalofa lahi atu*Hafa adai*Iokwe*Ia orana*Kia orana*Kia Ora*Ko na Mauri*Malo e lelei*Mogethin*Hello!
(These are various greetings in different Pacific Islander languages)
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SFUSD Fa'aSamoa Initiative Announcements
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OCEANIA DAY AT THE
de YOUNG MUSEUM
Saturday March 14, 2026
Doors Open: 9:30am
Follow us on social media for event agenda & announcements.
We're excited to host the first Oceania Day at the De Young Museum. Join us for a day of Oceania Arts & Culture. This FREE COMMUNITY DAY event will offer
- Film
- Performing Arts
- Family Art Activities
- Access to the De Young Oceania Collection & open exhibits.
This event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of: De Young Museum, Pasifika By Design, Tongans Rise Up, SFUSD Fa'aSamoa Initiative & Matua Advisory Council, Utopia SF Bay Area & Samoan Solutions.
Bring your family & friends. All are welcome.
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The 16th Annual Talanoa Series
Tuesday March 17th, 2026
6:00pm-9:00pm
in-person at the City College of San Francisco--
Ocean Campus, Harry Brit Building (HBB) 140.
Registration is required. Refreshments will be served.
We are pleased to announce our 4th speaker of the 16th Annual Talanoa Series—
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Dr. Caitlyn "Katie" Keli'ia'a, Ph.D.__This year’s 16th Annual Talanoa Series is in collaboration with Critical SWANA (Middle East) Studies and Critical Native American & Indigenous Studies at CCSF!
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The Talanoa Series honors and recognizes the celebration of Women’s History Month and our commitment to building Critical Native American & Indigenous Studies at City College of San Francisco. A special thank you to the department of Women's and Gender Studies, the department of Labor and Community Studies, and the department of Social Sciences for this special collaboration.
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We are honored and grateful to recognize the cultural connections between the University of California, Santa Cruz and the City College of San Francisco. Both schools continue to create community spaces through the establishment of their own indigenous speaker series and/or activities that support Native & Oceania students.
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Dr. Caitlin “Katie” Keli’ia’a is a Bay Area Native and was born and raised in Hayward, CA. She received her BA from UC Berkeley, her first MA from UCLA, and her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in Ethnic Studies. Dr. Keli’ia’a is an Associate Professor of History at UC Santa Cruz.
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She is an Indigenous feminist historian specializing in 20th-century Native experiences in the West. Her scholarship engages Indian labor exploitation, dispossession, and surveillance of Native bodies, especially in Native Californian contexts.
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Her award-winning book,
Refusing Settler Domesticity: Native Women’s Labor and Resistance in the Bay Area Outing Program, examines how Native women domestic workers negotiated and challenged an early 20th-century, Bay Area-based Indian labor program.
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In this work, Dr. Keli’ia’a centers Native women’s voices uncovered from federal archives. She is Yerington Paiute, Washoe, and Kanaka Maoli. Her tribal communities inform her scholarship.
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Dr. Keli’ia’a’s talk entitled,
“Refusing Settler Domesticity: Native Women's Labor Histories in the Bay Area,” traces the lives of Native women in the early 20th century. Keli’ia’a delves into the largely untold history of the Bay Area Outing Program, which coercively recruited over a thousand Native girls and women from boarding schools to labor as live-in domestic workers across the San Francisco Bay Area. In exchange for room, board, and meager pay, Native women and girls as young as twelve cooked, cleaned, and lived in the homes of their employers.
Refusing Settler Domesticity serves as an indictment of the Indian boarding school system, illuminating the history of urban Indians, California, and the West. In her talk, will also discuss her academic background as someone born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Please pre-register for this event by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer or by clicking the link below. This event is entirely in-person with no Zoom link.__
Funding for the 16th Annual Talanoa Series is made possible by the Office of the Dean for Student Equity, CCSF AANAPISI, and AANHPI Student Achievement Program.
For more information about the Talanoa Series, contact:
Dr. David Ga'oupu Matthew Palaita, Ph.D.Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (Ethnic Studies), ChairCritical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies, Coordinator
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Spring 2026 | SFUSD Announcements
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The 25th Annual Special Education Information and Resource Conference here! This FREE conference is for families of children with disabilities, the professionals who work with them, and community members.
Co-Hosted by Support for Families & San Francisco Unified School District & SFUSD Community Advisory Committee for Special Education.
When: Saturday, March 14 @ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: John O’Connell Technical High School,
2355 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Free Lunch & Community Spaces Lunch is provided at no cost to families. Families and professionals are invited to connect in community spaces, including language-specific spaces in English, Spanish, and Cantonese.
Sensory Room for Children & Youth
A sensory activity room will be available for children and youth to take a break and engage in activities (all participants must be accompanied by their grown-up), activities facilitated by Children’s Creativity Museum.
Parking can be challenging! We strongly recommend taking public transportation to attend the conference.
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SFUSD Enrollment Center will have VIRTUAL Enrollment Workshops this month!
These workshops will provide information about Main Round Options and Waitlists!
Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 5:30pm
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00am
To sign up for these workshops, click on the button below! |
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No School Dates:
March 27 - April 3rd (Spring break/Spring Recess) |
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Accepting applications for Fall 2026 now!
Children's Council of San Francisco is recruiting, training and empowering Black and Pacific Islander youth and adult pre-apprentices through our Black & BIPOC Early Educator Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways Program.
For High School Seniors and Adults!
Join us! Our Pre-apprentices will learn and earn:
- Child Development certificate and 12+ ECE college unites
- Education stipends
- Free Tuition, Tutoring and Academic Supplies
- Job Placement & Support Services
Be a part of a community of educators and make sure young children see themselves refelcted in their teachers.
If interested, email: bipoceceprograms@childrenscouncil.org/ phone: 415-276-2900
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Spring 2026: Just in case you missed it... |
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On March 6th, 2026 at Southeast Community Center in Bayview, we had our 3rd Annual Lalaga Le Ato Summit that brought together 5th & 8th graders, Community Based Organizations, Afterschool programs, Community Leaders, SFUSD Enrollment, Student Advisors, High School Counselors, Athletic Coaches and parents in one space to discuss ways we all can support and prepare for the transition of students into next grade level and new school. Shout outs to Herbert "Coach" Wylie Ilalio for leading the efforts, and for all facilitators and planning committee for a great event, and shout outs for all the students who took time out to get the information they need to feel better prepared and equipped for their next chapter of their academic journey! Please enjoy a few photos below from the event. |
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In Community...Announcements |
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The Lumana'i Education Gift is OPEN!
If you are a Samoan student
(a drop or a lot) you may be eligible to apply for one of the Lumana'i Education Gifts this year. For the last 17 years, the Lumana'i Education Gift has offered monetary & in-kind support for students pursuing their academic and or artistic goals. There are different gifts available. To learn more, check out the image below. We encourage all who qualify to apply today.
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Teine Toa (Our Mana, Our Selves)
6-week body literacy and wellness program for Pacific Islander girls 12years and up to explore their bodies, cycles, and self-care through culture, connection, and community. This program helps young girls build confidence, embrace their bodies, and rise as warriors rooted in pride and purpose!
March 18, March 25, April 8, April 15
3:00pm-4:30pm
1530 Sunnydale Ave, San Francisco, Ca 94134
Food provided every session.
Participants who join will be eligible for raffle prizes/gift cards at each session! |
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Walk for Wellness is baaaack!!
In the month of April, every Saturday morning from 9:30am-10:30am - we'll get our steps in! Register you and your family - the trail is stroller-friendly, we welcome all ages and all fitness levels!
New Location
Candlestick Point State Park
(Last Port Parking Lot)
160 Harney Way, SF, Ca 94124
Register and we'll see you there - Rain or Shine!
If you have any questions, reach Jayzyl Barrow at faatasiyouthservies@gmail.com |
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Save the Date
4th Annual Fealofani Festival, taking place on
May 2, 2026; 1:00 PM
Phillip & Sala Burton High School
400 Mansell St Suite 106, San Francisco, CA 94134
The Fealofani Festival is a celebration centered on our Pacific Islander youth, providing students from your schools the opportunity to come together and showcase their cultures through dance. Our goal is for students to feel seen, valued, and celebrated not only by their families, and friends but also by their school communities.
The Samoan word "Fealofani" means unity, harmony, and togetherness, values that are at the heart of this event. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the festival proudly features Pacific Islander students and clubs from schools such as
Burton High, Balboa High, Lincoln High, Jefferson High, Downtown High, John O’Connell High School, KIPP High School, MLK Middle School, Visitacion Valley Middle School, KIPP Middle School, Aptos Middle School,
Our Lady of Visitacion, and
many more.
We invite you to join us as we kick off AANHPI Heritage Month and celebrate the talents and cultural pride of our Pacific Islander students.
For more information, contact:
Tino Felise, tino.felise@scdcsf.org
Vonnie Kiliona, vonnie.kiliona@scdcsf.org |
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Events in Alameda County - Bay Area |
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SAVE the DATE!
Thursday, March 19th
5:30pm-9:00pm
Chabot College Hayward, Ca
Event Center Building 700
An open mic night and panel to honor mental health awareness through celebrating our community's strengths, talents, and culture.
Featuring: Free Food, Music, Raffle Prizes, Community Resources, Live Performances |
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Events in San Mateo County - Bay Area |
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Event Details:
4th
Annual Sister to Sister SMC Leadership Conference
March 26, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm
Millbrae Recreation Center
477 Lincoln Cir.
Millbrae, Ca 94030
Our theme this year is Village to Voyage, reminding us that every journey begins with where we come from. Our
village is made up of our families, cultures, traditions, languages, and communities, along with the people and places that have shaped us. But our village isn’t just in the past, it grows as we do. As we take steps into the world, our village expands to include mentors, friends, teachers, and allies. Our
voyage is the path forward, the journey of discovering who we are, building confidence in our voices, and stepping into our dreams and leadership. It’s not always easy, but we don’t have to go it alone. We carry the strength of our ancestors, the lessons of our culture, and the support of our growing village.
This year’s conference will also honor our beloved Heartwork Queen, Nani Wilson, whom we lost in September 2025. Nani, affectionately known as
Aunty Nani to the community and our Sister to Sister participants, was a powerful force who touched countless lives. As our Sister to Sister SMC emcee, she brought her light, humor, and heart work to every conference she helped create. Her absence is deeply felt as we continue the Heartwork she began. Nani believed wholeheartedly in this conference as a space for young AANHPI women to learn that their voices matter and that they are never alone.
For More Information, Contact: Marcelle Jalate-Valdez - marcelleavaldez@gmail.com |
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SAVE THE DATE!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: San Mateo County Event Center (Fiesta Hall)
1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA
Parking: On-site parking is a separate fee charged by the venue:
$18 (credit card) / $20 (cash) per vehicle
What happens when kids see their culture and their curiosity celebrated in the same room? They start to picture themselves as builders, creators, and future innovators.
Pacific Islanders Encouraging Fun, Engineering, Science, & Technology (P.I.E.F.E.S.T.) is excited to invite you and your family to the 5th Annual Bay Area Pasifika STEAM Fest. This will be a joyful, family-friendly day of hands-on learning designed with a Pasifika lens.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Bring the whole family for an afternoon of exploration, creativity, and community connection:
- Hands-on STEAM activities and interactive exhibits
- STEM career exploration and mentorship moments
- Community resource partners and local programs to explore
- Cultural learning experiences like the engineering of Samoan fales, the art of Fijian masi making, the physics of Tahitian drums, and more
PLUS, ALL THE FUN
- Maker Space
- Sensory Play
- Robotics
- Raffle prizes & giveaways
- Free lunch (while supplies last)
- Cultural dance performances
- Photobooth
Whether you’re a parent, guardian, educator, or community supporter, this event is about opening doors and expanding what our kids believe is possible. Enjoy a highlight from last year's event.
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MANA Youth Summit 2026
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
9:00am-2:00pm
San Mateo County Office of Education
101 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City, Ca 94065
This summit is presented to the community by PCRC in partnership with the San Mateo County Office of Education.
Last year, we brought together adults and youth in a powerful combined conference rooted in our heritage reminding us that our culture is fuel to reach our ancestors’ wildest dreams and hopes for us. During the youth session, students openly shared the challenges they face, including turning to alcohol and drugs to cope with everyday pressures. Those honest conversations inspired us to focus the 2026 Youth Summit on reducing alcohol use and encouraging a healthy, resilient lifestyle.
This year’s Summit is FREE to attend, meals will be provided, and space is limited.
Who Should Attend: The Summit is designed primarily for high school students, with limited space available for middle school students (7th and 8th grade).
Students must register through their school and attend with a designated adult advisor/chaperone.
Important Deadlines
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Student Registration Deadline: April 14, 2026
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Raffle Prize Donation Deadline: April 18, 2026
How You Can Support
We invite you to be part of this movement by:
• Advocating at your child’s school: If you have a child who is a high school student in San Mateo County, encourage administrators and advisors to approve student attendance and connect with the PCRC team.
• Donating raffle prizes or student giveaways: Help us celebrate and uplift youth participants. Monetary donations can be made using this link: MANA Summit Donations
• Making a monetary contribution: Your support funds meals, speakers, materials, and culturally grounded prevention programming.
To Register and Book Transportation, contact: social@pcrcweb.org | 650.229.9218
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Central San Joaquin Valley |
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45th Kiki Taina Tahiti Fête
Tūtui Te Auahi (Light the fire that grows)
March 20, 21 and 22, 2026
Golden Valley High School
Merced, Ca 95340 |
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Additional Information/Resources: |
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Fa'aSamoa Initiative has moved departments in SFUSD! Fa'aSamoa Initiative moved from the Office of Superintendent to Curriculum & Instructions Department - Local, State and Federal Programs - Access & Equity Division. Herbert Coach Wylie Ilalio and UrsulaAnn Siataga are now housed under the same department with 18 others from Indian Education, Migrant Education, LCAP, Multilingual Learner Pathways, Matua Advisory Council, LatinX and Asian PAC, State & Federal Programs. We are excited for the levels of collaborations and partnerships this year, and look forward to continue aligning our work with HAPI Resolution, MAC Recommendations and District goals - to address the academic needs of our students and families. |
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This image above shows many types of offerings throughout the years that has shown positive impacts with educators, students and families. Each of these events/programs were implemented in the last four years in partnership with educators, students, community-based organizations and Matua Advisory Council as examples of strategies useful for improving the ways in which the district serves equitably our Pacific Islander/Samoan students. The programs/events cover students programming, parent/family and community engagement and professional/curriculum development. Check out our websites for more information.
Matua Advisory Council website - www.sfusd.edu/mac
Fa'aSamoa Initiative website - www.sfusd.edu/fasi |
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These monthly newsletters are to support and share information about Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Events, Collective work in Education and Community, SFUSD resources and more!
Thank you for reading!
To check out previous Monthly Newsletters or to subscribe to this newsletter - please visit www.sfusd.edu/fasi.
If you are interested in sharing content on this monthly newsletter, please contact: UrsulaAnn Siataga, siatagau@sfusd.edu.
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