BIRTHING A MOVEMENT
CREATION
CHALLENGES
GROWTH
The Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition is a collective of Pacific Islander (PI) leaders who have been doing work in the community, often unresourced, for the last decade. We originally organized as the Oregon Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Task Force in the Spring of 2020, collecting money and food out of our own pockets and pantries to care for our people.
Witnessing the grave health inequities our community experienced, and realizing the power of our relationships, task force members decided to formalize our collective as the Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition (OPIC) in the Fall of 2020. This decision was grounded in the desire to preserve and expand the space of healing created by our weekly gatherings, and the fierce commitment and passion we hold for healthy Pacific Islander communities.
COVID-19 revealed what we as Pacific Islanders already know: Western institutions have left Pacific Islanders behind. This is by design, as our colonial history and indigenous identities are left out of important conversations.
These challenges and the resources to address what we navigate is erased by the use of “Asian Pacific Islander (API)” as a category that lumps large communities with complex histories together. While coalition building across different communities is important, the use of “API” has obscured the needs, challenges, and power of Pacific Islanders on Turtle Island (the United States).
In a time of massive loss, coming together to serve our people during COVID-19 solidified that Pacific Islanders know how to serve Pacific Islanders best. More importantly, it revealed how important healing and nurturing our relationships with one another are in order to navigate this difficult work.
Through this journey our leaders decided to transition our community work from volunteer-run organizations to full-time organizations. Our goal is to create sustainable organizations that are led by our indigenous values, and build initiatives for Pacific Islanders, by Pacific Islanders.
This story guides the work of OPIC today.
" Marion County Pacific Islanders most impacted by COVID-19, but not prioritized for vaccine" -Salem Statesman Journal
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"How Pacific Islanders have been left to fend for themselves in the pandemic" -Vox
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"Disparities in Oregon's vaccination rates remain." - Oregon Public Broadcasting
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" Marion County Pacific Islanders most impacted by COVID-19, but not prioritized for vaccine" -Salem Statesman Journal >>>>>>><<<<<<< "How Pacific Islanders have been left to fend for themselves in the pandemic" -Vox >>>>>>><<<<<<< "Disparities in Oregon's vaccination rates remain." - Oregon Public Broadcasting >>>>>>><<<<<<<
Mission
Strengthen Pacific Islander-led (Melanesians, Micronesians, Polynesians) movements that raise our collective voices, experiences, and expertise through leadership development, community organizing, and advocacy.
Vision
Create thriving Pacific Islander (Melanesians, Micronesians, Polynesians) communities in Oregon and other neighboring areas rooted in our indigenous values, languages, cultures, and histories.
Purpose
The coalition will provide a space to organize and collaborate for Pacific Islander (Melanesians, Micronesians, Polynesians) organizations and leaders who are accountable to Pacific Islander (Melanesians, Micronesians, Polynesians) communities in Oregon and neighboring areas.