E fofo e le alamea le alamea
.
Samoan Proverb - “the remedy for the toxic sting of the Crown of Thorns starfish is the Crown of Thorns starfish itself”
Who we are.
Samoa Pacific Development Corporation or “SPDC” is a (501C3) non-profit organization that serves the Samoan community in Oregon through educational and economic resources and cultural empowerment. SPDC was founded in 2003 in Portland, OR
Educate.
To best educate the community, staying engaged is key. Through sponsorships, annual retreats with guest speakers and weekly gatherings, we discuss and share relevant information about current events. We connect through all avenues available - email, social media, phone calls, video chats and in-person meetings.
Encourage.
Our gatherings allow us to share information and hold discussions about economic resources available to us provided by different sources. That way we can identify where help is needed and commit our team to put their efforts towards giving help.
Empower.
We educate the community on current events and issues through engagement. We encourage the use of economic resources by connecting with each other across different platforms. We empower our community giving them the tools they need. We empower the community by working together as one; as a family.
Our Approach
The Fale
Using the traditional Samoan house as a structural model we would like to think of our organization like a Samoan fale:
Foundation: Our community and membership
Pillars: Community health through education, cultural empowerment, and financial support.
Roof: Advisory Board
Support Beam: Board members and future staff