Pacific Island Youth Empowerment Program (PIYE)

A mentoring, tutoring, and leadership based program to empower our Pacific Islander students.

Our Mission, Vision & Purpose

Our program aims to provide Pacific Islander (PI) high school students with academic support, mental health resources, and social and emotional support. We believe that these efforts will lead to positive outcomes for students regarding their overall well-being and academic success. We envision providing leadership development and advocacy opportunities that are specific to student's needs and that will enable them to become leaders in their communities.

  • We will provide academic tutoring and homework help to improve students' academic performance.

  • Each student will be paired with a mentor who will provide guidance and support, including career exploration and college readiness.

  • We will provide cultural identity workshops and activities to help students connect with their culture and identity.

  • We will provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and take on leadership roles within the program and their communities.

  • We will empower students to advocate for themselves and their communities through workshops and training.

  • We will provide mental health resources and support to address the unique mental health needs of Pacific Islander youth.

Our Project Activities & Strategies:

Contact Us

Meet the team

  • Program Coordinator/CHW-Researcher

    Apaau (she/her/hers) was born in Samoa, raised in Hawaii, and has been in Southern Oregon since 2009. Before SPDC, Apaau had an extensive 10+ years of work background in healthcare; serving the most vulnerable community. She has helped with the development of training programs for In-Home care and has 5+ years of experience as a Care Manager. Apaau is involved with her community and is most passionate about connecting individuals and families through resources to address their needs. She believes in culturally appropriate services to address barriers for our PI communities to thrive.

  • Education Specialist Support Staff Born and raised in San Jose, Ca but have been in Medford, OR for quite a while. She is a proud daughter of a La’avale and Talalelei Molio’o. Her passion and dedication is to work with our young pacific islander youth. She is the Educational student support for our Pacific Islander Youth Empowerment (PIYE) pilot program in Southern Oregon. Her goal is to empower our young people and show them that anything is possible. In her free time, Orepa is always doing something for church or with the young people. She is also the Youth Leader and uses her time

  • Peer Mentor

    Originally from American Samoa, is a senior at Southern Oregon University majoring in Psychology. With a fervent passion for understanding human behavior, Janillicah actively participates in research initiatives within her field of study. Beyond academics, she devotes her time to supporting mental health awareness initiatives and volunteering in her local community. Janillicah is a mentor with SPDC Pacific Island Youth Empowerment (PIYE) Program and harbors a deep commitment to effecting positive change, particularly within Pacific Islander communities, and aspires to leverage her expertise in psychology to address the unique challenges they face. Janillicah's unwavering dedication to personal growth and community service positions her as a compassionate leader poised to make a meaningful impact in the realm of mental health and wellness.

  • God is always first and at the center of everything. My name is Alex Lauesi and I was born in Riverside, CA. I am half Tongan and Samoan but have never visited either island - yes, it's on my bucket list. I currently work in the food industry but have a passion for working with our youth of today. I am blessed with an opportunity to work at an afterschool program as a tutor and mentor, under SPDC, which enables me to work alongside colleagues who share the same passion for our children. I am also involved with working with our youth at the church I attend and grateful for the opportunity to help raise the next generation. I gave my life to Jesus in 2022 and life has been a rollercoaster ever since but the journey keeps getting better. I love spending time with the love of my life, Yuliana, and my four year old son, Rocky. The legacy I'd like to leave this world with would be to serve others and to do for another what was done for me - understanding and embracing God's love.