Why This Work, Why Now
Some visions arrive all at once. Others take years to develop. Pacific Islanders for Progress (PIP) is the result of years of listening, learning, and asking a simple question: What would it look like if Pacific Islanders in California had a stronger voice in the decisions that shape our future?
For nearly a decade, I’ve carried some version of this idea with me. As a Pacific Islander working in policy, research, and advocacy, I have spent much of my career in spaces where important decisions are made about students, communities, and public investments. Those conversations matter. They shape who receives resources, which issues receive attention, and ultimately which communities have opportunities to thrive.
Yet throughout that journey, I often found myself asking the same question: where are the Pacific Islanders?
Too often, our communities are absent from policy conversations that directly affect our lives. When Pacific Islanders are discussed, we are frequently represented by incomplete data, broad assumptions, or narratives that fail to capture the diversity and complexity of our experiences. Despite making significant contributions to California and the nation, Pacific Islanders remain largely invisible within many of the systems that influence educational opportunity, economic mobility, and civic participation.
Over time, I became convinced that this was not simply a representation problem. It was an infrastructure problem.
Communities do not achieve lasting change because they occasionally appear in reports or because a handful of leaders advocate on their behalf. Lasting change requires organizations, coalitions, research, leadership pipelines, and sustained engagement with decision-makers. It requires institutions that can translate community priorities into policy action and ensure that voices are heard long after a single meeting, report, or funding cycle has ended.
That realization stayed with me throughout my career. With every policy discussion, every data pull, every conference presentation, and every conversation with students, families, educators, and community leaders, the vision became clearer. I began imagining what it would look like to build an organization dedicated to strengthening Pacific Islander voice, advancing evidence-based solutions, and creating the long-term capacity needed to drive systems change.
Pacific Islanders for Progress was born from that vision.
The decision to launch PIP now was not accidental. We are living through a consequential moment for California and for our communities. New state leaders will soon shape the future of education, workforce development, economic opportunity, and our democratic institutions. Public institutions are facing financial pressures. Policymakers are increasingly relying on data and evidence to inform decisions. At the same time, many Pacific Islander communities continue to experience disparities that are often overlooked because our populations are relatively small and our stories are frequently hidden within broader data categories.
Moments like this create both challenges and opportunities. They remind us that if we are not organized, our priorities can be overlooked. If we are not engaged, decisions will be made without our perspectives. If we are not prepared, opportunities to improve outcomes for our communities may pass us by.
That is why I believe this is the right time to build.
PIP was created to serve as both a nonprofit organization and a coalition for action. Our goal is not simply to raise awareness about issues affecting Pacific Islanders. Our goal is to help create solutions. Through research, advocacy, partnerships, and community engagement, we hope to strengthen the capacity of Pacific Islanders to shape the policies and systems that influence our lives.
At its core, PIP is grounded in a simple belief: Pacific Islanders deserve to be seen, heard, and included in decisions that affect our future. We deserve access to quality education, economic opportunity, and pathways to secure futures. We deserve policies informed by accurate data and meaningful engagement with our communities. And we deserve institutions that are willing to invest in our success.
The word "progress" in our name reflects this commitment. Progress is not about perfection, nor is it achieved overnight. It is the steady work of moving forward together, building on the sacrifices of those who came before us while creating new opportunities for future generations.
Launching Pacific Islanders for Progress marks the beginning of a new chapter, but it is not the beginning of the journey. This work has been years in the making. It has been shaped by mentors, colleagues, community leaders, students, advocates, and countless conversations across California. The vision has evolved over time, but the underlying purpose has remained the same: to build a brighter future for Pacific Islanders through collaboration, evidence, and advocacy.
We’re excited for what lies ahead and deeply grateful to everyone who has supported this vision along the way. The challenges before us are significant, but so is the potential of our communities. The work begins now.
Roy Tongilava, M.P.A.
Board Chair
Pacific Islanders for Progress (PIP)
"Together building brighter futures. Together advancing opportunity, voice, and progress for Pacific Islanders."