About Our Work
Pacific Islanders for Progress works on three fronts at once because lasting change requires both better evidence and more power behind the decisions that affect our communities. Research makes the case. The coalition informs shared priorities. Advocacy carries it forward.
Evidence-Based Research
What isn't counted doesn't get changed. Our research makes Pacific Islander communities visible in the data that drives funding and policy. Pacific Islanders are routinely folded into broad racial categories, erasing the distinct realities of our communities. We produce disaggregated, community-grounded research that separates the data, names the disparities, and gives advocates, educators, and policymakers the evidence they need to act.
What we focus on:
Disaggregated education and economic data for Pacific Islander communities in California
Outcomes across early education, TK–12, postsecondary pathways, and workforce development
Translating findings into accessible briefs, fact sheets, and tools
Coalition-Building
No single organization can shift systems alone. PIP organizes across schools, universities, service providers, cultural organizations, and community leaders — building lasting relationships through talanoa and turning shared values into collective power. Our coalition multiplies our voice: when partners speak as one, decision-makers listen.
Building a coalition that:
Connects organizations and individuals across California into a shared agenda
Sharing data, amplifying campaigns, and showing up at key moments together
Relationship-building grounded in our cultures and accountable to our communities
Policy Advocacy
We bring Pacific Islander voices to the tables where decisions are made. Good evidence only matters if it reaches the people who set budgets and write policy. PIP advocates for accountable systems and stronger public education, ensuring Pacific Islander communities are represented in the decisions that shape their opportunity. We translate research into policy recommendations, mobilize community voice, and hold institutions accountable for the outcomes they produce.
How we advocate:
Equipping community members to speak directly to decision-makers
Mobilizing coalition partners to advance strategic advocacy to decision-makers
Grounded in evidence and community voice