Pacific Community Of Alaska

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ALASKA BY BUILDING CAPACITY THROUGH HEALTH AND WELLNESS PRACTICES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, BRIDGING GENERATIONAL GAPS, AND BALANCING TRADITIONAL VALUES. THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION IS TO CREATE A UNIFIED PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY FOUNDED ON CULTURAL VALUES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, PHYSICAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

AS THE LIMELIGHT GRADUALLY SHIFTED AWAY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TOWARDS THE END OF 2022, PCA TURNED ITS FOCUS TO FACTORS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS AS THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS WHICH MADE NHPI COMMUNITIES SUSCEPTIBLE TO COVID-19. THESE CONDITIONS INCLUDED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, CHRONIC DISEASES, ETC. THUS, AS SECOND TIER TO ITS COVID-19 RESPONSE, PCA EXPANDED ITS HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAM TO INCLUDE HEALTH INITIATIVES TO BETTER EQUIP THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. ARMED WITH NHPI COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS) IN ITS EMPLOY, PCA CONTINUED ITS ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING BOTH SOCIAL AND HEALTH SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE LEEWAY FOR NHPI FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. ON APRIL 28, 2023, PCA WAS COMMENDED FOR ITS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY WITH AN ALASKA LEGISLATURE AWARD BY THE MEMBERS OF THE THIRTY-THIRD ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE.

WITH COVID-19 ISOLATION AND REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTANCING CAME THE RISE IN VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT. THOUGH IT WAS A TURNING POINT FOR INNOVATION ACROSS THE WORLD, IT ALSO BROUGHT ABOUT MENTAL DISTRESS DUE TO DISCONNECTION FROM HUMAN EXCHANGES, ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, ETC. IN FOCUSING ON THE YOUTH, SOME OF THE FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER TO INITIATE THE NESIAN LOUNGE. THIS WAS A SAFE VIRTUAL SPACE FOR YOUTH TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND THEIR THOUGHTS AS A PLATFORM TO CONTINUE INTERACTIONS AND STIMULATE MIND-CULTIVATING TOPICS IN RESPECT TO CULTURAL RELEVANCY AMONG THE YOUTH.

PCA HOSTED A "LET'S TALK ABOUT IT" CONVERSATION WITH NHPI MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN ALASKA TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR NHPI COMMUNITIES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. UNDER ITS ALASKA PASIFIKA SAFE HOMES PROGRAM, PCA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PREVALENCE OF UNREPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT (DVSA) CASES IN OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ALSO AWARE AND FAMILIAR WITH THE STIGMA THAT ATTACHES TO SURVIVORS OF DVSA INSTANCES. FROM A CULTURAL STANDPOINT, THESE MATTERS ARE GENERALLY TABOO TO BE OPENLY DISCUSSED AND HAVE THEREFORE CREATED A BARRIER TO THOSE IN NEED OF HELP OR A SAFE SPACE TO RECOVER, REBUILD, AND START ANEW. PCA FURTHER IDENTIFIED THAT MANY OF THE RESOURCES IN THE STATE AVAILABLE CATER TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR NUCLEAR FAMILY WHICH DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT MANY OF OUR FAMILIES RESIDE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOMES. AS A CULTURALLY FAMILY ORIENTED PEOPLE, THE EXTENDED FAMILY MAY ALSO PROVIDE THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT SURVIVORS NEED TO REBUILD.