Sustaining Membership and Grant Award

Artesia High School's Pacific Islander Club was recently awarded a $100 grant from the NPIEN Board of Directors for its efforts in hosting the 9th Annual NPIEN Education Conference.

Arcadia School District Teacher Sandy Silverstein was the first to send his donation as a sustaining member of NPIEN for 2011. Who will be next?

Palms Elementary School First Mentoring Visit

I participated in our first mentoring visit of 2011, as a reader at the Palms Elementary School's Community Read Aloud. Palms is part of the ABC Unified School School District, locted in Lakewood, CA. I read a Dr. Seuss book to sixth grade students in Mrs. Gott's class.

We look forward to other schools joining us in the Guest Speaker and Mentoring Program. Will Rogers Middle School in Lawndale, and Jordan High School in Long Beach have signed-up to date.

Speakers who have confirmed participation are Attorney Meghan Blanco, UCLA Professor Dr. Keith Camacho, and National University Dean Dr. Carl Kalani Beyer.

Welcome to New NPIEN Board Members 2011

(Photo: NPIEN Conference Speakers Senator

Edgar Malepeai, Lennox School District Teacher

Renee Tiedemann Maravel, and Attorney Meghan Blanco speak to teachers and students at Artesia High School)

The National Pacific Islander (NPIEN) Board is pleased to announce three new board members, confirmed at its January 24, 2011 Board Retreat in Lakewood, CA:

Jennifer Kang is a teacher at Paramount High School, Paramount Unified School District, California. Jennifer is also a co-advisor to the school's Pacific Islander Club.

Hector Molina is a former teacher, and current agent for NT & Associates in Cerritos, CA

Teresa Molina is also an agent for NT & Associates, and past president of the Whittier TEAM Referral Network, a major NPIEN sponsor

We are pleased to have expanded our board of directors to ten members! Please see our website at ww.npien.com for more information on this outstanding board.

NPIEN Board Announces 2011 Initiatives

The National Pacific Islander Educator Network (NPIEN) Executive Board met on January 24, 2011, for its annual planning retreat. Several areas of interest were discussed during this strategic planning meeting:

(Pictured to the far right, Senator Edgar Malepeai, immediate right Iosefa Aina)

Major Accomplishments:
The Northern California Chapter held its Second Annual Conference at CSU East Bay in Hayward, California
NPIEN’s Outreach Program visited 15 California schools Speakers were Uncle Henry Kamae, Ukulele Artist, John Taeleifi, Mortgage Company CEO, Dr. Mark Jones, Compton USD, Maleine Manumaleuga, Hitachi, Pua Palei, Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Meghan Blanco, Attorney
The 9th Annual Education Conference at Artesia High School featured keynote speakers Idaho State Senator Edgar Malepeai, and a Women’s Panel: Meghan Blanco, Pua Palei, Renee Tiedemann Maravel, Lennox SD Teacher, Me Phillipp, Sisters’ Alumni of the South Pacific, and Professor Soledad Santos, Evergreen Valley College
NPIEN teamed with Together Samoa to raise $4500 for the Saleapaga Primary School Tsunami Relief Fund in Samoa
Major Sponsors were Majestic Realty Foundation, AXA Financial, Samoan Achievers International, Cars 4 Causes, TEAM Referral Network, (Golf Tournament) and the Linaka Polynesian Dancers (Fund-raising Luau)

Iosefa Aina, founding NPIEN Board member, was named to the White House Commission on Asian and Pacific Islanders

Initiatives for 2011:
Raise a minimum $10,500 to support the operational fund, scholarship fund and 10th Anniversary Education Conference
Develop an outreach curriculum on the Internet to support educators and students
Increase outreach to schools, and dedicate up to three visits per school for mentoring