Micronesian Community Network (MCN)

                    Micronesians in Action Symposium

                               Saturday March 25, 2006

                            McKinley Community School for Adults

8:30 am- Registration

9:00am- Opening prayer

Welcome

Micronesian Anthem

9:15am- Introduction of Main Speaker The Honorable Edward H. Kubo,  United State Attorney, District of Hawaii

9:30am- Purpose of Workshops

(Introduction of Workshop Facilitators)

9:45am- 10:45 Workshops:

1) Education 2) Prevention 3) Parenting 4) Job Training 5) Health

11:00am- Reconvene in large meeting

11:10am- Brief Reports from Workshop Facilitators

11:45am- Identify Major Issues

Reports Actionable (Action) Programs

Wrap-up: Closing Remarks

Follow-ups, Future.

Closing prayer

Note: Workshops Facilitators will work with Micronesian Community Network and

Interested people to produce the write-up of today’s findings and Action Programs. They have volunteered to serve as key contact people in order to provide leadership in implementing Action Plans. All information from this Symposium will be posted on the Nations of Micronesia (NOM) website: http:www.nationofmicronesia.org

                                                                                  U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo

               Nations of Micronesia - "Micronesians in Action"

                     Symposium   Saturday, March 25, 2006

                                              McKinley High School, Adult Education Center

[Good Morning and Aiohal

1. Yah-kway (lakwe)- Marshallese

2. Oong Eel too Towel (Ungil tutau) - Palauan

3. Neh-sohr an-nim (Neesor Annlm) - Chuukese

4. Lo-too-who (Lotu wo) - Kosraean

5. Men-Seng Mwow (Menseng Mwahu) -Pohnpeian

6. Fahl-leh Khad-bul -(Fal'e Kadbul) - Yapese

7. Lay-sohr a-Lim (Leesor Ailim) —

I would like to welcome all of you to the "Micronesians in Action" Symposium. Thank you very much for coming to this important event.

I would like to specifically welcome our: Consul Generals, State  Legislators, Educators, Pastors, Health Providers   and Other Community Leaders.

You are all important leaders who have been invited to attend this Symposium, because we are counting on each of to assist us insolving the problems currently being identified by the Micronesian community.About 10 years ago, Hawaii began seeing a i growing population of people emigrating from the Nations of Micronesia. These new Polynesian immigrants came from the Micronesian States of: Republic of Marshall Islands & Federated States of Micronesia |FSM; Chuukf Kosrae, Pohnpeif and Yap]. They also came from the Republic of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

As of the 2000 Census, 1 - It was noted that  one of the largest groups arriving in the Micronesian people. Today, the number of Micronesians living in Hawaii have been estimated to range from 9,000 to 15,000 people. However, the true numbers are difficult to track since they are not considered to be permanent resident aliens. Nonetheless, Hawaii has welcomed you with open arms and this is now your home. You are now our brothers and you are now our sisters in this land of Aloha. 1 Per Susannah Wesley Community Center, a private nonprofit agency contracted by the state to provide immigrant services.

However, like those other groups of immigrants who emigrated to the United States before you, — you have also experienced cultural and other difficulty in adjusting to your new home. The Polynesian race, including the Micronesians Nations are a proud and diverse race — in culture and heritage. Love for family, church and community are some of the many virtues of your culture. But, many Micronesians are today struggling to improve their quality of life. Many of our good people find themselves without the basic - necessities in life — living in our most depressed neighborhoods, trying to find jobs, and raising their families under difficult conditions in their new homeland. These are challenging times for the  Micronesian people living in Hawaii, and all of you have recognized this by coming together today in order to discuss the problems facing this community and to help find solutions. I am very proud of ail of you because you all have recognized that your communities are in need of your help in order to live a decent life. And, in coming here today, you are dedicating yourselves to assisting them with their needs in the areas of education, employment, medical and legal services, and other important areas. Everyone knows that Hawaii is the land of the Aloha spirit, and this means that we leave no one behind. It is our culture to reach out and embrace those in need and to help our brothers and sisters find a better life. Many Micronesians in Hawaii live very challenging lives because either they don’t speak English or English is their Second Language. We know this becomes a major obstacle in frying to communicate with teachers, landlords, doctors, potential employers, and government and enforcement agencies. As such, they may be disadvantage in getting jobs, or they may not know what the law expects of them. After all, how can you assimilate into a new homeland if you do not understand that you are required to attend school everyday, or that you must obey the laws that you do not fully know or understand. These adjustment issues must be addressed by this group if our Micronesian community is to fully achieve quality of life Improvements in Hawaii. Thus, the goals of this symposium is clear — and they are achievable only through your leadership and contributions, That’s why we all must collaborate and work together in order to help the Micronesian community. In addressing these issues, I would like to proposed several general goals. 1. We need people who are bilingual and who can teach our citizens to be comfortable using English as a first language or co-equal language; 2. We need people who are willing to be a spokesperson or advocate for those who need government, legal or medical services or assistance; 3. We need people who are positive tutors, mentors and role models to our youth — keeping them in school with a positive attitude and striving for success — at the same time, we must teach them to avoid destructive behaviors like truancy, sexual harassment, drug abuse, underage drinking, teen pregnancy and gang involvement; 4. We need to hire more social workers to work with families on early intervention, parenting skills, and conflict resolution; 5. Finally, we need our churches, educators, consulates, and law enforcement to take a more active role in these communities. Existing in the community is one thing, but being active in the community and serving its needs is a higher calling. With your hard work today, the action plan you put together will be the first step you take in solving your community's problems in the near future. And, that is why I am so very proud of each of you. You are coming together to help one another. In closing, your presence here today is so very impressive because it shows that you care, and that you have a commitment toward helping the Micronesian community, — and it also shows your desire toward making Hawaii a better place to live, But the key word here is collaboration — we must all work together as a team because we cannot accomplish this difficult task alone. We need to empower the Micronesian Community by giving them the tools to be successful, healthy, and a unified group in Hawaii. And so, I again thank ail of you for being my partner in this endeavor, and I look forward to networking with you in the future. [Thank you] 1. Kohm-mohl (Kommol) Thank you - Miarshailese,  2. M-soo lahng (Mesuiang) Thank you-Palauan, 3. Kcen-ee-so (Kinissow) Thank you - Chuukese,  4. Koo-loh (Kulo) - Kosraean,  5. Ka-Lang-an -(Kalahngan) - Pohnpeian,  6. Kahm-mah-gahr - (Kammagar) - Yapese,  7. Kiiee-lee-so - fGhilissow) - Caroiinian Good luck at this symposium, and may God bless all of you for the hard work you do for us in Hawaii, Thank you and Aloha.

Participants are:

These are Ideas shared by participants in the Parenting Workshop at the Micronesians in Action Symposium.  Margarita Cholymay wanted to emphasize that food is a very important thing to have at events where many Micronesians attend. She said that “Food is vital,” and that “Food is strength,” as translated from her culture’s ideas about hosting large community events.  Mahalo.