A Look at Kupu’s Pacific Resiliency Fellows Inaugural Class

Posted 02/06/22 at 14:21h by Cassie Clark

In July of 2019, Kupu graduated its first cohort of Pacific Resiliency Fellows – 11 rising professionals who are working to transform their communities on Oahu, Hawaii Island, American Samoa, CNMI, Guam, Palau, and Rapa Nui.

The Pacific Resiliency Fellows program has three aims: to build local capacity, to create a network of environmental professionals, to amplify real-time, on-the-ground natural and cultural resource management projects that build community resilience. Over 16 months of hard work, including two rigorous 10-day sessions on Oahu, these fellows learned how to develop and implement meaningful projects, communicate and influence strategically, build community trust, and think innovatively and for the future. By using the tools and frameworks offered within this program, they have made gains in invasive species management and fisheries enforcement, improved access to fresh water and started to address coastal water quality, built new disaster preparedness and recovery tools and initiated the development of an ʻāina-based alternative learning center. But perhaps most importantly, they also became a strong, unified network that supports one another in addressing issues of community resilience across the Pacific. The video attached highlights the benefits of this program, the inspiring individuals that took part, and the transformative work they are undertaking. If you are inspired by what this program promotes, please contact us. We also hope you will assist us by sharing this with your friends and family. Your support will ensure that we continue to remain resilient in the face of change.

Additional information

The Pacific Resiliency Fellowship program capitalizes on the experience of Kupu and the resources of Hawaiʻi to better equip this generation of change-makers; to create a network of Pacific Island leaders; and to collectively learn and grow from our shared, as well as divergent, experiences.

Learn more at www.kupuhawaii.org/prf/