Anna Kunawave (she, her)
Position: Village Navigator
Anna Kunawave was born and raised in Tulalip territory, but her family hails from the beautiful Fiji Islands. She attended Everett High School where she started the first ever Pacific Islander Club. Anna moved to Tennessee to attend Lee University. She began her work with the “Mosaic Council”, which is Lee’s diversity council educating her peers on Pasifika cultures as she worked towards her bachelor in Sociology. Anna wants to see her fellow Pasifika families excel in all that they do in Northwest Washington.
Adrianna Loeak (she, her)
Position: Village Navigator
Adrianna was born in the Tulalip territories, aka Everett from two Marshallese parents. Her ancestors are from the beautiful islands of Rimajol. She is one of five siblings - most recently she graduated from Everett High School. Adrianna coleads our Oceania Youth Collective in Snohomish County to support our many Marshallese and other Micronesian youth who are navigating the education systems.
Mackson Billy (he, him)
Position: Village Navigator
Mackson, a proud Chuukese, fares from the beautiful state of Chuuk, in the island of Wonei where he attended Chuuk High School in his early years. He emigrated to Duwamish territory in search of better economic oppotunities to support his family. He is a part of the St Thomas Catholic Church community in Tukwila as a devout Catholic. Mackson hopes that Pacific Islanders like himself who are new Americans can have better connections and resources to navigate the hardship of life here in the US Diaspora.
Salote Gaunavinaka (she, her)
Position: Village Navigator
Salote was born in Suva Fiji and raised in the Lau Islands. She emigrated to the US in 2001 to Tulalip territories and has been here since. In her early life, she was a journalist in the islands of Fiji and was also a part of the life of the missions in Fiji. Salote is a renowned cook in her community and is a health advocate, advocating for the well-being of our Pacific Islander communities through promoting a return to our indigenous diets. She believes our diets are intrisically connected to our well-being and health.
Koleti Michael (she, her)
Position: Village Navigator
Koleti was born on Upolu Island in the beautiful Independent State of Samoa. She moved to Coast Salish territory in 1978. Koleti is a community organizer for the Samoan and Micronesian communities where she is utilizing her expertise in social services to support our families with basic needs. In her free time, she has supported families with filling out paperwork for those who are English language learners. Koleti is taking leadership in coordinating our Matua Hospitality which is a program that serves our Oceanian elders and is held in Tukwila every Friday.
Amelia Bai (she, her)
Position: Co-Executive Director
Amelia was born in the Fiji Islands and is the second of five siblings. She migrated to Everett on April 1998. She currently resides in the city of Marysville. She shares her voice in offering cultural solutions in spaces like the Dept of Health’s (DOH) Community Collaborative, the Providence Institute for a Healthier Community (PIHC) & the Strategic Oversight Council (SOC). Amelia is committed to ensuring full Melanesian inclusion, advancing the wellness of Pasifika communities and advocating for immigrant rights, senior care and social justice issues.
Joseph Seia (he, him)
Position: Co-Executive Director
Joseph Seia was born in Los Angeles - Tongva Territory, moved with his ‘āiga to Sāmoa in 1987 and emigrated to Coast Salish Territory in 1994. He has 20 years of experience in program development, nonprofit leadership & administration. Joseph champions systems change work that centers the leadership of impacted communities in enacting social change through coalition building, anti-racism organizing, and creating inter-generational learning spaces. He is at his core an anti-racist community organizer and nurtures building the Beloved Community around him.
