As we honor Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2025,

UTOPIA PDX stands in solidarity with our Pasifika communities while recognizing the complex path toward collective liberation that lies before us.

We affirm that our liberation is bound together across all our diverse communities. No single community can truly be free while others remain oppressed. At the same time, we must acknowledge the distinct histories, cultures, and political movements of Pasifika peoples that are too often silenced through aggregate terms like "Asian American and Pacific Islander."

We recognize that Pasifika includes many diverse Indigenous Island communities, each with their own unique journeys, struggles, and triumphs. The term "Pasifika" represents our commitment to honoring these unique struggles and the resilience that defines our communities.

While we acknowledge the challenges of pan-ethnic categorization, we also understand that our struggles against imperialism, colonization, racism, and exploitation are deeply interconnected. When we stand together, we dismantle the false hierarchies that white supremacy creates to divide us.

Our work at UTOPIA PDX is deeply connected to the work of our ancestors who have gone before us, and are with us now, as we continue to confront the various colonial and oppressive systems that affect our communities. They continue to nurture us through our journey, teaching us the beauty and wisdom of our cultural roots from the past, present, and future.From them, we draw strength from cultural practices that emphasize community, reciprocity, and care. Their sacrifices have made our current resistance possible, and their wisdom guides us as we navigate contemporary challenges.

We affirm our responsibility to be good ancestors for future generations, envisioning a future where all communities are free from militarism, colonialism, and systemic oppression.

At UTOPIA PDX, we aim to center the most marginalized within our communities, especially QTPI (Queer & Trans Pacific Islander) individuals who are facing multiple forms of oppression. We also seek to advocate for policies that address the specific needs of different communities so that we can build broader coalitions. We commit to showing up for each other's struggles even when they don't directly affect us. And we believe that true solidarity requires both words and deeds—especially in the current political climate where heritage celebrations face institutional challenges.

While we embrace this important month and take pride in our heritage, UTOPIA Portland is devoted to moving forward EVERY month with our culture and community at the center of our work. Our vision of collective liberation demands nothing less than our continued commitment to each other, across all boundaries that would divide us.

In joy, love, and healing, 

UTOPIA PDX