Rooted In Love: The Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition

The Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition (OPIC) is a collective space for Pacific Islander (Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian) organizations and leaders in Pacific Islander (PI) communities in Oregon. Originally established as the Oregon Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Task Force in the Spring of 2020, it collected resources to care for its people during the pandemic.

During this time, they realized how powerful their community relationships were, and they formalized as OPIC in late 2020. Because of this, they have preserved and expanded community healing with weekly gatherings and their dedication to empowering and building healthy Pacific Islander communities.

Their mission is strengthening Pacific Islander-led movements that raise their collective voices, experiences, and expertise through leadership development, community organizing, and advocacy. OPIC aims to develop sustainable leaders and organizations rooted in Indigenous values.

OPIC programs, such as Shared Waters and Interwoven, are deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific Islander community. They work to preserve and promote these values, languages, cultures, and histories, as they organize towards systems change for their communities.

To learn more about how OPIC is leading the movement for PI self-determination in Oregon, visit their website, Instagram, and YouTube channel.