We're Going Back to Our Roots — Pasifika Youth Rising!

Mālō e lelei (Hello and warm greetings),

Hi everyone! My name is Tracy Williams, and I am a proud facilitator of Wayfinder Crew, an afterschool program under the Ikuna Organization in Deep East Oakland. I teach Pasifika cultural workshops twice a week to students at Castlemont High School, where we connect deeply to our roots, values, and each other.

Through our weekly classes and workshops, students learn about important Tongan cultural values such as Faka‘apa‘apa (respect), Ngaue ‘ofa (service), and the importance of strong family ties. We cook traditional Polynesian dishes, attend local Pasifika events, and create a space where cultural pride is celebrated and strengthened.

Most of my students are of Polynesian descent, alongside a few classmates who are Cambodian, Black, and Mexican. Many of these students are either family or have been embraced as my own nieces and nephews — this work is deeply personal to me.

I began facilitating at Castlemont after witnessing the rise of gun violence, gang affiliation, substance abuse, and human trafficking affecting our Pacific Islander youth in Deep East Oakland. I wanted to use my talents, love for my community, and lived experiences to offer a meaningful path forward — one rooted in identity, healing, and empowerment.

Each summer, we embark on a Cultural Learning Journey to Hawai‘i, where students step outside of the classroom and into hands-on cultural experiences — working in lo‘i kalo (taro patches), learning navigation in traditional canoes, building community with Pasifika families, and living the values they've been taught all year long.

I have witnessed firsthand how transformative these journeys are. They not only reconnect students to their cultural identities but also ignite new purpose, confidence, leadership, and hope for their futures.

This summer, I have the opportunity to take 9 students from Castlemont High School and the Freedom School. Several of our participants are also coming from other schools within the Oakland Unified School District and even Utah.

Despite months of fundraising, we have not yet reached our goal. That’s why I’m reaching out to family, friends, and community members who believe in our youth and the power of cultural education to support this effort.

Your donation will directly support:

Travel costs (airfare and transportation)

Lodging and food expenses

Workshop and cultural activity fees

Every dollar raised will make a huge difference in giving our students this life-changing opportunity.

Thank you for believing in our young people, in the power of culture, and in the future we are building together. Your support truly means the world to us.

Mālō ‘aupito (Thank you very much) ❤️

— Tracy Williams

Wayfinder Crew | Ikuna Organization