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Mental Health Activity - Earring Workshop
The Pacific Center in Human Security State Director invests time for her staff to engage in mental health breaks and activities. For the month of May, local artist and business owner of Ella Roji Handmade, Sarojini Singh-Shongo, conducted an Earring Workshop for the Center. The workshop allowed staff to learn a new skill and use their creativity to design and create clay earrings.
The staff made earrings for themselves, choosing and creating designs that pay homage to island life, their favorite flower, or football team. Some staff made earrings as a gift to their moms for Mother's Day.
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Guardians of Paradise: A United Front Against Emerging Threats - Morning Atamai Event
The Pacific Center in Human Security hosted its third Morning Atamai Networking Event. This semester's theme, "Guardians of Paradise: A United Front Against Emerging Threats," featured guests of honor, who come from various government departments and divisions that have a focus on border security, our first line of defense against outside threats.
Adam Konrote, the Territorial Epidemiologist from the AS Department of Health, Mathew Tuia, Deputy Director from the AS Department of Agriculture, and Tava'e Leovao, Timekeeper from the AS Department of Treasury, Customs Division, were invited to share their insights, professional experience, the importance of their roles, and what their respective departments do in protecting the territory's borders from health, agricultural, and other human security threats.
See more photos of the event here.
The networking event was an opportunity to film more Morning Atamai episodes. Read about it more in the Pacific Talk section below.
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Pierce College Articulation Agreement with ASCC
The Pacific Center in Human Security has worked closely with several American Samoa Community College (ASCC) departments to successfully complete a Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management Articulation Agreement with Pierce College.
The articulation agreement between the two colleges will allow ASCC students who have successfully completed an Associate of Science degree in inclusive-Emergency Management or an Associate of Science degree in Homeland Security to be eligible for direct entry to the Pierce College Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management degree program. This opportunity will give ASCC students more options to continue their studies online in the emergency management field.
For more information about the bachelor's degree at Pierce College, visit here.
For more information about the articulation agreement, contact Rosale Tela-Shoulders at pacific.atamai@amsamoa.edu.
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ASCC Career Fair and High School Outreaches
The Pacific Center in Human Security's inclusive-Emergency Management trainees participated in several outreach events that were hosted by the American Samoa Community College's Student Government Association and Admissions Office.
By participating in these events, trainees get to build on their interpersonal and networking skills. They also gain service-learning hours of which they need to fulfill twenty hours every semester. The inclusive-Emergency Management students got to share their program and the different career fields one can pursue with prospective high school students and their peers.
The list of Spring semester outreach activities includes:
- SGA's Spring Career Fair
- Admissions High School Outreach Week
- SGA's High School Tours
- NVTHS "Flip Your Drip" Community Outreach
See more photos of the outreaches here and on our ASCC - Admissions Office page, here.
| | ASCC's Order of the Sword and Shield (Omicron Sigma Sigma) Spring 2026 graduates, (left to right) Heleina Maria, Daphne Falesoa Puni, Fa'atele Toaitiiti, Marcus Anesone Faamafi Tunupopo, Elizabeth Benjen Iuli, Jasmine Wyberski, Charity Bertha Tagaloa. Missing Heavenly Alofaelefaatuaoia Toreka Tuaau and Devinity M.S. Savusa. Congratulations on this major milestone! | | The development of the Project i-EMPLOY is funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Administration for Native Americans - Social Economic Development. Award #90NA8492-01-00. Awarded to the Pacific Center in Human Security, formerly AS-University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). | |
Needs Assessment and Public Input on Home- and Community-Based Services Meeting
The Pacific Center in Human Security (PCHS) is hosting a Needs Assessment and Public Input on Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Meeting on Tuesday, May 27, at the Rex H Lee Auditorium from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM.
The meeting is a call to healthcare professionals, caregivers (paid or unpaid), individuals and family of our aging and developmental disability community, network partners, and other major stakeholders. The Center needs your stories, experiences, and input on what HCBS should look like for American Samoa.
The information and input from the public will help with decision-making for future planning of health-related and caregiver services on island.
Listen here to PCHS State Director, Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola, and Communications Manager, Katrina Helsham, on the 93KHJ Morning Show talk more about the event and what is needed by the community for HCBS to become a reality in the territory.
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AWR 308 - Building Disaster Resilience for Caregivers
Two sessions for the AWR-308 "Building Disaster Resilience for Caregivers" were offered at the Pacific Center in Human Security this past week. The training was free and open to all in the community.
This FEMA-certified course provides healthcare professionals, emergency medical services, and citizen/community volunteers involved with the caregiving of individuals with medical, functional, or access needs with a basic understanding of natural hazards, risk, vulnerability, and disaster preparedness. Participants earned a .3 CEU from the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC), and the course was delivered by State Director and NDPTC Instructor, Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola.
This initiative is to continue building a more resilient and skilled caregiver workforce that cares for our vulnerable community members. Please look out for more training sessions from us in the future to share with colleagues and other health professionals.
More photos of the training sessions, here.
| | This publication is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4,753,644 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Award# 1LICMSS331881-01-00 | |
Pacific Talk: Podcast - Who's Caring Series
We have added another Pacific Talk: Podcast series titled, "Who's Caring? The challenges and realities of caregiving in American Samoa." The series will feature local caregivers who will share their experiences behind the scenes caring for our aging and developmental disability community.
In this first episode, the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) Program Manager and Caregiver Coordinator, Fa'agata Tagoai, helps set the stage on what caregiving looks like in American Samoa with inclusive-Emergency Management Student and Podcast Host, Merenita Setu.
Watch the full episode here.
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Morning Atamai with Vinnie Atofau
In this episode, Deputy Director of AS Department of Homeland Security, Vinnie Atofau, tells inclusive-Emergency Management student and host, Nehemiah Lutu, about what people who wish to pursue a career in emergency management need to be successful in the field. He also dives into the extra planning and awareness needed to prepare our vulnerable community members on island.
View the full episode here.
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More Episodes to Come
Our final episode from our previous networking event has been posted, but we have more to look forward to in the upcoming months with Adam Konrote, the Territorial Epidemiologist from the AS Department of Health, Mathew Tuia, Deputy Director from the AS Department of Agriculture, and Tava'e Leovao, Timekeeper from the AS Department of Treasury, Customs Division from our Guardians of Paradise themed Networking Event.
Our Morning Atamai show is a 10 - 15 minute interview with guests from various emergency management and human security fields. Their wealth of knowledge from their professional work experiences, as well as their personal growth experiences, gives a relatable perspective for our students and the community to aspire to.
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Pacific Center in Human Security
pchs@amsamoa.edu | pchs.amsamoa.edu | (684) 699 - 2722 ext. 4202
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