| | Sorry, we've been silent! Here's a catch-up of the last couple of months you haven't heard from us! | | |
Cheers to 20 Years of the Capacity Building Institute
The Pacific Center in Human Security celebrated twenty years of professional development for staff and partners. The milestone was celebrated at the end of this year's Capacity Building Institute, held from July 21 - 25 at the Sheraton, Apia, Samoa.
This year's theme for the Capacity Building Institute was "Building Resilient Leaders and Teams." The three-day training event included training from Tuiloma Sina Retzlaff, founder of Pacific Global Solutions and Samoa Global News, as well as internal, management-led training and team-building activities.
Check out some of our photos from our time: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and activities.
| | The Pacific Center in Human Security, in action during the Hurricane Lala Tabletop Exercise (TTX), hosted by the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security, at the US Army Reserve Center on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The exercise aimed to evaluate and enhance the Territory's response capabilities in the event of a hurricane. We continue to engage in federal, regional, and territorial-level discussions to highlight gaps in reaching and communicating with vulnerable community members during disasters. | | Special shout-out to our Summer Youth Employment Program worker, Faalupegaoitumalo "Pega" Fuifui. We truly miss her helpful and dedicated presence at the Center. Pega's last day with us, we celebrated with an office breakfast potluck and a small gift giving on behalf of the Center. We wish Pega all the best for her future endeavors. | | |
Photo from the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), Directors Forum and Policy Symposium held in Arlington, VA, from June 11 - June 13.
Representing the American Samoa Community College, Pacific Center in Human Security was our State Director, Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola, who you cannot miss wearing a red sei, in the center, back row.
| | |
Photo of visiting members from the Region 9, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under the US Department of Homeland Security, and our State Director, Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola, after their meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
The Pacific Center in Human Security continues engaging in conversations with federal agencies, finding innovative ways to involve students to gain experience in assisting federal partners and our Territory in meeting various threats.
We look forward to continuing networking and creating more opportunities for our students in the future.
| | Screenshot from one of the Quality Matters (QM) Boot Camp courses held from July 28 - August 1. This course, "Designing Your Hybrid Course," with QM Facilitator Eddie Andreo, was one of five taken by a few select ASCC faculty and staff to prepare for future online and hybrid courses. | | | | |
Order of the Sword and Shield Applications
The Academic and Professional National Honor Society, Order of the Sword and Shield, ASCC Chapter, is now accepting applications for Professionals and ASCC Students. Deadline is this Friday, September 5, 2025.
Links to the Professional's website, application, and flyer.
Link to ASCC Student's website, application, and flyer.
For more information, contact OSS Chapter Coordinator, Rosalee Shoulders, r.shoulders@amsamoa.edu or 699-2722 ext. 4210.
| |
Rosalee Tela-Shoulders, RPIL Alumni
Congratulations to our Academic Department Chairperson and Project Manager, Rosalee Tela-Shoulders, on her achievement of being selected and completing the Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) Fellowship program with the East-West Center held in Suva, Fiji, from June 28 - July 5.
Rosalee was selected by the East-West Center to represent the American Samoa Community College and the territory. Individuals who are selected to participate in the program come from the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL) Member countries/territories and the State of Hawai'i. The opportunity is given to enhance the participants' leadership capacities and build a network with other leaders from across the Pacific and the US.
| | 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). | | Meet and Greet for the territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), on Sunday, August 24, before attending the ADvancing States, Home- and Community-Based Services Conference in Boston, MA. | | 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 | |
Needs Assessment and Public Input on Home- and Community-Based Services Meeting
The Pacific Center in Human Security (PCHS) held a Needs Assessment and Public Input on Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) activity at the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) on Monday, June 30.
At the event, our Data and Quality Analyst, Sui Ioane, and HCBS Coordinator, Valencia Tinae, presented on what Money Follows the Person and HCBS are about. inclusive-Emergency Management trainees and our Summer Youth Employment Program participant were also in attendance to help facilitate the survey.
The data collected will help design services for the community and strengthen care at or closer to homes.
See more photos of the event, here.
| |
Morning Atamai with Mathew Tuia
In this episode, Mathew Tuia, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, shares with the inclusive-Emergency Management student, Merenita Setu, about biosecurity measures the department takes to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases, pests, and weeds that can harm American Samoa's crops, livestock, and the environment. Mathew also shares a little about how he became an agriculture student at the American Samoa Community College.
View the full episode here.
| |
Pacific Talk: Podcast, Self-Advocate Savanah Samaseia
In part two of the previous episode, Savanah Samaseia, Nafanua Leadership Fellow and Self-Advocate, tells more personal stories and experiences navigating life with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. She also breaks down some technical terms and definitions for easier understanding with PCHS Communications Manager, Katrina Helsham.
Watch the full episode here.
| |
| What is the most interesting information in this issue of UCEDD It!? Choose one to let us know: | | | | |
Pacific Center in Human Security
pchs@amsamoa.edu | pchs.amsamoa.edu | (684) 699 - 2722 ext. 4202
| | | | |
