The 7th Annual Micronesian Youth Summit (MYS) on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Hawai’i Convention Center, brings together Micronesian youth to explore their strength, potentials and futures. Organized by a planning committee comprising of We Are Oceania (WAO) staff and community leaders, MYS rests on four pillars essential to navigating success: College Readiness, Career Readiness, Community Readiness, and Solidarity Readiness. Students are able to attend workshops, forums, discussions, and other activities. Just as important, it allows Micronesians to talk about our history and culture. Our program is geared towards middle and high school aged students, yet all are welcome to participate!
Date: February 22, 2025
Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Place: Hawaii Convention Center
Register to Participate | Register to Volunteer
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Vidalino “Vid” Raatior is a Chuukese Micronesian international educator, equity-focused social entrepreneur, Pacific Islander youth empowerment advocate, and community organizer who has dedicated his career to advocating for Pacific Islander empowerment in the United States and around the Pacific region. Dr. Vid was one of the founders of We Are Oceania (WAO) with Mrs. Josie Howard, Dr. Jojo Peter, and Mrs. Emma Kurashige. While serving as Director of the Pacific Islander Student Center at University of Hawaii at Hilo, he started the Navigating Success conference which was adapted by WAO as the Micronesian Youth Summit. For more, visit: www.vid.raatior.com/about
Pillars of Success Workshops
College Readiness
These sessions are designed to equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to successfully transition from high school to college. These workshops can vary in length and focus, but they generally cover a range of essential topics.
Career Readiness
What does it take to navigate success in today’s modern workplace for Micronesians in America. Come and learn from successful Micronesian professionals in a variety of jobs. These workshops aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, helping participants become competitive and adaptable in their chosen fields.
Community Readiness
Unlike career or college readiness, which focus on individual preparation, community readiness focuses on our collective ability as the Micronesian community to tackle shared challenges, resources, and ways to help our community to succeed together in Hawaii. will prepare to become effective and contributing members of the the Hawai’i community by engaging in skills and resources to help their success.
Solidarity Readiness
Let’s build our capacity as a community to act in solidarity with each other, particularly in the face of challenges, injustice, or shared goals. Together, we will emphasize developing the necessary skills, understanding, and structures to foster strong relationships, collective action, and mutual support.