Developing Safe Spaces for Fa'afafine Community to Increase Advocacy a Story about Collaboration

Written by:  Jennifer F Tofaeono, MBA, Ex Director ASADSV
The Alliance was invited to be a speaker at the National Center for Victims of Crime meeting in Boston, Ma on November 7, 2023.  Alliance Executive Director, a National Speaker Jennifer Tofaeono, and CDC Rape Prevention Education Project Manager for the Alliance, National Speaker, Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan both presented on Developing Safe Spaces for Fa’afafine Community to Increase Advocacy a Story about Collaboration.  The discussions led by Ms. Tofaeono, educated participants about the Alliance organization as well as its mission.  Participants were given information about the Fa’afafine, the Samoan sense of self as well as the partnership between the SOFIAS and the Alliance.  Ms. Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan provided insight regarding the project activities and outcomes.  The outcome of the project was to create a culturally tailored fa’afafine informed plan, and to build a community-based coordinated response to the needs of fa’afafine group. 
The information was well received, as participants were from Alaska, Hawaii, and form varying parts of the United States.  Moving forward the Alliance will partner with the SOFIAS to develop presentation catered to meet the needs of the Fa’afafine Community about this project.  Please follow us as we will share  our findings with the local community.