  PARTNER’S COMMUNITY FAIR
Culture, Community & Connection : ”ROOTED IN RESILIENCE, CULTIVATING CHANGE & NURTURING LIVES” The office of the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (Alliance) and the Department of Youth and Women Affairs (DYWA) hosted its first Partners Community Fair (PCF) on September 22, 2023. The fair was an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of collective action and partnership among organizations and community members in addressing the challenges facing the community, learn more about these issues and how to prevent them. With over 30 vendors, the fair showcased the different services and programs available in the community with the intent of “empowering individuals and the community through collaboration, promoting resiliency, and strengthening capacity to eliminate Domestic and Sexual Violence.” The fair also, “empowered and inspired the youth and women through nurturance, training, support and development.” One of the highlights of the fair was the focus on mental health and wellness. There were workshops on CPR, art therapy, and an information booth on suicide prevention awareness. These workshops were a great opportunity for people to learn about the importance of mental health and wellness, and to know who and where to get help if they are struggling. Our logo of the fair includes 3 important symbols- the coconut tree, the canoe and people. The canoe and people signify the partnership of the Alliance and DYWA. The coconut tree, known as the "tree of life," represents strength, versatility, and the abundance of resources it provides. By drawing a connection between the coconut tree and the fair's theme, the slogan emphasizes the idea of resilience, vitality, provision of essential resources, growth, and community- driven change. All of which sums up into, “Community, Culture & Connection.” The slogan conveys the following messages: PARTNER’S COMMUNITY FAIR 1. Rooted in Resilience: Highlighting the resilience of survivors and the community's determination to overcome domestic and sexual violence. It signifies strength and the ability to withstand challenges. 2. Cultivating Change: Emphasizes the fair's mission to cultivate positive change in the community. It reflects the collective efforts to create a safer and more supportive community. 3. Nurturing lives: the idea of nurturing and supporting survivors, emphasizing the importance of providing care, resources, and empowerment to those affected by violence. This event suggests the need to extend support, resources, and awareness to create a positive impact. The coconut tree holds a significant cultural and economic value in many communities, earning it the nickname "tree of life" for its integral role in supporting livelihoods, providing sustenance, and offering various resources for survival and well-being. Just as the coconut tree provides essential resources, the fair aimed to provide vital support, education, and empowerment to survivors and the community. We are truly grateful for all our partners involved to help strengthen our community and make it a better place to live.
**Special thanks to-
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 Written by: Vatauomalotetele Fanene
“It takes a village.” You are loved. You are worthy. You are important. You are enough. Keep fighting. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to remember those who have lost their lives to suicide. A member of our community shared in a Facebook post her connection of spreading suicide prevention awareness with the Samoan tradition of the siva afi (fire dance). She shared insights on how in Samoa, the word afi means fire. The song "Ua alu atu le afi" means the light is coming. This song is a reminder that there is always hope, even in the darkest of times. - In our culture, there is a strong emphasis on community and support. We are all connected to each other, and we all have a role to play in preventing suicide. We can be the light in someone's darkness by being there for them, listening to them, and offering them support. We can also learn about mental health issues, such as PTSD, anxiety and depression, so that we can better understand what our loved ones are going through. "It takes a village to raise a child." But it also takes a village to heal a child. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please know that you are not alone. There are people who care about you and want to help. Please reach out to a friend, family member, or mental health professional. There is help available, and you can get through this. For Samoans, suicide is a particularly pressing issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates among Samoan Americans are more than twice as high as the national average. This is a significant disparity, and it highlights the need for culturally specific suicide prevention efforts. Samoan culture is a rich and vibrant one, and it has a lot to offer in terms of suicide prevention. For example, the Samoan concept of fa'aaloalo (respect) emphasizes the importance of showing respect for others, regardless of their differences. This principle can be used to create a more inclusive and supportive community, which can help to reduce the risk of suicide. Another important Samoan value is alofa (love). Alofa is a deep and abiding love that extends to all members of the community. This principle can be used to create a sense of belonging and connection, which can help to protect people from feeling isolated and alone. Finally, the Samoan concept of tautua (service) emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community. This principle can be used to encourage people to get involved in suicide prevention efforts, and it can also help to create a sense of purpose and meaning in life. By incorporating these Samoan values into suicide prevention efforts, we can create a more supportive and inclusive community that can help to reduce the risk of suicide. We can also use these values to help people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts to find hope and healing. There have been cases of suicide here in our community of young people, our youth. As a community, what can we do? Light your fire. Be their light. Keep it burning. For those who are struggling, “ua alu atu le afi”, the light is coming. Keep holding on. Be the village, be the light for that “one”. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. There are many resources available, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You are not alone. In case no one told you today- You are loved. You are worthy. You are needed. You are enough. You are alive for a reason. You are stronger than you think. You are going to get through this. Don't give up. May we remember in our hearts, all those we have lost to suicide. Let’s continue to listen with no judgements, lift in spirits and love with sincerity for those who are fighting to stay with us. *For more information on suicide prevention awareness, contact the Alliance office at 684-699-0272. **If someone you know is in danger or is attempting suicide, CALL 911.  Submitted by: Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan, MBA, PRIME "Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live." --Robert Kennedy A crisis, a critical moment in time, often creates opportunities for deepening emotional turmoil and widening social division. As we struggle to understand why ‘bad things happen to good people’, reason may turn to blame. Rather than looking for the ‘why’ we become fixed on the ‘who, how, when’ and lament our inability to make things right. Crisis also creates opportunities for transforming community in a good way. Leadership, community engagement, employing strategies of well-being are key factors in turning tragedy into opportunity. Trauma, the emotional impact of tragedy, leads us through periods of mourning, anger, healing, and hopefully positive action. They may be experienced all at once, in large or small doses, sporadically over time – every person is unique. The key is to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. The ‘light’ is unique to everyone, representing a breath of fresh air, a warm ray of sun, a smile . . . hope. Hope fuels the journey. Hope gives us perspective. As we traverse the trauma of domestic violence, understand that a single incident forced upon our awareness is a tragedy we can choose to respond to in ways that can create good. It is an opportunity to act. It is an opportunity to help the children and families directly impacted, and to address the violence we see in our everyday lives. It is an opportunity to ask the hard questions of leadership, to report on the drug dealers not just the drug users, to call the police when someone is being beaten, to show up at court as a witness. It is an opportunity to uncover the tragedies happening in our everyday lives, not just those that make the news. By that time, it’s too late. Click the link below for inspiration. https://youtu.be/96gwigNMEwo?si=Hxxy0iIRv2LpDePj 9/18/2023 Working together to Identify Victims of Domestic Violence in American Samoa and Finding SupportRead Now
 Written by: Jennifer F Tofaeono, Ex Director
While traveling in the U.S. to share our work with the Fa’afafine community regarding domestic and sexual violence I received a text from my team about a domestic violence fatality that occurred on September 5, 2023. Samoa news reported the victim was dedicated mother to her children and husband, as shared by her church member. This is not the first story we have read in our community about an abuser and the death of the victim. Domestic disputes and abuse are reported in our newspapers, online social media, shared in works spaces, church spaces, school spaces, as the chatter about the victim and abuser spreads through our community quickly. Domestic violence exists and is found in many families in American Samoa. Samoan studies show nine out of 10 Samoan women have experienced physical or emotional violence at hands of family members, 6 out of 10 experience intimate partner violence (1) . It is evident Domestic Violence impacts our community in extremely real ways. Domestic violence can negatively impact people’s thoughts, and behaviors that can lead to creating mental instability for victims. Studies show increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms are found among survivors of domestic violence. What does a victim look like in American Samoa? They are Samoan, Filipino, Korean, Tongan, Fijian. They are any Race. They are a baby or a senior citizen. They are any sexual orientation from male, female to fa’afafine. They practice any religion, from London Misionary Society (LMS), Catholic, Methodist, and Mormon. They are married, living together, divorced, single or dating. They are educated, graduating with a doctorate, a masters, a bachelors, a high school diploma, entering high school, elementary, or never have been educated. They are poor or rich, they are our family members, friends, or strangers. They are husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend. Abuse does not discriminate, and leaves a devastating emotional toll on victims, family members, and community. For victims of domestic violence, finding assistance and support can be complex. The American Samoa Alliance recognizes our local victim advocacy, and partners who work tirelessly to eliminate domestic violence in our communities. One such space is the community coordinated response (CCR) team led by Mona Uli, from Back on Track. The CCR team discusses the impact of domestic violence on families, and in this case the focus is “how do we as a community deal with these critical issues impacting families”. Core discussions center on creating safe spaces, to allow people to just “be”, to promote healing and rebuilding from traumatic incidents. The group creates toolboxes of resources to share with families, describing community organizations and their services to support victims’ needs that will help create safe spaces. Our government recognized the importance of combating domestic violence by creating the Domestic Violence Advisory Team to help victims, and support policy changes. The Alliance and its partners continue to educate promoting awareness and prevention in the community about the impact of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and dating. Our reach has expanded as we continue to partner with organizations locally, and afar to help promote discussions on how to stop abuse in the spaces we reside. I am asked time and time again; how do we end domestic violence in our community. My answer is the same. We must continue to learn more about domestic violence, what it looks like, how it operates in our community, how we can strengthen families to make change, and learn how to heal. We can find strength in working together and providing support to victims to improve healing in our community. I challenge our community to continue to learn every day, make simple changes. If you find you are a victim or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence, please contact Department of Human & Social Services for assistance. You can connect with local offices such as Back on Track, or Catholic Social Services. You can also contact our office at 699-0272 for assistance and we will help get you to the right place for help.
Written by: Jennifer F Tofaeono, Ex Director, AS Alliance
August is gender equality month. Over the past few years, we have witnessed great strides in Gender Equality. In the US we voted in our first Black and first South Asian Vice President, Ms. Kamala Harris. The first woman and first African led the World Trade Organization, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Countries were able to change their child marriage laws, by disallowing children under 15 to marry, and requiring consent by young girls. If consent was not provided, the marriage could be invalidated. As of 2023 it is reported at least 11.3 percent of countries have Heads of State, and 9.8 percent have females leading the government. In American Samoa our Congresswoman is Mrs. Amata Radewagen. American Samoa Community College is led by Dr. Rosevonne Pato. Development Bank DBAS Director is Ms. Ruth Matagi, and Criminal Justice Director is Mrs Mariana Faiai. World policies regarding gender equality, and human rights are led primarily by women, but even with these wins, gender equality is predicted to be accomplished in 300 years. Gender equality is crucial for our community. It is important to understand gender equality does not mean we are asking that men and women rights are the same. We are asking for the rights, duties and provisions provided is not determined based on sex, male, female. Gender equality is a request for fairness of treatment for all gender. Gender equality is not met, when men are paid more than for the same occupation. Women should have the same comparable pay as men when performing the same work. Women are often labeled the “weaker sex”, which often prohibits women to steer their choices in future careers. Yet many women face family violence in their marriages, and home. Laughing Samoan comedian, Ete shared the first time he hit his wife, was while driving in the car and punching her face. He expressed in the beginning of his marriage there were disagreements about his role of being the protector. When he disagreed with his wife, he lashed out by beating her. By sharing his story and the healing between he and his wife, it provides hope that we can end gender-based violence. Here are some things that you can do to end gender-based violence. Listen to and believe survivors. A woman who shares here story of violence can be her first step to ending the cycle of abuse. You can support victim by reminding them they are in a safe space. Tell them you hear them, and believe them—let them know they are safe. It is important that we share with our young people the appropriate ways to treat each other. Empower them to listen, learn gain information about how to disengage with each other and not cause violence. Most importantly we must all learn about consent and support those who do not provide their consent. When someone says no, we need to actively hear them. We all most look out for the signs of abuse, and learn how to help. If you think someone is being abused, or if you are being abused, help is available. Talk to a trained advocate, a helpline but find someone you can get help. Lastly, talk about violence against all gender, women, girls, transwomen, fa’afafine, etc. We cannot stay silent. You can show your activism by posting about it on your facebook page, or share it with your friends. Read about women’s based rights, and do not stay silent. Reference: N.A. 2023 Importance of Gender Equality retrieved from : Importance of Gender Equality - Free Essay Example - 1611 Words | StudyDriver.com Subrmaniam, T. 2023. Gender Equality will take 300 years to achieve, Un Chief warns. Retrieved 8/31/2023 from: Gender equality will take 300 years to achieve, UN chief warns | CNN Laughing Samoan Ete and Wife Mele Share their Story of Family Violence retrieved from video: Laughing Samoan Ete and wife Mele share their story of family violence - Bing video Written by: Vatauomalotetele Fanene
8/29/2023 Rape Prevention & Education: Building Coalition Capacity to Advance Primary Prevention and Health Equity.Read Nowwritten by: Luana Scanlan
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