Central Valley Pacific Islander Alliance
OUR STORY
Founded in April 2021 by six NHPI volunteers, CVPIA emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic to address urgent community needs, including launching the region’s first NHPI vaccine site. Each founder acted independently to support their communities, and the success of these efforts sparked a grassroots call for a formal organization—leading to the creation of the Central Valley Pacific Islander Alliance (CVPIA).
CVPIA is a social justice organization committed to serving, advocating for, and uplifting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities in California’s Central Valley. We strive to create safe spaces for all NHPI identities, foster cultural connections, amplify NHPI voices, and support resource navigation—all in solidarity with other marginalized communities.
Today, CVPIA serves over 1,500 community members across 11 Central Valley counties, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mariposa, and Kern. Ethnic groups served include Samoan, Tongan, Native Hawaiian, Palauan, Fijian, Chuukese, CHamorro, and Marshallese.
OUR MISSION
Weave a trusted and sustainable network of NHPI organizations and community members to serve, empower, and advocate for our growing Central Valley village.
OUR VISION
A thriving Central Valley Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community rooted in our cultures and guided by our ancestors.
OUR VALUES
Diversity
We celebrate diversity in Pasifika identities and illustrate representation spanning across the Pacific Ocean, and we believe in the competitive advantage they provide.
Equity
We commit to and advocate for equitable policies that affect all Pasifika identities and to ensure equitable access to opportunities throughout the Central Valley and beyond.
Accountability
We hold each other accountable to past, present, and future generations.
Accessibility
We strive to eliminate barriers and maximize accessibility.
Community
We recognize and respect that we live and grow on the lands of the Tachi Yokuts and Miwok. We stand in solidarity with the indigenous peoples of these lands, as well as the Asian and Asian American, Black, Latinx, and LGBTQIA communities.
Mana. Kåna.
We honor the mana/kåna, or life force, that connects all Pasifika peoples and our sea of islands.
Servant Leadership
We believe that the responsibility of a leader is to serve.
OUR LOGO
The Central Valley is the nation's breadbasket, where diverse farmers and laborers unite to nourish and fuel the country.
CVPIA was established by Pacific Islanders, for Pacific Islanders. The woven basket in this logo symbolizes unity, reflecting the Central Valley's heritage and legacy of creating functional and beautiful goods from locally sourced materials.
The sun rising over the mountains and valley signifies new beginnings and CVPIA's vision for a brighter future. Together, the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community can forge a beautiful future through collective efforts.