Founders

Jocelyn Howard
Chief Executive Officer
josie@weareoceania.org

Josie graduated from Xavier High School in Micronesia and attended the Community College of Micronesia. She later transferred to the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo studying Biology, Anthropology, and Pacific Island Studies in 1989 making her one of the first Micronesians migrating under the Compact of Free Association Treaty. At the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Josie Howard’s roles included student peer counselor, president of the International Students Association, a student researcher at the Minority Biomedical Research Program, a resident assistant at the student housing, president of the Chuukese Students Association, as well as chairperson for the Campus Ministry. Josie has over 15 years of servicing the community, with 8 years working with private agencies contracted by the Department of Health Waiver program, 5 years in the Department of Education, and 5 years in program development, implementation, and piloting a one-stop center model. Josie’s community involvement includes being the founder of the Young Voyagers, a youth club in Media with ‘Ōlelo, and the Micronesian Cultural Awareness Project. Josie earned her Master’s degree in Social Work and is now working as Chief Executive Officer for WAO. Josie is most recognized for her contribution to the “Micronesian Voices in Hawai‘i Conference” where she participated as one of six steering committee members who worked with Micronesian Government leaders, community leaders, as well as conference sponsors. She is also known for her work at Goodwill Industries of Hawai‘i Inc.’s “Imi Loa Program” where she worked with families and their adult children providing direct services as well as managing the programmatic and fiscal operation. Mrs. Howard is a native of Onoun Island in Micronesia and she speaks Chuukese, Onounese, and English fluently.

Dr. Joakim “Jojo” Peter

Jojo lived and studied in Hawai‘i for five years in the 1990s. After earning a double Master’s degree he returned home to Micronesia and worked at the College of Micronesia–FSM at the Chuuk Campus for 15 years before returning to Hawai‘i in 2011. He earned his doctorate in Special Education at the University of Hawai‘i focusing on immigrant families of children with special needs in Hawai‘i. He is a certified assister for the Hawai‘i Health Connector. With fellow community advocates, he co-founded COFA Community & Advocacy Network (COFA-CAN), a community advocacy network that provides awareness and support for crucial legislative and legal initiatives that affect the lives of the Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens living in Hawai‘i and the United States. Mr. Peter is a native of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesian (FSM) and speaks Chuukese and English fluently.

We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Peter. In partnership with Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI), COFA Community Leadership Advocacy Network, and other organizations, we have started the Dr. Joakim Peter Memorial Scholarship to continue the legacy of our friend and co-founder Jojo with future generations of COFA college students.

Dr. Vidalino Raatior

Vid is a Chuukese educational consultant, social entrepreneur, and web designer. He is the founder of Raatior Ventures (www.raatior.com), a Pacific-focused, strength-based, equity-minded consulting firm in Northern California. While serving as the Director of the Pacific Islander Student Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Vid became engaged in the struggles of the COFA community in Hawaiʻi and developed a variety of programs and services to engage the Pacific Islander college students in those areas of needs. One of those services is the highly successful Navigating Success (www.navigatingsuccess.org) student empowerment movement and the Pacific Focus Education (www.pacificfocused.com) initiatives. Previously, Vid served over 10 years as Assistant Director for International Programs and Associate Director for the Center for Multicultural Learning at Santa Clara University. He also worked for several years at Xavier High School in Micronesia as a teacher and administrator. He brings to the team some social entrepreneurial experience, educational consulting, social enterprises, web design, and other cultural and social engagements in the Micronesian diaspora. Vid earned a Bachelorʻs degree in communications from the University of Guam, a Masterʻs Degree in School Administration from the University of San Francisco, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Professional Educational Practice from the College of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa. He served on a consultancy team focusing on a feasibility study to establish a Micronesian-focused charter school in Hawaii sponsored by WAO, The Learning Coalition (TLC), Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE), and Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI).

 Emma Kurashige

Emma moved to Honolulu after graduating from Assumption High School in Majuro, the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  She attended Hawai‘i Pacific University where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work, making her the first Marshallese to earn such a degree.

Emma is part Marshallese and American. She is the daughter of Ramsey and Colette Reimers. Her father is a native of Likiep, Ebon, and Jaluit atolls; and her mother is from the state of Iowa. Emma was born and raised in Majuro and belongs to the Rimae clan. She is fluent in both Marshallese and English. One of Emma’s fond memories growing up was spending time with her grandparents, the late Robert and Adele Reimers; listening to their childhood stories, learning about WWII, and becoming educated about her family lineage. Emma’s family is a third-generation business operator servicing the Marshall Islands for over 70 years.

Emma has over 15 years of experience working with children and families. She facilitates cultural training around the state, helping service providers understand the Marshallese people, culture, and history.

While attending college, Emma worked with the elderly and homeless populations. She began her career at Big Brothers Big Sisters as a statewide Enrollment and Match Specialist. She also worked with the YMCA as a substance abuse counselor for high school students in the Honolulu area.

Emma joined EPIC ‘Ohana Inc. in 2009 as an ‘Ohana Conference Coordinator. ‘Ohana Conferences assist families who are involved with Child Welfare Services. Since 2009, she has carried different roles.

In 2019, she accepted the role of Statewide ‘Ohana Conference Manager. EPIC is a neutral non-profit that brings together families, child welfare, and service providers together in a facilitated meeting to uplift family voice and choice. EPIC provides over 1,000 conferences per year for families across the state. Emma continues to facilitate and interpret conferences for Marshallese families. Emma is proud to be a member of We Are Oceania, as it’s “always been a dream to bring a one-stop center to the state of Hawai‘i; to help empower our young people and families.”

Mentors

 Partners in Development Foundation

The WAO Team was mentored by Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity serving disadvantaged Native Hawaiian communities throughout the State. PIDF mentored the team and key stakeholders in the Micronesian community to develop a viable 501(c)(3) dedicated to the development, implementation, and management of initiatives aimed at addressing various Micronesian community needs. About PIDF>>