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‘We’re Here To Just Make Things Better’: How Anamatangi Polynesian Voices Meets the Needs of Its Community

The nonprofit brings East Palo Alto, California, residents together through culture and has been a force for good during the pandemic.

Mama Dee Uhila and Senita ‘Uhilamoelang, or Papa Senita, founded Anamatangi Polynesian Voices (APV) — a grassroots nonprofit serving the East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and North Fair Oaks, California, communities — in the early 90s. APV is committed to advocating for Pacific Islanders through cultural enrichment and influencing local policies that promote equity

East Palo Alto has been known for having a large Samoan and Tongan population, which brought Mama Dee and Papa Senita to the community. Their culture of resilience has had a tremendous influence on their work, helping others improve the community with immigration assistance, support for individuals experiencing homelessness, health services, and more.

It’s no surprise that when the COVID-19 pandemic began, APV partnered with other organizations to support the health and wellbeing of the community, including vaccine access and testing.