Omidyar Fellows Janice Ikeda, Erika Lacro, and Kapā Oliveira
We asked Fellows about the ways they are supporting youth leadership development in Hawaiʻi. Here’s what they had to share.
Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Janice Ikeda, Vibrant Hawai‘i
Vibrant Hawaiʻi is shifting the narrative that the best and brightest are all leaving Hawaiʻi—by investing in those who have stayed. Our youth-led program: ʻŌpio Alliance for Kuleana Advancement (ʻOAKA) is grounded in the principle that leadership is an action. Youth are trained to lead workshops in hands-only CPR, fentanyl awareness, interview skills, and mālamalama—reaching hundreds of high school students across Hawaiʻi Island with practical and life-saving skills. ʻOAKA recently launched its Resilience Academy: a 3-day intensive to develop personal, household, and community resilience, and explore the careers that carry this kuleana.
Erika Lacro, EPIC ‘Ohana
I have been supporting an organization called the EPIC ʻOhana for many years. EPIC works to strengthen ‘ohana and enhance the welfare of children and youth through transformative processes that are respectful, collaborative, and solution-oriented. This group is focused on leadership skills and development for our Oʻahu foster youth. They meet monthly with a variety of Oʻahu leaders, including judges and educational, private, and nonprofit group leaders. I have found the work to be very rewarding.
Kapā Oliveira, University of Hawai‘i
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has a number of opportunities to support youth leadership development. From Hawaiian immersion to marine science camps, we have various programs to grow our next generation of leaders. We also have various summer programs for specific ages, as well as bridge programs to prepare underrepresented populations to be successful at the university.
Omidyar Fellow and Honolulu Community College Chancellor Karen Lee shares about how they are preparing students for careers that will earn a family-sustaining wage.