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Roy

@roytongi

933

followers

831

following

CA Education Policy Advocate | 🇹🇴
Founder @pacificislandersforprogress
Gov Chair @oaklandlgbtqcenter
@goldmanschool @ucr_spp alum | views my own

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2 years ago

Mastered it 👨🏽‍🎓 Blessed. Grateful for every moment that’s brought me here. #masteredit #ucberkeley #MPA #goldmanschool #pacificislander #aanhpiheritagemonth taken in University of California, Berkeley by @roytongi

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a year ago

Next week! 🌊 Join us at the @edtrustwest Education Equity Forum for “Moving the Needle for Pacific Islanders: A Talanoa with Pasifika Leaders”

Excited to have coalition partners Roy Tongilava, Karel Lokeni, and Francine Blacksher talanoa about what it will take to meaningfully improve educational opportunities and outcomes for Pacific Islander students across California.

They’ll talanoa about the work already happening in our communities, the challenges our students continue to face, and how we can build stronger, more coordinated systems of support from TK-12 through higher education.

If you’ll be at the Forum, come join us for this important conversation. We’d love to see you there! by @roytongi

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a month ago

At Bolder Futures, we’re inspired by people who dare to dream bigger and bring their communities together to make those dreams possible.

We’re excited to introduce @pacificislandersforprogress (PIP) and its founder, @roytongi. PIP brings together Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) leaders, advocates, educators, and community organizations to strengthen collective advocacy for educational equity and economic mobility for Pasifika communities across California.

By creating space for communities to connect, organize, and shape shared priorities, PIP embodies the spirit of Bolder Futures: turning collective imagination into action and building opportunities for generations to come.

Hear more from Roy at @mosaicaapi ‘s upcoming community briefing, “Advancing Pacific Islander Educational Equity in California.” Join community leaders, educators, and advocates to explore NHPI student experiences and how data, policy, and community leadership can help shape a more equitable future.

📅 Friday, September 18, 2026
🕛 Noon–1 p.m. PDT
💻 Via Zoom

RSVP: https://mosaic-ca.org/september2026

#BolderFutures #CollectiveImagination #BolderTogether #CommunityPoweredChange #PasifikaFutures by @roytongi

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a month ago

🇹🇴 Tonga to the world | Ko e ‘Otua mo Tonga ko hoku tofi’a

Shoutout to @samoansolutions for your leadership in centering and elevating the voices and cultures of our Pasifika people and islands this past weekend. #ProtectOurOcean #TagataPasifika taken in Stanford Stadium by @roytongi

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a month ago

Excited to launch Be The Wave, a new podcast from @pacificislandersforprogress hosted by Roy Tongilava.

Be The Wave highlights leaders, educators, advocates, and community partners creating change across education, policy, civic engagement, and beyond in California.

Through short and meaningful talanoa, we’ll share stories, learn from leaders’ work, and explore how we can build a stronger future for Pacific Islander communities.

Every wave begins somewhere. This is ours.

🎧 Listen to our first two episodes now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and our website.

#BeTheWave #PIP #PacificIslander #PacificIslanderVoices #PacificIslandersForProgress by @roytongi

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2 months ago

One thing Vice President @kamalaharris said at @aapi_lead really stuck with me. Even when we feel hopeless or powerless, we can’t let ourselves stay there. We have to remember that we are powerful…because we are. We’re Americans. We belong here. Our voices matter, and so does the work we do in our communities. taken in Los Angeles, California by @roytongi

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3 months ago

To know where we’re going, we must first understand where we come from. Spending a few weeks in the Kingdom of Tonga was exactly what I needed. Toki sio, Tonga 🇹🇴 taken in Alaki, Tongatapu, Tonga by @roytongi

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3 months ago

Aotearoa, you are a treasure.📍I’m leaving reminded that Pasifika people have always carried mana and the brilliance to flourish when given the space to do so. taken in Auckland, New Zealand by @roytongi

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4 months ago

The past few months have been nonstop. Between the chaos and constant movement, I’ve learned that staying connected to my “why” matters more than ever. I’ve been grounded by community, purpose, ofa, and the people who continue to pour into me. Grateful for everyone walking this journey called life with me 🤎 by @roytongi

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5 months ago

One in five eligible voters in California are AAPI, a powerful and growing force shaping our state’s future.

Join us tomorrow (May 6 at 3:00 PM PT) for a timely briefing hosted by AAPI Data on the priorities of AAPI Californians in this critical election year.

We’re proud to share that CAPIAA Executive Director Khydeeja Alam will be joining a dynamic panel of leaders to discuss key insights on economic opportunity, immigration, health, education, and more.

Featured speakers include:

Senator Chris Cabaldon
Assemblymember Darshana Patel
Khydeeja Alam, Executive Director, CAPIAA
Commissioner Manjusha Kulkarni, Co-Founder, Stop AAPI Hate & AAPI Equity Alliance
Karthick Ramakrishnan, Founder & Executive Director, AAPI Data
Roy Tongilava, Founder, Pacific Islanders for Progress
Gabriel Young, UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy

Moderator: Annie Lee, Managing Director of Policy, Chinese for Affirmative Action

This conversation highlights how data can inform more responsive, inclusive policymaking—and why AAPI voter perspectives matter now more than ever.

📍 Register here: aapidata.com/may6webinar

#AAPI #AANHPI #AAPIHeritageMonth #AAPIVoices #AAPIData #California #CaliforniaPolicy #PublicPolicy #CivicEngagement #VoterEngagement #DataForEquity #RepresentationMatters by @roytongi

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5 months ago

Winter szn ❄️ taken in San Francisco, California by @roytongi

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8 months ago