Hi everyone, my name is Adrianna and I am an upcoming senior at San Francisco
State University majoring in Sociology, minoring in Critical Pacific Islander &
Oceania Studies (CPIOS). My roots come from American Samoa, the village of
Vailoa as well as Western Samoa, the village of Vaitogi. I’ve lived in District 10 for
the past 10 years, specifically in the Visitacion Valley area. I am passionate about
community work and as of recently, diving into public policy. A fun fact about
myself is that I was the former youth commissioner for District 10.

What’s good y'all, my name is Edwin and I was born in American Samoa, most namely
the village of Masefau. I am in my second year at the City College of San Francisco,
majoring in Psychology. My connection to D-10 is that I have live in the Bayview
Hunters-Point area for over a decade. I am passionate about helping my community
from the background and helping build the Pacific Islander community higher. A fun
fact about me is that I have been in community work ever since I got out of high
school and see no end in sight.

ADRIANNA FAAGAU-NOA

SPEAK 1 INTERN

Edwin Maiava

Speak 1 Intern

Hello everyone! My name is Lemaefe Malau’ulu, also known as Mamas. I live in Bayview, and
my roots trace back to American Samoa, specifically the villages of Aasu and Vailoa. I'm
currently studying Environmental Science at City College of San Francisco. I'm deeply
passionate about discovering new opportunities that benefit our Pacific Islander
community. I also have the privilege of working with Mercy Housing in Bayview, where I
support residents in various ways to enhance their lives. Fun fact: I EATS DOWNN when it
comes to hair and love spending time with family and friends on my free time!

Hey everybody, my name is Nipa Tuitahi. I am from Santa Ana, California and
draw my roots from Tonga. I am currently a fourth year student at San
Francisco State University, majoring in Psychology. My connection to D10
comes from participating in community programming with the Samoan
Community Development Center (SCDC) in Sunnydale. I am very passionate
about the betterment of our Pasifika people and their communities. A fun fact
about myself is that I was born on the same day as Samuel L Jackson.

Mālō e tau lava, my name is Ikahihifo Paea. My roots come from the island of Tonga and I
currently reside in the Bayview area. I also attend City College of San Francisco, majoring in
both Social Science and Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies. I am passionate
about advocating for our Pacific Islander community and creating connections in order for
our community to thrive. A fun fact about me is that I can play multiple instruments, such
as the ukulele, the acoustic/electric guitar, the violin and the viola. On my free time, I love
spending time with my two sons while exploring around San Francisco!

LEMAEFE “MAMAS” MALAU’ULU

Speak 1 Intern

TEVITA “NIPA” TUITAHI

Speak 1 Intern

IKAHIHIFO “HIFO” PAEA

Speak 1 Intern

Our research aims to amplify the voices of Pacific
Islander Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) and bring
greater awareness to the Pacific Islander
community. As Pacific Islander TAY individuals, we
sought to conduct research within our community,
drawing from our own experiences, given the
scarcity of research conducted "with us, by us, for
us."

Coming together as a collective, we addressed a
social injustice close to our hearts. Following
extensive deliberation, we decided to concentrate
on environmental injustice in SF District 10, a critical
concern that significantly affects our community.

While there have been studies on environmental
justice in District 10, none have explored it from the
perspective of Pacific Islanders.

According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the district has
over twice the number of Black or African American residents and more than
3.5 times the number of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander residents
compared to other ethnic groups. Since many of us have been residents of
District 10 for over a decade, our research question is:

Youth led research that is design and
conduct research based on their own
questions, using the results to drive
transformative social change.

• We can share our own experiences.
• This is an approach rarely utilized by
  researchers.

Survey

Photovoice

• Expands our reach and engagement.
• Ensures participants' privacy and
  protection.
• Simplifies understanding and
  analysis.

“"Environment to me means
the area that you find a
home in, the area you
came up in.”

Some said that violence in regards to public
safety is a very prominent problem. This
sentiment was summarized by one participant
who shared. Others said pollution of the
environment through different avenues. This
perspective was summarized by one participant
who said,

All participants in this study
had a connection to District
10, whether through living
there, working, participating
in a community program,
attending church, or a
combination of these
activities.

More than 75% of the
participants have lived in
District 10 for 10 or more
years, while 17.2% have lived
in District 10 for 0 to 3 years.

The majority of participants
in this study identified as
female. Additionally, most
participants reported living
in Bayview-Hunters Point.

Participants Gender Identity

Participants Zip Code

While there were mixed opinions regarding how PI TAY describes “environment,”
after analyzing the 64 responses from our PI TAY, we can conclude that
environment from the perspective of the participants when hearing the word
environment, many associate this word with both Area and Community.

I define an environment to be
where home is and community. A
place of warmth and guidance
from people I look up to and
admire !

“Environment means
community, resources, and a
part of my identity depending
on context of the environment
I am in.”

There was an overwhelming number
of responses reporting negative
experiences in District 10. Many of
these experiences were associated
with pollution, inadequate waste
management, and violence. While
many responses seen as negative,
there was also many responses that
spoke to the resiliency and diversity
of the district 10 communities. One
example:

After reviewing these responses, we
found that each experience was truly
distinct. By carefully listening to each
one, we discovered that most of them
were linked to either unfavorable
conditions or community factors.

"Junkies laying on the street in front of the
liquor store..but the sandwich spot that's been
there for decade still bring back sweet
memories of childhood..young entrepreneurs
marching the streets offering hair nail and
repair services while others offer drugs and
alcohol..It's a bittersweet experience walking
these streets but i would never forsake them.

In the bayview or hunters point it's
interesting cause there's alot of diversity
and people and it may not always be the
best neighborhood but the people here
are bonded by a strong community. I
always know that I can feel comfortable
around the people…

Some kids grow up in families
that are already in politics and
most of the time that’s all they
see growing up, so it ends up
being all they know.

Some kids grow up in families
that are already in politics and
most of the time that’s all they
see growing up, so it ends up
being all they know.

Another theme that came up relates
to housing, in regards to limited
access for assistance programs as
well as the growing numbers of
displaced folks. From this quote
things were put into more simple
terms as it reads, “lack of help from
the government to help with the
homeless.” Overall from the
responses community members
shared, those that came up more
frequently were tied into the
following themes: violence, pollution
and the housing crisis.

“San Francisco is known for the busy
city life, but I think people forget that
it contributes to a lot of air pollution
with traffic congestion and industrial
activities. It has an effect on the
quality of the environment.”

Pacific Islander transitional aged-
youth (TAY) within San Francisco’s
District 10 shared that the causes for
the environmental conditions can be
attributed to various factors. For some
they said that accessibility to
resources and lack of governmental
support and accountability was a
factor. This was illuminated by one
participant who shared,

“The lack of resources and funding
from the city definitely plays a part
as the city is too focused on other
new projects instead of finishing the
projects they promised to the
community that are of the low
income class.”

The SPEAK interns surveyed 64 Pacific Islander
Transition Age Youth (TAY). Every participant who
completed the survey was entered into a raffle for a
chance to win a PS5, iPad, or a $50 gas card. To
promote the survey, the interns visited college
campuses, engaged with community organizations,
and utilized social media, including starring as
guests on PasifikaByDesign’s Faika Podcast. Interns
also shared flyers across San Francisco.

HOUSING

WASTE MANAGEMENT

CONSTRUCTION

PUBLIC SPACES

Malosi Lane

Construction in the Point

As part of our research approach, we utilized photovoice to enhance and
highlight our experiences and perspectives within our community. The
adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" rings true here; while our
photos invite various interpretations, each one is intended to address the
research question: What are the environmental experiences of Pacific
Islander TAY in San Francisco’s District 10?

Burnt Building

CSRSA

The Outskirts of Oakdale

Neglect of the Park

Hiking Trail

The Unseen Reality

Trash left behind

Revere & Griffith

Donation Bin Neglect

Adrianna faagau-noa

Malosi. A word that signifies strength in the Samoan language, a fairly recent addition to San Francisco’s
District 10. Growing up in the Visitacion Valley I experienced a culture shock, there were more Pacific
Islanders that I had seen in this specific area of the city than any other place, and it felt like home. With the
implementation of new housing construction projects, gentrification has become an upcoming problem
for residents like myself. If it’s not the noise, then it’s the road detours, or it’s the ugly sight of unfinished
projects that are far from complete. Our district already has a long history of pollution that doesn’t go
unrecognized by those who reside here, but it seems that there is a trend of environmentally harmful
practices that continues to impact the place we call home the most. Going back to the naming of Malosi
street, to me it shows the resilience that the people within our community demonstrate and consistently
exemplify everyday despite the challenges this City puts in their way.

Edwin maiava

This picture was taken of construction of new housing in the west point area in Bayview Hunters-
point. This picture displays greenery where in my personal experience I usually drive past and
see no kids playing in that area. I think the reason for this is because of the construction making
it not accessible to these kids with all the dust and dirt that flies around in that area. When I
drive through that area I see all the debris that fly such as little pieces of wood, a lot of dust. The
fences that have the green screen on it doesn’t really help because when I pass by the roads
are covered in dust, rocks, and dirt.

Adrianna faagau-noa

In District 10 there is a house on Fitzgerald right across from the liquor store that serves as a reminder of the lack of
support from city agencies. The charred remains symbolize the socio-economic disparities that plague our city,
where the marginalized communities struggle to keep up with ever growing housing costs. If it weren’t for the fact
that I tend to pass this building frequently, I wouldn’t have known about it – from the limited media coverage I’ve
gathered that it has been uninhabitable since 2022. I feel as though this is a small portion of the treatment that
residents of District 10 are susceptible to, amidst the ashes and rubble, the plea from community members to
receive substantial housing and living conditions is heard. For this house specifically, I wonder about those who
used to live there, whether or not they found a place to stay after the tragedy took place, or even if they had
insurance to cover the cost of damages.

Adrianna faagau-noa

Candlestick Park, a historic venue, welcomed its first visitors on April 12, 1960. After several years of operation,
the gates were closed for the last time on August 14, 2014. Fun fact, this is the day after my twelfth birthday, so
I hold this pretty dear to my heart. Reflecting on growing up in the city, I remember tuning into the news for
coverage of the 49ers games, feeling the vibrant energy through the screen, almost as if I were in the
stadium. It was truly disappointing when the decision was made to demolish the building, leading the 49ers
to relocate to Santa Clara. I wanted to highlight this particular landmark as it is part of District 10, despite its
rich history, the area is flooded and not utilized for any purpose besides recreational activities by long-term
residents. There is also a trailer park area down the street, given that it’s not ideal to have housing it would
make sense to allocate this space for other folks with trailer homes to use the land.

Edwin maiava

This picture was also taken at India Basin Shoreline Park in Hunters-Point and this shows even more
trash but near a slide where kids play. This picture is important to me because it displays how our
community does not take care of the little things. I say this because there are trash bins all around
this park and I think for some people it is easier to just throw trash on the ground. I think this will
have a bad impact on the kids that come and play at this park because when they see that there is
trash laying around they are going to think that it is okay to leave their own trash. This trash will ruin
the enjoyment of going to this park, making parents and their kids not want to come anymore and
tarnishes that park and its beauty.

Edwin maiava

This picture was taken of a donation box for clothes and shoes within the northridge cooperative homes
neighborhood. These donation boxes for clothing and shoes are frequently abused when people utilize
them as handy places to discard unwanted items, regardless of whether they are in good enough
condition or appropriate for donation. People occasionally utilize these boxes as a simple way to get rid
of broken, dirty, or useless stuff, rather than giving gently worn clothes and shoes to those in need. From
personal experience I’ve usually seen those boxes rarely be used and see the illegal dumping happen at
the corner of my street. I see big bags that sit at the corner of my street with some that are ripped open
with clothes falling out and It is an ugly sight to see.

This photo stood out to me because it reminded me of when I started living in Bayview (2019). I used to walk
around and would see displaced residents living in RVs, trailers or in their car. Over the years, many more mobile
homes have popped up. This image is an example of one the mobile homes, this one in particular was covered
in tarps and multiple wooden boards. I wanted to shed light on the housing crisis that is happening in San
Francisco with this photo. With gentrification and inflation taking place at the same time in our society, it is
difficult for those to be able to have stable housing. Causing those to become displaced and some end up living
in mobile homes scattered around D10.

Ikahihifo Paea

Gathering data at a specific moment may not reflect long-term changes.
Considering the ongoing developments in the Bay Area and the impact of
gentrification, the demographic of Pacific Islanders in District 10 could potentially shift.

Our study focused on the TAY population in District 10, which posed challenges
in reaching out to this group and led to a small sample size. This was primarily
because of the limited size of the population and their lack of engagement
with the study and community programming in general.

Time, funding, and resource constraints may impact the breadth and depth of
the research. The survey's duration was limited to one month; extending it could
have potentially increased participation. With the existing funding, we engaged
our district and community, but additional funding could have expanded the
reach to encompass all of SF. Moreover, more funding could have been allocated
for practical incentives for all participants, such as gift cards.

Providing rewards for surveys can enhance participation rates and diversify
respondents, resulting in more inclusive and accurate data. Yet, it might introduce
bias if participants are mainly driven by the incentive rather than authentic
curiosity, which could impact the research outcomes.

Throughout the research project, the group dynamics evolved as the interns'
capacities changed over time. The change in dynamics impacted research
outcomes by altering communication patterns and collaboration efficiency.

We understand that the NHPI communities in San Francisco are varied. Nevertheless,
the research team encountered difficulties in engaging transitional-aged youth from
the Fijian, Chamoru, Native Hawaiian, Palauan, and other NHPI communities.

The research team used disposable cameras to take photos for the photovoice
segment of their project. However, they faced a learning curve with the cameras
because the technology did not permit them to preview the images after
capturing them.

• Secure additional funding to expand and
  sustain housing assistance initiatives
  specifically tailored for the Pacific Islander
  community, addressing housing barriers
  (ie language, transportation, etc)

Enhance Housing Assistance
Programs for the Pacific
Islander Community

• Increase the availability of affordable
  housing units specifically for long-term
  residents to prevent displacement due
  to rising housing costs.
• Provide financial assistance, job training,
  and employment opportunities to
  enhance economic stability for Pacific
  Islander residents.

Localized Anti-Displacement
Policies for District 10

Community Space
Revitalization

• To enhance community spaces in District 10,
  we recommend partnering with the Parks
  and Recreation Department to repurpose
  and revamp existing areas.
• Conduct a survey to identify underutilized
  parks and recreational areas that can be
  repurposed to meet community needs.

Waste Management Initiative
for District 10

• Improve waste collection services and
  install additional trash and recycling bins
  in high-traffic areas to prevent littering
  and illegal dumping
• Partner with SCDC and other local
  community-based organizations to
  coordinate a community clean up.

• Participants in this study
• Edel Vaovasa
• Levalasi Loi-on
• Shamann Walton, District 10 Supervisor
• Taufa Setefano & Amelia Setefano
• Jamaica “He’Oli” Osorio

Special Thank you to our coordinator,
Tupou Latukefu aka Momma Pou

We want to say a special thank you to the
people who made this project happen:

Dear Pou,

Thank you for the laughter, the knowledge, and moments we have shared during
this journey. For your continuous support, words of encouragement, and efforts that
never went unnoticed by us. We are forever thankful that you brought us together
in this space, and are always rooting for you wherever this next step takes you. We
love you Pou!

— SPEAK1