Description
Pacific Islanders started migrating to Salt Lake City over 50 years ago and today 22000 Polynesians live in the Salt Lake City area. How many Pacific Islanders do you know, come in contact with? So many challenges for 1 st and 2 nd generation families by removing a traditional support structure. Crossing culture barriers within our own community IS difficult and integrating into the communities within a city. Each parent, child, teacher, Health Care Provider, Employer, Police Officer, government official are expected to work, live, and play in harmony regardless of culture! There are 12000 school aged Polynesians in Salt Lake area schools, 200 Polynesians in Utah State Correctional Facilities, 400 Adult Probation and Parole system. The Polynesian community effects you, our city and state!
The National Tongan American Society, the oldest Tongan non profit organization of it's type in the country! The National Tongan American Society was created in 1995 providing Immigration and translation services. Today almost 20 years later we have processed 9851 green card applicants, 6309 citizen applicants. Today we continue to assist with Immigration and Translation however now we staff a Community Health Worker who educates and processes Medicare/Medicaid, CHIPS, and food Stamps applications. We provide programs of Education/ Scholarships, Wellness Programs that include Diabetes, Cancer, Obesity, and Fitness, as well as monthly youth abstinence classes, offered in English and in all native Polynesian languages. Our mission statement is to "Advocate and empower all Tongan-Americans and other Pacific Islanders through programs and referrals that promote health, youth development, model citizenship, education and cultural preservation"
A few highlights from 2012 were we received the Nonprofit of the Year Award from the Chinese American Organization, Ivoni Nash, a Founding member of NTAS, received several awards one being the 2012 Diabetes Mine Patient Voices Contest winner. In 2013 we look forward to revamping our website, reinstating our annual banquet, improvements in communication, and small enhancements to each of our present programs. Enclosed is our 2013 calendar.
Together we can make Salt Lake City, the State of Utah and this great country we live in the best place to live, eat, work, play and do business in for ALL people regardless of race, religion, sexual preference and culture to live harmoniously together!
