UTOPIA PDX Provides Community Healing Spaces for QTPIs
UTOPIA PDX is dedicated to providing sacred spaces to strengthen the minds and bodies of Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders (QTPIs, pronounced like “cutie pies”) through community organizing, political engagement and cultural stewardship. UTOPIA PDX stands for “United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance,” representing Pacific Islanders from Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. Their current work includes youth programming in nine schools across the Portland metro area, as well as training for faculty and staff; advocacy for immigrant and queer rights; peer support and healing sessions for survivors and more.
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) are Portland’s fastest growing demographic, increasing 168% between 2000 and 2022. According to UTOPIA PDX’s executive director, Kāme’o Kahawai, NHPI also had the highest fatality rate from COVID-19. Sadly, the pressure and grief of the pandemic, compounded by the trauma of colonization and imperialism, led to high rates of abuse and interactions with the criminal legal system. In their application to the Justice Reinvestment Equity Program (JREP), UTOPIA Portland told us, “Currently, we receive community need/interest/requests for support with violence and survivor services several times a month. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate all these requests due to a lack of organizational capacity and resources.”
With JREP funding, UTOPIA PDX has been able to serve additional community members. They created “the Department of Healing Transformation” to offer resource navigation services, individual and group healing.
Resource navigation services include support through progress and setbacks, coordinating individual healing services and additional supportive services, and collaborating on minimizing barriers to transportation, food, mental health care, rent and utility assistance.
One surprise has been the level of interest in group healing offerings. Kāme’o assumed there would be more interest in individual healing sessions, but the QTPI community has consistently shown up for traditional dancing, singing, arts and crafts, food making and land tending, as well as self defense, financial planning and more. Originally, they had planned for quarterly group healing events. Now they’re hosting one to two per month.
“We were yearning for it,” said Kāme’o. “We heal in community!”
Ultimately, UTOPIA PDX’s goal is for there to be no more victims or participants in the carceral system. They want to see the QTPI community healthy, happy and supported for the long-term.
The Justice Reinvestment Equity Program (JREP) supports culturally specific organizations and culturally responsive services in communities most harmed and least helped by Oregon’s criminal legal system. JREP seeks to elevate organizations that have been overlooked by traditional funding streams with the goals of reducing incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal legal system, promoting healing and advancing community safety in Oregon. Learn more about JREP.