$2.4 Million Federal Funding Cut Puts INPEACE Programs in Jeopardy

Nānākuli, HI — INPEACE (Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture) was notified last week that $1.6 million in funding cuts from the U.S. Department of Education place INPEACE’s cornerstone program — Ka Lama Education Academy — at risk.

“These cuts present a significant setback,” said Sanoe Marfil, INPEACE CEO. “Ka Lama Education Academy has transformed lives and grown teachers. Without additional support, we risk losing programs that have lifted families for generations.”

For over 30 years, INPEACE has served Hawai‘i’s children and families by building educational equity and economic opportunity rooted in culture, community, and aloha. Ka Lama is the program that started it all and the reason why INPEACE was created. Currently, Ka Lama supports hundreds of participants in becoming licensed teachers, with close to another hundred more wishing to be licensed.

“Ka Lama has been growing our teachers since 1995,” said program director Francine Medeiros. “Our staff proudly supports community members in their pursuit to become high-quality teachers in their home communities through college support, mentorship and professional training. On average, our program supports more than 300 individuals each year, and we know the demand continues to grow for many more who need access to the same level of support.”

Ka Lama aims to build diversity in the teaching profession to address the cultural mismatch between teachers and students. Creating a diverse group of teachers in all schools is a crucial step in ensuring all children have role models they can identify with on a cultural level. Ka Lama empowers teachers to increase their credentials and gain techniques and strategies to effectively reach and teach students in marginalized, rural communities with high Native Hawaiian student populations, equipping them to deliver community-conscious curricula.

“If it weren’t for INPEACE’s Ka Lama program, I would not have returned to complete my education goals and would not have an understanding of the options to support me in reaching my goal to become a kumu,” said Kapu Salanoa who is pursuing a master’s in education University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Earlier this year, INPEACE received notice that nearly $1 million was revoked by the National Science Foundation, leaving Kaulele – its traveling STEM exhibit – to pivot and seek support elsewhere. In addition, INPEACE has not secured funding for The Center for Entrepreneurship and will be forced to sunset the program at the end of the year if federal funding is not renewed.

“As a grassroots non-profit organization with deep community relations and experience working in rural, low-income communities, we have firsthand experience with the socioeconomic struggles these communities face,” said Marfil. “Funding allows INPEACE to continue its mission and make programs free and equitable to all.”

INPEACE has launched a critical campaign to raise awareness and rally support for sustaining the Ka Lama and other programs that have yet to receive funding decisions. The organization is calling on donors, partners, participants, and community members, to help bridge the gap and ensure that children, families, and small businesses do not lose these critical resources.

“INPEACE has been a place where education meets culture, and where families find the tools to succeed,” said board president Konia Freitas. “This is our moment to come together as a community and ensure these programs continue for the next generation.”

To learn more and make a gift, visit www.inpeace.org/support.

ABOUT INPEACE

The Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), established in 1994, is a 501(c)3 grassroots organization governed by a 12-member Board of Directors. INPEACE’s mission is to improve the quality of life for Native Hawaiians through community partnerships that provide educational opportunities and promote self-sufficiency. INPEACE’s work is approached through a collective leadership model that engages all levels of staff and community, continues to raise the bar for its expectations, and ensures equal and equitable INPEACE’s vision became a reality, creating a lasting impact for future generations.