Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) has been a long-standing partner and funder for INPEACE programs. Since 2014, INPEACE has received multiple grants to support both programmatic and organization wide initiatives. HCF currently funds initiatives from each of INPEACE’s three impact areas; Early Learning and School Readiness through the Promising Minds Initiative; Educational Equity through a Change Grant; and Family Economic Capacity Building through a joint funding opportunity with Aloha United Way for the 2022-2024 ALICE Collect Impact Initiative Cohort.
INPEACE is a strong community partner because of the aloha they have for their community.
Here is what HCF has to say about working with INPEACE:
What is the goal of HCF as a funder to non-profit organizations such as INPEACE?
HCF’s goal as a funder is to be able to provide equitable opportunities to non-profit organizations, such as INPEACE, to support them in what they do best—to help heal and improve the support available for families in Hawaiʻi. In addition, HCF has facilitated network opportunities and grantee cohorts over the years where INPEACE was an invaluable resource to its peers.
How do you see INPEACE as a grantee? Are they able to fulfill all they say they will do?
Working with INPEACE has truly been a joy. Particularly, while working with them through the Promising Minds initiative, INPEACE staff demonstrated their dedication to improving themselves. They accepted the challenge of becoming a trauma-informed organization and showcased their commitment and their limitless compassion for the families they serve. A part of the trauma-informed community of practice with peer organizations INPEACE participants were vulnerable and reflected upon themselves as individuals as well as an organization to the benefit of peers. They recognized some of their limiting beliefs and areas where they struggled and immediately took advantage of opportunities to be more
intentional about how they serve and heal their community. INPEACE took it a step further by training all staff through a series of trainings with Danny Goya, a trauma-informed trainer and principal of Ke Ala Ho‘aka Associates.
What is the relationship like working with INPEACE as a grantee?
The relationship we have with INPEACE is one built on trust. Time and time again INPEACE proves to be responsible, motivated, and effective. Building on the trust has allowed staff from both HCF and INPEACE to learn from one another.
What are your thoughts on the work INPEACE does for the community?
The work that INPEACE undertakes is vital to our community. Serving our keiki and ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to experience success in an educational environment helps the future Hawai‘i. Not to mention with their multigenerational approach and investment in building parental skills, we are looking at a healthier and healing Hawai‘i. INPEACE takes on a family approach, which is one of Hawai‘i’s most sacred values. Their services aim to ensure the ʻohana is taken care of holistically. Their work with supporting families so they become self-sustainable is another aspect that satisfies the significant needs of our community.
Do you see INPEACE as a strong community partner in the work they do? Why or what makes them strong?
INPEACE is a strong community partner because of the aloha they have for their community. This strength enables them to empathize and connect with the Hawai‘i’s families— creating critical and healing pilina through their services. I also want to recognize the visionary leadership of Maile. I remember the first time I met Maile, she impressed me because she had a long-term vision for a Hawaiian culture-based science education center. She could describe exhibit ideas to me and had already started the work through mobile exhibitions. She knows how to connect her ideas to first steps of action
The above responses were provided collectively by the following HCF Staff with a special mahalo to Jarissa Lum who helped to compile the responses: Larissa Kick, VP of Community Grants and Initiatives; Justina Acevedo-Cross, Program Director, Community Grants and Initiatives; Kehau Meyer, Program Officer, Community Grants and Initiatives.
