Pacific Islanders and those of Polynesian heritage will converge on Utah Valley University’s Orem campus on June 6-8, 2019, to attend the second annual PolyStrong.org Leadership Summit and Games.

The summit is designed to connect Polynesian youth and students with top Pacific Islander professionals and other community influencers who will provide mentoring and leadership training. It is a collaboration between PolyStrong.org and UVU’s Multicultural Student Services Center.

“We want to motivate high school and college students to reach for the stars in their pursuit of education and careers by networking with these people who have distinguished themselves in their careers,” said Frank Tusieseina, executive director of PolyStrong.org.

The summit will include a charity gala and dinner in the UVU Grande Ballroom where Alfred Grace, president of the Polynesian Cultural Center, will speak and receive the group’s Global Leadership Award.

Panels and breakout sessions will feature high-profile professionals of Polynesian descent including Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, executive vice president of diversity, inclusion and communications at CBS; Alan Akina, president and CEO of 101 Financial; Afa Ah Loo, a self-taught designer, who has been featured on Project Runway, and whose clothing designs have been featured by Vogue in Buckingham Palace; Karen Mulitalo, associate professor of medicine at the University of Utah, and Alema Harrington, host of “Jazz Game Night” among others.

Career sessions will cover international relations, entertainment, entrepreneurship, finance, fashion, technology, broadcast media, law, law enforcement, collegiate sports, commercial real estate, education, art, medicine, and hospitality.

The event will conclude with a volleyball clinic and tournament, a 3-on-3 basketball challenge, a dance and the Kani Ka Pila Jam Session and Ohana Celebration. The Polystrong Leadership Summit is open to all who are interested. Register online at https://www.polystrong.org/register.
 
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PolyStrong.org Contact:
Masina Kaohelaulii
808-384-4817 | kyoshiwarriors@yahoo.com
 
 
About Utah Valley University Multicultural Center:
Multicultural Student Services at Utah Valley University is committed to student success by serving and mentoring students of multicultural and international diversities, and by providing meaningful programming that caters to students and their diverse identities. Staff members strive to foster and sustain an inclusive campus community where student identities and cultures are validated and affirmed, and their contributions to the campus community are valued and acknowledged.