Bula, Talofa, Hafa adai & Aloha!
Oceania is a broad term that represents a diverse group of Pacific Island people. We're often stereotyped in media & marginalized in Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) spaces, so we're passionate speakers, collaborators and educators dedicated to changing the narrative.
We're honored you've found your way here.
We are Oceania Connects
Pou Dimitrijevich
Thomas Mangloña II
Thomas Mangloña II
Pronouns: She/Her
I am originally from the island of Savai’i, Western Samoa; but grew up in the desert and orange groves of Southern California.
I am a Product Designer on the Biz Team at Yelp, helping local business owners better engage with their customers. When I’m not designing I enjoy volunteering, and hosting office hours for women of color pursuing a career in Tech.
Thomas Mangloña II
Thomas Mangloña II
Thomas Mangloña II
Pronouns: He/Him or They/Them
I am a native Chamorro born and raised on the island of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands. I am a Gates Millennium Scholar and Truman Scholar currently at UC Berkeley studying Media and Journalism.
I started writing news reports for my island on my blog when I was in middle school and my passion for journalism has since flourished. It has led me to work for several print publications, Pacific Islanders in Communications, the regional Pacific News Center and, most recently, at KUAM news as an on-camera correspondent covering government, education, and community.
I've also been the executive director of Berkeley’s online television station, and a news intern at ABC7 News in San Francisco, CA., and am currently on the board for San Francisco's Asian American Journalist Association (AAJA), because I am passionate about diversity and representation in the media.
K.L. Parker
Thomas Mangloña II
K.L. Parker
Pronouns: They/Them
Born and raised in Hawai’i with mixed heritage (Kanaka Maoli, Nikkei, Polonia), I am an anthropologist from UC Berkeley with a multi-cultural, intersectional perspective focused on diversity, equity & belonging.
I've been a Pacific Islander Liaison and community organizer in UC Berkeley's API Student Development center, and was a board member of the 501c3 Pacific South Islander Org. I'm currently appointed to the Asian American Pacific Islander Standing Committee advising the Chancellor's Cabinet at UC Berkeley, am a proud parent of 2 amazing kids, work in philanthropy at UC Berkeley, and am working on a book delving into PI culture & identity.
In my 40 years on this earth, I’ve worn many hats and have done many things, but my kuleana is always rooted in my maternal grandmother's mandate to "be a blessing."