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OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
PASEFIKA BOSS UPPASEFIKA BOSS UP is a Summer Enrichment and Career Technical Education (CTE)-aligned Entrepreneurship Program designed to support, empower, and develop the next generation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The program was created to address the persistent socioeconomic disparities facing Pacific Islander communities, including disproportionately high rates of employment in low-wage occupations, limited access to professional networks, and underrepresentation in high-wage, high-growth career sectors. These barriers contribute to widening wealth gaps and reduced economic mobility for many Pacific Islander families throughout the Bay Area.
PASEFIKA BOSS UP aims to bridge this gap by providing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth with early exposure to entrepreneurship, business ownership, financial literacy, leadership development, and career pathways that lead to economic self-sufficiency and long-term wealth creation. Participants will learn the foundational steps and skills needed to launch, manage, and sustain a business while developing transferable workforce skills valued across multiple industries.
Through project-based, hands-on learning experiences, participants will engage with successful Pacific Islander business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals who serve as mentors and role models. By increasing access to career exploration, entrepreneurship education, and professional networks, PASEFIKA BOSS UP helps equip Pacific Islander youth with the knowledge, confidence, and resources needed to pursue high-wage careers, create economic opportunities, and strengthen the future prosperity of their communities.
PASEFIKA BOSS UP is open to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth in grades 7–12 who live, work, or attend school in the San Francisco Bay Area.
IN THE NEWS
Check out this article about the program featured in San Mateo County Daily Journal - CLICK TO READ
THE NEED
THE NEED
Access to entrepreneurship curriculum is not always available for our youth in school. The number of Pacific Islander Business owners is small compared to other minority groups. In addition, COVID-19 resulted in the closing down of Pacific Islander Small Businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This program aims to spark & incubate young entrepreneurs so they have both the tools & the confidence to start their own business.
PROGRAM DETAILS
PROGRAM DETAILS
Our BOSS UP program is a 5 week Summer Program focussing helping to incubate & educate young Pasefika Youth Entrepreneurs. We do so through project-based hands on learning. Youth will will walk through the following topics to develop their ideas into a small business pitch or launch. At the end of the program, Youth participants will showcase their pitch & business at our Pasefika Youth Makeki (Market place).
Learners will be learning through the following BOSS UP .
MANATU - Mapping out our ideas by exploring two key questions:
A need in the community
Personal Passions/interests
ILOA - Discovering different methods of bringing our ideas to life. By leaning into:
Our personal strengths
Networks - Connecting with local Pasefika Business Owners
Resources
FESO'OTA'I - Ensuring our young bosses are connected with a network of Entrepreneurs:
Pasefika Boss Up Fireside - Led by 1 of our young bosses & 1 program staff, we invite Pasefika Business Owners for an intimate talanoa (discussion) where youth can ask questions and our guests can share their experience in entrepreneurship.
Work-based learning Trips - Visiting Pasefika Brick & Motar businesses, speaking with their owners/staff and allowing them to share knowledge with our young bosses. As well as a pop up style trip, where your young bosses are allowed to explore life of pop up vendors. See first hand the pros/cons of both business models.
FAU - Building out the following:
Business plan
Branding
Marketing Plan
Accounting Practices
Pitch
FA'ATU - Launching or Pitching our business to the community at Samoan Solutions NESIAN NIGHT MARKET:
Pitch Presentations to community panels
Vending/Selling product directly to customers
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