CSUSB hosts third annual Pasifika Culture Night

On April 16, Academic Success and Undergraduate Advising (ASUA) proudly hosted Pasifika Culture Night, a dynamic and deeply meaningful event celebrating the rich heritage, identities and traditions of Pasifika communities. This year marked a momentous milestone as CSUSB welcomed the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Pacific Islander Advisory Group to campus for the first time to host the Third Annual Pasifika Culture Night.

This event was a collaborative partnership between the ASUA Yotie Oso AANHPI Student Achievement Program, the Equity Targeted Student Achievement (ETSA) Department, and the Pacific Islander Advisory Group (led by Francine Blacksher, Pacific Islander Equity Specialist). It was also supported by the CSUSB Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Center as part of the university’s celebration of APIDA Heritage Month. This partnership reflects CSUSB’s deepening commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural representation.

The evening began with tabling sessions from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., featuring a wide range of on-campus departments and local AANHPI organizations, including The Young Samoa, Island Grad, the Filipino American Association of San Bernardino County, SBCUSD, San Bernardino Valley College's Pasifika Student Union, and CSUSB offices, such as Admissions and EOP. This component offered students and families direct access to culturally relevant resources while fostering meaningful community connections.

From 6-8 p.m., the main celebration featured captivating cultural performances and storytelling, including a traditional Hawaiian Oli chant, an Aotearoa Taku Raumiri, and a Tahitian fire beat. Student-led performances highlighted the diversity within the Pasifika community, and more than 500 attendees. This included CSUSB students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local NHPI high school students and their families who came together to learn about, honor; and celebrate Pasifika culture and heritage.

Another highlight of the evening was the delicious dinner catered by Gwen Marlowe Catering, a local Pacific Islander-owned small business. This partnership not only spotlighted authentic Pasifika cuisine but also underscored CSUSB’s commitment to uplifting and supporting locally run NHPI businesses in the Inland Empire as part of community support.

Pasifika Culture Night served as a space for identity affirmation, cultural pride, and cross-cultural understanding. It directly supported CSUSB’s strategic goals around student success, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and internationalization by enhancing access to culturally responsive and adaptive pedagogy, promoting student belonging and cultural validation, and enhancing global learning opportunities. The event also uplifted the stories of students from immigrant, low-income, first-generation, and multiracial backgrounds, further emphasizing the importance of culturally responsive support systems in higher education.

This powerful evening of celebration and connection not only recognized the vibrant cultural contributions of Pasifika communities but also demonstrated CSUSB's dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive campus environment. Pasifika Culture Night continues to build a legacy of empowerment, representation and community engagement for years to come.

**Funding for the Yotie Oso Undergraduate Retention and Success AANHPI Student Achievement Program was made possible by the California Assembly Bill (AB 190) that provides funding to the CSU to operationalize campus based AANHPI student achievement programs across the CSU.