OUSD and IKUNA Partnership Bridges Pacific Islander Culture and Student Success

In Oakland Unified, our commitment is to create schools where every student feels seen, valued, and connected to their heritage. We are proud to share a new video, "Rooted in Culture: OUSD's IKUNA Program & Pacific Islander Student Success," which offers a behind-the-scenes look into the experiences of our Pacific Islander students and staff in the incredible IKUNA program.

Hear directly from students as they share what it means to build a profound sense of 'ohana' (family), learn traditional Samoan and Tongan dances, engage with culturally-rich literature, and even travel to Hawaiʻi for immersive lessons in history and land stewardship. These experiences have laid a foundation of pride and passion for learning that empower our students to become confident leaders.

This work would not be possible without our dedicated partners and community members whose efforts are key to building the supportive and effective learning environments that all students deserve.

Watch the video to see how celebrating heritage empowers our students to thrive.