UTOPIA Washington

Fifteen years ago, UTOPIA Washington began with a simple but powerful vision: to create a safe space for Pacific Islander LGBTQIA+ communities. What started as an idea has grown into a movement, strengthened by our shared commitment and the belief in the importance of community. Join us in celebrating this monumental milestone by becoming a donor today. Your contributions will ensure that we are able to continue to provide lifesaving resources to our Queer and Trans communities across the state. To become a 15th Anniversary Donor today, visit: bit.ly/UTOPIA15Years If you’d like to make your contributions over the phone, please call: 206-899-1066 We thank you for your unwavering support over the past 15 years. We look forward to navigating side by side, as we continue to Cultivate Pathways Together for the years to come.

The September Issue It's as if in the blink of an eye, pumpkin spice latte season is already upon us. And while we're still wondering exactly "How?" that's even possible, we've been focused entirely on our "Why?"...and that answer lies with YOU our dearest gentle reader. Throughout our most significantly impactful season, we've been able to weave together our beloved Queer and Trans Pasifika community from across Oceania with MANAFest? 2024 - our annual celebration honoring the cultural connections we carry within our expansive community. Thank you for being the integral part of what makes UTOPIA Washington so special. In our September issue, you'll find recaps from each of those festivities, learn about our latest addition to our staff, and can find details about upcoming events you can still take part in. Let's dive in... https://conta.cc/3TyE6Wr

Help us reach our goal of $5,000 by May 31st! This AA & NHPI Heritage Month UTOPIA WA will be participating in the #GiveInMay campaign to further the work we are doing for the QTPI community. Did you know that for every $100 given out by foundations, only 20 cents goes to "AA&PI" communities? And of those 20 cents, less than 4 cents go to Pacific Islander communities! For this "Give in May" campaign, help us reach our goal of $5,000 by May 31st to change that statistic! At UTOPIA Washington we serve our NHPI community directly! We advocate for diversity in NHPI & AA spaces, create safe spaces for Queer and Transgender Pacific Islanders, empower QTBIPOC gender diverse sex workers, provide health care services for LGBTQIA+ community members, foster a connection with the land through sustainable farming and food sovereignty, while bridging generational gaps and preserving Pacific Islander culture. Your donations help to bolster these various services, programs, and events! To learn more about our various services or to donate directly visit: bit.ly/GiveInMay24-UTOPIA

?? Your May Newsletter! Happy May! We are kicking off this month with some exciting news that our team is growing again! We look forward to all that our new team members bring to our team. May also signifies AA & NHPI Heritage Month. While we honor this celebration, we want to bring forth the disparities that NHPI folks face that are often overlooked because of the lumping of the AA and the NHPI. As Kiana McKenna says in this article, "We must reckon with the hard truth that what was sold to us by the U.S. government as a term of solidarity, a promise of resources, and a token of visibility has actually created material harm and the complete opposite for Pasifika communities." We urge folks to use this month as a way to celebrate and uplift Pasifika AND Asian voices equitably and in a just way. https://conta.cc/4bazxI6

???? Miss Island Goddess 2024! ???? Secure Your Spot Now - Tickets and Contestant Registration Available here! Tickets are Selling Out! ??? https://lnkd.in/g8dkp7S7 ??? Date: April 6, 2024 ?? Doors Open: 5:00 PM | Show Starts: 7:00 PM ?? Venue: Muckleshoot Casino Resort ?? Calling All Goddesses: Contestant Registration is Open! Review the Contestant Packet before registering and submitting your fee. ??? https://lnkd.in/g8dkp7S7 Don’t miss the chance to win the ?? & title, Miss Island Goddess 2024-2025, plus amazing prizes: ?? Miss Island Goddess Winner: $5,000 ?? 1st Runner Up: $2,000 ?? 2nd Runner Up: $1,000 Stay Connected! Follow our social media for all the latest Miss Island Goddess updates. Thank you to our Sponsors: World Sponsor ? J Squared Investments International Sponsors ? Bartley Family ? Delta Dental of WA ? Green Revolution ?Seattle Foundation Earth Sponsors ? Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation Pacific Sponsors ? Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) ? Asia Pacific Cultural Center ? Lake Burien Presbyterian Church ? Pacific Islander Community Association of WA ? White Center Community Development Association Partners, Family & Friends: ? Fa'atiniotausala Siva Academy ? Jaime Ale ? Maluali'i LLC ? MSM Business #missislandgoddess #utopiawa #MIG ??

Come join us in a virtual space created with love for LGBTQIA+ individuals to connect and share our experiences hosted by the lovely Essaundra Ta'amu. Real Talk is all about fostering meaningful connections within our LGBTQIA+ family. It is a space where we share stories, exchange resources, and offer support to one another. We are dedicated to actively building Real Talk as a safe space, where everyone's voice is heard and valued. This gathering will take place online, so don't forget to secure your spot by registering at bit.ly/UTOPIAPeerSupport to receive the Zoom link. Come join us as we continue to build a community where everyone belongs.

Registration is now open for this year's Earth Day celebration, an engaging three-day event, commencing on April 25th, 2024. We kick things off with a virtual Talanoa webinar, where Pacific Island frontline communities grappling with the impacts of climate change will share their stories and engage directly with community in this webinar. Following this enlightening session, on April 26th, we'll roll up our sleeves for our annual Adopt the Street Cleanup. We'll be hitting the streets, rolling up our sleeves, and working together to keep our neighborhoods clean and green. To conclude the event, our Mālama i ka ‘āina (Climate and Environment Program), in our amazing Tautua Climate Justice Cohort Program, will host a Climate Summit on April 27th. Themed "Climate Summit: Plastic vs Planet," our focus will be on "Climate Justice: Responsibility, Access, and Equity." It's a chance for us to come together to learn, share ideas, and act for a better, more sustainable future for all. Ready to join in? Register Here, https://lnkd.in/gMvagaM9 using the link provided here and let's make a difference together!

Feelin’ Lucky?? Join us at our first ever Queens Bingo! Come and enjoy the good luck charms and chances to win money at our Bingo! Your purchase of a ticket not only get you an awesome buy-in package but supports the work and programs of UTOPIA #utopiabingo DATE: Saturday March 16, 2024 START TIME: 12:00 PM LOCATION: Trinity Gym, 3807 S. Reith Rd., Kent A $50 Buy-In-Ticket gives you the chance to win up to $2,000 in game prizes! Here's the breakdown of all of our games and prizes: - 2 Warm Ups: $75 each - 5 Early Bird: $150 each - 3 Floor Specials: $200 each - 10 Regular Games: $300 each - Jackpot: $1,150 [$500 Consolation Prize after 56 #'s] Each Buy-In-Ticket includes: - 2 6-on Regular Game packs ($10 add'l packs / $1 add'l sheet available for purchase) - 2 Early Bird Games (1 free paper for each of the last 2 early bird games) - 3 Floor Specials (1 free paper for each FS!) How to Get Involved: Purchase Tickets: contact [email protected] or 206-219-0214 for ticket(s). Payments can be made to: Paypal: @utopiaseattle Cashapp: $utopiawa Spread the Word: Share this event with friends and family on social media using #utopiabingo Volunteer: We're always looking for helping hands! Contact Franzella at 206-219-0214 or [email protected] to join our team. Learn more about us: https://utopiawa.org/ Thank you for supporting UTOPIA WA! #UTOPIABingo

Brighter Days Ahead! ?? Your March Newsletter https://conta.cc/3V5Zm7v

Meet our hosts for Miss Island Goddess! ?? ???? You have probably seen her at one of many events throughout the greater Seattle area, she is the socialite of Seattle, Aleksa Manila! As a gender queer FilipinX, Aleksa has dedicated her time advocating for BIPOC and gender diverse folks across Washington. She?s hilarious and charming, she IS Aleksa Manila. ???? Some know her as a contestant on Rupaul?s Drag Race season 12, but she?s much more than that! Brita Filter is a political activist who uses the art of drag to engage people in the political process. She?ll quench your thirst and perform the house down! It?s Brita Filter! We are so excited to bring back our hostess with the mostest! The dynamic duo! Aleksa and Brita! ??? We are now at 60% capacity!!! Grab your tickets at https://lnkd.in/g8dkp7S7