The Innovation Academy enrolls and supports academically talented students focused on developing knowledge to grow new ideas, unique opportunities, and cutting-edge services and products through curricular and co-curricular experiences.
Graduate optimistic innovators that desire to utilize design thinking to solve global challenge through experimental and creative problem solving.
The Paciic Innovation & Technology Academy is funded by ANA through the Social. & Economic Strategies Grant (SEDS). This program is focused on community-driven projects designed to grow local economies, strengthen Native families, including the preservation of Native cultures, and decrease the high rate of current challenges caused by the lack of community-based businesses, and social and economic infrastructure in Native communities.
CORE VALUES
1. Human-Centered DesignThrough understanding the experience, behavior and motivations of others, we can identify the innovations they need and imagine unique new opportunities to serve them.
2. Applied Active Teaching & LearningThrough practical active and hands-on teaching experiences, we provide sticky learning experiences for our students that they can use to solve real-world problems.
3. Multi-Discipline CollaborationWe design powerful models by accessing existing capabilities across disciplines and combining them in new and different ways.
4. Co-CreationWe desire to engage people in the co-creation of new models, systems, and solutions. We don’t design for users, we design with them.
5. ExperimentationThrough a portfolio of rapid prototyping and experiments that test multiple solutions, we accelerate innovation.
6. Embrace FailureThrough failure we learn lessons on how to improve, strike opportunity, and pivo toward a positive direction.
7. Creative CultureWe provide an environment that cultivates novel and appropriate approaches to problem solving and nurtures unorthodox thinking and its application.
8. Story TellingWe use stories to pull people into transformation, asking them to co-create the narrative as it unfolds.
The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation (The Foeoletini Foundation) has received $279,235 in funding for the first year to launch its newest initiative, The Pacific Innovation and Technology Academy (PITA). PITA will be a three year project from 09/30/2023 to 09/29/2026, with total project funding of $754,841.00 (amount of the Federal Award including cost sharing or matching). This funding opportunity was made available by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) program under the US Department of Human and Social Services.
The Foeoletini Foundation's priority for this funding is to establish an institution that will play a critical role in supporting American Samoa's economic development by producing a workforce with technical skills and expertise that can contribute to emerging IT industries. From a broader perspective, PITA's 16-week program will give individuals the training, certifications, and experience they need to compete for entry-level IT positions.
Executive Director Leulu Trude Ledoux-Sunia states, "Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has prevented able individuals and their families from working in American Samoa. Since the start of our outreach work in the villages and with youth, we constantly hear feedback that we don't have the skills to meet the requirements of new job opportunities here. We took this feedback and decided to create a new lane and window of opportunity for our young people. This funding is a milestone win for our local nonprofit community, having a long-term and hugely positive impact. We want to acknowledge The Administration for Native Americans for continuing to provide opportunities for indigenous people. We also want to thank ANA's Pacific Region Technical Assistance team, who continue to bring training to the territory, providing guidance and support so nonprofits like ours can submit successful proposals."
She continues, "One of the main incentives of this program is that by the time you leave the cohort, you will attain nationally accepted certifications in areas to include CompTIA A+, Networking fundamentals, and Cybersecurity here in American Samoa. The next step is helping pair and place those who successfully certify and graduate from PITA in a job with either local government, private sector, or nonprofits. Recruitment and more information about how to enroll wil be available via our website and social media pages soon."
"On behalf of the board, I would like to recognize all those who have supported our vision from the beginning. Our organization is committed to providing creative ways to continue supporting SUD victims and families. We encourage donations to support this initiative and other projects. Your contribution can help us make a difference in the lives of these future IT specialists/technicians."
The Foeoletini Foundation focuses on providing services and resources to families impacted by substance use disorder, victims of substance abuse, and recovery. Our donors' generous support allows the Foeoletini Foundation to fulfill its mission.
The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation is a 501c(3) organization; all donations are tax-deductible. For further information on the Foundation and how to donate, visit our website at www.foeoletini.org or call us at 633-9669 or 733-1507. EIN: 66-0944480
For Official Release. 10/4/2023
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Copyright © 2023 The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation - All Rights Reserved.
EIN for donations: 66-0944480 Address: PO BOX 101 Pago Pago, AS 96799 (684) 633-9669
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