What the US Mainland Can Learn From a Small Island in the

South Pacific: American Samoa's NEG Experience

December 28, 2012Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford, American

Samoa DHRVinz Koller & Kristin Wolff, SPR

Participant Poll #1

“I have traveled…”- South of the equator

- To the South Pacific- To American Samoa- To the island of Ofu

Participant Poll #2

“My community has managed…”

- A National Emergency Grant (NEG) - An NEG Disaster Grant - Neither of these

1. Community & employer engagement in OJT/WE Programs

2. “Training” as a skill- and market- building strategy

3. Building skills that create choices4. Regionalism5. Why this approach to program

review?

Key Points

le mafuli a puou Like an uprooted puou, it will not die but grow again

Let’s share…

Q1: What’s one idea, image, phrase or fact surprised you as you watched the video or listened to Evelyn?

Let’s share…

Q2: What’s one idea for changing something in your own program or organization inspired by what you learned today?

Let’s share…

Q3: Based on what you’ve heard today, what do you think are the key lessons American Samoa’s experience offers the workforce system on the mainland?

Questions for Presenters?(use chat)

Questions?

Vinz Koller - Vinz_Koller@spra.com831-277-4726

Kristin Wolff - kwolff@thinkers-and-doers.com503-888-1022

Social Policy Research Associates (spra.com)

Observations

• Embrace Broader Workforce Agenda

• Engage extended family & social network (on and off-island)

• Employ technology strategically

Observations

• Embrace Broader Workforce Agenda

• Engage extended family & social network (on and off-island)

• Employ technology strategically