Pacific Island Violence Prevention Conference — Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources

Presenters & Panelists

I am humbly proud and honored to share that I am a resilient individual hailing from the vibrant west side, and have transformed my life from many adversities to that of inspiration and mentorship. With a heart dedicated to helping others navigate the challenges of addiction, I serve as a beacon of hope for the youth in my community.
Born into a tumultuous life, I battled addiction for nearly three decades, leading to periods of incarceration, homelessness, and serious health issues. However, a turning point for me came when I made the courageous decision to seek help. My compelling journey became the focal point of the documentary short film, "Meet Me Where I Am," which premiered at the prestigious 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
The film chronicles my evolutionary experience at the University of Utah Health's Intensive Outpatient Clinic. With the support of compassionate healthcare providers, I rewrote my story, conquering the daunting challenges of health disparities and racism that had lingered through generations. Through it all, I faced the deep loss of my parents and the long-lasting consequences of a lifetime marked by substance abuse.
I am grateful to share that after seven years into my recovery, I have emerged not only victorious over my personal struggles and turmoil but also as a dedicated mentor in a youth group. My passion for addiction recovery shines through as I share my experiences and insights with young minds, offering them guidance and encouragement.
My life is now a testament to grit, resurgence, perseverance, and the transformative power of seeking help. As a loving grandfather of three, I cherish the time spent with my family, recognizing it as the most magnificent form of love—a gift given back to me. Through my journey, I continue to inspire others, proving that even in the face of the darkest times, one can emerge into the light with strength, purpose, and a profound appreciation for the joy that life can bring.

My full name is Desmond Alvarado. Everyone calls me Dez. I'm a father of 3(2 girls, 1 boy), and have been married to my wife for 14 years. I work in construction providing natural gas, fiber optics, water and many other services to our beautiful community. Outside of my 9-5, I volunteer my free time to share with our troubled youth, my previous life experiences and I also give any additional free time feeding, clothing and conversing with our unsheltered neighbors.
I was born in Compton California but raised in Long Beach. I moved out here when I was 15 years old. While living in California, I was an active gang member. My entire family were active gang members. The atmosphere we lived in was just a normal setting and I did not know any different.
Growing up in a poverty-stricken area, I did not know no any different. Growing up in a drug infested area, I did not know any different. So gangs, drugs, poverty, criminal activities, homelessness, abuse was a just a normal thing to many of us that lived in that environment. Then, I came to Utah. Shortly after arriving here in Utah, I caught a case in 1992 that eventually had me certified as an adult, at 16 years old, and was sent to the Utah State Prison. I then caught another case and was sent to the Federal Bureau of Prison in Colorado. I was paroled in 2005 and successfully
completed my parole in 2007. I've been home ever since.
Upon my parole, I was able to change, overcome and achieve many things. Finding a job, rehabilitating myself, finding my true worth, buying a car, mentoring others, elevating my status and title at work, participating in community service, buying a house, buying my second house, owning
a business, selling my business, creating a men's group, DAY WON, helping others start a business, giving others like myself hope, collaborating with PIK2AR and the most proud moment I'm most thankful for and cherish out of all my feats, is getting married and having my beautiful kids.

Doug Thomas, MSW, LCSW, DE (he, him, él) is currently the Community Health Children's Health Director at Intermountain Health focused on supporting efforts to address equity, mental wellbeing, suicide prevention, social determinants of health, food scarcity, avoidable disease and injury prevention. Previously, he worked as a psych tech, human service worker, case manager, social worker, County Director and State Director in Utah's public mental health system. He retired from Government service in 2021 and began work with Intermountain Health.
His work focuses on assessing and increasing the health and wellbeing of children, individuals, families and communities in the Intermountain West. He is passionate about the intersectionality of risk and protective factors in physical, mental, community and determinants of health work. After graduating from Cyprus High School, Doug completed school with a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Utah.
Doug loves spending time with his wife, 2 children, their dog and cat, playing and watching soccer, running/hiking, mountain biking, reading historical biographies, serving in his church, local coalition and community, listening to a wide variety of music, and eating good food.

My life is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and mentorship. Born and raised in the tight-knit community of Rose Park, Utah, my journey has been marked by challenges, triumphs, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of young individuals. I am a graduate of West High School where my athletic prowess shone brightly from an early age, making me a standout in various sports in my community.
Despite facing adversity, I excelled on the field and court, earning the admiration of my peers and coaches. Although my path took an unexpected turn when I became entangled with a local gang, leading to a period of incarceration in federal prison that lasted five years.
It was during my time behind bars that I underwent a profound personal transformation. Fueled by a deep desire for change and guided by a newfound sense of purpose, I dedicated myself to self-improvement to break free from the negative influences that had once defined my life and for that I am forever grateful.
Upon my release, I channeled my experiences into a commitment to mentorship, recognizing the critical role it plays in steering young individuals away from the pitfalls I had faced. I became an integral part of a youth mentor group, using my life story to connect with and inspire those who, like me, were navigating challenging circumstances.
My journey is not just one of personal redemption; it is also a testament to the strength of my marriage. Married for 24 years, with 4 kids, my spouse and I have weathered the storms together, demonstrating the power of love, forgiveness, and commitment to our family and my community.
As a dedicated mentor, I am determined to break the cycle of negativity and provide a guiding light for those in need. I hope my story is a living example that, regardless of my past mistakes, individuals can rise above their circumstances and contribute positively to their communities. Through my unwavering dedication to mentorship, I continue to strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people, proving that everyone has the potential for redemption and positive change.

Lisia Satini is a 1st Generation Tongan American born and partially raised in California. As a local Utahn, her teenage years were spent in South Jordan eventually making her way to the west side of Salt Lake City in the Fair Park area.
She Co-Chairs as a Commissioner for the Salt Lake City Racial Equity Policing Commission, and currently serves as District 1 with the Human Rights Commission for Salt Lake City. She’s an advocate for a healthy family well being.
As a previous PTA President, interim director for the Utah Pacific Islander Civic Engagement Coalition (UPICEC), serving on the DCFS Quality Improvement Committee, working in Social Services for over 7 years at Children’s Service Society of Utah as Parents As Teachers, she prioritizes safety for all. She managed the Home Visitation Program and served as a member of the Child Welfare League of America.
Lisia currently is serving as a Program Manager for the Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition and the Regional Director for the Salt Lake County Area. Her resilient leadership along with her UPIHC team has made waves during the 2020 Covid 19 Pandemic work in Utah and continues to.
As the Executive Director of Jayhawks, she advocates for the communities of color on the Westside of Salt Lake City.

Nafe Latu was born and raised on the island of Tonga. He moved from the island to the United States of America in 2011 marked the beginning of a remarkable entrepreneurial career.
In 2018, He became a Master Celebrity Barber working with high-performance entrepreneurs and famous Celebrities & Influencers, Olympians and Pro Athletes in the NFL, NBA, PGA Tour. He went on to create multiple six-figure while cultivating a deep interest in positive psychology.
Throughout his experiences, Nafe has unlocked some of the combination to growing a successful business and finding masive fulfillment in it all. As a respected Transformational and Motivational Speaker, Nafe has shared his insights with thousands of audiences across the U.S.A, New Zealand, and the U.K.
Driven by a desire to inspire growth and transformation, Nafe discovered his calling in helping individuals become unbroken by guiding them to rediscover themselves, heal from past traumas, courageously sit through their emotions and fostering positive change in their lives, families, and businesses.
Nafe Latu is the Founder of The Unbroken Community, Co-Founder of The Beauty University, Owner & CEO of Fresh Fade Away Barbershop, and the Co-host of the Rules Don't Apply Show Podcast.

Sinia Maile is a graduate student at the University of Utah in the Master of Public Administration program with hopes of starting a youth program to address the cycles of violence among youth in her city. A native to West Valley City, Utah, she studied Political Science with an emphasis in Law and Politics and a certificate in International Relations.
She's worked as a legal administrator with the Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys, a Special Education Paraprofessional with Mana Academy Charter School and currently works at The Gault Center to understand youth rights in the criminal justice system.
After leading a protest in response to the deaths of two young men in her community, she has been on a mission to understand and educate her community on gun violence and restorative justice.

Tausoa “Soa” Mulitalo received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Political Science in the summer of 2020 from the University of Utah. During Soa’s undergraduate research study with Dr. Leilani Katoa-Taholo, she focused on Pacific Islander (PI) Youth and risk factors for violence, suicide, and depression in hopes to empower others and address mental health among her community.
At this time Dr. Taholo was finishing her PhD program and dissertation on Pacific Islander mental health and well-being. Out of her Kaimana study dissertation, Dr. Taholo created a Pacific Islander intervention using the study’s findings and concepts, which she calls the Kaimana Intervention. Soa was lucky to participate in one of the first Kaimana Interventions, and in the fall of 2020, she became the Kaimana Intervention Coordinator and Administrative Assistant for Child and Family Empowerment Services to carry out the message and power of Kaimana to the communities in need.
Soa is grateful for the people who have taught and mentored her, and especially for her family and Pacific Islander community. She is an eternal student, and her hopes are to continue their legacies through her work in the community.
Outside of work, Soa enjoys participating in community service and events, spending time with family, and learning new things. She is recently learning how to garden and care for her Pasifika plants and how to make financial investments.

Wendy Finau is a Writer, Visual Storyteller, Advocate for untold stories and a Historical enthusiast.
For over 15 years, Wendy has written bios and content for start-up to midsize companies and individuals.
She started her career in marketing, communications and publicity. As the principal owner of TeaounPR her company offers strategic communications and public relations services to clients in the creative, nonprofit and corporate sectors.
The heart of what Wendy does is to tell stories. Wendy’s maverick approach to writing has been the catalyst to her work, which amplifies her clients' personal and professional brands.
Ardently involved in community projects and initiatives, Wendy selectively partners with organizations that are committed to social change as she writes from a place of purpose and unique, untold historical stories.
Innovation has to be a component of the projects she creates and what she writes. As the architect in the retelling of these stories, her focus is on families of all kinds and the individual human experience.
Her latest project explores an innovative approach and a dynamic recitation of these untold stories. The project will allow the participant the opportunity to explore the immersive nature of human imagination.

Nisi La’a, a powerhouse from Nanakuli, Hawaii, is a steadfast advocate and community leader. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Health Education from the University of Utah, she serves as a Certified Community Health Worker with U of U Health Plans and CHW Coordinator at PIK2AR. Leveraging her expertise in case management, victim advocacy, and peer support, Nisi draws from her journey as a survivor of childhood trauma and domestic violence, she remains steadfast in her commitment to serving her community.
Despite facing immense challenges and adversity, she channels her lived experiences into a powerful force for positive change. With resilience and determination, Nisi advocates for others, offering support, empowerment, and hope to those enduring similar hardships. Through her work, she seeks to break cycles of violence, and generational trauma and create a safer, more compassionate society for all.
Outside her professional commitments, Nisi is the owner of Manifest Your Mana LLC, a platform dedicated to holistic healing practices as a health coach/personal trainer. Through Manifesting Your Mana, she promotes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, deeply rooted in her commitment to nurturing wellness within her community. Currently, in her final year of her Master's in Social Work at Liberty University, Nisi remains dedicated to fostering positive change and resilience. With her unwavering dedication and connection to her ancestors' strength, Nisi La’a embodies the spirit of service and advocacy, leaving a lasting impact on Pacific Islander communities in Utah.

My name is Siolo (Solo) Toala. I am a dedicated community advocate who is passionate about fostering positive change within our youth. I want to empower young people through my lived experiences to help them make positive choices.
I am a mentor at the VOA (Volunteers of America) at their youth center. I facilitate weekly zoom meetings for a men's group called K.A.V.A talks for PIK2AR and I am a youth coordinator for the Magna Kearns youth court.

My name is Taugata Naea Jr. born in Samoa and migrated to America in the early 70’s settling in Santa Ana Orange County California.
At a very young age, I became an active gang member known as “Spider” representing the RSP crip’s on the streets of Orange County. At age 13, I was certified and tried as an adult and spent 8 years in the California Youth Authority System released when I turned 21 in 1989.
Once I was out, I got married became a father of 4 and relocated to Utah. I learned fast that Salt Lake City wasn’t any different from Santa Ana. I gravitated to the streets, and stayed active in the gang and drug life throughout the entire 90’s. In & out of jail was normal, until I caught a case in 2000 that sent me away to Colorado Federal Prison for 4 years.
Upon my release, my wife & I welcomed our youngest of five, my daughter. I worked 2 jobs and moved to another county to stay away from my past. But within a couple of years, I was back on the streets and quickly caught another case, that sentenced me for 10 years.
It was at this time of my life, I wanted to change. I had two goals. One, I needed to make changes that will keep me out of prison for good. Two, I needed to learn how to help my family in a legit honest way. During this 10-year prison sentence, I received my GED, I enrolled into Davis Applied Tech College through online and earned my Welding & Automotive Certificate. I attended group therapy and applied for jobs within the prison. One specific program allowed a few of us to work outside the prison walls, earning money to go towards child support.
I was released April 2020 right during Covid. A program that helps inmates find housing helped my family with a home to move into. Working a full-time job & part time on the weekends, I’ve been learning to rely on an honest income utilizing the certificates I earned in prison. Making amends with my children and helping our family heal is important to me.
I am an active member of the DAY WON association. Doing all I can to help wherever I can, especially promote programs like the ones that helped me. You can’t force change, but you can have programs ready within the walls to help you and programs outside to welcome you back into society. That’s Day Won. God Bless.

Saane Siale is a Bay Area, California native. She is the oldest child with one younger brother and two younger sisters. They are proud children of Tongan immigrant parents. She graduated from BYU in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies: Human Development with a triple minor in Civic Engagement, Gerontology, and Nonprofit Management. She is one of 5 organizers for an immigrant community group called “UT with All Immigrants,” where they host rallies and events that support immigrants of all statuses.
She is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work at the University of Utah. For her program, she is a therapist for elementary school children, and she currently works full-time as the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Coordinator for the Rape Recovery Center. She is passionate about working with survivors of sexual violence because of her experience being a survivor herself. She loves fighting for the historically marginalized. Outside of work, she loves photography, singing, and traveling.

Siope is a licensed mental health counselor who has worked with families, couples, and children for the past 18 years with issues related to trauma, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health problems. He is currently working at Intermountain Hospital in Lehi providing outpatient therapy.
Siope was formerly the Director and co-creator of Smarter Parenting and the Clinical Director of A New View Counseling and Psychological Services. Siope is also the co-creator of the Pacific Islander Behavioral Health Association of Utah.
Siope has worked with a diverse population including the Latino community, Pacific-Islander community, and deaf communities in Utah. Siope is fluent in Spanish, Tongan, English and American Sign Language. Siope has collaborated with the International Strengthen Families Program and is featured as a coach in their training videos. He has also collaborated agencies treating victims of human trafficking in Uganda, Africa.
In his spare time, Siope enjoys creating music with his family and genealogical work. Siope is married to his wife Liana and they have one daughter.

Anna Fondario is the Regional Prevention Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. She works to form collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local governments to educate, build partnerships, and develop strategies that prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
She served at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services for 19 years. She began in the Violence and Injury Prevention Program as an epidemiologist primarily working on domestic and sexual violence, suicide, and opioids. She later became the epidemiology manager where she coordinated the surveillance, epidemiology, informatics, evaluation and data dissemination for all violence and injury related topics. She transitioned to the program manager role where her primary responsibilities included overall management of the program including collaborating with other state and county agencies, programs, community-based organizations, public and private health care providers, law enforcement and legislators to plan, prioritize and implement evidence-based violence and injury prevention efforts. Most recently, she served as the Office of Health Promotion and Prevention director where she focused on strategic efforts to improve chronic disease, violence and injury, and substance misuse indicators through a social determinants of health lens.
She graduated with a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Social Behavioral Sciences from Boston University where she was also a Family Violence Fellow. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Secondary Education from the University of South Carolina.

11th Annual National Pacific IslandViolence Prevention Conference

Presenters & Panelists

Adolphus Nickleberry

Desmond Alvarado

Doug Thomas

Ervin Butler

Lisia Satini

Jackie Molifua

Jakey Siolo

Lulu Latu-Wolfgramm

Nafe Latu

Sinia Maile

Soa Mulitalo

Wendy Finau

Christine Paongo

Nisi La'a

Siolo Toala

Taugata Naea Jr.

Saane Siale

Siope Lee Kinikini

Anna Fondario

11th Annual National Pacific Island
Violence Prevention Conference