July 2025: PILOT Summer Institute

Charting New Courses: PILOT 2025 Recap

This summer, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) brought together our 17th Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) cohort for an unforgettable Summer Institute. Over a week, these young NHPI leaders explored their identities, strengthened cultural connections, and built the skills to advocate for change in their communities.

Highlights from the 2025 PILOT Summer Institute:

• 20 emerging NHPI leaders from across the country and its territories joined Cohort 17

• Immersive workshops on policy & advocacy, civic engagement, and storytelling

• Mentorship from NHPI leaders in community organizing

• Alumni-led sessions bridging generational leadership and shared stories

• Held an Advocacy Day, where PILOT members met with state legislators to advocate for key bills impacting NHPI communities

The work begun at this past Summer Institute will send waves of leadership, mentorship, and advocacy far beyond this moment, strengthening our NHPI communities for years to come. Learn more about this year's PILOT's by reading their bios here.

Thank you to the many mentors, alumni, and supporters who make the PILOT journey possible. Your commitment powers a movement of leaders ready to navigate toward equity and justice for NHPI communities nationwide.