Our Mission

The Saturday Tongan Education Program (STEP) provides free academic support to Tongan youth of all ages in the Pomona Valley and Inland Empire areas. Led by the Pomona College Asian American Resource Center’s (AARC) Sefa Aina,Kehaulani Vaughn, Lolofi Soakai, interns, volunteers, and leaders within the community, STEP brings together Tongan students seeking academic help and mentoring from the Claremont Colleges while learning from the Tongan community. Several of the tutors are from the ASAM 111 class taught by Prof. Kehaulani Vaughn, Pacific Islander and Education, which explores the impact of colonialism on indigenous peoples and education. Several of the past tutors were from the ASAM 90 class, Community Studies and ASAM 188 Decolonizing Education.

What we do

Each Saturday, the tutors and students team up to work on homework, standardized test preparation, college applications, and more. In addition, the coordinators organize various workshops to promote healthy living and to instill the joys of learning. By weaving culturally centered approaches to learning, STEP aims to increase the self-confidence and academic aspirations of its community members. Through the STEP program, the AARC hopes to build relationships with and expand services to the Pacific Islander communities of the Inland Empire. For more information please contact aarc04747@gmail.com