A team of Marianas community members in Oregon brought together Pacific Islander communities on Saturday for a daylong fundraiser that raised $3,000 in monetary donations and gathered goods for shipment home to the Northern Mariana Islands and Chuuk.
The event was held Saturday, May 23, at the Elks Lodge #336 in Salem, Oregon. It opened with a garage sale and donation drop-off during the day and continued into the evening with a comedy and jam session featuring performances and representation from the CNMI’s Chamorro and Refaluwasch communities, Palau, and Chuuk.
The team, calling itself CNMIRIE, was led by Shany “Irie” Tudela and includes Lawrence Hocog, Manny “Brown” Tenorio, Charles Rosé, and Kolfred Mettao, who also performs as Kol da Lokol. Hocog is associated with Rota Times, Kmnwlth, and Hafa Stone.
“Our goal for this was unity and inclusivity,” Tudela said.
Of the $3,000 raised, $1,000 was donated by the president and members of the Elks Lodge #336. Manny Tenorio and Doll Brody, both taotao CNMI, are members of the lodge. Additional monetary donations came in through a raffle, vendor proceeds, and contributions from members of the Palauan community.
Matson sponsored a shipping container to bring the collected goods home, the organizers said. CNMIRIE also thanked the ChaGI organization, Defend Marianas, and Waste Management for their support.
Tudela said the team is still discussing how to allocate the funds between Saipan, Tinian, and Chuuk. Some of the proceeds may go toward filling a separate container bound for Chuuk that is staged in northern Washington, she said.
Da Micro Podcast attended the event and conducted interviews.
“Bringing everyone together in unity for the cause was the vision, and I am so happy that our CNMIRIE team was able to achieve that,” Tudela said. “All the performers brought their best, and the vibes and energy stayed through the night. No negative vibes at all.”
The event drew members of the Chamorro, Refaluwasch, Palauan, Chuukese, Marshallese, and Filipino communities, the organizers said.
NMI News Service’s Show Us the Good Out There series highlights people across the Marianas, and the Marianas diaspora, lifting each other up. Submissions can be sent to NMI News Service.
