2026 PILOT Summer Institute Application

“O le ala i le pule o le tautua” --a Sāmoan proverb that means the pathway to leadership is through service.

Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) is excited to announce our annual Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) Summer Institute applications are now open for 2026!

PILOT is a year-long leadership development program grounded in social justice and rooted in Pacific Islander values. The program begins with a 4-day, in-person Summer Institute, followed by required semester sessions throughout the academic year. Participants selected for Cohort 18 are committing to the full year-long program, including post–Summer Institute engagement. We will offer a culturally-centered approach to leadership development training that is grounded in social justice. Guided by our values of kuleana, lototele, kommol and tauhi vā, we aim to cultivate the leadership of youth who can be advocates in, and on behalf of Pacific Islander communities.

For 2026, PILOT will launch a California-based cohort, as EPIC expands toward a regional cohort model. This year’s program is specifically designed for youth based in California.

The 2026 Summer Institute will be hosting 20 students at California State University, Sacramento, in the state’s capital. Participants of PILOT will:

Understand their role in serving our communities
Deepen their education of key issues affecting Pacific Islander communities
Gain advocacy and civic engagement skills
Build community amongst a cohort of other young, emerging leaders
Attend a culminating experience visit at the California State Capitol
Have priority for internship and/or fellowship opportunities with EPIC or other partner organizations

Who should apply?

Youth currently based in California who are:

Based in California during the Summer Institute and Semester Sessions
Passionate about serving and transforming their communities through systems change work such as; advocacy, civic engagement, and voting
Enrolled as an undergraduate student at a community college or university OR graduated within the last academic school year (2025)
Able to commit to the full year-long PILOT program (Summer Institute + semester sessions)

Age requirement: 18-24 years old

Program Dates & Stipend:
PILOT Summer Institute will be hosted in-person at California State University, Sacramento from June 29th - July 3rd, 2026. Travel, lodging and meals during the program will be provided.

Participants will also receive a $1200 stipend upon completion of the year long commitment with PILOT, which will be disbursed as follows:

$800 will be awarded after the summer institute program
$400 stipend will be awarded after attending and actively engaging in atleast 80% of the semester sessions from August 2026-May 2027 (more details will be discussed in the intake process). Stipends will be reduced if absences exceed the 80% requirement.
Continued participation in semester sessions is required as part of the year-long commitment to PILOT.

Deadline to apply: April 3rd, 2026
Application and supporting documents must be received by this date for consideration. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Selection Timeline
April 17th, 2026: Applications Due
April 28th - May 8th: Virtual Interviews

May 13th, 2026: Candidates will be notified of application status.

June 29th-July 3rd, 2026: Summer Institute

August 2026-May 2027: Semester Sessions (dates to be determined)

For additional questions or accessibility accommodations to complete the application, please contact EPIC's Leadership Development Lead, Ana Taukolo, at ataukolo@empoweredpi.org

Name (as it appears on I.D/License)*

First NameLast Name

she/herhe/himthey/themOther

Email*

example@example.com

Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip CodeCountry

Date of Birth*

Date

YesNo

Name of College or University*

What year of school are you in?*

What year do you expect to graduate or what year did you graduate?*

What is your major? If graduated, what degree did you receive?*

Are you affiliated with an organization? If so, please share below. If none, please write N/A. *

Do you have dietary needs or restrictions? If so, please share below. If none, please write N/A. *

Do you have any accessibility accommodations? If so, please share below. This can include child care, language access, etc. If none, please write N/A. *

If selected for the program, where will you be traveling from?*

YesNo

What motivates you to apply for the PILOT Summer Institute program? *

Identify a policy or systems-level issue affecting Pacific Islander communities that you believe requires collective action. How can organizing, advocacy, or civic engagement create meaningful change in this area?*

How do you envision using the skills and experience you gain from PILOT to serve Pacific Islander communities?*

Please upload your resume and headshot photo here. If submitting a video response, you may also upload here. *

Applicants must upload a document containing two (2) professional or community references (non-family members). Each reference must include full name, title/organization, phone number, email address, and a description of the professional relationship. Family members will not be accepted as references. References may be contacted in the final selection process.

Please verify that you are human*

2026 PILOT Summer Institute Application

Applicant Information

Short Answer Questions