STANDARD PRESS RELEASE
Release Date: Thursday, August 17, 2023
Seattle, WA – “In light of the recent wildfires in Maui, our organization will be sending our IT
team to help rebuild the telecommunication infrastructure in areas of Maui that have been
devastated by this horrific disaster,” says Agnes Navarro, Executive Director of the Filipino
Community of Seattle. FCS has been tapped by Ali Lee, consultant to the City of Seattle, to help
bring internet access and take part in designing the broadband network to places in Maui that
need it most.
Kris Larsen, Director of Information Technology at FCS, and a group of eleven staff and
volunteers will travel to Lahaina, Maui on Friday, August 25 until the work is done. “We will be
setting up community broadband sites in remote locations. This work allows for residents and
community members to communicate with each other and loved ones. Our ILC technology
program students will have the opportunity to use what they’ve learned and give back to the
community,” says Larsen.
There are an estimated 25,000 Filipino-Americans in Maui, comprising 17 percent of the
island's population. In the early 1900s, many Filipino farm laborers were recruited to go to
Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. Filipinos in Hawaii can also feel like they belong
because of their shared culture and sense of belonging.
“Filipinos in Seattle have many relatives and family members all over Hawaii. We want to
extend our services to help people in need during this difficult time,” adds Navarro.
About the Filipino Community of Seattle – For over 80 years, the Filipino Community of
Seattle has been a galvanizing force and a cultural touchstone for thousands of Filipinx
Americans and other immigrants throughout our community. We are especially proud to be
one of our community’s longest-standing, most impactful, people of color-led organizations,
and one of the first Filipinx organizations in the nation.
For press inquiries, please contact us at 206.722.9372.
Contact Information:
Agnes Navarro, FCS Executive Director
206.722.9372
anavarro@filcommsea.org
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