Chelsey Kapiolani Cabacungan
December 8, 2023.
THREE WORDS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN THINKING OF BELONGING:
Acceptance, Connection, Significant
MY NAME IS INTERESTING BECAUSE:
It is a family name from my mom's side and means "archway to heaven" in Hawaiian. The name is famous throughout Hawaii, as the former Queen Kapiolani was an influential philanthropist who cared for the health of women. Many centers have been named after the Queen, such as the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Kapiolani Community College, ano the Kapiolani Women's Center. It is a name carefully thought of and given to me by my mother, who thought of it as representing a beautiful rainbow connecting us with our ancestors who have passed on.
TELL US ABOUT A TIME YOU FELT A SENSE OF BELONGING IN OUR DEPARTMENT:
My first sense of belonging in the DOM was when I first got hired, I felt accepted as part of the DOM chairs office team. I built a connection with each of my team members in my first two weeks of trainings, hearing their stories about when they first started & how far they have come.
I had just finished all my trainings and went into my first assignment still feeling so brand new. I was so intimidated and had no idea what to expect. The first two weeks into my assignment someone from the DOM admin team checked in with me to see how I was doing & gave me any piece of advice they could. I knew then that I was in a significant position, with an unlimited amount of support.
WHY DO YOU THINK BELONGING IS IMPORTANT?
Belonging is important because diversity is everywhere around us and it’s easy to feel isolated in places you feel you don’t fit in. Feeling a sense of belonging brings purpose to your everyday endeavors.
WHAT INCLUSION-BASED THEME WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT EMBRACE IN 2024? WHY?
Next year, I would like to embrace happiness. There is a mental health crisis and people are suffering every day. There has been such hard times especially since the pandemic and I think people sometimes forget what it feels like to be truly happy.