We Are Nesian: Building Bridges for Pacific Islanders Through Community and Connection

Family is a core pillar within the Pacific Islander heritage - emphasizing its role in providing support and identity to individuals. As many Pacific Islanders navigate professional spaces in the United States, they encounter cultural differences and unfamiliarities that can create a divide in connectivity and a sense of belonging.

Dean Uata, Weinberg ‘26, is a Tongan Pacific Islander driven by his passion for community and connectivity. His motivation to bring a sense of home to a digital space for Pacific Islander professionals propels him forward as the founder of We Are Nesian.

“Being Polynesian, my entire life I have always grown up around ‘our people.’ When I moved halfway across the country for college, it was the first time in my life where I felt like I was the only one. Being one of the only Tongans amongst my 8,000 undergraduate peers is what drove me to build We Are Nesian,” shared Dean. In essence, his startup aims to create a place where all Pacific Islanders can feel a sense of belonging, no matter where they are in the world or their professional setting.

Dean is joined by Sam Biggs, Medill ‘25, Lula Blas Fox, Weinberg ‘26 and Fauzan Aryaputra, Weinberg ‘26, We Are Nesian began as a podcast and Dean initially spoke with Pacific Islanders he connected with to showcase a variety of different professional pathways, such as real estate and private equity. Dean and his team have since leveraged the content from the podcast and created We Are Nesian, a different form of connectivity that branches outside of media and news.

We Are Nesian is now a digital community hosted on the Slack messaging app. It differentiates itself from other professional networking platforms by working to provide Pacific Island community members a sense of belonging in an otherwise potentially isolating environment. We Are Nesian intends to nurture and uplift Pacific Islanders in an atmosphere that provides a feeling more similar to home. As Dean describes, “Many Pacific Islanders go through a similar experience, they're the first person in their family or entire community to go into a profession, law is just one example,” and the online community can provide support. The platform enables professionals to connect with other Pacific Islanders in the same field of work across various locations in the US.

The Jumpstart program supports Dean and his team by providing the resources to grow the We Are Nesian platform so that all Pacific Islander professionals in the United States are passionate and excited to use it. Dean and his team aim to enhance the We Are Nesian community by gathering and implementing user insights, and tailoring the platform to fit the needs of the community.

By bridging the gap between cultural identity and professional life, We Are Nesian strives to create a nurturing and supportive environment where Pacific Islanders can thrive. By fostering genuine connections and providing a space for shared experiences and mutual support, We Are Nesian is positioned to grow and evolve, guided by the voices and needs of its members.

Embodying the spirit of We Are Nesian, Dean personally dedicates his work to his family. “Shoutout to my mom and the fam!”

Stay tuned for We Are Nesian’s launch as a collaborative digital community for Pacific Islanders!