Celebrating Culture and Listening to Community in Rota

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I wrapped up my week in the Marianas with a visit to Rota—just in time for the Gilita Festival, a unique celebration of our islands’ culture, heritage, and traditions. Like my stop on Tinian, I had the chance to visit our man’amko at the Office on Aging, meet with students at Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School, and speak with Rota leadership at the Office of the Mayor. I also sat down with the Rota Delegation to have meaningful conversations about both the challenges and the opportunities facing the island. There’s a lot of work ahead, and I’m committed to turning what I’ve heard into action by advocating for Rota in Washington, D.C. Thank you, Rota, for the warm welcome and the inspiring conversations.