Inspire Atlanta

Everyday Heroes: Jane Rolen

Jane Rolen poses in traditional Filipiniana in her home in East Point, Georgia on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Outside of her normal 9-5 job, Jane organizes several events for Filipino American History Month each October and serves as President of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Georgia (PACCGA). She also hosts a podcast catering to Filipinos living in Georgia, one of the largest AAPI communities. (Olivia Bowdoin for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution).
Jane Rolen poses in traditional Filipiniana in her home in East Point, Georgia on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Outside of her normal 9-5 job, Jane organizes several events for Filipino American History Month each October and serves as President of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Georgia (PACCGA). She also hosts a podcast catering to Filipinos living in Georgia, one of the largest AAPI communities. (Olivia Bowdoin for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution).
By Georgia Asian Times staff
Dec 17, 2023

Filipino American History Month (FAHM) has been celebrated in the United States during the month of October since 1991. The lead volunteer for this celebration in metro Atlanta points to a passionate and selfless individual. She typically works past midnight orchestrating volunteers and planning programs catering to different walks of life in the community.

Jane Rolen has been organizing various local events celebrating Filipino American History Month since 2019. Despite a busy career as Management and Program Analyst with the Social Security Administration, Jane also serves as the President of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Georgia (PACCGA).

Jane Rolen poses in traditional Filipiniana in her home in East Point, Georgia on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Outside of her normal 9-5 job, Jane organizes several events for Filipino American History Month each October and serves as President of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Georgia (PACCGA). She also hosts a podcast catering to Filipinos living in Georgia, one of the largest AAPI communities. (Olivia Bowdoin for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution).
Jane Rolen poses in traditional Filipiniana in her home in East Point, Georgia on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Outside of her normal 9-5 job, Jane organizes several events for Filipino American History Month each October and serves as President of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Georgia (PACCGA). She also hosts a podcast catering to Filipinos living in Georgia, one of the largest AAPI communities. (Olivia Bowdoin for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution).

“I enjoy giving back to the community and helping in whatever way that I can to inspire the young generations,” said Rolen.

With the help of trusted friends as volunteers, Jane typically plans a month-long series of activities celebrating Filipino history in October.

“I want to share the rich history and sacrifices of Filipino pioneers and heroes with mainstream Americans and young Filipino Americans who grow up here.”

This year’s FAHM celebration recorded a packed and busy 7 community events covering faith, arts, business, culinary and dance.

She has boosted PACCGA membership recruitment and restructured the organization to better serve the entrepreneurs and small business owners. She emphasized that PACCGA is not a 3 Ps organization, meaning, “we are not an organization of “Parties, Parades and Pageants,” instead, we are a 3 Cs organization - “Conveyors of good practices, Catalyst for change, and Champions for success.” More importantly, she strengthened the organization’s financial standing through membership recruitment and fundraising.

Under her leadership, PACCGA currently has over 82 members and 12 corporate members, which is a huge leap from 20 members when she took over in January 2021.

Jane also regularly hosts a podcast catering to Filipinos diaspora living in Georgia. “Usapang Pinoy” podcast dwells into community news, healthcare updates, business information, and important community information that affects the community.