Alaska Humanities Forum Annual Impact Report

SERVING ALASKA, CONNECTING ALASKANS

The Forum invests in Alaska artists, writers, historians, filmmakers, and community conveners through grants that fuel creative projects to share and preserve the stories of people across the state and explore what it means to be Alaskan. In 2020, the Forum’s annual grant program was put on hold in response to the impact of COVID-19 as we pivoted to distribute and administer funds allocated by the CARES Act to assist cultural nonprofit institutions and organizations. The Forum’s leadership programs build capacity across industries and sectors, backgrounds, and experiences. We emphasize equity, critical thinking, and collaboration in addressing the complex economic, social, and political issues across Alaska’s communities. THE ALASKA HUMANITIES FORUM serves as Alaska’s state humanities council—one of 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the country. Each functions as an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization to support the unique interests and needs within its state; collectively, the state councils work to “transform lives, connect communities, and enrich the nation.”

Through events, workshops, grants, and partnerships, the Alaska Humanities Forum seeks to:

■ Preserve, share, and amplify Alaska stories—particularly those that are not welldocumented or known broadly;

■ Strengthen community through face-toface conversations that encourage compassion, belonging, and connection across difference;

■ Engage people in dialogue around timely questions and themes that impact our lives and the shared human experience: our

● GRANTS ● LEADERSHIP

humanity.

FY20: Leadership Anchorage: 16 participants, 5 community impact projects;

Leader to Leader Exchange: 4 participants, Anchorage and Utqiag • vik

● CONVERSATION

The Forum leads, hosts, and funds public events, programs, and community discussions that bring people together to share their stories, ideas, and experiences so they may better understand themselves, one another, and the human experience.

Kindling Conversation, Facilitation Workshops, Culture Shift, Community Conversations, Togetherings

FY20: 606 people, 43 gatherings, 3 communities; 17 virtual / statewide gatherings

● EDUCATORS AND ● YOUTH

The Forum’s programming for educators and youth uses cultural immersion, reflective learning, and exploration to better prepare and connect educators and youth in rural and urban communities across Alaska.

Sister School Exchange, Creating Cultural Competence (C3), Tengluni, Alaska History Day, AK|Next FY20: Approx. 1000 students served, 52 educators, 42 communities

CREATING CULTURAL COMPETENCE (C3)

TARYN WILLIAMS

Educator in Goodnews Bay “When I applied to teach at my current school, I had had no exposure to Alaska Native culture or to the Alaskan Bush. I tried googling various blogs and articles about the area, but I was not able to find much that illustrated what life would be like from a

“I was able to integrate into the culture so much more quickly...”

first-person perspective. That changed quickly with C3—I immediately had the chance to connect both with Natives and other transplants who now call the area home. I am grateful to have participated in C3 because I was able to integrate into the culture so much more quickly than I otherwise would have been, and this has made the transition that much more enjoyable!”

FACILITATION TRAINING

LAUREN ROCCO

Operations Director, Alaska Family Services, Anchorage “Sylvia and I just co-led part one of a virtual strategic planning process. It went extremely well. Afterwards, we were reflecting on how one of the reasons it went so well was the training that we both received through the Forum. As an example, we crafted deliberate introductory activities at the start of the session (that were even celebrated in the feedback form). Thank you again for the opportunity to participate in the trainings. You are supporting Anchorage’s Coalition to prevent youth substance misuse!”

TENGLUNI

Take Wing “Tengluni” students and instructors toured UAA in early February prior to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

LOGAN PAUL of Kipnuk joined the Tengluni program this year and is interested in gaining vocational training after graduating. “Tengluni taught me about Yuuyaraq and how we live, and how we used to live. At UAA, I’ve learned about joining college and the many scholarship opportunities there are.”

KASEY IGKURAK of Kwigillingok is a high school junior interested in pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. “The Tengluni program showed me that there are many opportunities after high school. There are many places we can attend college. Sharing this experience with other students from near our area also felt good because it prepared us to meet other people when we come to college.”

“Tengluni has shown me how important it is to keep it going no matter how far I am from home.”

PAYTON CHANAR of Toksook Bay says she’s gained knowledge of not only postsecondary opportunities, but the knowledge of what is important in her culture. “I really want to thank Tengluni for giving me the opportunity to be part of this program. The Tengluni program has been helpful for my future. It’s taught me a lot about Yuuyaraq—our way of life. Tengluni has shown me how important it is to keep it going no matter how far I am from home.”

Tengluni content was originally published in the Calista Corporation Storyknife, courtesy of Calista Education and Culture, Inc. and Russ Slaten/ Calista Corporation.

LEADERSHIP ANCHORAGE

BRITTANI KNIGHT

Disabled Army Veteran, Veterans Affairs, Anchorage “LA helped me to see that essential leaders need partners to create deep change within our community. Engaging in partnerships with mutual and opposing ideas incorporated into one vision helps to build the political power necessary to make an impact on everyone. Creating change requires you to move beyond your own beliefs and expectations.”

CRYSTAL JACKSON

Customer Experience Manager GCI, Anchorage

“One of the most important lessons that I took away from LA is that if you want to effectively connect with others, you need to understand yourself first.”

JAKE DICKERHOFF

Pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Anchorage “Greatest lesson that I learned from my experience in Leadership Anchorage 23 is the deep need for us to be able to work across industry lines, whether in a nonprofit, ministry, for-profit, or government setting, the opportunity to coalesce all of our resources, all of our knowledge and experiences together to move forward in the same direction is such a gift to our community.”

FORUM FINANCIALS

IN 2020, the Alaska Humanities Forum received federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NEH funds are distributed to all state humanities councils in support of NEH’s founding commitment to critical, creative, and compassionate thinking and dialogue about the future of our country. This NEH

funding requires a 100% match each

year—investment from organizations and people throughout Alaska who want to make a real, lasting difference in communities across our state.

SOURCES OF FUNDING $2,993,027

CONTRIBUTIONS

EARNED

OTHER GRANTS

FEDERAL

EXPENSES $2,994,962

ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT/ FUND RAISING

GRANTS

The Forum’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. At printing, these numbers are preliminary. Final financials will be available in January, 2021.

ALASKA HUMANITIES FORUM DONORS

INDIVIDUALS

Donna Aderhold Aurora Agee Thea Agnew Bemben April Albeza James Alter Marilyn Alvarenga Jean Anderson Elaine M. Andrews Jane Angvik Anonymous Donors Chris and Maggi Arend Hans Arnett Leighanne Atwood Rachael Ball Janies Barlow-Alexander Barbara and Gary Baugh— in memory of John Cloe Micky Becker Scott Bell and Catherine Walling Marvin and Annette Bellamy Steve Bettis Erin Borowski Bruce Botelho Thomas Box Joan and Doug Braddock Gerry Briscoe Maida Buckley Rebecca Bunde Elizabeth Burke Jason Butler Megan Cacciola Annie Calkins Brenda Campen Teri Carns Heidi Catlett Jeffrey Chandler LeMiel Chapman and

Waltraud Barron Su Yun Chon Jim and Susan Clark Michael Clark Carol S. Comeau Penelope Cordes Katie Ione Craney Tiffany Creed Richard Cresgy Melinda Dale Amanda Dale Cami Dalton Mark Dalton Carmen Davis Kathy Day Patsy Lee Day Bathsheba Demuth George and Brenda Dickison Louise Driscoll Robert Eastaugh and

Suzanne Dvorak Barbara S. Eckrich Susan Elliott Wendy Erd and Peter Kaufmann Alina Fairbanks Rogan Faith Judith Farley-Weed Katherine Farnham Eyvette Flynn Heather Flynn Mark Foster Margaret Friedenauer Orcutt and Mary Frost Kay F. Gajewski Rebecca Gallen Susan Georgette John Gerrish Jennifer Gibbins Amy A. Greene Lynn Hallquist Elaine Hammes Anne Hanley William Hanson and Kate Troll Mercedes Harness Carol Harris Elizabeth Hartley James and Judy Hauck James and Nancy Hemsath Joshua Hemsath Anne Herman William Heumann and Marjorie Menzi Jason Hill Mara Hill Dianne Holmes Patrick and Patricia Holmes Martina Hopson Eileen Hosey Karen Hunt Elayne Hunter Timothy and Donna Hurley Janis Ilutsik Marianne Inman Sara Jackinsky Mark Johannes Lisa Johnson Martha Jokela Aldona Jonaitis Lora Jorgensen Donna Judkins Diane Kaplan Barbara Karl Ronald L. and Ann Keffer Cordelia Kellie Nancy Kemp Martha Keskinen Stephanie Kesler and Peter Partnow Anne Kettle David Kiffer Caroline Kim Sandra Kleven Joanna M. Knapp Lynndeen Knapp—in memory of James

Knapp and Robert R. Martin, Jr. Mary Ann Kondro Carolyn Sue Kremers James Kubitz Don Kussart Kathy and John LaMantia Claire LeClair Marilyn Lee and Eric Johnson David Lefton Heather Lende Ted Leonard Nancy Levinson Steve Lindbeck Nancy Lord and Ken Castner Cheryl Lovegreen John Lovett Linda L. Madsen Ellen Maling Mary C. Mangusso Blythe Marston and Gordon Pospisil Jerry and Judith Ann McDonnell Alexandra McKay Vanessa Meade James Metcalfe Peter Metcalfe Selina Metoyer Laci Michaud Mike Chmielewski and Lee Henrikson Ken Miller Kerstin Miller Linda Mitchell Stanton Moll John and Rika Mouw Marcus Mueller Cathy Munoz Jann D. Mylet Roberta Nabers Angela Nelson— in memory of Wendy Romberg Kristine Norosz January O’Connor Marie Olson Judith Owens-Manley Krist Palmatier and Joe Sonnier Virginia Palmer Bruce and Meredith Parham Aaron Partnow Jeremy Pataky Kaia Pearson Kameron Perez-Verdia Rebecca Pottebaum Virginia Potter Margaret and John Pugh Don Rearden Joel Reynolds Richard Riordan Jeffrey Rubin David Russell-Jensen Monika and Hurley Scherffius Conni Schlee Richard and Ila Sellingham Turid Senungetuk Catherine Shenk Linda Shepherd Judy and Wendell Shiffler John Shively— in memory of Wendy Romberg Sheri Skelton Chellie Skoog Deborah and Philip Smith Katherine Smith Moira K. Smith Jeannine Stafford-Jabaay Marcy and John R.D. Stalvey Jennifer Stansel Senator Gary and Rita Stevens Deborah L. Strode Jenny-Marie Stryker Susan Sugai Kathleen Tarr Sharon Thompson Christine Thorsrud Margaret Tileston Charles L. Tobin Loki Tobin Mead Treadwell Walter Van Horn Flory Vinson Tyler Watson John Weddleton Heidi Weiland Judith F. Whittaker Jetta Whittaker and Rob Steedle Shelley Wickstrom Kirstie Lorelei Willean Cheryl Williams Kristi Williams Kurt Wong Mary Bethe Wright Richard Yamada Members of LA13 raised funds to establish the Wendy Romberg

Memorial Scholarship for Leadership

Anchorage so that cost is not a barrier for future participants.

ORGANIZATIONS

Agnew::Beck Consulting Alaska Airlines Alaska Permanent Capital

Management Company Alderworks Alaska, LLC AmazonSmile Foundation Atwood Foundation Bristol Bay Native Corporation ConocoPhillips Alaska Cook Inlet Tribal Council ENSTAR Natural Gas Company GCI John C. Hughes Foundation Law Office of Jacob Sonneborn Nordic Constructors, LLC Northern Compass Group, LLC Rasmuson Foundation Renaissance Charitable Foundation, Inc. Sealaska Heritage Institute The Aspen Institute The CIRI Foundation The Frances & David Rose Foundation The National Endowment for the

Humanities TOTE Maritime Alaska

Donors listed here made contributions during the Forum’s fiscal year, which ran from Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020.