North to the Future: Agenda Free in Anchorage
Our partners for the past four years, the Alaska Literacy Program (ALP), invited us to tour the Anchorage community. ALP’s mission is to change lives through all areas of literacy beyond traditional reading and writing. They recruit, train, and certify volunteer teachers to educate individuals on the basics, plus digital technology, financial wellness, and physical and mental health. As their partner in our community-building initiative, we support their work to build infrastructure, including leadership training and succession planning.
Jason Lacsamana, SJF Director, Programs and Partnerships, and Amy Huang, Program Coordinator, had a whirlwind trip “north to the future.” After a full day of travel, they met at Fresh International Gardens (FIG), an agricultural program encouraging well-being, expanding food access, and supporting small-business development in refugee communities. At FIG, they are creating a workforce development pathway and honoring and supporting immigrants and refugees by encouraging the farming of foods from their home countries. The purpose is two-fold in that individuals have foods that connect them to their history, and they support sustainability and healthy eating, which can be difficult in food deserts.
This community is the most diverse zip code in the nation, with over 100 languages spoken within the school district. This highlights the need for community-based programs that support immigrant and refugee populations.
After spending time at FIG, the group toured the Mountain View Mural Walk, a neighborhood-led initiative to showcase Alaskan artists, spotlight existing neighborhood gems, create new public art, and connect visitors to the vibrant heart of the community. Genevieve Mina, Alaska State Representative, joined us on the tour and offered insight into the community and residents.
They also visited classes at ALP and toured Umoja, a co-working space for grassroots BIPOC-led organizations. Lunch at Umoja included meet-and-greets with some organizations with space there, including the Pacific Community of Alaska (PCA). This was the first time meeting the leaders of PCA, who represent Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and work to promote social, economic, physical, and mental health and well-being.
Throughout the trip, they meet with leaders from the Alaska Public Interest Research Group, Keys to Life, Anchorage Public Library, Women’s Power League, ALP board members, and the Anchorage Mayor’s office staff. The meeting included a listening session with our Peer Leader Navigators, leaders in their communities who are embedded in many non-profit organizations around town, such as Catholic Social Services’ Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services, Providence Hospital, Anchorage Health Dept, Anchorage School District, and more.
The trip went too quickly, and the information gathered was insightful. Fostering our partnerships and sharing where we’ve been and what we hope to build together without an agenda is a unique and treasured experience. This was an opportunity for ALP to showcase their community and how community organizing is interconnected. We were able to see first-hand the intricacy behind these key activists’ work in healing and how they represent the success that comes with community collaboration and cooperation.
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