Red Cross to host multi-day training conference
The American Red Cross of Alaska will be holding a three-day training conference in Juneau from Friday, Nov. 15-Sunday, Nov. 17.
The Southeast Disaster Institute is a multi-day training conference designed to increase volunteer capacity for community preparedness and partnerships and Red Cross disaster response in Southeast Alaska.
Participants new to the Red Cross will be encouraged to take on volunteer roles as preparedness educators or shelter volunteers, and those with previous Red Cross experience will increase their capacity to take on supervisory roles, become disaster instructors and assist during casualty or transportation incidents.
Training classes and activities on Friday will take place at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 4212 Mendenhall Loop Road. Saturday and Sunday classes and activities will take place at Bartlett Regional Hospital, 3260 Hospital Drive.
Course offerings include shelter field guide and shelter operations simulation, natural hazards in Alaska, an overview of logistics, public affairs lunch and learn, basic instructor fundamentals, concept of operations management and simulation, mass care management, integrated care condolence team and disaster mental health.
For questions, additional detail or to RSVP, call Andrew Bogar at 907-347-5841 or email andrew.bogar@redcross.org.
Youth Equity Project receives grant
A program dedicated to providing children from low-income households with healthy opportunities recently received a donation from First Bank.
First Bank donated $5,000 to the Youth Equity project, the Juneau Community Foundation announced in a release on Monday. The funds will be matched by the Friends of Zach Gordon Youth Center and other donors through the Juneau Community Foundation.
Members of the Juneau Community Foundation receive a donation from First Bank in support of the Youth Equity Project. Pictured from left: Luliia Segal, First Bank, Jamie Waste and Jenna Rutecki, Juneau Community Foundation, and Bob Anderson, First Bank. (Courtesy photo | First Bank)
The Youth Equity Project is a community collaboration that has resulted in more than 100 disadvantaged students getting to participate in various youth activities and programs. Partners include the youth center, Juneau School District, youth activity providers and other agencies. It is the second year that First Bank has donated to the program.
More than 1,400 Juneau students live in poverty, and 28% of Juneau students are eligible for free and reduced price lunch.
Healing Hand Foundation appoints new board president
The Healing Hand Foundation — which assists veterans, Alaska Natives and American Indians living in Southeast Alaska meet certain unfunded medical and health care related needs — has a new president of its board of directors.
Desiree Jackson is the new president, the nonprofit announced Monday. She will be succeeding Joseph Kahklen who has been board president since the organization’s inception in 2001, and voluntarily stepped down from the position.
“It has been an honor to help build the Healing Hand Foundation as President of the Board,” Kahklen said in a release. “I am proud of what we have accomplished and remain committed to continued involvement as a board member. The Board and I have confidence in Desiree’s leadership and ability to further advance the organization.”
Jackson has worked in the Alaska health care system for more than 20 years. She has held positions at the Southeast Regional Health Consortium, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and SouthCentral Foundation. Currently, she is the Director of Tribal Services for Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority.
Spruce Root receives $250K grant
Spruce Root announced Monday that it is the recipient of a $250,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation as part of its Resilient Communities program in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The funding will help Spruce Root increase collaboration among tribal communities in Southeast Alaska to responsibly manage natural resources that are vital to Alaska Native and rural communities. The grant unlocks $1.5 million in matching funds, for a total conservation impact of $1.75 million.
The Spruce Root grant is among 11 Resilient Communities Program grants awarded this year, totaling $2.9 million, and generating an additional $5.6 million in matching contributions for nonprofit organizations and tribes across the U.S. to help communities address and mitigate the impact of climate change and natural disasters.
This grant will support the work of Spruce Root in training 20 community catalysts and engaging 60 community members in the Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Kasaan, Sitka and Yakutat tribes. These community catalysts and community members serve as part of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.
Spruce Root is a nonprofit that promotes economic development and job creation in Southeast Alaska by providing access to small business loans and business advisory services.
Apply now for scholarship intern fund
Applications are now being accepted for the Nick Begich Scholarship Intern Fund for Alaskans pursuing degrees and/or careers in education, government and public service.
The fund will provide approximately 10 scholarships for the coming year, ranging in sum from one $2,500-$3,000 Eugene A. Kennedy scholarship to the highest-scoring applicant (which may be renewed for up to four years) to one-year scholarships of at least $1,000.
Scholarship applications may be requested through the email and mail addresses below. Eligibility requirements are on the application form.
Applications will be accepted by email or U.S. mail and must be sent and postmarked no later than Feb. 20, 2020. Applications received after that date will not be considered. Award winners will be announced in June 2020. All application documents must be submitted in one packet/ transmission to one of the following addresses:
E-mail: tsbegich@gmail.com
U.S. mail: Nick Begich Scholarship Intern Fund
Attn: Tom Begich, Executive Director
P.O. Box 142711
Anchorage, AK 99514-2711
Questions about scholarships and internships may be addressed to info@nickbegichfund.org and sent to the above email or postal addresses.
