With your support, we faced the challenges of 2020 and made inspiring strides toward a thriving, just, and sustainable future, together.

Engaging the next generation of Alaskan leaders

Our young climate leaders

Alaska Youth for Environmental Action

Innovation and Inspiration

On Earth Day, AYEA teens orchestrated an ONLINE youth climate strike bringing over 200 people to fight for our climate and future. With travel impossible, AYEA transformed the annual in-person Youth Organizer Summit into a multi-day event where a dozen teens worked with mentors to learn about climate and racial justice.

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Engaging Alaskan Kids

Trailside Discovery Camp

Outdoor Education

We helped children and families find solace through innovative outdoor education! During a tidal wave of parental stress, our Trailside Discovery Camp was a lead innovator in shifting outdoor education camp programs to meet a dire child care need over the summer of 2020. They expanded the program and received a Best of Alaska award as a result!

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SUPPORTING CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL ALASKANS

Clean energy for more Alaskans

Low-Cost Solar for Alaska

Solarizing Alaska!

Bringing neighbors together for bulk discounts on home solar is building stronger, healthier communities. In partnership with local community groups and installers, nine neighborhoods in Anchorage and four neighborhoods in Fairbanks have solarized. We have high ambitions for 2021 - we’re expanding the program to reach more communities.

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Advocating for Local Climate Action

Making it Possible for Businesses to Become Energy Efficient

CPACE legislation

We supported and successfully advocated for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) legislation in the 2020 session. CPACE will allow cities and boroughs to incentivize businesses to commit to energy efficiencies and renewable energy via a property tax credit. This legislation was successfully adopted in Anchorage in November 2020, and we see more movement for 2021.

Advancing Clean Energy

Making our local utilities work for us

Local Climate Solutions matter

We helped elect pro-clean energy majorities to two out of four major utilities in Alaska and increased voter turnout in the Anchorage utility election by 2.5%. We will continue this momentum into 2021 and bring more people into Utility conversations across the rail belt. If stakeholders engage with their utilities directly, it can set the foundations for a shift to renewables

Moving Climate Action Forward

Bringing Local Leaders Together

Municipal Climate Leaders Cohort

We launched a Municipal Climate Leaders Cohort, to collaboratively strategize with local government leaders advancing climate action plans in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Seward, Kodiak, Homer, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough focusing on viable real-time climate action despite inaction at the state and federal levels.

Engaging Alaskans in Climate Solutions

Climate Talks, Truths, and Ways Forward

Conversations for Change

Important conversations about climate issues are often inaccessible to the public and unreachable to the people and communities most impacted. The Climate, Care, & Community Series is a space to gather, learn about, and discuss climate topics in Alaska. We held six webinars in 2020, including topics like Black Identities in Sustainability and Salmon and Climate Change.

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PROTECTING THE RESOURCES THAT SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITIES

Working to stop Pebble Mine

Driving Action

Key Pebble Permit Denied

After thousands of comments were submitted on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Pebble Mine, the Army Corps of Engineers denied a key permit for Pebble Mine. Our members, volunteers, partners, and staff fought tirelessly to stop Pebble Mine, and this permit denial shows that Alaskan voices are being heard. This huge step towards protecting Bristol Bay, but the fight isn't over.

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Protecting Salmon Habitat

Returning Water to the River

Restoring the Eklutna River

This year, we worked alongside our partners to raise awareness about the Eklutna Dam and the work that still needs to be done to return water to the Eklutna River. In 2018, we celebrated the removal of the first Dam, but there is still not enough water for the salmon to return. By co-hosting educational events and collecting petitions, we pushed for the next steps for the Eklutna Restoration Project.

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SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY for ALL ALASKANS

Activating More Young Voters

Galvanizing the next generation

#vote

The Alaska Center Education Fund worked to activate young and first-time voters this election season. We offered several 45-minute basic voting training to encourage peer to peer education, and we co-hosted a four-day social media event with UAA that featured Alaska musicians who believe our vote can make a difference. Because of this, we helped thousands of young voters tune in and turn out to vote this cycle.

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Reaching More Alaskan Voters

Ensuring Everyone Has the Tools to Vote

Voting Support

This fall, we partnered to hire Voter Engagement Specialists to work with a statewide team of advocates to encourage voter participation in the election. Through canvassing, using covid-safe best practices, conducting calls and dropping over 8,000 voter education materials, we helped to expand our voter reach and engagement in Alaska. We will be able to utilize this network in elections to come.

Learn More about our Partner Native Peoples Action

Protecting our Democracy

Ensuring a Safe and Fair Election

Election Protectors

We partnered to create an election protector program which consisted of registered Alaskan voters who volunteered to support a safe and fair election process for every Alaskan. As an Election Protector, community members helped ensure polling places were safe, reliable, and accessible. This collaborative effort shows the growth and potential of our continued state-wide election protection work.

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ENVISIONING A JUST TRANSITION FOR ALASKA

Partnering for a Just Transition

Kohtr'elneyh - Remembering Forward

A Just Transition for Alaska

In January 2020, we co-hosted Alaska’s first Just Transition Summit. It was a powerful three days that convened leaders from Alaska Native, Racial Justice, Consumer Advocacy organizations, labor and small business interests to generate ideas for policy and programs that will help Alaska transition to an equitable, clean energy economy. These conversations set the path for our growth in 2021 and beyond. justtransitionak.org.

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Strengthening our advocacy, together

Tools to Advocate for a Just Alaska

Allyship and Action: Webinar Series

In partnership with Native Movement, we offered a training series for our volunteer leaders, activists, and supporters to become stronger advocates for equitable change. This four-part series addressed power and privilege, colonization and decolonization, white supremacy culture, and white fragility. These are conversations we are ready to expand in 2021.

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SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP FOR A BRIGHTER ALASKA

Electing Climate Champions

Leaders Who Champion our Vision

Making the Change

The Alaska Center endorses candidates who share our vision for a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations. In 2020, we were proud to endorse over thirty climate champions. Sixteen of our endorsed candidates won seats, some in key districts in the state. We know that with these leaders in office we are on our way to a more just Alaska.

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Holding our leaders accountable

Asking Hard Questions and Holding our Leaders Accountable

Candidate Forums

With our partners in the Interior, we were able to host two free, non-partisan, and public virtual candidate forums where climate action, workers advocacy, communal justice, and education were the focus. This year we transitioned the in-person forum online and hosted over 100 Alaskan voters. We are excited about the opportunities virtual forums will have in 2021.

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