Tag Archive for: the alaska center

Support Black Business Month

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August is Black Business Month, a time to celebrate and amplify Black leadership in economic development and entrepreneurship across the country. Today we want to reflect on the importance of amplifying Black leadership in diversifying our economy and helping make the transition from an extractive economy to one that is thriving, just, and sustainable. There can be no climate justice without racial justice.

Across Alaska, we are straining our pocketbooks to pay ever-increasing utilities, food costs, and gas while simultaneously, our climate is in crisis. It has never been more evident: we desperately need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and create safe jobs that grow our workforce, sustain our resources, and help our communities thrive. This transition can range from new regenerative businesses like kelp harvesting, to broad-based investment in renewable energy, to supporting our small local artisans and businesses. However, the policies and projects we move forward with are only part of the solution. In supporting a just transition in Alaska, we also need to consider who is moving this process forward and ensure a diversity of representation in leaders and business owners.
Alaska and our country have been built on exploitation and extraction. Black and marginalized communities have carried an overwhelming environmental burden for centuries. Despite facing disproportionate impacts of the climate, economic, and health crises, Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color are at the forefront of developing new, innovative, and regenerative economies that support sustainable growth. By supporting this work, we can change the story of what economic development looks like in Alaska and take steps toward economic justice.

There is inspired Black leadership across our state, creating new opportunities for all Alaskans. Check out the Alaska Black Business Directory to support Black businesses in your community.

If you are in Anchorage, we encourage you to attend these amazing events brought to you by Umoja CoWorking and Incubator space and The Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce:

Business Mixer: 6PM August 27 at Umoja Coworking Space “Network, connect, build and learn how Black Chambers help.”
Onsite Childcare provided

Business & Economic Empowerment Retreat: September 17 at Dimond Center Hotel.
“Take some time to recharge and focus on your economic growth and development while hearing from State and National Speakers to include Calvin Martyr, Founder Blackout Coalition.”

To register to attend or sponsor or donate (All amounts help- both monetary and in-kind) check out this link: www.alaskablackbusinessdirectory.com/support

For more info and to get involved in either of these events email alaskablackchamberofcommerce@gmail.com

A just transition is for all of us, and we can get there by supporting the innovators in the new economy we are building.
The Alaska Center

Climate Action Plans are Community Care

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[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]Let’s talk about the beloved Climate Action Plan, where everyone from artists, foragers, to bus drivers are climate action experts. At the intersection of immense natural disasters and a lack of systematic preparedness, Climate Action Plans (CAPs) provide a necessary opportunity for neighbors to create the solutions to a crisis they all face.
Every year, the climate crisis clarifies two things: we are collectively unprepared, and our definition of suffering is expanding. We know the thousands of dollars of damage to our homes and cars from the snow and ice. Neighbors are traumatized from the fire evacuations; their empty suitcases are still by the door. Some of us can still hear the rumble of a mudslide burying a part of town. Others are now buying inhalers because the smoke was that bad.
Preparing for a crisis is hard when you’re currently in multiple. However, in these moments, the people suffering have the solutions to the crises. CAPs remind us that we need not know all the answers. Together, we are the solution.
Since the early 2000s, tribal governments and cities across the state came together to create their own Climate Action Plans: Pedro Bay, Homer, Sitka, Anchorage, and Juneau. Fairbanks is next on the roster as their Borough is currently soliciting feedback to draft their Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Fairbanks Borough residents are encouraged – now needed to join the CAAP Public Summit Event Saturday, August 13, from 10 am – 3 pm at the Borough Chambers. This summit is an opportunity to share the solutions residents need the Borough to implement.

More About Fairbanks’ CAAP >>>
Our leaders need to hear the breadth of the issues residents face. They need to see the wealth of ingenuity our communities have to offer. Without it, the CAAP will fall short.
For Alaskans outside of Fairbanks, you can support this momentum by ensuring we elect climate action champions in the Special, General, Midterm, and local Municipal elections. A CAP’s success relies heavily on climate action-oriented community and government leaders. On August 16, voters can ensure those leaders can help bring climate action to fruition. From voting to testimony, CAPs will require many forms of engagement to be successful. When we do this work together, the future looks bright. These are our communities and these should be our Climate Action Plans. Nothing for us without us.
The Alaska Center

\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”5″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”6″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”7″ ][cs_element_gap _id=”8″ ][cs_element_button _id=”9″ ][cs_content_seo]More Of Our Blog\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]

STATEMENT: On House Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act

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THE ALASKA CENTER STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

ANCHORAGE, AK- “The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is cost-saving legislation that makes long-overdue investments in clean energy, improves energy security, and will build a more affordable, healthy, and just future. This legislation will bring critical cost savings to Alaskan families and begins to address decades of disproportionate impacts of climate on communities of color and low-income communities. The IRA is urgently necessary legislation, and we are ready to support implementation that works for and with climate frontline communities.

This legislation is not perfect, and we know there is much work to be done, but it is vital to acknowledge the most significant climate policy moment in history and we are excited to see President Biden sign it into law. We can now look forward to continued work alongside our partners across Alaska to further transformative climate, care, jobs and justice investments to tackle the overlapping crises facing our communities, as part of a just transition.”- Jenny-Marie Stryker, Political Director, The Alaska Center

Contact:
Leah Moss,
Communications and Creative Director, The Alaska Center
917-613-6791, leah@akcenter.org

Simple Steps for Salmon Protection

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When the legislation creating a Wild Salmon Day for Alaska was considered in the Alaska State Legislature, we knew it was an important bill. Even if it is mainly a symbolic gesture of our collective goodwill toward the salmon that swim through the life of our Alaskan society and culture, it was a good bill because it was a simple bill.

At the same time, in hindsight, there is nothing simple about our relationship with salmon. Those who have relied on salmon and protected them for millennia might see the designation of a calendar day in honor of salmon as cheap, considering that it is integral to the existence of their people. There is also nothing terribly simple about the economic impact of wild salmon. Sport and commercial fishers view the same wild salmon run on often sharply divergent terms, and the management of these fish can raise all sorts of claims of political bias.
Wild Salmon Day, if anything, provides us with a point of reflection, and for that, it is crucial. We, who are so blessed to experience, eat, watch, hook, net, paint, write about, and otherwise contemplate these salmon, also are called upon to protect them. When it comes to protection, there is also a level of complexity; the simple answers are there but none are a fix-all.

We had great runs this summer in Bristol Bay, partly due to global warming trends increasing the freshwater food for juvenile salmon. While the salmon were flooding into Bristol Bay, catastrophic low returns have beset the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. The trawl sector undoubtedly bears some responsibility for killing off thousands of Y/K bound salmon as bycatch. So too do the Area-M fishers. And beyond that, the causes are giant, terrifying, and vague: ocean warming, river warming, ocean acidification, competition from hatchery fish, ocean regime change? The answers to the questions on how we protect wild salmon should be clear, but they are manyfold.

We know these things: we need to keep voting the right people into office who value salmon and will push for policy to protect their habitat, ensuring that our salmon runs thrive in all parts of our state. We must respect Indigenous stewardship and sustainability practices as we work to protect our wild salmon from future harm. We must come together in community to celebrate and honor the resource.
We must work throughout the year to protect our salmon for future generations. It is that simple.

On August 10 in Anchorage and August 14 in Fairbanks, come together to celebrate Wild Salmon Day and learn about how you can use your voice in a multitude of ways to protect our salmon.

Now through August 16, you have the chance to vote for leadership that will protect our salmon. We have endorsed Mary Peltola in part because of her commitment to protecting our salmon. Learn more about our endorsements and how and where to vote this election.
Today until September 6 you have the opportunity to have your voice heard to ensure EPA protections and to Stop Pebble Mine once and for all.

The solutions to the myriad of salmon issues we face aren’t simple but the end goal is: Protecting our Salmon for generations to come.
The Alaska Center

The Primary, Special, and General Election Ahead

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[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]Hi all,
I’m excited to share with you that The Alaska Center Board of Directors has wrapped up our endorsement process! 
As a part of this process, the Board considers a questionnaire that asks about our core issues, including climate, democracy, equity, Pebble Mine, records and voting history, and candidate code of conduct statements and actions. 
I’m thrilled to share The Alaska Center endorsements: 32 candidates for the state legislature, Mary Peltola for the special election for US Congress, and Pat Chesbro for US Senate (and, in case you missed it, our gubernatorial endorsement from the other week). In 5 legislative races, The Alaska Center recommends a ranking order for the general election, with the knowledge that our votes are most powerful when we rank our choices.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”5″ ][cs_element_button _id=”6″ ][cs_content_seo]Check Out Our Endorsements Here\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”7″ ][cs_element_text _id=”8″ ][cs_content_seo]We need leaders on every level who will stand up for our clean air and water, healthy communities, and strong democracy. And in this election, it is critical that we maintain and grow the bipartisan majority in the State House and build more power in the State Senate. 
These elections will determine the next two years of legislative advocacy, but the legislation that our leaders pass will determine our future decades from now. It’s past time that we pass the critical legislation. We need to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard to help our state meet renewable goals, we must create a ballot-curing process for voters, and it’s far past time we pass more comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. These candidates will decide whether we have to spend our time fighting off proposals from a hostile administration or devote more energy to creating the future we want to see.
Voting great leaders into office is essential to creating a thriving, just, and sustainable future. Make sure you’re ready to vote here!
Best,
Jenny-Marie Stryker
Political Director
The Alaska Center\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”9″ ][cs_element_button _id=”10″ ][cs_content_seo]More Of Our Blog\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]

RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IS HERE!

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[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]In 2020, Alaskans voted to approve a new voting system for statewide elections. Starting this year, we will use a system that combines an open primary with ranked-choice voting. This means that the four candidates with the most support will advance to the general election, regardless of their political party. Voters will then rank candidates in order of their preference, from first to last.

In the special election, the ranked-choice voting system will be used for the first time on August 16th, 2022, to fill former Rep. Don Young’s seat in the House of Representatives. The open primary in June narrowed the field of primary candidates down to four: Sarah Palin, Nick Begich, Mary Peltola, and Al Gross, who recently dropped out of the race. At the same time, they rank candidates for the special election, voters will also choose one primary candidate to advance to the general election for the permanent House position.

After voters make their choices on August 16th, their first-place choices will be tallied. If no candidate gets over 50% of the votes in the first round, the least popular candidate will be eliminated, and the votes for them reassigned to their voters’ second-choice picks. This process will continue until one candidate has over half of the votes. While it is not required to rank all four (or, in this case, three) candidates, it is recommended because it means that your voice can be heard throughout the entire election, not just in the first round.

While ranked-choice voting is brand new in Alaska, it’s been used successfully in states and cities throughout the country, including for federal elections in Maine and recently in the election for New York City mayor. Ranked-choice voting is just as secure and effective as more traditional voting forms. The new system means that our votes will go further, and our preferences will still be counted even if our first-choice candidate doesn’t win.

Because the August 16th election is a General Election for the Special Primary, and a Primary Election for the Regularly scheduled election, it will be conducted in person at local polling places, unlike recent Anchorage Municipal elections and primaries. Anyone who wishes to vote by mail for any reason must request an absentee ballot at least ten days before election day and make sure that their ballot is postmarked on or before election day to be counted.

The Alaska Center Education Fund is putting on a series of events this summer to help Alaskans learn about, and practice ranked-choice voting before putting it into practice in August. Join us on July 19th from 6-8 p.m. at Fairview Lions Park for free dinner and ranked-choice voting fun or check out our website or social media for more information on our events for this summer!
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Make a plan, register to vote, and get ready to ranked-choice vote!

Olivia was born and raised in Anchorage and is currently a Junior studying Political Science and Spanish Language and Literature with a minor in Peace and Justice Studies at Fordham University. She is passionate about civic engagement and is excited to continue her work empowering and educating voters as a Youth Civic Engagement Fellow with The Alaska Center Education Fund.

Originally published July 25, 2022 by Sol de Medianoche.\n\nPicturePicturePicture[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]

Rank it, Flip it, Be Heard

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Ranked-Choice voting is here, Alaska! Our new ranked-choice voting system will be used for the first time on August 16 to fill former Rep. Don Young’s seat in the House of Representatives. It’s time to learn about the process and start researching to choose candidates and ballot measures that represent your values.

The open primary in June narrowed the field of primary candidates down to three: Sarah Palin, Nick Begich, and Mary Peltola. At the same time they rank candidates for the special election, voters will also choose one primary candidate to advance to the general election for the permanent House position along with Governor/Lt. Governor, US Senate, and State Senate and House Representatives for various districts across the state. You will pick one candidate for each of the primary races on the front of your ballot, then flip your ballot and rank the three running for the US. Special Election.

After voters make their choices on Election Day, all the absentee, early, and election day ballots will be counted, and all voters’ first-place choices will be tallied. If no candidate gets over 50% of the votes in the first round, the least popular candidate will be eliminated, and the votes for them reassigned to their voters’ second-choice picks. This process will continue until one candidate has over half of the votes. While it is not required to rank all four (or, in this case, three) candidates, it is recommended because it means that your voice can be heard throughout the entire election, not just in the first round.

While ranked-choice voting is brand new in Alaska, it’s used successfully in states and cities throughout the country, including for federal elections in Maine and recently in the election for New York City mayor. Ranked-choice voting is just as secure and effective as more traditional voting forms. The new system means that our votes will go further, and our preferences will still be counted even if our first-choice candidate doesn’t win.

Because the August 16 election is a statewide general election, it will be conducted in person at local polling places, unlike recent Anchorage Municipal elections and special primaries. Anyone who wishes to vote by mail for any reason must request an absentee ballot at least ten days before Election Day and make sure that their ballot is postmarked on or before election day.
It’s important to be an informed voter on Election Day. Stay tuned for next week’s blog to learn which candidates The Alaska Center will be endorsing for races across the state.
As always, thanks for voting.
The Alaska Center

A special step towards a better future

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What if Alaskans have the power to change the trajectory of our entire nation? We know that might sound like pie-in-the-sky dreaming or potentially the ramblings of an overly optimistic team committed to our climate future. But honestly, right now, this special election could influence national politics more than you may realize.

Recently we had the chance to vote in our special runoff primary, and we have three candidates to choose from in the August special election. These 3 candidates show us three routes our state could take depending on who rises to the top in the next Ranked Choice election. We could be looking at an extremist conservative candidate with a history of abandoning our state in times of need. We could have an even more extreme candidate who wants to remove bodily autonomy and destroy the EPA. Or we could make another choice, and the seat left open by Don Young could be filled with a progressive candidate who has shown their commitment to protecting our salmon, our communities, and our way of life in Alaska.

Isn’t it about time an Indigenous woman represents our state? Isn’t it about time we let our leaders know that the attacks on our bodily autonomy, environmental protections, and accessible voting are not just decisions Alaskans will sit idly by and watch? Isn’t it time we show the rest of the nation what change can look like and what we need leadership to be?

Sure this special election is for a limited term, but this first special election has the ability to set the stage for an election season where Alaskans say we want progressive leaders to make effective and long-lasting policy decisions for the country. Decisions that can help turn the direction of our climate and our country’s future.

And while this special term is only a few months, whoever gets elected has a much stronger chance of being elected in November. When people turn up to vote, the political infrastructure (campaigns, parties, and political spenders) listens. This is an opportunity for Alaskans to influence bigger and broader elections.

This election is a chance to show up and move the needle for our climate and our communities. When we show up at the polls, we show leadership that we are active and will stay engaged. Our numbers in elections can set the tone, and our leaders can expect to be held accountable for the length of their term.

This year, Alaskans have a lot of elections, and each of them holds the power to make a significant change in our state and our country. This special election can be more special than we may even know. Don’t forget this Sunday is the Voter registration deadline for the special house election.

Keep your eye on the prize, and together we can build a future for all Alaskans.
The Alaska Center

The Governor’s Election Ahead – Our Endorsement

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After an in-depth process, The Alaska Center Board of Directors has unanimously voted to endorse the Les Gara and Jessica Cook Gubernatorial ticket and encourages voters to rank the Bill Walker and Heidi Drygas ticket second.

The Gara/Cook campaign stands by The Alaska Center values 100%. Les Gara has a strong track record of being a clean air and water champion, healthy communities, and a strong democracy. This campaign has a vision for Alaska we want to be in and the leadership skills to get the job done. This endorsement decision was not a difficult one.

In a ranked-choice voting environment, voters must rank multiple candidates to give us the best chance to defeat Governor Dunleavy in this election.

More On Our Endorsement

While Governor Walker may not share every policy goal of ours, we know that he would do right by Alaskans in restoring civil leadership to the administration that recognizes the urgency of the climate crisis. We encourage voters to rank the Walker/Drygas ticket second.

The stakes in this election are incredibly high: we need to oust Governor Dunleavy. Dunleavy has orchestrated a budget crisis that threatens our communities. He has been a puppet for Pebble Mine and supported conspiracy theories that sow doubts in our election system. He has even attempted to gut our Automatic Voter Registration and waste millions of dollars of our dwindling state resources in supporting countless frivolous lawsuits, sweetheart contracts, and more. It is time for Dunleavy to go.

Alaskans deserve leadership that has a vision for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. These candidates can bring our state back on track and can pave a new path forward to a sustainable, renewable, and viable Alaska that works for All Alaskans.

I hope you join me in ranking Les Gara and Jessica Cook first, and Governor Walker and Heidi Drygas second!

Why do you celebrate Juneteenth?

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[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]This weekend, Alaskans and others across our country will commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth. Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth is a time to recognize and amplify Black excellence. It is also a call to action: that we must engage in anti-racism in every aspect of our lives to push back against the continued oppression of white supremacy throughout our education, government, and legal systems and throughout our communities. And it is a reminder of the growth and healing we are capable of when we learn about our true histories.
Juneteenth is also a time to reflect upon the importance of prioritizing freedom from over freedom to. For decades “states” and plantation owners thought they had the freedom to enslave human beings for profit. But we all must have freedom from enslavement, violence, misinformation, colonization, government retaliation, and brutality of any kind; and fight for freedom from attacks on our genders and identities.
Juneteenth is an opportunity to lift up all voices and ensure everyone can access and participate in the decisions impacting our communities and lives. To have a true democracy, all Alaskans must be able to vote and be reflected by the leaders we elect.
The Anchorage Juneteenth Citywide Celebration will be the largest ever, starting with a Freedom Rally at 12:30 pm on Saturday, June 18th at the Delaney Park strip. There will be over 100 vendors, games, and activities for the whole family, entertainment, dignitaries, a parade, a pageant, speakers, and more! We will be there running the KidZone (lots of fun activities!), and helping voters understand the new Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system. We need more volunteer help, please email info@akcenter.org if you can join us for a shift!
In Fairbanks on Saturday, we’ll be at NAACP’s Freedom Day from 10 am to 2 pm at Allridge Park. This picnic and party will have food, vendors, cultural presentations, and activities for the whole family.
We hope you can join us at these events or others in your community, celebrating freedom, standing in solidarity with others, and speaking truth to power toward a thriving, just, and sustainable future. See you out there!

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