Spirit of Youth

Spirit of Youth’s most recent annual report is now available. You can read about the organization’s accomplishments here.

Regular Connections Prevent Suicide

Teens who engage in regular, positive connections with both adults and peers show fewer signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, studies show. Spirit of Youth and Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying, through the Alaska Teen Media Institute, recently produced PSAs for local radio stations, encouraging teens to reach out to each other on a regular basis.

Bullying is a major cause of  suicide among youth, and the Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying website provides Alaska adults and teens with several resources to help create connections, get information, and locate allies within their communities.

Listen in, below!

Watch the 2023 Spirit of Youth Awards Ceremony!

Families, friends, and community members joined together on Saturday, May 6 in celebration of the 2023 Spirit of Youth Award winners. Produced by Alaska Teen Media Institute members and hosted by the Spirit of Youth Teen Advisory Council, the ceremony featured winners and runners up for each of the eight categories, and included descriptions of their projects and community innovations.

Missed the ceremony? It is available to watch HERE.

*Nominations are now open for the 2024 awards! Know a young Alaskan between the ages of 12-19? Take a few minutes to nominate them for their outstanding work in service of Alaska.

2023 Spirit of Youth Award Winners Announced

Spirit of Youth is pleased to announce recipients of the 2023 Spirit of Youth Awards, recognizing 16 teens and youth groups from communities across Alaska. Now in its 25th year, the recognition ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 via Zoom.

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes of our state, acknowledging the hard work and efforts of Alaska’s future leaders through sharing their inspiring stories. Selected by the Spirit of Youth Teen Advisory Council, individual recipients will receive a college savings scholarship account from Alaska 529, and awarded groups will receive a grant.

Individuals and groups will be honored by category: 

PHOENIX AWARD

The Phoenix Award celebrates youth who display exceptional determination and perseverance as they overcome significant life challenges 

Catheryne “Catey” Habberstad (Anchorage) is involved with South High School student government, and has mentored other students with cerebral palsy at her school and online through a website called CHASA (Childhood Hemiplegia and Stroke Association).

Runner-Up: Briley Loncar (Anchorage) is a mentor, volunteer, and advocate for those less fortunate. She donates her time to help empower young girls to set goals, prove their self-confidence, and become stewards of their own communities.

DREAMER AWARD

The Dreamer Award recognizes teens who are actively engaging in their community through the preservation of cultural practices and arts, those who share personal expression through visual or performing arts, and those who cultivate youth voice through media and digital art forms. 

Sophia Moon Layos-Wagaman (Fairbanks) is an aspiring circus arts performer and competitive gymnast. She was the the first-ever recipient of the $5,000 Connecting Circus Students Around the World Tuition Grant for a U.S. Circus Artist of Color.

Runner-Up: Mazzy Adkins (Anchorage) is a skilled Athabaskan beader, creating a beading class for third and fourth-graders at her school. Mazzy helps shine a light on Indigenous knowledge, making it something desirable and important.

HUMANITARIAN AWARD 

The Humanitarian Award recognizes youth who have put forth efforts to make their community a better place or are active in local or state government.

Alora Wassily, Trista Wasily, Harmony Larson (Dillingham) as 5th graders began an initiative to change the derogatory name of a local creek after learning the origins of the name during a presentation at the Curyung Tribal Council. 

Runner-Up: Josephine “Josie” Violet Adasiak (Fairbanks) is the only Fairbanks representative for Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, addressing the issues of food justice and security in her community to improve sustainable and inclusive access to food for all.

VISIONARY AWARD

Visionary Award recognizes youth who have turned their creativity and knowledge into an entrepreneurial or economic venture.

Abbey Markell (Anchorage) started her own business from scratch, baking healthy, homemade dog treats for a local pet supply store’s two locations. Abbey gives away treats to family and friends, and expired treats go to the Alaska SPCA.

Runner-Up: Luke Jack (Angoon) is a longtime volunteer in the Alaska Youth Stewards program, addressing issues of local littering and marine debris in Southeast Alaska. He also serves his school through a small school cafe he created himself.

LIFESAVER AWARD

The Lifesaver Award celebrates youth who have gone above and beyond “the call of duty” by preventing injuries and illness and saving lives. 

Sycely Wheeles (Anchorage) is a student leader with a passion for student mental health advocacy. Sycely has dedicated time and energy to raising public awareness of student mental health issues, and toward improving conditions for young people in Alaska.

Runner-Up: Leena Edais (Anchorage) is an advocate for tobacco prevention, co-writing a presentation for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District about the dangers of nicotine addiction. She is planning the 2023 Youth Encouraging Alaskans Health Summit.

ROLE MODEL AWARD

Teens nominated for the Role-Model Award lend a helping hand to peers and younger youth in their community. 

Jaeden Binion (Anchorage) is an incredible leader and is passionate about spreading the message of inclusion. He is a Special Olympics Alaska athlete and is one of two Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors representing Alaska. 

Runner-Up: Aaron Harkley (Anchorage) is an intuitive, natural leader as a longtime member of the Mountain View Boys & Girls Club, working to set up activities and events for younger members. Aaron is also a gifted student of music and video production.

INNOVATOR AWARD

The Innovator Award shines the spotlight on the efforts of youth who have shown excellence in the fields of math, science and engineering through research, study, or improvement in their community.

Mo Narus, Skylar Berg, and Grainne Rogacki (Anchorage) worked with Huffman Elementary PTO to start and facilitate a Science Club for students at their former elementary school.  

Runner-Up: Hannah Lewellyn (Fairbanks) participates in Lego Challenge events that test students’ abilities in technology and science. She has assisted younger students with the skills of coding and problem-solving. She also works with homeless youth as a volunteer.

DISCOVERY AWARD

The Discovery Award highlights accomplishments made by youth in science with a specific focus on the environment.

Lauryn Maiyuraq Nanouk Jones (Unalakleet) is addressing problems like renewable energy and sustainability for rural Alaskans, and is focused on the bigger picture of helping remote communities regarding environmental issues, renewable energies, and gathering people together.

Runner-Up: Riga Grubis (Fairbanks) dedicates her time to the Model United Nations project. She also serves on the Friends of Creamer’s Field board of directors as its youngest member, and volunteers at Tanana Lakes to remove invasive vegetation.

Sponsors of the Spirit of Youth Awards include: Alaska Children’s Trust, Alaska 529, Altman, Rogers & Co, Atwood Foundation, Enstar Natural Gas, Mat-Su Health Foundation, and the Nick Begich Scholarship Intern Fund. 

New Bullying Prevention Website Launches

Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying has launched a new website to address the issue in Alaska. EndBullyingAK was built through partnerships with the Alaska Department of Health, Anchorage Youth Vote, and Spirit of Youth, and seeks to empower the community to work together to build inclusive, bullying-free environments across the state.

One in five Anchorage youth report they have been the target of bullying, which is classified as unwanted, aggressive behavior among peers that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. This behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying has been working to address the problem for more than five years, and the website will prove to be an important tool in those efforts. Featuring resources that range from anti-bullying trainings, podcast recordings, and downloadable fact sheets, the website will be a valuable asset for educators, employers, parents, coaches, and youth themselves.

The website also lists grant opportunities specifically designed for youth-led projects that address the issue of bullying. Aimed at middle and high school youth, grant applicants are encouraged to create projects or programs that promote respect and inclusion; increase community awareness; and reduce stigma around bullying among their peer groups.

Funding for the website was provided with support from a Comprehensive Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention grant from Alaska Department of Health, received by Spirit of Youth.

Grant Awardees Announced for Anti-Bullying Projects

The Spirit of Youth Coalition is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022-2023 “Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying” grants. The coalition awarded up to $3,000 for youth-led projects that work to prevent bullying in schools, clubs, or other programs in the greater Anchorage area. Grantees will establish and implement programs that promote respect and inclusion; increase the broad community awareness and concern of bullying and its consequences; and reduce stigma among middle and high school youth about reporting bullying. 

Four programs were selected from among the applicants: 

One Eagle project at West High School

Students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program will provide presentations to peers at West High and other Anchorage high schools regarding bullying, its impacts, and resources for teens. Student artists will also craft an anti-bullying sticker to distribute to all members of the high school community. 

You Are Not Alone (YANA) at West High School

Funding for the You Are Not Alone (YANA) program will provide assets for the “Bee Kind” campaign, that recognizes bullying speech and behavior, and empowers youth to speak up in support of peers experiencing bullying. Presentations will be delivered to all math classes at West High, with pencils printed with the 988 Careline number as a prompt for student action. Additionally, a monthly giveaway of “Bee Kind” sweatshirts will be conducted at the school.

Alaska Youth Orchestras (AYO) “Making Beautiful Music Together” project

Youth leaders among the orchestras will establish a peer-to-peer awareness and discussion platform to better equip these high-caliber teen musicians with tools to address bullying. This increased awareness will come about through training for adult and youth leaders, including parents, teachers, and staff of the orchestra programs, with the goal of feeling empowered to address concerns to the Anchorage Youth Orchestras leadership and community at large. 

Dance Contempo at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School

The members of East High School’s Dance Contempo group are creating a community-minded performance to present to local middle schools and showcase to fellow high school peers between February and April, 2023. Led by a student choreographer, the performance will center around the themes of respect for those who are different, and finding beauty in the power of creating as a team, while also providing tools for addressing bullying behavior. 

Learn more about the Spirit of Youth Coalition’s anti-bullying efforts at www.endbullyingak.org. Funding was made available through a grant from Alaska Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, Prevention and Early Intervention.

Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying

Spirit of Youth, Anchorage Youth Vote, and other community partners are working as a coalition to build inclusive environments free from bullying.

Approximately 20% of students age 12-18 have experienced bullying. The Spirit of Youth Coalition was created to decrease the risk factor of bullying and to promote protective factors among Anchorage youth. Spirit of Youth is dedicated to creating, promoting and recognizing youth involvement in communities across Alaska. Anchorage Youth Vote works to amplify youth voice and create opportunities for meaningful youth engagement in Anchorage. Together, with other partners in the Spirit of Youth Coalition, we work to ensure that all Alaska youth are included, heard, and empowered.

Up to $3,000 is available for awardees of Bullying Prevention Campaign Grants are specifically intended to support youth-led projects for middle and high school students in Anchorage that meet the following goals:

• Promote respect and inclusion
• Increase the broad community awareness and concern of bullying and its serious consequences
• Reduce stigma among middle and high school youth about reporting bullying
• Increase bullying awareness among students, parents, teachers and school staff of institutions within the Municipality of Anchorage.

Apply for grant funding by December 9, 2022.
Access the grant guide and application HERE. 

Previous grant recipients have included:

• Anchorage Youth Court
• Koahnic Broadcast Corporation – Youth Health Reporters
• You Are Not Alone (YANA) – West High
• You Are Not Alone (YANA) – Hanshew Middle School
• Anchorage Youth Task Force
• League of Women Voters Anchorage / Anchorage Youth Vote
• Stone Soup Group
• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Alaska
• Junior National Honor Society
• Benny Benson Secondary School
• See Stories
• Choosing Our Roots
• Identity
• Ignition Mentorship – Dimond High School
• Boys & Girls Club  – Southcentral Alaska
• Girl Scouts of Alaska
• Clark Middle School

2022 Spirit of Youth Radio Stories

Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees to record the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities.

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its 24th year, the awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders who utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories.

Thank you to the Alaska Teen Media Institute for creating these radio stories!

Shandiin “Suella” Wendell — Chugiak, Innovator Award

Suella is a facilitator and communicator on important social issues. Most recently, she has been focusing on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic, bringing outreach to her community through her projects, participation in community events, and social networking. 

Story By Quinn White

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Mia Siebenmorgen Cresswell— Cordova, Discovery Award 

Mia helps beautify Cordova by picking invasive species and maintaining the local native plants. She helps with recycling efforts and organized a youth-led march to garner attention for climate change. 

Story By Edison Wallace Moyer

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Emaline Buchanan — Wasilla, Visionary Award

When Emaline was 13, she started a nonprofit called Duchess Foundation. The nonprofit provides feminine products to school nurses and school districts. She is now 16 and continues to help her community through the nonprofit.

 Story By Quinn White

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E Chythlook— Anchorage, Humanitarian Award

E was instrumental in crafting Alaska Youth Orchestra’s revised Concert Black attire requirements, setting a nationwide example of this classical music norm, which has historically been gender specific. 

Story By Quinn White

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Mia Wiederspohn — Wrangell, Dreamer Award

Mia works with with KSTK 101.7 FM in Wrangell, Alaska to create a podcast series about the Tlingit language. By broadcasting Tlingit phrases and their English translations, she is helping to preserve the language Indigenous to her community. 

Story By Ormund Alaois

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Levi Anderson — Kenai, Phoenix Award

Levi was determined to help the current music teacher build up the music program. Thanks to his efforts, numbers in choir and band increased and the entire music department has been reinvigorated. 

Story By Ormund Alaois

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Hannah Yi and Sophie Mayers — Anchorage, Lifesaver Award

Hannah and Sophie were instrumental at West Anchorage High School in reviving the You are Not Alone Club after students returned to in-person learning. 

Story By Kendrick Whiteman

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Katrina Katoanga — Anchorage, Role Model Award

Katrina serves as both a TRIO Leadership Committee member and as a mentor for new students in TRIO. TRIO Upward Bound is a college prep program for students who have the potential to be first generation college students and/or of limited income households. 

Story By Quinn White

Apply for the 2022 Youth Advocacy Grant

Spirit of Youth is offering one grant, of up to $15,000, to promote youth advocacy in Anchorage. The Youth Advocacy Grant is specifically intended to support youth-led projects that meet the following goals:

• Increase advocacy skills among Anchorage youth.
• Provide forums to discuss issues impacting the context/environment for youth in Anchorage.
• Explore factors that impact youth mental health.

Priority will be given to youth-led initiatives within the 12-24 year old age range.

The deadline to apply is September 16, 2022.

Read the grant guide here.

Apply here.

2022 Spirit of Youth Awards

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Announcing the Recipients of the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards!

Congratulations to the 2022 Spirit of Youth awardees!

• Hannah Yi and Sophie Mayers of Anchorage won the Lifesaver Award. They were instrumental at West High School in reviving the YANA club (You are Not Alone) after the pandemic and students returned to in-person learning. Once clubs restarted in the fall of 2021, Sophia and Hannah were the main students who picked up the work that had been left off. They also have put a lot of effort into restarting the presentations for classes and have recruited a team of students to make those presentations in February.
• Katrina Katoanga of Anchorage won the Role Model Award. She is in her first year serving as both a TRIO Leadership Committee member and as a mentor for new students in TRIO. TRIO Upward Bound is a college prep program for students who have the potential to be first generation college students and/or of limited income households. Most recently, Katrina helped spearhead a community service project where she helped collect diapers and wipes for Afghanistan refugees newly settled into Anchorage.
• Mia Siebenmorgen Cresswell of Cordova won the Discovery Award. She helps to beautify Cordova by picking invasive species and helping to maintain the local native plant garden. She helps with community recycling efforts and to organize a youth-led march to garner support and attention for climate change. She is also an advocate for her generation — she serves as the student council representative to the School Board. Through all of her experiences and accomplishments, she remains level-headed, calm, reflective and enthusiastic for the next opportunity.
• Shandiin “Suella” Wendell of Chugiak won the Innovator Award. She is a facilitator and communicator of powerful and important social issues. Most recently, she has been focusing on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MAMIP) epidemic, bringing outreach to her community through her projects, participation in community events, and social networking. Suella is an ambassador of Alaska Native issues. She testifies at committees on Native children, works on podcasts with the community and keeps a dedicated presence of how we can all help.
• Emaline Buchanan of Wasilla won the Visionary Award. When Emaline was 13, she started a nonprofit called Duchess Foundation. The nonprofit provides feminine products to school nurses and school districts. She started it when she recognized that her friends needed some help. She’s turned 16 in February and continues to help her community through the nonprofit.
• E Chythlook of Anchorage won the Humanitarian Award. E has been a powerful example of LGBTQ inclusion. During the first year with the Anchorage Youth Symphony, E was instrumental in crafting Alaska Youth Orchestra’s revised Concert Black attire requirements, setting a nationwide example of this classical music norm, which has historically been gender specific. That revised policy has been shared with every youth symphony organization in the United States and has been used as the new standard for gender inclusive policy within that sector.
• Mia Wiederspohn of Wrangell won the Dreamer Award. She is working with KSTK 101.7 FM in Wrangell, Alaska to create a podcast series about the Tlingit language. By broadcasting Tlingit phrases and their English translations, she is helping to preserve the language Indigenous to her community.
• Levi Anderson of Kenai won the Phoenix Award. Last year, Levi was determined to help the current music teacher build up the music program. Thanks to his recruiting efforts numbers in choir and band increased. He also helped a local fundraiser by leading a group of dancers from his school in a musical number. Overall, he has reinvigorated the entire music department and is bringing his enthusiasm to the entire community.

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. We utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories with the community.

Register for the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards here.

Suicide Prevention PSAs

Spirit of Youth’s Coalition is running youth developed public service announcements (PSAs), promoting use of the Careline, on popular format radio in Anchorage. These messages were crafted by local youth to share the significant protective role that supportive adults and community engagement play in youth mental health and the powerful negative impact bullying has on the lives of young people. The PSAs refer listeners to call or text the Careline if they need to talk to someone. The PSAs are aired during school drive time (before and after school) to encourage parent/child conversations around mental health and bullying.

Call anytime, toll-free: 1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839-863, 3-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Suicide Prevention PSA

The Definition of Bullying

The Careline Phone Number

The Careline Website

Youth Advocacy Grant

Spirit of Youth is offering one grant, of up to $17,000, for youth advocacy in Anchorage. The Youth Advocacy Grant is specifically intended to support youth-led projects that meet the following goals:

• Increase advocacy skills among Anchorage youth.
• Provide forums to discuss issues impacting the context / environment for youth in Anchorage.
• Explore factors that impact youth mental health.

Priority will be given to youth-led initiatives within the 12-24 year old age range.

The deadline to apply is December 9.

Read the grant guide here.

Apply here.

2021 Spirit of Youth Radio Stories

Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees for the annual Spirit of Youth awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities.

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its 23rd year, the awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders who utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories.

Thank you to the Alaska Teen Media Institute for creating these radio stories!

Anna Boltz — Anchorage, Phoenix Award

Anna has been on the Challenge Alaska Alpine Race Team since she was 8 years old. She has been the only middle-school-aged disabled athlete to compete in school sports such as cross-country running (in a handcycle) and Nordic skiing (in a sit-ski). She is a frequent spokesperson for Challenge Alaska.

 Story By Sam Bernitz, Senior Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Austin Cline — Homer, Discovery Award

Austin became an Eagle Scout by reopening the upper Homestead Trail. He also was a two time finalist in the Caring for the Kenai competition, which asks students to create a proposal to improve the environment on the Kenai Peninsula.

 Story By Grady Cutchins, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Collin Friedli — Eagle River, Innovator Award

Collin used his social media and marketing skills to help small businesses in Anchorage, who were struggling economically.

 Story By Ormund Alois, Senior Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Eielson Youth Group — Eielson Airforce Base, Visionary Award

Eielson Youth Group is helping keep Eielson Thrift Shop open on a regular basis by volunteering their time sorting, pricing and selling items to the community for a reasonable price. The money that is made at the shop goes directly back to the local community.

 Story By Yule Zhang, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Ketchikan Youth Alliance — Ketchikan, Humanitarian Award

The Ketchikan Youth Alliance improves the quality of life in Ketchikan by providing young people with a platform to have their voices heard and the tools to create change.

 Story By Sam Bernitz, Senior Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

No More Mat-Su — Palmer, Life Saver Award

No More Mat-Su is a youth-driven organization that seeks to end domestic violence and sexual assault in the Mat-Su Valley. They spread their message of kindness, respect and fidelity to the practice of active consent through their social media and live events such as Rock the Resilience.

 Story By Karl Cranston-Simmons, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Ryann Esteban — Port Graham, Dreamer Award

Ryann is a member of Student Council, Native Youth Olympics, a Sources of Strength youth leader at school, and a teen member on the Port Graham Native Council. She also independently created artwork for a sweatshirt that amplified the voices of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Story By Grady Cutchins, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Tajhrel Prescott — Fairbanks, Dreamer Award

Through his participation at Boys and Girls Club Fairbanks, Tajhrel took the lead in launching the BeYou campaign, which promotes that 78 percent of Alaska teens do not drink alcohol. With the guidance of an adult advisor, Tajhrel led a group of his peers in creating media and hosting events that promoted the organization’s mission.

Story By Karl Cranston-Simmons, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer

Spirit of Youth Summer 2021 Newsletter

In case you missed it, here is Spirit of Youth’s summer newsletter! You can always sign up to be added to our mailing list if you want to hear more good news about Alaska’s teens.

2021 Spirit of Youth Virtual Awards Ceremony

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2021 Spirit of Youth Award Recipients and Ceremony!

Spirit of Youth is excited to announce the 2021 Spirit of Youth Award Recipients!

We thank you for your support of Spirit of Youth, and the work the organization does to celebrate young Alaskans.

You can read more about this year’s recipients, who were selected by our Teen Advisory Council, at www.spiritofyouth.org. We hope that you can join the virtual award ceremony on Saturday, May 1, at 5:50 p.m. to celebrate the accomplishments of youth in communities across Alaska.

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. We utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories with the community. The event is free but registration is required.

Register for the virtual awards show here.

Spirit of Youth Anchorage Coalition Strategic Plan 2021

Spirit of Youth’s Anchorage Coalition is funded by a Division of Behavioral Comprehensive Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention grant. The Coalition recently updated their strategic plan to reflect the needs reflected in the results of the Youth Needs, Your Voice survey conducted during the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can view the new plan here.

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2020 Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey Analysis

This report presents an analysis of the Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey data. The Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey was developed for the purpose of better understanding the mental health needs and resources available to youth and young adults in the Anchorage Municipality, especially in the face of concurrent social issues in 2020, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing and online education, and the institutional racism highlighted by George Floyd’s arrest and death and the related protests across the country. The intent of the survey was for survey results to inform Spirit of Youth’s direction of youth programming with specified Alaska Department of Health and Social Services grant funds.

Read the 2020 Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey Analysis here.

Announcing the Recipients of the Youth Connection and Engagement Grants!

Spirit of Youth provided several mini grants to a number of organizations. These grants were specifically intended to support youth and young adult-led projects in Anchorage. These efforts promote youth connectedness and engagement. 

Learn more about some of the youth messaging projects below.

Girl Scouts of Alaska – Independent Virtual Girl Scout Group

The Girl Scouts have been developing girls’ courage, confidence, and character for over 100 years. The Independent Virtual Girl Scout Group connects girls and allows them to benefit from the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in a time of social distancing. With guidance, girls mix and match activities and resources to suit their needs while giving back to their communities. The goal of the Independent Virtual Girl Scout group is to promote connectedness and leadership through youth-led facilitation and engage young girls in grades 6-12 in service projects and mentoring.

Learn about their efforts here.

Identity, Inc. – LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership Team

Identity’s LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership Team is a youth-led initiative that supports and promotes mattering, connection, engagement, respect, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth throughout Alaska. Youth involved in the work and vision of the leadership team will help shape the future of Identity’s youth program. Identity’s LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership program further connects LGBTQ+ youth in spaces of shared understanding, respect and inclusion.

Learn about their efforts here.

ASD East High School – Native Student Leadership Council (NLC) / EHS Student Outreach

The Native Student Leadership Council’s mission is to provide opportunities for Alaska Native and American Indian students to learn and utilize leadership skills, share their cultures, volunteer, and enhance pride in being Alaska Native and/or American Indian. As a response to sudden changes and impacts due to COVID-19, the NLC understands the importance of reaching out to students now. Through several efforts such as providing wellness boxes to over 400 youth Anchorage students, NLC will support and encourage adults, youth and their families to engage safely, and genuinely.

To learn more about the Native Student Leadership Council, click here.

See Stories – Youth Speak: Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies

See Stories builds inclusive communities through film and story. By providing youth access to resources such as film workshops, youth are empowered to share vital stories and messages. Through their current storytelling youth-led project titled “Youth Speak” LGBTQ+ youth and allies,” See Stories seeks to engage LGBTQ+ youth and allies in social justice conversations around mental and emotional experiences, create positive relationships, and expand student networks with LGBTQ+ adults and mentors.

Learn more about their efforts here.

Anchorage Youth Task Force – YTF Inside Out 

The Anchorage Youth Task Force, a project of Covenant House Alaska and Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, is a group of young leaders in Alaska who are committed in using their knowledge, skills, and insights to improve program practices, as well as inform, and expand youth services. The Anchorage Task Force provides resources to youth and their families across Alaska, offers direct training and technical assistance, and promotes youth/young adult endeavors.

Learn more about their efforts here. 

Choosing Our Roots – The Alaskan Queer Experience. 

Choosing Our Roots (COR) is a grassroots community organization working to ensure that all queer Alaskan youth and young adults have access to safe homes, supportive communities, and opportunities to thrive. COR promotes inclusion, fosters youth development, and empowers youth by providing spaces for youth to share their experiences & perspectives, and receive affirmation from others. Their current project, “The Alaskan Queer Experience” documents youth voices through a podcast and video series that seeks to highlight multi-generational, diverse experiences across Alaska. With this project, Choosing Our Roots hopes to reach LGBTQ+ youth struggling to find acceptance and resources in their communities and build shared knowledge from individuals across multiple generations and intersections of identities about what they need to feel seen, connected, and supported.

Check out more about Choosing Our Roots – The Alaskan Queer Experience here.