The Leadership Anchorage Mentor Award recognizes an LA Mentor who has made significant contributions to the growth of their mentee. The inaugural award was in 2024.
Amana Mbise is the winner of the inaugural Mentor Award in 2024 for his mentorship of Ahmed Hassan (LA 26). Amana is an Assistant Professor of the School for Social Work at University of Alaska Anchorage. He brings vast experiences in global health (HIV/AIDs and Malaria), refugee integration, and community development in Tanzania, Denmark, and the U.S. His scholarship centers around migration, human trafficking, and health equity. His ongoing and most recent works include an NIJ study on labor exploitation in Alaska and a Department of State grant to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking and domestic servitude in Tanzania. In collaboration with the Alaska Black Caucus, he led the first health needs assessment of Black Alaskans. The assessment—funded through the Anchorage Health Department—provides the first look at the overarching health status, needs, and strengths of the Black Community of Alaska.
Alaska Humanities Forum
The Alaska Humanities Forum is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that designs and facilitates experiences to bridge distance and difference – programming that shares and preserves the stories of people and places across our vast state, and explores what it means to be Alaskan.
Gather Round: The AKHF Blog
- "Your perspective and your contribution matter!" An LA Mentoring Journey with Amana Mbise
March 5, 2025 • Polly Carr
- Filling Gaps in the Research: CxG Program Alum Rachel Garcia Reflects on Designing Accessible Focus Groups
February 25, 2025 • Amanda Dale
- "The Perfect Place to be Vulnerable:" A Land Acknowledgement by AKHF Board Member Jayson Owens
February 17, 2025 • Jayson Owens
