Gather Round: The Forum Blog

"This Can Be the Most Powerful Part of the Entire Program": Mentorship in Leadership Anchorage

January is National Mentoring Month, and we’re uplifting some of our favorite stories of mentorship from Forum programs. In this post we meet Esbei Arurang (LA Cohort 27) and his program Mentor, Paul (Bear) Barendregt.

The Journey from For-Profit to Non-Profit: AKHF’s VP of Operations Reflects on Two Years at the Forum

Ryan Ossenkop started as Vice President of Operations at the Alaska Humanities Forum in November 2022. Here, he looks back at his first two years in the nonprofit sector - and what makes the Forum feel like the Forum.

"An Amazing Gift of Curiosity": A Conversation About Storytelling with Filmmaker Rafael Bitanga

AKHF's Shoshi Bieler spoke with filmmaker Rafael Bitanga to learn more about why he tells stories through film and the people who have supported him along the way.

“I Feel More Connected to Who I Am”: Introducing the Ilakucaraq Activity Guides

Students who know who they are and feel positively about their identities are more likely to graduate and successfully navigate life after high school. Read how "I Am" poems help support this conversation in Forum youth programs.

"Kids Need This and Deserve It:" Inside Thrive Together with Teacher Tara Devlin

Anchorage educator Tara Devlin shares about her experiences with Thrive Together, the Forum's first after-school program for students in Anchorage.

Reflections on the 2024 Governor's Arts and Humanities Awards Ceremony

Shoshi Bieler, AKHF's Director of Stories and Grants Programs, reflects on this year's Governor’s Arts and Humanities Awards Ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska.