The AKPIRG Advocate, February 2024
Welcome to Interim Executive Director Sydney Scout!
New leadership alert! 🎉🌟
We are so excited to announce that our fearless leader, AKPIRG Executive Director Veri di Suvero, will be embarking on a 4 month sabbatical starting on February 1. For many, AKPIRG is synonymous with Veri, who has built this organization up starting as a staff of one almost five and a half years ago to the team of 20+ that we are today. Veri's leadership has been invaluable to all the work we have done at AKPIRG over the past five years, and we are so excited to be able to support them as they take this much-deserved break.
On that note, we are thrilled to welcome Sydney Scout as our Interim Executive Director through Veri's sabbatical! Sydney was born and raised in Anchorage and joined AKPIRG’s board in 2022 after moving home. She has worked with AKPIRG staff on various issues in her current work life, and brings a decade of leadership in the nonprofit and political world (and, in a strange coincidence, she shares the same birthday as Veri). Join us in welcoming Sydney to Team AKPIRG!
Navigating transitions like these and prioritizing the wellness of our dedicated staff is only possible through the support of our donors. Funding for this kind of restorative work is hard to find -- please help us support this important step for our organization!
✨You're Invited!✨
Alaska Native Language Celebration
February 21, 5-8 PM
Join us in celebrating Alaska Native languages and cultures! 🥳
This month, the AKPIRG Language Panelists are gathering in Anchorage to create messaging around the importance of the American Community Survey (ACS), an annual demographics survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Panelists are multi-generational cultural bearers and experts in the Yugtun, Iñupiaq, Denaakk'e, Dena'ina Qenaga, Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa, Unangam Tunuu, Lingít, and Atnakenaege' languages.
In the middle of their week-long gathering, we are holding a public celebration for all to come recognize and uplift Alaska Native language revitalization work being done around the state with our Language Panelists. Join us as we share stories, good food, and culture with one another, and celebrate the invaluable work being done to maintain, preserve, and revitalize Alaska Native languages!
This event is free and open to the public - all are welcome to come celebrate! Dinner will be provided. RSVP appreciated!
Alaska Superior Court orders GOP dark money groups to comply with APOC subpoenas
Last week, the Alaska Superior Court ruled that dark money groups the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and its shell organization A Stronger Alaska (ASA), both supporting Dunleavy’s 2022 bid for Governor, must comply with subpoenas from the Alaska Public Offices Commission. This ruling requires compliance from the RGA and ASA within 15 days of the decision's release, January 26.
“This is great.” said AKPIRG Executive Director Veri di Suvero, “Alaskans need to know that our election and campaign laws are meaningful and fair. This shows that there is accountability within the system. Despite the RGA and ASA’s efforts to delay and evade this investigation at every turn, the public can be assured that the transparency mandated by our campaign finance laws will be enforced.”
AKPIRG appreciates APOC for conducting their rightful due diligence in pursuing this case.
ACTION ALERT:
SIGN ON to Support the Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal benefit program which can provide qualifying households in Alaska $75 a month off of internet bills. This discount is especially crucial in our state, where historic underinvestment in internet infrastructure has resulted in some of the most expensive internet in the country. Over twenty-two thousand households in our state receive the ACP, amounting to almost $700,000 saved on internet bills every month. Without this program, many of these families would be cut off from all the economic, medical, and educational benefits of high-speed, affordable internet.
Without more funding from Congress, analysts project the ACP will expire in April or May of this year. The Affordable Connectivity Extension Act proposes to allocate seven billion dollars to keep the program running through 2024. Over 350 organizations nationwide have signed on in support of the bill, including AKPIRG and Native Movement.
Join us in calling on our representatives to support the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act by signing on to our letter today:
Legislative Roundup: Green Bank
The Alaska Energy Transparency Project (AETP) has published the first of a series of articles looking at energy-related bills the Alaska Legislature will be considering during the 2024 session.
First up is HB 154 and its companion bill, SB 125, which aim to set up a Green Bank, also known as the Alaska Energy Independence Fund (AEIF). AETP breaks down what a Green Bank is, how it would work in Alaska, and gives some insight on where it's headed in the legislative process.
And there's more to come! Next up will be the bills on Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS—HB 121/SB 101) and Community Solar (SB 152). Follow AETP so you don't miss these upcoming articles!
Hᵾkk’aaghneestaatlno Lorraine David
AKPIRG Language Champion
We have another AKPIRG Language Champion to celebrate! In this series, we are highlighting the abundant work being done around the state to maintain, preserve, and revitalize Alaska Native Languages. Meet Hᵾkk’aaghneestaatlno Lorraine David, AKPIRG’s Language Champion this month!
“Hᵾkk’aaghneestaatlno se’ooze’. Hᵾt’odlee Kkaakk’et hᵾts’enh ts’aadaansdlet, eenhde Fairbanks lesdo. Bedzeyh te Hᵾt’aane esdlaanh. My name is Lorraine David. I come from Hughes, Alaska, but I live in Fairbanks. I am of the Caribou Clan.”
Lorraine has been a Denaakk’e language educator for many years. She taught Denaakk’e to college students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and high school students Effie Kokrine Charter School before she began teaching the Fairbanks Native Association Head Start. At this program, she teaches Denaak’e to 1 to 5 year olds, and sometimes to their parents, who like to get involved in their children’s language learning. Outside of her work as an educator, Hᵾkk’aaghneestaatlno is the Denaakk'e translator for the Molly of Denali series as well as the Life Below Zero show with Tig Strassburg. She is also an AKPIRG language panelist, and has participated in several translation projects.
During the pandemic, Lorraine worked to translate important messages about community wellness into Denaakk’e. Check out this video ^ of Lorraine speaking about getting vaccinated in Denaakk'e, and visit our website to see the messages and artwork that the AKPIRG Denaakk’e Language Panelists created!
Lorraine’s teachings of the Denaakk’e language are helping to preserve this vital culture for generations to come. We thank Lorraine for doing this work, and for her work as an AKPIRG Language Panelist. Baasee’!
🌟REGISTER TODAY!🌟
Alaska Just Transition Summit
March 18-20, 2024 // Áakʼw Ḵwáan Juneau AK
Registration is still open for the Alaska Just Transition Summit! The Just Transition Summit is a gathering to share knowledge, skills, inspiration, and connect about the equity and justice work we do in our communities.
The Summit has four main goals: 1) Building the Communities We Want 2) Healing from Colonization, Capitalism, and the Patriarchy 3) Deepening Sovereignty and Democratic Representation 4) Protecting Our Bodies, Lands, Waters, and Air
Financial aid is available, but on a limited basis! Apply ASAP to take advantage of the financial aid opportunities!
To learn more and register, click on the button below.
