"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
The quote from Fred Rogers, the host of an iconic children's show, is now providing comfort to adults and children alike who are looking at what lies ahead in our political landscape and are leaning into the community we have in Alaska.
If you are looking for a way to take action toward building a more inclusive, just, and resilient Alaska, we encourage you to donate, volunteer your time, or help spread the word about the important work our community partners are doing around the state.
These are just a few of the dozens of organizations that have helped make Alaska a more vibrant, connected, and resilient state. Now more than ever, we must come together to support one another and call into being a more compassionate, equitable, and just state where everyone can thrive.
Queer and Trans Justice
Identity Inc. was established in 1977 as the Alaskan Gay Community Center. Over the years, Identity has grown with the help of dedicated volunteers and board members. In 2014, Identity started hiring full-time employees to support its mission. In 2021, Identity merged with Full Spectrum Health and became Identity Health Clinic. Today, Identity continues to offer community services and healthcare specifically tailored to LGBTQ+ individuals.
Choosing Our Roots is a queer-led and queer-focused nonprofit providing housing support and case management to queer, Alaskan youth and young adults experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. Choosing our Roots has regional case management programs in Anchorage, The Kenai Peninsula, and the MatSu Valley.
In January of 2019, a group of LGBTQ+ and allies folks got together to try to make a difference for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. From that group came The Queen’s Guard, now a 501c3 organization that was formed as a charity in Anchorage, AK with the support of some amazing Drag artists who raised the money for the organization. The group holds positive signs, comes up with family-friendly chants together, bangs homemade drums, and otherwise have cordial interaction with, and in support of, the LGBTQI+ community and allies. Many members also help educate the community about LGBTQI+ issues, and hold events for the LGBTQI+ community and allies.
The Fairbanks Queer Collective (FQC) is a QTBIPOC-led, grassroots organization building safer, more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ2S+ people in Interior Alaska. FQC provides youth mentorship and leadership training, legal advocacy, education, and inclusive spaces to uplift queer joy. FQC just opened a new community center, and the first for Interior Alaska. There, the organization offers support groups, education, the Queer Legal Cade, a free queer closet, and a safe youth hangout space.
Other groups
Alaskans for Trans Youth (Statewide)
Alaskans Together for Equality (Statewide)
Reproductive Rights
Planned Parenthood in Alaska protects and promotes reproductive health, rights and justice. The organization does this by advocating for public policies that guarantee the right to choice and full and nondiscriminatory access to reproductive health care, and fostering and preserving a social and political climate favorable to the exercise of reproductive choice through voter education, candidate endorsement and other means.
Immigration
The Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the human rights of all Alaskans. Formerly known as the Alaska Immigration Justice Project, it transformed into the Alaska Institute for Justice to reflect the inclusion of an additional program dedicated to climate and social justice issues, the Research and Policy Institute. The organization houses three programs: Alaska Immigration Justice Project (Legal Services); Language Interpreter Center; Alaska Climate Justice Program.
Catholic Social Services (Alaska)- Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS)
Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS) provides a bridge for refugees (individuals who have had to flee their countries of origin due to the tragedies of persecution and war) and other new arrivals from their former life experiences to the new skills required for success in the United States. Through a focus on economic self-sufficiency, community integration, and a respect for unique cultures, history and traditions, RAIS creates an environment of compassion and encouragement for refugees to flourish. RAIS often relies on volunteers to help welcome new Alaskans.
Since 1974, Alaska Literacy Program (ALP) has taught adults to read, write and speak English. We provide pathways to employment, professional training and post-secondary education, help their children in school, access healthcare, become citizens, and navigate their new home country. ALP recruits, trains, certifies, and supports volunteer teachers who work hand in hand with staff to help these English Language Learners reach their educational goals.
Criminal Legal Reform
The Alaska Reentry Partnership provides support to Alaskans reentering our communities after incarceration by supporting local reentry coalitions (in Anchorage, Mat-Su, Fairbanks, Juneau, Dillingham, Nome and Ketchikan) which connect formerly incarcerated people to the opportunities needed to be successful, healthy members of our communities. This includes supporting people with felony convictions to gain employment, housing, and access to behavioral and mental health services, and substance use treatment.
The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) was established in 1993 to meet the unmet needs of Alaskans and Alaska Native people within the civil and criminal legal systems in response to the disproportionate rates of victimization, incarceration, and other systemic issues impacting Indigenous people statewide. In 2004, the organization revised its mission to: “Promote justice through culturally based advocacy, prevention, and intervention initiatives to restore dignity, respect, and humanity to all Alaska Natives.” ANJC was integrated into the Cook Inlet Tribal Counsel in 2016 and works closely to provide services to Alaskans.
Alaskans Against the Death Penalty
Since statehood, Alaska has never had the death penalty and Alaskans Against the Death Penalty works to keep it that way, just as the state’s 1955-56 constitutional delegation intended. This coalition consists of individual citizens and organizations that work to educate the people and state lawmakers about the facts, myths, and ugly truths of capital punishment to prevent the death penalty from being implemented in Alaska.
First Amendment Rights
Authors Against Banned Books is a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators who stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. Alaska authors have been outspoken in opposition to book bans.
Voting
Get Out the Native Vote (GOTNV) was founded with the belief that the right to vote is a fundamental component of a healthy democracy. GOTNV’s roots are in working to ensure every eligible Alaskan is registered to vote, and in removing barriers that prevent registered voters from casting their ballots. GOTNV endeavors that every Alaskan, regardless of background, engage in the civic process at the local and state level. Through nonpartisan outreach and education, GOTNV has worked to remind low-propensity voters about upcoming elections and promote absentee voting.
The Alaska Voter Hub is a coalition of nonprofits, community groups, and individuals working together to strengthen democracy through the collective power of voting. Through voter engagement and non-partisan education, the group empowers Alaskans in every community to participate in elections at every level.