The statewide “Choose Respect” initiative began in 2009 with a pledge by then Governor Sean Parnell that Alaska would take every necessary step to stop the epidemics of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Since 2009, more Alaskans have found the courage to speak out and the strength to act.
In 2009 the Kodiak Community took a collaborative approach with Choose Respect. Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA), Providence Kodiak Island Counseling Center (PKICC), and Kodiak Women’s Resource and Crisis Center (KWRCC) partnered together in a community outreach campaign “Choose Respect Kodiak” to build awareness and personal ownership in our pledge to make Kodiak a safer community by speaking out against all forms of violence.
Our first Choose Respect March occurred in 2010 and has since grown to include many different community partners including, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak Police Dept (KPD), Alaska State Troopers (AST), Kodiak Island Borough School District (KIBSD) to name a few.
To keep the community safe due to the COVID-19 pandemic our 2020 Choose Respect March was cancelled and again this year our 2021 March will not occur. We hope to bring this very successful community event back in 2022.
KWRCC will have 2021 Choose Respect outreach activities for the community to be announced in coming weeks. Please join us in encouraging respect in Kodiak and speaking out for healthy relationships, treating our families in healthy ways, and taking action to ask for help when we witness or experience domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse.
Rebecca Shields, Executive Director
