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Dear Alliance Members and Partners,

This fall brings fresh energy and new leadership to two of our key Alliance workgroups: Evaluation & Learning and Data & Learning. We are excited to introduce our new contractors, Angela Larson of Goldstream Group and Dr. Travis Hedwig of the University of Alaska Anchorage, who will be guiding these important conversations with their teams. Both bring deep expertise, long-standing commitment to Alaska communities, and a collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with the Alliance’s vision.

Please take a moment to read their letters of introduction below and consider joining one (or both!) of these workgroups. Your voices and perspectives are essential to shaping how we learn together and continue to strengthen prevention and recovery across Alaska.

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From Angela Larson, Goldstream Group – Evaluation & Learning Workgroup

Hello,

I’m Angela Larson, President and Principal Consultant of Goldstream Group. For over 20 years, I’ve been devoted to helping organizations and communities grow stronger through collaborative and data-driven program evaluation. At Goldstream Group, our mission is to support impactful programs with strategies rooted in evidence and designed to serve unique local needs.

Working with me will be Esther Hammerschlag, one of our Senior Consultants, who brings over two decades of experience in community health, program assessment, and rural and Indigenous partnerships. Esther’s commitment to effective, inclusive facilitation will ensure our workgroup is a welcoming space for every voice.

Our objective for this first meeting is to understand how the Evaluation Workgroup wants to be involved in the Alliance evaluation, determine what areas of evaluation you want to learn more about, and in general start building a collaborative learning environment.

We truly welcome you to join us. Your knowledge and perspectives are vital as we learn from each other and drive positive change together.

Warm regards,

Angela Larson

Goldstream Group, Inc.

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From Dr. Travis Hedwig & Ashley Ihde, University of Alaska Anchorage – Data & Learning Workgroup

Dear The Alliance,

Thank you for the opportunity to reconnect and continue supporting the Data and Learning Workgroup during this important time of transition. Having been part of the Alliance from the beginning, we value the relationships and trust built over the years and are excited to walk alongside you in shaping the next chapter together.

I am also happy to introduce Ashley Ihde, who will be working closely with the group. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) degree from UAA in 2023 and is now pursuing her Master of Public Health (MPH) practice degree (also at UAA – go Seawolves!). She is both an Alaska Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and McNair Scholar and recently completed a fellowship with Cook Inlet Housing Authority, where she worked with residents using Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods. Her interests, which include climate change, urban design, and substance use treatment and prevention, reflect a commitment to understanding and addressing the issues that matter most to Alaskan communities.

Our team is based in the Division of Population Health Sciences (DPHS) at UAA, home to the revitalized Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies (CAAS). At DPHS, we work to strengthen public health through education, research, and community partnership. Our long history with the Alliance has taught us that the heart of this work is connection. We co-create spaces where people can learn from one another, share stories, and find strength in a collective vision.

We look forward to re-engaging with the workgroup, listening, and building together. Thank you for inviting us back into this space. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue learning with you.

Sincerely,

Travis Hedwig and Ashley Ihde

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Join Us!

Both workgroups are open to all Alliance members and partners. If you are interested in shaping how we collect, interpret, and apply learning across our work, we warmly invite you to join a workgroup and bring your perspective to the table. Your contributions will help strengthen prevention and recovery efforts across Alaska.

Next Workgroup Meetings:

Evaluation & Learning: Thursday, October 2nd, 10am – 11am

Data & Learning: Monday, October 20th, 3pm – 4pm

Warmly,

Tesia Bobrycki

Coalition Coordinator

tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org

Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Opportunity

In partnership with OSMAP, Comagine Health is supporting the new Alaska Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP). LEAP will bring together up to 15 Alaskans with lived experience of substance use to recommend changes and improve substance use services statewide.

This group meets every other month (90-minute virtual meetings) and focuses on improving and addressing gaps in substance use services in Alaska. LEAP provides direct, actionable, and community-driven solutions and policy recommendations. Members will receive $100 per meeting (via check or gift card).

LEAP meetings will begin in early 2026 and continue through 2028 (and potentially beyond). Please share this opportunity with those who may be interested in applying!

CADCA Policy Opportunities

We have received an update on the proposed funding levels in the Department of Health and Human Services and related agencies. While these proposals are not finalized, it is important that we advocate for the proposed Senate numbers in general, as they appear to be most favorable to our ability to continue our work in our communities to address the causes and impacts of misuse of substances.

Please review and note how you or your organization might be impacted by these appropriation amounts. Feel free to reach out to the Alliance Policy workgroup for more information and for tips on how to be effective in communicating your community’s needs.

VIEW THE PROPOSALS HERE

How Do You Choose Connection?

Earlier this year, we asked Alliance members to share how they chose connection over the summer break. Our regional co-chair, Aaron Osterback, shared three ways he stayed connected over the past few months, including having pizza with family, knitting hats, and capturing rainbows (especially double rainbows!).

We’d love to hear from all of you on how you choose connection, whether in small daily moments or big steps you’re taking to find and maintain connection in your lives!

Email your connection stories to Tesia: tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org.

Stigma and Language Training with SEARHC

The HOPE Coalition was invited by SEARHC to provide a training Friday, September 19th, on Stigma and Language. The session was deeply impactful, with staff sharing personal stories and heartfelt moments that brought many to tears.

The compassion and openness shown by SEARHC staff was truly moving. Due to the positive response, SEARHC has requested that this training be offered again to reach all hospital staff, including doctors and new employees during onboarding.

About The Alliance

The Alliance is a collaborative effort of multiple and diverse partners across Alaska who recognize the harms of alcohol on individuals and communities. We are personally and professionally committed to working together to address this complex problem in our state.

Our primary goal is to connect and engage communities as partners — increasing protective factors, reducing risk factors, and changing social norms — to prevent underage alcohol use and eliminate all harms of alcohol use in Alaska.

Alliance Materials:

• The Alliance's common agenda
• The Alliance's Resource Page

Get Involved!

Between starting new work and sustaining our progress, there are many opportunities to participate in The Alliance! All current workgroups are open to any member who would like to join. You can always read more about our workgroups and their purpose on the Get Involved page of our website. Our network practices an emergent strategy, and we update information based on our network's needs.

• The Communications & Social Norms Workgroup is led by an experienced media and communications contractor and advances the two social norms campaigns addressing underage drinking Choose Connection and In Case You Missed It. Th workgroup also supports the Alliance's various other internal and external communications needs. This workgroup meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 1-2 pm.
• The Data and Learning Workgroup is led by an data expert and will be supporting data equity conversations and practices. This workgroup meetings on the third Monday from 3pm - 4pm.
• The Evaluation and Learning Workgroup is where members can participate in designing the annual evaluation process for the Alliance alongside a professional evaluator and receive technical assistance and support on utilizing evaluation in their work. This workgroup meets on the first Thursday of the month from 10am - 11am.
• The Strategic Design Workgroup builds structures and processes for the network to work in alignment with our values and theory of change. This workgroup is led by an experienced prevention professional and regional co-chair and meets monthly on the third Tuesday from 1pm - 2pm.
• The Policy Workgroup is led by a policy expert and works to track alcohol and prevention policies, identifies and designs advocacy actions, and provides technical assistance to individuals wanting to engage in the political process. This workgroup meets monthly on the second Friday from 11am - 12pm.

You are welcome to ask questions about those workgroups or to ask to join any of them.

Want to Lead Change? Apply to Be a Co-Chair of the Alaska Alliance!

Are you passionate about shaping Alaska’s future and driving meaningful community impact? The Alliance is now accepting applications for the Co-Chair position. This is a unique opportunity to help guide the organization’s vision, build partnerships, and amplify our collective voice.

If you’re interested in stepping up as a leader and making a difference, we encourage you to apply!

GET INVOLVED HERE

If you would like to submit content for The Alliance newsletter, please email Tesia at tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org and Kara at kstewart@recoveralaska.org.