View as Webpage

Dear Alliance Members,

Registration is open! Join us at The Alliance Strategic Planning, December 15-16



Last week we sent out the invitation to our Alliance Strategic Planning session, and if you haven't registered yet, now's the time. Every few years, we have a chance to step back, look at where we've been, and decide together where we're going. This December, we'll set the direction for our coalition's work in the years ahead: our priorities, our partnerships, and how we show up for communities across the state.

The strength of The Alliance has always come from its people: the members, partners, and community voices who bring their knowledge, experience, and commitment to this work. The plan we build will only be as strong as the perspectives in the room, and yours matters. All Alliance members and partners are welcome.

When: Tuesday-Wednesday, December 15-16, 2026

Where: Embassy Suites, Anchorage

Facilitated by: Goldstream Group

Event Details: Strategic Planning Event Logistics (check back for the agenda, site logistics, and more as the event nears)

Register on Eventbrite →

Please plan to attend both full days. Strategic planning builds on itself, and day two depends on the groundwork we lay together on day one.

Travel scholarships: apply by October 12th!

We want this room to reflect all of Alaska. A limited number of travel scholarships are available for members and partners from across the state. The deadline is coming up fast, so complete the short application by October 12th. Recipients will be notified by October 16th. Apply for a travel scholarship →

Share your gifts: lead a wellness session

We're weaving short wellness breaks throughout both days and are looking for people to lead 10-minute sessions. Mindfulness, movement, traditional healing practices, and other approaches to wellbeing are all welcome. Contributors will be compensated. If interested, email me at tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org.

We hope you'll join us to reflect, connect, and build a shared vision for a healthier Alaska. Register today, and please pass this along to others who should be at the table.

Warmly,

Tesia Bobrycki

Coalition Coordinator

tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org

Youth Summit with The Youth Task Force

Join MY House at the Glenn Massey Theater on October 9th from 9am - 4pm for the Youth Summit hosted by Michael Carson and the Youth Task Force. There will be clinicians, vendors, and networking, as well as lunch provided!

Objections Play-shop Series

Already practicing consent-based decision-making, but want to feel more grounded when decisions get hard? This playful, low-stakes series gives you a safe space to practice, without the pressure of real deadlines or real consequences.

Try things out, notice your reactions, laugh at yourself a little, and walk away with skills you can bring straight back to your community or organization.

Two sessions offered: three Thursdays (Oct 15, 22, 29) or three Fridays (Oct 16, 23, 30). Sliding scale pricing from $75 to $300.

Safeguarding Youth of Alaska

Youth Advocates of Sitka is hosting a free two-day event, "Safeguarding Youth of Alaska," on Tuesday, October 27th and Wednesday, October 28th, 2026, virtual or in person at Harrigan Centennial Hall (Raven Room).

Sessions cover online exploitation, human trafficking, parental controls, and local resources for keeping kids safe, with speakers from the FBI, NCMEC, AT&T, Priceless Alaska, and Covenant House Anchorage. Food and beverages provided. Scan the QR code on the flyer to register, or contact info@sitkayouth.org for details.

 Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference

November 11-13, 2026

Egan Conference & Civics Center, Anchorage

The Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference is the state's largest gathering of afterschool and summer learning educators and youth development professionals. Join for three days of high-quality professional development on a wide range of topics, such as why positive connections mater, substance misuse prevention, STEM, arts, emotional learning, cultural connected programming, trauma informed care, youth program management, and much more! Register before October 1st and save with Early Bird Registration $150.  

For more information on registration, workshop proposals, host hotel discounts, and vendor booth, visit www.akostconference.org.

2026 Disability Awareness Art Show

You're invited to check out the Artist Showcase on Saturday, October 10th, from 12pm - 4pm at Denali Graphics and Frame Gallery, located in Anchorage at 700 West International Airport Road. Meet the artists, enjoy free pizza and snacks, and support local artists with work available for purchase on consignment.

This event is free to attend and wheelchair accessible. Don't hesitate to ask for help getting in - this event is for everyone!

Can't make it that day? The art will be on display and for sale at the gallery throughout October.

The Alliance Youtube Channel

Missed a training or want a refresher? Check out our YouTube channel today!

Our YouTube channel has recordings of past trainings, plus valuable insight into how The Alliance operates. It's a great resource if you're new, or if you just want to revisit something.

Submissions are open for After School Special

Filmmakers must be 21 years old or younger, films can be no longer than 10 minutes long and must have been made in 2026.

All genres accepted, but please be tasteful with your content. Films containing more adult-themed content may be labeled with a disclaimer. Films that include content that ATMI staff deem unsuitable for youth audiences may be disqualified.

Then join for the in-person screening of the selected films in December, as part of the 26th Anchorage International Film Festival. Date/time TBD.

Following the screening there will be a live Q&A with participating filmmakers. There will also be awards: Judge’s Choice, Audience Choice, and the ATMI Golden Yeti.

If you have any questions or are having difficulties with the submission process, email film@alaskateenmedia.org

Sweet news: Mini-Grants are back!!!

Thanks to the incredible support we received at Recoverees: Sweet Connections, Recover Alaska is bringing back our Mini-Grants to help communities across Alaska create sober, recovery-friendly events and activities.

To help stretch these dollars across the state and support as many communities as possible, grants are currently limited to $500 per applicant.

Our next application reviews are October 15 and December 15. Have an idea but miss one of those dates? Reach out anyway! Let us know what you’re planning, and we’ll see what we can do.

Whether it’s a community gathering, sober celebration, recovery event, or another creative way to build connection without alcohol, we’d love to hear about it.

Learn more and apply at recoveralaska.org.

A huge thank-you to everyone who supported Recoverees - you helped turn a sweet night of connection into opportunities for communities all across Alaska. 🧡

Exciting Opportunity for Alaska Young Adults

A new program is coming to Alaska to provide peer mentorship to teens across the state - and they’re hiring!

If you are a young adult in Alaska who is interested in supporting other youth through your own lived experience with behavioral health challenges, this is a great opportunity!

Positions are remote, 26 hours per week, primarily evenings, and pay $20/hour plus benefits. Training in peer support will be provided.

If you or someone you know might be a great fit, please help us spread the word!

When the application asks “Where did you hear about us?” please enter MUSKEG. This helps connect applicants with MUSKEG Peer Support trainings if additional training is needed.

We’re excited to see more peer support and connection becoming available for young people across Alaska!

Recoverees 2026: Sweet Connections

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Recoverees 2026: Sweet Connections! We were especially grateful to see so many members of The Alliance in the room, including Walsh Sheppard and Goldstream Group, whose sponsorship helped make the evening possible.

We were also incredibly proud to honor Christiana Smith with the Cherry-on-Top Award and Tom Begich with the Recipe for Change Award. Both have contributed so much to The Alliance and to the broader movement toward our shared mission of preventing the harms of alcohol use in Alaska. We are deeply grateful for the ways they continue to show up, lead, connect, and inspire others.

And what a night it was! We shared plenty of laughter, delicious food and mocktails, a very competitive Dessert Dash, and incredible live music from Tom Begich and Sarah Sledge. Most importantly, we had the chance to celebrate the people and relationships that make this work possible.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, attendees, donors, and friends across the state, we raised more than $36,000! We are incredibly grateful to every person who showed up in Anchorage - and to everyone who supported the event even if they couldn’t be there in person. It truly takes all of us to create change, and we are so thankful to have you as part of this movement.

Want to see more from the night? Click below to check out photos from Sweet Connections!

Choose Connection at Alaska Safe Children's Act

Sitka Co-Chair Michelle Kavouras attended the recent Alaska Safe Children's Act meeting and shared about Choose Connection. Roughly 20 people were there, including teachers, healthcare providers working in schools, and staff from other organizations that work with children.

A new pamphlet, created and shared by STAR, is available to help you understand the age of consent in Alaska.

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.

Interested in joining a workgroup? Click below to learn more, access the Zoom link, and read past meeting notes!

• 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. The 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 a data contractor and will be supporting data equity conversations and practices. This workgroup meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12pm - 1:30pm.

• 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 each month from 9:30am - 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 on the third Tuesday of each month 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 on the second Friday of each month from 11am - 12pm. During legislative session (Jan-Apr), this workgroup meets every other Friday from 11am - 12pm.

All are welcome!

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!

APPLY 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.