Dear Alliance Members,

As we reach the midpoint of the year, it’s a great time to reflect on our progress and look ahead to the critical work still to come. Together, we’ve made significant strides in strengthening the Alliance, expanding our reach, and advancing key prevention initiatives.

Over the past six months, our Alliance has continued to grow, with increasing membership, engagement and participation reinforcing our collective power and commitment to prevention. Our statewide needs assessment has gathered valuable insights from stakeholders across all seven public health regions, laying the groundwork for evidence-based strategies. Policy and strategic design advancements have also been a focus, with dedicated time spent refining policy priorities, refining decision-making practices, and assessing and tracking our Strategic Plan. Meanwhile, our workgroups have been actively making progress on key initiatives, including reducing stigma through inclusive language, expanding the "Choose Connection" youth social norms campaign, and partnering with CounterTools to assess alcohol policies and trends.

As we look ahead, our next phase of work is already taking shape. The needs assessment will move into secondary data collection and stakeholder interviews, ensuring our strategies continue to be informed by a comprehensive understanding of regional challenges and opportunities. On the policy front, we will be closely monitoring legislative developments and taking action where we can to advance prevention priorities. We are also developing data services tailored to identified needs and pushing forward on strategic plan objectives, which include strengthening the Alliance’s internal operating structure, refining processes, and expanding outreach to engage even more stakeholders in our work. Members across the organization are sharing events and outreach opportunities to incorporate “Choose Connection” materials, supporting young people in choosing connections that help them stay present and resilient and less likely to engage in risky behavior.

With the March 2025 Alliance Dinner and Prevention Summit on the horizon, we have a key opportunity to deepen connections, refine strategies, and strengthen our collective impact. Thank you for your ongoing dedication—your commitment is what makes this progress possible. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the months ahead.

Warm regards,

Tesia Bobrycki

Alliance Coordinator

tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org

A New Study on ZAPS (Zero-Alcohol Products) and Adolescents

Read all about the study HERE.

2025 Second Order Change, Professional Learning Series

 Empower Yourself to Better Serve Your Team and Youth

How can you build stronger connections with your coworkers and the youth you serve?

It starts with you!

Join the 2025 Second Order Change professional learning series, a 6-session journey designed to help you develop your own Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. By focusing on enhancing your SEL competencies, you’ll learn to lead with confidence, communicate more effectively, and create meaningful relationships in your workplace and with the youth you support.

Why participate?

Deepen your understanding of SEL to improve collaboration with coworkers.

Gain practical tools to better support and inspire youth.

Benefit from an updated curriculum perfect for both first timers and past participants.

Join a cohort of local youth-serving professionals who support one another even after the series concludes

📅Session Schedule

Wednesdays, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

• Feb 19 & 26: Fireweed Center
• Mar 5, 19, 26, Apr 2: BP Energy Center (No session during ASD Spring Break)

Cost: $200

Financial assistance is available—no one is turned away for inability to pay.

Spots are limited! Reserve your place today. 👉 Sign Up Here

About The Alliance

The Alliance is a collaborative effort of multiple and diverse partners across Alaska who recognize the impacts of alcohol misuse 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 adult misuse in Alaska.

Alliance Materials

• The Alliance's common agenda
• The Alliance's grounding document
• The Alliance's Resource Page
• The Alliance's network member portal
• Materials for new network members

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 will be supporting the social norms campaign and The Alliance's various other internal and external communications needs. The Comms Workgroup meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 1-2 pm.
• The Data and Learning Workgroup will be supporting data equity conversations and practices.
• The Evaluation and Learning Workgroup is where members can participate in developing and overseeing the process of reflecting on the work of the network to identify what is working well and where more attention may be needed so we can continue to develop and grow.
• The Strategy and Design Workgroup builds structures and processes for the network to work in alignment with our values and theory of change.

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

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