Alaska Common Ground
Winter 2021 Newsletter
Grateful for 30 Years and... YOU
Alaska Common Ground wishes to thank every one of you - our members and supporters, volunteers, guest speakers, moderators, sponsors, and partners - who helped make our high-quality programs possible again this year - check out the 2021 Year in Review below! We also wish to share our deep gratitude to everyone who has contributed to shaping the organization throughout our 30-year history, including today. We wish you all a joyful, healthy, and peaceful New Year. Please rest up now… 2022 is shaping up to be an interesting and important year for Alaskans!
Reflections on ACG's First Decade and Our Founder's Vision
By Peg Tileston, Current and Founding ACG Board Member

Alaska Common Ground was founded in the fall of 1991. Alaska was just coming out of a severe financial depression caused primarily by bank failures. The political situation was messy which caused considerable consternation across the state. Walter Hickel had just been elected with approximately 41 percent of the vote.
 
It was out of this chaos the desire for an organization that focused on sound public policy was fostered. The effort was led by Esther Wunnicke - former Commissioner of Natural Resources, member of the Federal/State Land Use Planning Commission, and staunch advocate for strong citizen participation in government decision-making.
 
The first topic ACG engaged was whether Alaska should hold a Constitutional Convention. Alaska’s constitution requires a yes/no vote by Alaskan voters every ten years. A position paper and a forum described the numerous problems a yes vote would entail, not the least of which would be tearing apart a document considered one of the best state constitutions in the country. 

Alaska’s fiscal situation has held ACG’s attention since it started - from 1992 to 2000 alone, we held 10 forums (two of which were televised statewide). Forums on numerous other public policy issues were held too and ranged from Alaska’s high cost of health care to reconciling our urban-rural split to the role of the university. ACG produced position papers on these and other topics, most of which are still available on ACG’s website here and as we know… still relevant today.
 
ACG is extremely fortunate and grateful for the wisdom of Esther Wunnicke, Peg Tileston - and all our founding board/members - who set the organization on a solid path over 30 years ago. We recognize and thank this inspiring group of Alaskans that also includes Beryl Johnson, John Havelock, Wilda Hudson, John Reeder, Julie Kitka, and Pauline Utter.


"I can still remember gathering at the Pioneer School House on 3rd Avenue in Anchorage for the initial Alaska Common Ground meeting. Individuals who cared about the future of our state gathered to discuss ways to work collaboratively to address issues. ACG employs cooperation and partnership, bringing together diverse sides on an issue to find that common ground. With the challenges facing all of us today ACG is even more vital. Happy Anniversary!”
~ Lisa Parker
Stay Engaged in Shaping Alaska's Fiscal Future!
In spite of an influx of funds from the recently passed Federal infrastructure bill and temporarily higher oil and stock prices, the State of Alaska cannot continue to kick the can down the road. Alaska is still facing a long-term structural fiscal deficit. The Governor just released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2023, which starts July 1, 2022 and the new Legislature will begin work on January 18, 2022. We intend to host additional fiscal events in 2022, but in the meantime, we encourage you to check out this list of resources below to help you get ready to engage!

  • ACG developed a no-nonsense guide to Alaska’s Fiscal Future: Goal, Problem, and Options.
  • Cliff Groh - ACG Board Member and a leading authority on Alaska fiscal policy - wrote a short guide to Alaska's Fiscal Crisis featuring details about a workable plan along with cartoons and graphs to help explain this complex issue in a more engaging way. This guide, and his many other writings on the topic, can be found on Cliff’s website here.
  • The Institute of the North recorded an excellent series discussing the history and Future of Alaska’s Permanent Fund.
  • Commonwealth North developed an online budget tool that allows you to try your hand at balancing the state’s budget. By answering a series of questions, you will gain a better understanding of the difficult decisions our legislators will be facing this year.
  • ACG has hosted many events over our nearly thirty-year history to inform Alaskans about Alaska’s ongoing fiscal challenges. Check out our catalog of fiscal events here.
2021 Year in Review
Alaska Common Ground was busy in 2021. Here are a few highlights!

We held a series of climate change events starting in January through the spring. Our goal was to continue learning about Anchorage’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) in an effort to help Alaskans learn how to engage with and address this global crisis on a local level. Over 1,000 people signed up for the series from Anchorage and around Alaska!

In April, we cohosted an event with Alaska Humanities Forum. We used the values written into the Preambles of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as a starting place to explore the things that matter to us and our nation. You can find out more about this event here.

We invited Senator Tom Begich and Representative Ivy Spohnholz to provide an overview of proposals to address Alaska’s fiscal problem at ACG's Annual Meeting on April 6.

In May, we cohosted a virtual screening of the film Unrepresented, an award-winning documentary that explores how special interests bankroll political campaigns and rig the system in their favor, all while following the letter of the law. Afterwards, Jason Grenn from Alaskans for Better Elections moderated an Alaska-focused panel discussion featuring Alaska State Senator Bill Wielechowski, the film’s director Daniel Falconer, former US Comptroller General David Walker, and Julie Olson with Alaska Move to Amend. Check out the panel discussion here. 

In August, ACG hosted Tackling Alaska’s Fiscal Problems: A session with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The event was timely, just two weeks before the start of a special session of the Legislature focused on dealing with the State’s structural deficit. You can watch the event video here.

And in October, we hosted Senator Tom Begich again to discuss what fair redistricting looks like and why it matters. Watch the video here.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
2022 will be an important year for Alaskans. ACG anticipates hosting or co-hosting events to inform citizens about the state’s still unresolved fiscal situation, impacts of a Constitutional Convention, potential ballot measures, and on the state’s new election process, including ranked choice voting. Look for announcements in our upcoming e-newsletters and on our social media channels. Meanwhile, your suggestions for future events are always valued. Please send those to info@akcommonground.org.
Blue Market AK Gives Back to ACG
Alaska Common Ground is still the grateful recipient of Blue Market AK’s 1% Giving Back Program until December 31st. When you shop for food, household cleaners, or other items – all products will be in reusable or repurposed containers - and 1% of all sales will support ACG! Find more information at bluemarketak.com including its Anchorage location and store hours.
And be sure to check out all the other ways to support ACG here, including through Pick.Click.Give. starting on January 1, 2022.
Thank you, Sponsors & Community Partners!
Thank you to the following businesses, foundations, and nonprofit partners that financially supported our efforts in 2021. We’re grateful for your support!
And a big Thank You to the following community organizations that partnered with us to host events, including Anchorage Public Library, League of Women Voters, REAP Alaska, and UAA/APU Books of the Year!
Help Advance an Engaged Alaskan Democracy
If you value ACG’s efforts to provide respectful and relevant events and information on policy issues of importance for Alaskans, please become a member or make a one-time year end donation today. Only together, will we advance an engaged Alaskan democracy. As always, we are honored to receive your support!