AKPIRG Updates February 2023
Yesterday marked the first day of Black History Month. This entire month, we will be celebrating and sharing the stories of Black Alaskans. Check out the information below from the Alaska Black Caucus below about the many community events and celebrations you can attend throughout the month.
 AKPIRG 2nd Annual Staff Retreat & New Headquarters
Last month, we had a full house at the second annual AKPIRG staff retreat! In 2022, our first staff retreat was the catalyst to successful collaboration and a new direction for AKPIRG.
This year, we worked on fine tuning our work plans and strategizing ways to make 2023 AKPIRG’s best year yet.
Our staff has been working primarily remotely since 2020, so this retreat also marked the beginning of a new chapter of working in-person together. Last week, we moved into a new office space in Midtown, which has room for our growing staff to work in-person.
Thank you to all of our supporters and volunteers that have made this possible. Our team is looking forward to tackling big projects and working collaboratively in our new space!
Volunteers Needed for Language Materials Packing Party
WHAT: Packing Party!
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 6, 4-7pm
WHERE: The new AKPIRG HQ, Midtown in Anchorage
FREE: Pizza!
On Monday, February 6th, from 4-7pm AKPIRG will be hosting a Packing Party! This past year, our language access team worked with Alaska Native Language Experts to create messaging unique to 7 different Alaskan Native languages and cultures, about community health and wellbeing during COVID-19. We currently have a ton of materials including berry buckets, tote bags, water bottles, posters and other items to be sent out to communities across Alaska. Our goal is to get these materials organized and packed into boxes during this Packing Party so that they can be mailed to over 50 organizations throughout Alaska.
If you are interested in volunteering, have any questions, or would like to speak about other volunteer opportunities, please email our Outreach Coordinator at ashlyn@akpirg.org.
Addressing Transparency: the Cook Inlet Natural Gas Crisis
 We're running out of natural gas in the Cook Inlet. What lies ahead?
AKPIRG's Energy Outreach Specialist Ben Boettger says it's critical that we have transparency into the research being conducted and acted on by Alaska's Division of Oil and Gas.
Photo Credit: Rashah McChesney/ Alaska Energy Desk
Save the Date: Indigenous Connectivity Summit + Tribal Broadband Bootcamp
The Indigenous Connectivity (ICI) Institute is bringing the 2023 Summit (ICS) and a Tribal Broadband Bootcamp (TBB) to Alaska May 22-27th! If you work on any sort of project regarding Tribal Internet Connectivity or are working to close the digital divide on Tribal Lands, these community events are for you. Look at the websites for more information, sign up on the TBB website, and email brittany@akpirg.org to stay in the loop. Locations to be announced soon.
Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage Continues to Pay Off Payday Loans!
If you live in Alaska and you're struggling to repay a payday loan, you are qualified for the MANA Payday Jubilee -- and your neighbors have already pooled their dollars to make your payday loan payment FOR YOU.
Can you offer financial support to free your neighbors from the trap of predatory lending?
Give directly to the MANA Payday Jubilee, and help your neighbors get out of debt this holiday season.
Choose AKPIRG for Pick Click Give!
Have you applied for your Permanent Fund Dividend yet? If not, did you know you can opt to donate a portion of your PFD to AKPIRG? Pick Click Give makes it really easy and convenient to support the work we do. You can also check out a number of our partner organizations and coalition partners and support multiple nonprofits.
You can find a full list of Organizations you can donate to here or at PickClickGive.Org
