The AKPIRG Advocate, December 2025
A Year in Review:
2025 Annual Report and Year-End Reflections ⭐️
As 2025 wraps up, we’re proud to share AKPIRG’s 2025 Annual Report — a snapshot of a year marked by transition, resilience, and real impact.
Despite significant leadership changes and a rapidly shifting political and funding landscape, our staff and board worked together to maintain momentum and strengthen the organization. Across all our programs, we delivered meaningful wins for Alaskans: expanding civilian oversight and voter engagement, advancing transparent and community-centered energy solutions, increasing statewide American Community Survey awareness in nine Alaska Native languages, and driving forward payday lending reform and tenant organizing.
Through every challenge, our values — justice, transparency, community, and trust — grounded the work. They also inspired this year’s theme: Always for Alaska, reflecting our commitment to ensuring Alaska’s systems truly serve the people who rely on them.
Thank you for being part of this work and for supporting a more just and equitable future for all Alaskans.
As we close out 2025, AKPIRG’s work across energy, economic justice, language access, and good government has remained focused on building systems that are fair, transparent, and accountable to Alaskans.
Housing has been a particularly urgent priority. New Data for Progress polling shows that state investment in housing is a top-three issue for Alaska voters (along with energy affordability) and nearly half of Alaskans have faced housing instability. That urgency makes AKPIRG’s housing work more critical than ever, as we support tenant organizing and push for community-driven policy solutions.
Your support fuels this work. And right now, it can go twice as far. A generous donor is matching up to $3,500 in contributions through December 31. Every dollar you give will be doubled, strengthening AKPIRG’s housing advocacy and all of our core programs heading into 2026.
If you believe Alaskans deserve stable, affordable homes and a future shaped by community needs, now is the time to contribute.
Double your impact: akpirg.org/donate.
American Community Survey Toolkit Highlight:
Lingít Language Posters 💛
This month, we’re spotlighting the awesome work of the AKPIRG Lingít Language Panel as part of our ongoing Alaska Native Languages American Community Survey (ACS) Toolkit series.
The ACS, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, helps determine how trillions of dollars in federal funding are distributed. When a community member responds, they create visibility for their whole community. These posters from our Lingít Language Panel highlight the importance of celebrating the identities and cultures that make our communities unique.
Gunalchéesh to our Lingít Language panelists for this fun, vibrant celebration of language, culture, and identity!
Check out the full toolkit with downloadable and printable resources in nine Alaska Native languages at akpirg.org/acs
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This post is brought to you by the AKPIRG Lingít Language Panel, with X̱'unei Twitchell and Naawéiyaa Tagaban.
Graphic design by Chloey Cavanaugh (@blackandwhiteravenco)
Planning Begins for Railbelt Integrated Resource Plan ✏️
Call for participation in electricity planning on the Railbelt!
The Railbelt Reliability Council (RRC) is kicking off the development of the first-ever regionwide Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Alaska – a 20-year roadmap for the Railbelt’s electricity generation and transmission – and they’re asking Alaskans to help shape it.
Over the next two months, the RRC is hosting a series of public working group meetings to set the foundation for how potential energy projects will be evaluated. These working groups will focus on two important areas:
IRP Objectives Working Group: Deciding how much weight to give affordability, reliability, environmental impact, resilience, risk, and other factors.
IRP Definitions Working Group: Clarifying key terms (from highly technical concepts to broad ideas like sustainability and public interest) to make sure everyone is speaking the same language.
This is a meaningful chance for community members to influence major energy decisions affecting our region for years to come.
How to Participate:
Sign up for the RRC’s Newsletter to get regular updates on the IRP process and opportunities to plug in. Sign up can be found at the bottom of any page on the RRC website.
Apply to serve on a Working Group if you want to be directly involved in shaping the IRP.
Attend meetings as a member of the public to listen in, learn more, or offer input. Public comment opportunities are available at both the beginning and end of each meeting.
If you want an energy future that’s affordable, transparent, and shaped by the community, this is an important opportunity to get involved.
To learn more about this process and all things Alaska energy, visit the Alaska Energy Transparency Project website:
https://www.akenergytransparency.org/news/rrc-starts-irp
MANA Free Store on January 4 🆓
Join us for the MANA Free Store!
Saturday, January 4
1:00–4:00 pm
AKPIRG, 2522 Arctic Blvd
Kick off the new year with the Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage (MANA) for an afternoon of community care and connection! Enjoy:
Free clothing swap
Zines and info tables
Basic bike repair
Plus surprise goodies and resources
Bring what you can, take what you need, or just stop by to connect. Everyone is welcome—no cost, no requirements!
Tongass Tenants Alliance Open House in January 🏘️
AKPIRG partnered with the newly formed Tongass Tenants Alliance (TTA) this month for their first-ever public event: a free community screening of Rent! TTA is a group of renters and their allies advocating for affordable housing in Juneau.
Their next event, A Tongass Tenants Alliance Open House, is a community meal and conversation at the Red House (512 W 11th St) at 6pm on Jan 20th. If you're interested in talking about Juneau's housing crisis and how we can improve it you are invited to join TTA for a night of delicious food and community building.
Sign up for TTA's email list if you'd like to get more involved! You can also follow TTA on Instagram at @TongassTenantsAlliance.
Celebrating Natalie Kiley-Bergen:
Energy Lead & Environmental Scientist 🍂
Many know AKPIRG’s Energy Lead Natalie Kiley-Bergen as a whiz at all things Alaska energy policy, regulation, and infrastructure — but she’s also an award-winning environmental scientist!
This month, Natalie defended her thesis and officially graduated from Alaska Pacific University with a Master’s in Environmental Science. This fall, she presented her research at an international conference in Portugal and won the student oral communication award — an impressive recognition of her expertise and dedication on an international stage.
Join us in congratulating Natalie on this huge achievement!
AKPIRG in the Capitol! 🏛️
This month, Tamika Harris (Economic Justice Policy Specialist) and Erin Willahan (Acting Executive Director) headed to Washington, D.C., to attend the Consumer Federation of America Annual Conference and the High-Cost Lending Summit. These events brought together advocates and policymakers from across the country to talk about and address the economic challenges communities face.
While in DC, Tamika and Erin focused on two big priorities for Alaskans: removing medical debt from credit reports and making sure cryptocurrency is regulated in ways that protect everyday people. They also got to connect with partners doing similar work nationwide, sharing Alaska’s unique perspective and learning from other states’ experiences.
Trips like this let AKPIRG bring local voices into national conversations, making sure the policies that shape people’s wallets and homes actually reflect the realities of life in Alaska.
Happy Solstice from AKPIRG ❄️
Happy Solstice, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!
AKPIRG offices will be closed December 19 – January 2 so our team can rest, recharge, and get ready for an exciting 2026.
As we celebrate the winter solstice, we welcome the return of longer days, brighter light, and new possibilities ahead. May this season bring warmth, hope, and fresh energy to you and your community.
We can’t wait to reconnect in the New Year!
