Community Conversations
History of Voting, Voting Rights, and Planning to Vote in 2026
What was discussed:
- History of Voting Rights in Anchorage and Alaska
- The VRA and how Alaska has been in and out of compliance
- How to make a plan to vote in 2026!
Next Steps?
- Vote! Be sure to check out these resources to help make a place to empower yourself and others (thank you, Alaska Voter Hub, for the helpful info!):
- Who do you know? Reach Worksheet!
- Get paid to contact people you know to vote!
- Election Planner - Make a plan and do the plan!
Women's Health Equity - Self Advocacy with Dr. Jillian Woodruff
Themes:
- Participants shared their own challenges with health equity and self advocacy
- Dr. Jillian Woodruff shared self advocacy tips to use when building a relationship with your doctor
- It's ok to get a second opinion - in fact, it should be encouraged
- It's ok to find a new doctor if the one you were seeing isn't meeting your needs
Next Steps?
- YWCA Alaska would like to continue this conversation, diving deeper into the inequities faced by women and people of color locally. More to come!
Current and Future Efforts for Western Alaskan (co-hosted with the MOA Office of Equity & Inclusion)
Themes:
- Participants noted confusion around roles, duplication of services, and unclear communication pathways
- Emphasized the need for long-term recovery planning beyond emergency response
- Healing spaces and culturally grounded supports were repeatedly identified as essential
- Access to services remains fragmented and difficult to navigate
- Community members are eager to help but lack clear engagement pathways
Next Steps?
- YWCA Alaska and the Native Village of Eklutna will be facilitating a conversation with Western Alaskan evacuees in April, asking our providers to attend as active listeners, so the Anchorage Community can be great hosts. More to come!
Better Public Meetings, with the National Civic League & Perfect City (co-hosted with the Federation of Community Councils)
Themes:
- Everyone wants to be heard and feel the systems in place for public comment are limiting
- There are great public meeting formats already in use and can be replicated
- Using art, like Theatre, helps us better understand the situation from everyone's lens and show empathy
Next Steps?
- The National Civic League (NCL) is continuing to collect data and will be providing a report in the coming months. Be on the lookout!
Beyond our Blind Spots: Shifting the Lens for Positive Change w/ Dr. E.J.R. David & Ayyu Qassataq
Themes:
- Everyone has biases but many do not know
- Bias is built into systems, making it difficult to recognize and change
- Change starts with ones self, recognizing our own biases and stepping up when we see or hear someone exhibiting a bias
Next Steps?
- A follow up conversation will be made available in the future to continue this valuable conversation and dig deeper. Keep an eye out!
Stranded: A Community Conversation on Transit & Housing, co-hosted with Anchorage Housing Club
Themes:
- Residents love Anchorage and want to be connected across neighborhoods
- The transit system needs to be more accessible and affordable
- Safety and walkability need to be prioritized through improvements and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure
Next Steps?
- This Report was provided to the participants and local representatives of the Department of Planning as well as the Mayor's Office, and advocacy continues for the themes identified at this meeting.
Watch Party: Power, by Yance Ford
Themes:
- When asked "what is your perception of law enforcement in the lower 48?", the general consensus was viewed as corrupt, unsafe, and not operating in the interest of the community
- When asked "what concerns do you have of law enforcement in our community?", majority of response pointed to concern over a perceived increase in police involved shootings and perceived lack of resources to address mental health challenges
- When asked "what expectations do you have of law enforcement?", the overwhelming theme was wanting to be able to trust law enforcement to help in the situation, not escalate it.
Next Steps?
- This Report was provided to the participants and local representatives from the Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, and the Mayor's Office, and advocacy continues for the themes identified at this meeting.
Anchorage Community Housing Conversation: History of Housing Discrimination in Anchorage w/David Reamer
Themes:
- Anchorage was no exception to racial challenges in neighborhoods (to live in or own housing)
- Many covenants that are blatantly racist (but unenforced) still exist today
- Many residents who rent did not know they had rights when experiencing discrimination from a landlord or during the eviction process
- Housing discrimination still happens today, with even single mothers experiencing challenges trying to rent on their own
Next Steps?
- This Report was provided to the participants and local policy makers, and advocacy continues for the themes identified at this meeting.
Anchorage Community Housing Conversation
Themes:
- Cost to own or rent is very high
- Maintenance/Renovations are cost prohibitive
- Landlord/Tenant Power Dynamic is unbalanced
- Complexity of external issues that impact housing:
- Transportation, safety, road maintenance, etc.
Next Steps?
- This Report was provided to the participants and local policy makers, entered into public comment and advocacy continues for the themes identified at this meeting.
