| Hello Friends, | The work to create a stronger, more resilient Alaska starts in community, and scales into regional and global impact. In this month’s newsletter, we share stories showing what this looks like in action—from wildfire preparedness and education happening on a community level to international collaborations examining Alaska’s global role in climate.
If you would like to learn more about our work, we would love to hear from you.
The Alaska Venture Fund Team
| | | | Alaska Venture Fund - News & Views | | Project updates, stories and perspectives that inspire our work. | |  | | AVF at New York Climate Week | Last week, Alaska Venture Fund spent Climate Week in rooms filled with the funders, innovators and problem solvers who will shape the future of climate investment and action. We were there to make sure Alaska was part of that conversation.
On Wednesday, AVF Partner Erin Harrington took part in a panel co-organized by the Biodiversity Funders Group, Native Americans in Philanthropy and the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, exploring what becomes possible when philanthropy approaches Tribal resilience the way communities actually experience it, as an interconnected question of sovereignty, energy, land, economic security and culture. Erin’s ask to the audience was to lead with curiosity, make funding truly unrestricted wherever possible and commit to multiple years rather than a single grant cycle at a time.
Elsewhere during the week, a funder workshop hosted by Spark Climate Initiative laid out the context that underpins our climate work: that as wildfires burn and permafrost melts, the carbon released is becoming one of the fastest-growing, least recognized and most underfunded pieces of the climate problem. This was one of many moments from an inspirational week that reinforced why Alaska has to be a part of how the world responds on climate. | | | | | |  | |  | | A few years ago, the carbon locked in Alaska’s permafrost and boreal forests wasn’t part of these conversations. This week, it was central to them. We’ve worked hard to help drive that shift. Now we must use that momentum to make sure the stewardship of boreal wildfire realizes its potential as one of the world’s most critical natural climate solutions.”
| | | Erin Harrington | | Alaska Venture Fund Partner | | | | | | | | |  | The Arctic Boreal Forests Are Burning:
Here's Why This Matters to the World | | This year AVF helped launch North Fire, a new international effort to accelerate the science and learning on stewardship of Arctic and boreal wildfire. In a recent piece for the World Economic Forum, Erin Harrington explored the stakes alongside partners from Woodwell Climate Research Center and the WEF's Global Network for Wildfire Leadership. | | | |  | Q&A with Lisa Amaniq Shield:
Fire Education Safety That Starts with Trust | | Lisa Amaniq Shield grew up in Selawik and Kotzebue, raised within communities that claimed her as their own, and that shapes how she works today. As AVF's Community Wildfire Resilience & Workforce Coordinator, she has developed a training model that builds off what a community already knows and listens to what it needs. We sat down with Lisa for a conversation about her work, approach and how AVF’s wildfire initiative is building lasting resilience in Alaska’s communities. | | |  | | Welcoming Amanda Wheelock and Cameron Howard | Please join us in welcoming Amanda Wheelock and Cameron Howard to the AVF team!
Amanda Wheelock joins the AVF team as our Wildfire Resilience Initiative Deputy Director. Amanda has spent over a decade working across science and policy, including managing public lands with the Forest Service and helping develop natural resources policy in Congress.
As our Climate Projects Coordinator, Cameron brings her climate and policy knowledge to advance AVF’s natural climate solutions work, from local projects through to cross border collaborations. Originally from Juneau, Cameron’s childhood was shaped by the landscape around her, and that connection motivated her to return home to support a more resilient future for Alaska. | | | |  | | Alaska's Energy Paradox | | Alaska's energy future is critical to its long-term sustainability and prosperity. This article from the Alaska Beacon lays out the potential of clean energy for Alaska, as well as the delicate position our state finds itself in—between competing visions for our resources and who they should serve. We think this insightful piece is worth a read for anyone looking to better understand where we are now, and the issues and opportunities we face. | | | | In case you missed it | | ◊ | Last Monday, New Energy Alaska, part of AVF's energy portfolio, co-hosted a gubernatorial forum on Alaska's energy future. All four candidates participated, tackling issues such as Cook Inlet gas supply, the North Slope gas line and rural power costs. Watch the full forum here.
| | | | | | | | Watch: Kipnuk Athlete Ties for World Record
at Native Youth Olympics | | Every year, Alaskans gather to attend and participate in the Native Youth Olympics, a statewide multi-day event featuring Alaska Native athletic competitions. This year, Colton Paul of Kipnuk tied the world record for the Two Foot High Kick at 104 inches. | |  | | | |
