Biography

Chalalin (Chala) Giron has been connected to Alaska since childhood. Born and raised in California, but with frequent trips to the state and family firmly rooted on Lingít Aaní lands in Juneau, Chala is excited to be back and passionate about building a sustainable future in the lands that have always welcomed her home.

In 2020, Chala was living in the village of Kambole in Kawambwa, Zambia when COVID-19 fortuitously sent her back to Alaska. Chala is the Development and Operations Coordinator for Alaska Venture Fund, and works with our operations team to develop intentional and dynamic relationships with funders.

Chala holds a Bachelor of Arts from Roanoke College and a Master of Arts from Lancaster University in Creative Writing with a focus on world folklore – much of her inspiration was drawn from Tlingit and Haida mythology, values, and culture. Chala joined the Peace Corps in 2019 where she was assigned to the Environment sector in Zambia, Africa. During this time, she worked with local farmers and the Zambian Forestry to teach agroforestry, food sustainability, and how to minimize the environmental impacts of the industry.

Chala now lives in Anchorage with her partner and two dogs. She is an avid outdoors enthusiast and seeks any opportunity to hike, backpack, camp and immerse herself in nature.