Institute of the North's Spring Dialogue

Flyer

For the second time in less than a year, on May 8, 2008 The Institute of the North extended a warm invitation to the Anchorage Urban League Young Professionals (AUL-YPs) to attend a state gathering of intelligent, community-minded leaders. AUL-YP members responded to the theme: We are Alaskans: Today and Tomorrow, Challenges and Opportunities for Emerging Leaders with an indescribable enthusiasm. Nine members made a contribution towards finding immediate solutions to Alaska's immediate problems.

105 rural and urban state-wide leaders heard and responded to AUL-YP President Liz Posey's articulation of a vision where competent young adults, committed to their communities, controlled the spending decisions of a state flushed with oil money. Her opening address became a recurring theme.

During a panel discussion, Marketing Chair Kokayi Nosakhere, asked: What would you do with $75,000?

The answers were very focused and community-oriented. Ma'o Tosi said he would fully fund a bridge between the Anchorage's underserved youth and the social agencies just outside their reach. Ben Johnson and Kima Hamilton would increase young people's understanding of statehood by assisting youth in rural and urban areas temporarily exchange places. Kristina Bellamy would invest the money into underfunded Anchorage School District programming. In short, we would Buy Back Alaska and manifest dreams of a Great Land that works for everyone.

This is the Last Frontier. The Anchorage Urban League Young Professionals are committed to training and networking the emerging leaders of Anchorage's ethnically diverse communities. The dreams articulated at the Spring Dialogue are not fancy rhetoric, but the reflection of current activity. We are the direct sponsors of OurTime 2008. Our goal is to increase civic engagement among young adults within our beloved state. To do so, we are conducting a voter registration campaign and educating the public on Alaska's political structure and the Owner State Mentality through a series of seminars.

Thank you Nils Andreassen for all the hard work you did to bring the future of Alaska's vast regions together. We sincerely appreciate you.