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“In Alaska, we belong to each other.” “We can take good care of each other.” These are the lines in one of my favorite spoken word poems by NaMee. This poem was written in response to the proposed, devastating budget cuts in the early days of Governor Dunleavy’s administration. But the reason for the poem is less important than the response, and the response is so powerful that it is still as true today as the day it was created. The poem not only reminds us about what we collectively love about this place, it reminds us about what it means to live here, to raise our families here, to make a living here. It reminds us that part of that choice is a responsibility to see the people around us and care for them and care about them.
There are days more recently, as Congress deliberates on a whole new level of devastation for people in Alaska and across the country, when I let this poem be the loudest thing in my head – hoping that it will drown out the other things I hear. There have been days recently where it feels more like a prayer or a set of hopes that we can share again across the country and with each other. There are days when I wish everyone who made decisions for us and about us would have to start their days by listening to these words to remind them that we live with the result of their decisions.
Importantly, the last lines of the poem invite us all to “have courage.”
And while I say this, it is still true that many, too many in my opinion, are simply not paying attention at all – on either side. Maybe this is a survival strategy. Maybe this is just how it goes. Maybe paying attention is a privilege. And if that is true, then is it possible for that privilege to come with more courage? Courage, after all, is rooted in the deep belief that hope through action is possible. Hope can feed our courage to speak up and stand up. Hope can help us do as Senator Murkowski urged at the Leadership Summit – ask for what we want by standing up and using our voices.
I see it, and I know you can see it, too. Just this past week, I saw so many versions of courage that looked big and bold. In congressional hearings where attempts were made to portray nonprofit work as something to disdain, as if caring for people, animals, and our planet were a crime, and somehow political and partisan. I saw people raising their hands and asking questions of their fellow Rotarians about the impacts of budget choices and the potential devastation of Medicaid and SNAP cuts. I saw a room full of nonprofit CEOs turning to each other to share their next steps for navigating extreme uncertainty and offering a friendly ear to the person sitting next to them. I saw hundreds of people step up quickly to meet the needs of animal care and rescue. And I saw a team pause in the midst of their work to deeply listen and learn about someone’s family experience – unlike their own – that resulted from a healthcare system with too many gaps. These were all acts of courage because it turns out that sometimes having courage will just look like your regular day.
Courage can and likely will look like doing the work you were called to do, like making sure people are fed, housed, and safe. It will look like problem-solving within your community and attending to immediate needs. It will look like caring for an elder and reading to a child or letting them read to you. It will look like tending a garden or tending to your staff. It can also look like writing letters, making calls, sending emails, and signing petitions. It can look like marching in the street and protesting for the community you want. It can look so different, but it has to look like something right now.
Recently, someone thanked me for my courage, but honestly, I had not felt courageous in that moment. I was simply doing my work the way I know how to do it, the way that I have always been called to do it. I share this because what looks like courage to one person may appear differently to another, depending on your point of view. And because, in that instance, what looked courageous was how public-facing my words had become and how much attention they received. It turns out that person was right. It just took me a minute to see the exposure I had created and to be aware that for some, I was now a target. I, too, am still learning about courage.
Whatever your version of courage is, know you are not alone. Your voice matters. Your work matters. And in this mixed-up world, it turns out that the very work you were called to do is now courageous. Keep at it. Take care of each other. Have courage.
Standing with you,
Laurie
P.S. Stay informed. Stay Connected.
As part of our work as Alaska’s nonprofit association, Foraker pursues nonpartisan or bipartisan public policy initiatives with local, state, and federal governments. The first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature adjourned on May 20, 2025, and Foraker was actively involved with several key issues.
During the session, legislators had critical conversations about the importance of nonprofits in our state. Those conversations began with the first “Lunch and Learn” of the session, which featured a presentation on our report Alaska’s Nonprofit Sector: Generating Economic Impact, to comments at a hearing on the impact of federal funding on the sector. And importantly, several Foraker public policy priorities were introduced as legislation. Following is a summary of the legislative outcomes.
Prompt Payment Parity
For many years, Alaska nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations have told us about the increased challenges caused by the materially long delays in state payments for essential services they perform – services that are authorized by the legislature. After many years of chasing late payments through almost every department of state government and attempting through a concurrent resolution with the Alaska Municipal League (AML) in the last session, Foraker and AML determined that legislation was the most effective way to fix the issue. A point-in-time survey was used to validate current hardships.
During this session, Representative Rebecca Himschoot and Senator Scott Kawasaki introduced companion bills—HB 133 and SB 129—aimed at addressing this issue. These bills seek to establish parity with private contractors in payment timelines and penalties for nonprofits, local governments, and tribal organizations doing work for the state. We are looking for the same statutory protections that exist for private firms on public infrastructure projects. House Bill 133 and SB 129 would ensure that both state and federal pass-through funds are disbursed promptly to nonprofits, local governments, and tribal organizations, ultimately benefiting the many communities they serve in the most efficient way through good government practice.
We are deeply grateful to the many nonprofit, municipal, and tribal leaders who testified in support of these legislative proposals as the bills worked their way through the committee process.
The good news is that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle overwhelmingly acknowledged that delayed payments are a serious problem, and this issue is now formally on record. The bills received bipartisan support and faced no opposition. In response, the state issued fiscal notes, as part of the legislative process, acknowledging that additional staffing, time, and resources would be required to implement the legislation—effectively validating the problem.
We will continue to advocate for prompt payment parity during the interim while addressing the fiscal notes and expect to make further progress, ending with the passage of prompt payment parity legislation in the next legislative session.
Wage Transparency
Foraker testified multiple times in support of SB 78 and companion bill HB 156 introduced by Senator Dunbar and Representative Mina in their respective chambers. Foraker’s stance remains focused on the larger issue of ensuring gender pay equity, acknowledging that wage transparency is an important tool for closing the well-documented gender pay gap in Alaska’s nonprofit sector.
As part of our public policy role to generate research and data in support of public policy change, Foraker will soon introduce an updated report on gender pay equity. The report includes pertinent data on gender pay within Alaska’s nonprofits and will be shared with the bill sponsors.
Nonprofit Property Tax Exemptions
The Alaska Constitution guarantees a tax exemption for charitable nonprofit organizations, which shows up primarily with respect to local sales taxes and local property taxes. In recent years, however, differing interpretations of this constitutional provision and associated state statute have resulted in some Alaska nonprofits being improperly assessed property taxes by local governments.
Fairness in taxation has been part of Foraker’s public policy priorities for well over a decade. We are actively working to clarify the statute to ensure that nonprofits receive the tax exemption to which they are constitutionally entitled. To that end, we are closely collaborating with the Alaska Municipal League to develop a mutually agreeable legislative solution.
While the legislation was not introduced this session, we have developed draft legislative language and, most importantly, have identified legislative champions to help advance this effort. Our aim is to have a draft bill ready for consideration when the legislative session reconvenes in January 2026.
Federal Funding Impacts
In addition to our legislative priorities, Foraker also served as a resource to the legislature as they continue to navigate changes in federal policy and funding. Foraker established a one-stop webpage in early January to track federal funding impacts and produced a detailed survey report about the devastating impacts a halt in federal funding would have on nonprofits and Alaskans. Our data on federal funding has proven invaluable as one of the few reliable sources of information on the scope and scale of federal funding impact. To that end, we testified several times at the legislature on this topic and provided timely interviews and public presentations at Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce throughout the state. Our website and regular communication continue to be a trusted source of information. We are committed to this work for as long as the challenges present themselves.
We’re searching for a Bookkeeper/Staff Accountant! The ideal candidate will be collaborative and flexible, have excellent organizational skills and follow-through, and enjoy a fast-paced, highly varied suite of accounting duties. This position is responsible for processing payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable for nonprofits and tribal organizations across Alaska. Learn more at forakergroup.org/jobs
Does your organization anticipate a leadership change in the coming months? A smooth transition from one leader to another will keep your organization focused on its mission. We can help you create a process for a successful leadership change by taking a realistic and thoughtful approach. We’ve created FAQs to help you assess if our Leadership Transition services are a fit for your organization. We are also relaunching our community class – Recruiting for the Long-Term: Finding Leaders that Stay – on June 12 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. If your organization is looking to be more thoughtful about leadership transition, this class is for you. You can learn more about our Leadership Transition services here.
We Produce Our Own Energy
A portrait poem by Na Mee
(All the words that appear in this poem were heard at some point during The Foraker Group’s 2025 Leadership Summit, April 14 & 15, 2025. They have been lifted out of their specific context and written into this found poem, intended as a group portrait. You can watch the video of the performance here.)
All of the leaders across Alaska
owe at least eight people here an email.
We did our list!
It’s get shit done week
How many hyper achievers are in the room?
I don’t need to see hands. I know it’s over half of you
We know you’re wearing many hats.
We’re all spread really thin
Quick start
Troubleshooting
Keeping heritage alive
Activating that community
Tightening up those systems
Making sure everyone gets what they need
Meditating
And leveraging the strengths and talents of our teams across generations
We’re elevating and raising our voices
And focused on listening
Thinking of ideas from many perspectives
And being present
Letting it go where it needs to go
But maybe not too far
Set the agenda, stick to the agenda
We keep that thing on continuous loop these days
It’s head spinning.
Just when you’ve made a little progress on one issue, there’s another.
Reduction, thawing, freezing, releasing
It’s a challenging
Dismantled
Uncomfortable
time
It’s called “against the law”
How do you actually do your job?
Asking for a friend
Tell your friend:
Inhale and exhale.
Remind ourselves that we’re human.
Every once in a while, we need to smell each other.
Acknowledge we’re tired and that it’s OK to be tired.
Take the hard news and sit with it
Unwind
Touch grass
Give yourself a loving hug.
It’s good to feel things.
That is what we are actually designed to do.
Nourish yourself to nourish your organization.
Take the time to be together
Be ready for questions
Questions that bring out the best of us
Stay extra curious and listen
Everything we do
Every person in this room
Our work is emotional
Rugged independence and rugged interdependence
And, inside is a softer part of us
All these pieces
Are where our energy and power is going to be
Collaboration is not just a theme, it’s a way of being.
You get to model.
Thinking about it together
Look for surprising connections
There’s so many iceberg models
This is our iceberg model
Just noticing what’s right in front of us
The power of all of us together
That’s when we might flip the iceberg
From very hyper local to regional to national
We need one another, and in fact, we create each other
What’s the difference that makes the difference?
Our power is our collective power
True inclusion is when we join our communities
Walk together
Building on our intuition, our relationships, our experience
It’s difficult when so many of us are feeling the
Drama and tension
Trust the process!
Sometimes it’s viewed as confrontational,
sometimes it’s viewed as using my mother’s charm
Protest can be a very affirmative word
Honor the hard parts
The magical spaces
Over time, these are in deep synergy
Alaskans:
Hello my people!
We can
Look across the boundaries
Salvage something
Find abundance out of nothing
I need to see a wink or a nod or something 😉
You all know how to help each other,
Rally around each other
We take care of our seniors, we take care of our kids
Our work, ourselves, our family members, our neighbors
Collaboration and cooperation is happening at any time
We love a group chat
We bring cookies
We are not alone
We don’t
wait for batman
We don’t
run from bears
We take care of each other, even when we disagree
We produce our own energy
the energy in the room when we’re talking about our stories
Alaska is in our heart
Anything we can do we will do
We adapt
And we celebrate What we’re going to keep
See ourselves, see each other,
see our community in their fullness and their richness
Your work matters today and it will matter tomorrow
Find the courage
To bring your whole selves
up here to the front
You’re welcome to do it quietly or you’re welcome to do it out loud
Please don’t be shy
There’s no better place to do this than right here, right now