Exciting updates from Spruce Root: Welcoming Shaelene and more!
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It's an exciting time at Spruce Root, and we have some fantastic updates and opportunities to share with you. From welcoming a new member, Shaelene Grace Moler, to our team to the launch of the Native Craft Artist Readiness Program, there's a lot to dive into. So, grab a cup of your favorite brew, settle in and let's explore the latest happenings at Spruce Root!
Also in this newsletter:
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Welcome, Shaelene to the Spruce Root team
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Shaelene is our new Community Economic Development Fellow through Spruce Root.
Shaelene Grace Moler (she/her) grew up in Ḵéex̱’ Ḵwaan, the community of Kake, Alaska. Her Tlingit name is Sgweín and she is of the Tsaagweidí, the Split-Finned Killer Whale clan, from the Yak’s Lits’eix̱i Hít, the house that once anchored the village. She now lives in Sitka where she is working for Spruce Root as our Community Economic Development Fellow through the Alaska Fellows Program.
Shaelene graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast with a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies. She grew up hunting, fishing and harvesting on her ancestral lands and is a lifelong storyteller through her experiences in writing, editing and photography with ambitions to learn about the world of nonprofit management.
Prior to working for Spruce Root, she spent two summers interning through Sealaska for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership as a storytelling and engagement intern.
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Spruce Root team gathers to reflect on future goals and direction of the organization
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In early August, the Spruce Root staff traveled from various parts of Southeast Alaska, Texas and Hawaii to gather in beautiful Juneau for the team's annual retreat. The team spent three days at the Eagle Valley Center getting to know one another and reflecting on future goals and the direction of the organization.
Our team enjoyed the trails and scenic beauty as well as an outdoor challenge course and an introduction to beading. We want to give a special thank you to the Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC) for facilitating discussions around identity and inclusion, individual and organizational strengths, and ways to build healthy, working relationships. We also want to thank SAIL (Southeast Alaska Independent Living) for facilitating the challenge course.
Our last night of the retreat included a dinner with the Spruce Root Board of Directors, and some members of the Southeast Sustainable Partnership Steering Committee and Seacoast Trust Investment Committee.
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Southeast Alaska Resilience Circles Project Assistant: Spruce Root is looking for an Assistant Project Coordinator for the Resilience Circles pilot program. The ideal candidate will be experienced in project development and implementation as well as handling a wide range of administrative tasks. This person must be well-organized, meticulous, proactive, and resourceful with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality. Knowledge and familiarity of Alaska Native people, culture and organizations is desired.
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For more details about jobs at Spruce Root, go to spruceroot.org/careers.
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Photo by Bethany Goodrich
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Alaska Mariculture Cluster seeks community feedback
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The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) Grant awarded the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC), led by Southeast Conference, $49 million in grant funds.
The goal of the cluster is to accelerate a viable and sustainable mariculture industry for the long-term benefits of Alaska’s economy, environment and underserved communities.
The Alaska Mariculture Cluster created a mariculture liaison program to engage communities in identified regions. Spruce Root was awarded a request for proposals through the Alaska Mariculture Alliance for the Southeast Region’s outreach component of this project, which launched in August.
Many communities, Tribal entities and organizations attended our first community engagement initiative at the Southeast Tribal Environmental Forum (August 28-September 1) in Juneau, Alaska. We will host another community outreach opportunity in September in Sitka, Alaska, during the Southeast Conference annual meeting.
Over the course of the next year, we will be conducting information and outreach engagements in all interested communities. The purpose of these engagements is to share opportunities available to communities, Tribes, organizations and individuals through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, gather community feedback and report back to the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, utilizing a community/Indigenous-informed approach to how this industry develops in Alaska.
If you would like us to come to your community, please email Brooke Leslie at brooke@spruceroot.org.
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Native Craft Artist Readiness Program applications open
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Native craft artists are encouraged to apply for the Native Artisan Readiness Program, which is a six-month capacity-building program that provides craft artisans with training, resources and financial support to build sustainable art practices.
Craft artists are defined as people who produce hand-crafted objects such as pottery, baskets, jewelry, beadwork, quilts and other items.
The Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums (ATALM) in partnership with Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) announced the launch of the Native Craft Artist Readiness Program.
The project supports Indigenous artisans, craftspeople and makers in creating a safe, functional and conducive environment that promotes their artistic development and well-being.
Participating artists will be selected through a national application process and will receive online training and access to a network of coaches, peers, and resources. Artists completing the program will receive up to $10,000 to implement the skills and strategies gained through the program.
Applications are due by September 30, 2023.
To support the craft artists, up to five artists with successful careers will serve as coaches or mentors. Selected artists and coaches will be notified by October 16, 2023. More information is available at https://www.atalm.org/node/628.
The project is administered by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums in partnership with the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and is funded by the Ford Foundation and Windgate Foundation.
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Photo courtesy Alaska Power & Telephone
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AP&T to offer e-bike purchase incentives
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Sitka Conservation Society, The Leighty Foundation and Alaska Power & Telephone are excited to announce a new partnership to promote use of electric bikes or e-bikes in Alaska.
Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) now offers incentives for electric bicycles – the first incentive of its type in Alaska. AP&T power customers are eligible to receive a 10 percent cash incentive, up to a total of $200.
“E-bikes are a great way to expand access to healthy, low carbon transportation options while utilizing clean electric energy," Sitka Conservation Society Deputy Director Katie Riley said in a news release. "We're excited to partner with AP&T and The Leighty Foundation to support this initiative and invest in building bicycle-friendly and climate-conscious communities in Southeast Alaska.”
Together, the organizations will offer incentives to AP&T power customers who purchase e-bikes for use in AP&T’s service areas. This includes communities on Prince of Wales Island, Haines, Skagway and Gustavus, as well as AP&T’s interior service areas in the Tok region.
According to the news release, Business Insider reported that e-bike sales quadrupled since 2019. In recent years, e-bikes have evolved to suit a wider range of Alaska weather conditions, for enjoying trails and designs specific to hunting and fishing.
E-bikes are well suited to rentals, creating opportunities for sustainable tourism. The three entities hope that the incentives will encourage Alaskans to add e-bike technology to their households, incorporating them into their daily routines and even business activities.
Additionally, Sockeye Cycles (Skagway/Haines) and Cycle Alaska (Juneau) will be teaming up and matching AP&T’s incentives with donations to Southeast Alaska non-profits such as Sitka Conservation Society and Juneau Mountain Bike Alliance.
For more information and to apply, click here.
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Thank you to all our partners, supporters, donors and communities for continuing to share in our vision for the region!
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Spruce Root is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Our services for small businesses include coaching, training and lending for startup enterprises, working capital, business expansion, leasehold improvements and other business capital needs. We are a driver of a regenerative economy across Southeast Alaska so communities can forge futures grounded in this uniquely Indigenous place.
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