Newsletter: Empowering artists, embracing traditions: Fall highlights with Spruce Root

Spruce Root is offering a Business Basics for Artists workshop for all Southeast Alaska residents and Sealaska shareholders.

October 11, 2024 (View this email in your browser) Empowering Artists, Embracing Traditions: Fall Highlights with Spruce Root We hope you are as excited for fall as we are. Spruce Root is offering a Business Basics for Artists workshop for all Southeast Alaska residents and Sealaska shareholders. The Sustainable Southeast Partnership catalysts connect through virtual culture camp and Lingít traditions. Some of our team members presented at U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola's forum on solutions to Alaska's outmigration crisis. Also in this newsletter:  Upcoming Small Business Grants & Opportunities. Spruce Root Small Business Program Manager Marc Wheeler works with artist Clara Natonabah to develop financial projections for her business. (Photo by Shaelene Grace Moler) Spruce Root and Sealaska Heritage to offer virtual Business Basics for Artists workshop Calling all Southeast Alaska artists! Are you interested in starting or growing your art-based business? If so, join us for Business Basics for Artists, a three-day virtual workshop held in partnership with the Sealaska Heritage Institute! This is a virtual event from November 6-8, held via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Space is limited — so apply soon to secure your spot! Applications close on October 23, 2024. APPLY NOW Items that regional and community SSP catalysts found during a community scavenger hunt in the catalysts’ communities.  Southeast catalysts engage in virtual culture camp with Lingít focus Regional and community Sustainable Southeast Partnership catalysts came together for the Summer Catalyst retreat and the first-ever virtual culture camp to connect and engage with one another in learning about Lingít culture. Catalysts were mailed a care package with traditional foods, products from local businesses and art supplies by SSP Program Director Marina Anderson, who also lead a Lingít introduction class during the event.  Other activities included a collaborative fry bread workshop, Pictionary, shared walks, storytelling with Elder Della Cheney, a formline workshop with Ashley Young, and a community scavenger hunt where catalysts went out into their communities to take photos of things they found.  READ MORE Spruce Root Program Manager and Sustainable Southeast Partnership Catalyst for Workforce Development Michael Mausbach leads resumé workshop in Angoon. (Photo by Lee House) Alaska leaders discuss rural-to-urban migration challenges In September, U.S. Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola hosted a convening on outmigration to explore challenges and solutions related to rural-to-urban migration in Alaska and to the Lower 48.  Topics included climate change, food security, housing, economic development, and education.  Sustainable Southeast Partnership Deputy Director Shannon Stevens and Program Manager and Regional Catalyst for Workforce Development Michael Mausbach, shared success stories, covering workforce development and advocacy for Native CDFI funding.  The event, hosted by Alaska Federation of Natives, ISER, and First Alaskans Institute, gathered leaders from various sectors to discuss potential solutions. Upcoming small business grants & opportunities Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Each year, the Tory Burch Foundation selects 50 women entrepreneurs for a yearlong program designed to grow their businesses through workshops, coaching sessions, network-building, and financial resources. The program ends with a company presentation and in-person experience. To learn more and apply, click here. In case you missed it Woven People & Place: Húus dáng hl kíngsaang (I’ll see you again): Reflections from Prince of Wales Fast Start loans: Say goodbye to lengthy waiting times and uncertainty around capital to start or grow your business. Seacoast Trust reaches $25 million: Help us reach our $50 million milestone Thank you to all our partners, supporters, donors and communities for continuing to share in our vision for the region! 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. Grow With Us Copyright ©2024 Spruce Root, All rights reserved. Thank you for joining the Spruce Root network. Please unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive updates. Our mailing address is: Spruce Root One Sealaska Plaza Suite 400 Juneau, AK 99801 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Spruce Root does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.