Arctic Entries

David has five children ages 8 through 19. He loves scuba diving and bike touring, and spends his time between Alaska and Hawaii.

John-Henry house-sits for two cats, subsists predominantly off cans of Amy’s lentil soup, and works at the Boardroom. Aspiring to the core competencies of adulthood, his mother tells him he’s pretty close.

Originally from Emmonak, Alaska, Emily (Yup’ik/Iñupiaq) is the Director of Sustainability of First Alaskans Institute, a statewide Alaska Native non-profit dedicated to the advancement of the Alaska Native community. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Communications from the University of Alaska Anchorage and an Executive Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership from Alaska Pacific University. Emily's Yup’ik name is Keneggnarkayaaggaq, meaning a person with a beautiful persona, spirit, aura and friend. She is the proud mother of Anya Tyrrell, an ANCCS fourth grader who loves to read, laugh and cook breakfast.

Britta’s family moved to Anchorage from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan in 2008. She fell in love with Alaska.

Lucy grew up in a huge Eastern Catholic family on the outskirts of Chicago. As the youngest of seven, she struggled to have her voice heard and was determined to do things her own way. Traveling gave her that independence; in Alaska, nothing holds her back.

Lynn Paulson grew up in San Francisco and State College, Pennsylvania. Dr. Paulson has spent most of her professional life at the front of a college classroom, teaching interpersonal communication, public speaking, writing and cultural studies, first at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and then at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, where she moved in 1993. In 2010, she left university teaching and launched her life coaching and motivational speaking business, Flying Heart Industries. Lynn publishes as a free-lance writer and has just completed a self help cartoon book for women, Be Her Now.

Steve first came to Alaska by bike from Minnesota in 1998. He and his wife have a son named Liam and enjoy spending time outside. Steve has worked for several non-profits and as a stay-at-home dad. He is passionate about biking and didn’t buy his first (half) car until age 33.

Born in Minnesota, and raised without boundaries. Daddy was a beatnik, Mommy was a belly dancer. All through high school in the Valley, Orion dreamt of living in the big city. Now he’s living the dream in Fairview, or as he and his wife call it: Paradise.

Kristin is a lifelong Alaskan. Her true passion is her community, where she has held positions on the planning committees for such wonderful organizations as Dare To Care, YWCA, Alaska Trucking Association, and the Mayor’s Charity Ball, among many others. Currently, Kristin is the President of the Board of Directors for MDA Alaska. She lives in Anchorage with her two sons, and works as the Sales & Event Planner for Sullivan’s Steakhouse. In her spare time, she still runs the company she opened three years ago, Absolutely Kristin, an event management and production company that helps business find their flair.

Alaska born and raised, Mikey is a photographer, leather worker, and creative type. When he’s not taking pictures, you can find Mikey in his workshop creating things with his hands, hosting community building events throughout Alaska, or hanging out with his four-legged dog child, Boogie. Mikey has a strong sense of adventure, which sometimes gets him into a little bit of trouble.

Ruth grew up in the Matanuska Valley and spent her childhood running wild and barefoot through the hills with all her siblings and more animals than she can count. She moved to the big city after college, and has been privileged to work on some really neat projects: 10 years on the pipeline; 10 years designing and constructing the Anchorage International Airport Concourse C; and three months out in the Aleutian Chain with the U.S. Census Bureau. Currently, Ruth works for a small architectural firm, saving up enough money to travel.

Kimball is a former-Anchorage, now-Seattle based actor and writer. He is a best-selling Off-Broadway playwright and a member of the Dramatist Guild of America. Allen is the creator and host of “Triple Threat with Kimball Allen,” a recurring variety talk show. He has written for several syndicated publications such as the New York Times and filmed with Comedy Central and Amazon studios. He is thrilled to be back in Anchorage.

Born and raised in rural Alaska, Danielle is Yupik Eskimo—a self-proclaimed weekend warrior, adventure schemer, community racer, gear hoarder, proud dog owner, wife and soon-to-be first time mom. She’s found many ways to enjoy this great state, such as skiing, running, climbing, and mountaineering, which have all led to exciting adventures, but none have yet topped the adventure she’s going to share on stage tonight.

Growing up in Valdez, Sarah ate more salmon and caribou than beef and pork, which means Alaska is literally in her bones. She went away to college in Utah but dreamed of Alaska every day. She called herself “Sarah from Alaska” to the point where people didn’t know her actual last name. Two years after completing two degrees, she finally decided it was time to move back. Now she works as a social worker in Anchorage—she’s finally home.

Angel was born in Anchorage in 1988. Her 11-year journey in and out of foster care led her to becoming adopted at 16, and an active member of River in the Desert Community Church(RDCC) and Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA). She is now married, with 6 step-children, and works for the Fostering Futures Initiative, training volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA’s) to be mentors for foster youth aging out of the system.

Jeff works as a trial lawyer with Ashburn & Mason, although he still harbors hope that the CDC will hire him as an international consultant. He loves all things outdoors, especially when they involve his wife Hanley, his famous daughters Maggie and Bridget, and their oversized Newfoundland, Abby.

Born and raised in Alaska, with family roots in the Interior and Southeast Alaska, Agatha is a diehard policy and political wonk who enjoys spending time outdoors, when she isn’t watching C-Span or Gavel to Gavel. She is an avid “urban” subsistence user, putting away her own fish and berries. She is always on the search for a bigger, better blueberry patch and when she finds it, she won’t be telling you.

Jack is a mild-mannered middle school teacher by day (Go, Central Huskies!) and a wild and crazy doggy dad at night. The adjectives may have gotten switched in that statement...

A second generation born-and-raised Alaskan, Katrina feels as if she has been living here since the 1950’s, considering all of the old timer stories she’s heard and reheard in her lifetime. She is now an elementary school teacher for the ASD and a mother of a wild three-year-old little girl, loving life and embracing each and every wonderful day. However, some days require a bit more wine than others! Cheers!

Penny was raised in Sitka (the most beautiful town in the state, if you didn’t know!) and moved to Anchorage a year ago. Her university and graduate education as a Nanook and Hoya was split by a stint with the U.S. Peace Corps in Nicaragua, which was full of mangoes, hammocks and hard work down in the dirty grassroots. When she’s not working at her current nonprofit job, which combines her dual passions of Arctic issues and energy policy, you can find her teaching indoor cycling classes or making kombucha.