At the Alaska Humanities Forum, we know that the best ideas don’t always come from whiteboards, Zoom meetings, or emails. They come from conversations - around kitchen tables, walks in the park, and at late-night gatherings where memories are shared and visions for the future take shape.
That’s why we’ve been bringing together Community Advisory Boards (CABs): groups of Alaskans who guide and shape our projects from the inside out. Each CAB is a small circle of community members who help us steer the work. CABs often convene over a meal, share stories to get to know one another, and then dive into the heart of the work. Their lived experiences, local knowledge, and unique perspectives make every project stronger and more connected to the communities we serve.
This isn’t new for us. We’ve hosted advisory boards for many of our programs over the years. They help us figure out what stories to tell, how to tell them, and who needs to be in the room. It’s a model of shared ownership that makes every project stronger and more grounded in the communities we serve.
One of the best examples of this approach in action is the Tikahtnu Upper Cook Inlet National Heritage Area Day of Storytelling in Anchorage. This public event asks three big questions: Who have we been? Who are we now? Who do we want to become?
Pulling this event together has been a complex challenge. With 50 storytellers from all walks of life, the CAB has worked to ensure the event reflects the full diversity of Anchorage – from neighborhoods to generations, from cultures to life experiences. The Community Advisory Board has helped identify key themes, stories, and storytellers.
At one meeting, lifelong Anchorage residents Theresa Lyons and Synclaire Butler found themselves bouncing memories back and forth about what growing up in Anchorage was like. They laughed about the legendary Fly by Night Club in Spenard, and even sang snippets of old local business jingles. Those moments of nostalgia weren’t just fun – they were exactly why CABs matter. They surface lived histories and community textures that no planning document could ever capture. Together, those stories form the cultural history that a National Heritage Area is meant to honor and preserve. Memories like these are what make Anchorage unique and what we hope to celebrate at our Day of Storytelling.
Join us
The Forum is building a larger network of Community Advisory Boards across Alaska, each helping to ground and guide programs with the perspectives and experiences of local community members.
We’d love for you to be part of this journey:
