Gather Round: The Forum Blog

Making space & sharing space: MoHagani Magnetek's compassionate, creative, and courageous work building community

We sat down with 2025 Governor's Arts & Humanities Awards winner MoHagani Magnetek to talk about what the award, the humanities, and community-building means to her.

Breaking bread and breaking barriers

The Forum recently invited Mat-Su residents to join a new Strengthening Community Leadership workshop series, for people who want to build more connected communities. Here, participant Becky Strub reflects on the first workshop.

Finding ways to heal: A conversation with Jim LaBelle, Sr.

Hear from Jim LaBelle, Sr. about the remarkable life and moments of realization that led to his decades of work uplifting boarding school histories. For his advocacy, Jim was awarded a 2025 Governor's Arts & Humanities Award.

Inside the Forum's Facilitating Through Conflict workshop

In our conversation facilitation workshops, we often hear: “What do I do if people start fighting?” Facilitating Through Conflict is our answer - a practical, repeatable approach to navigating conflict when it inevitably arises.

This pack of cigarettes tells its own tale

Read this excerpt from a true story shared by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force historian Christopher Koonce, which will be featured at the Nov. 8 Day of Storytelling.

Stories strengthen community: Connecting classrooms across the Bering Strait School District

Hear from journalist & Unalakleet Schools alum Laureli Ivanoff and Unalakleet teacher Giaana Peterson about how they see Story Works impacting students and classrooms there.