A special thanks goes to all those who helped prep the building for Opening, and to those who worked during the day to keep things running smoothly. Whether it was a food tray or internet failure, staff and supporters chipped in where they were needed and the pay off was a great event that the entire community enjoyed. Thank you also to our guests who traveled from near and far to express their support. Also a big thanks to our board members for all of their help with this entire project!
Guests at the Grand Opening this Thursday, who have made significant contributions to Tundra Women’s Coalition’s new construction, may receive a special “Thank You.” That is, if staff haven’t eaten all of them already.
A few of our staff captured images of the beautiful sunset over Bethel this weekend. Some images were taken from our new building and others were taken from the river.
This holiday season, everyone in the Bethel community is invited to participate in the Giving Tree program at the Tundra Women’s Coalition. If you would like to make the holidays a little brighter for a family affected by domestic violence or sexual assault, please pick up a Giving Tree ornament at various businesses around town, including AC, Wells Fargo, Swanson’s, KUC, Cultural Center, Gladys Jung, and the LKSD district office. Please return the ornament and the gift, unwrapped, to the Tundra Women’s Coalition by Friday, December 18th. TWC is located at 250 6th Ave. If your time is limited, TWC also accepts cash donations that we can use to purchase gifts for the families. Please consider helping out these families who have stayed in the shelter in the past year. Call Eileen or Diane at 907-543-3444 for ideas of gifts that are needed. Thank you!
Barbara from Eagle Glass Enhancement Window Films in Anchorage came out to add a decorative security measure to the shelter windows. This film will ensure more privacy for our residents.
You should see the office right now – the packing party has begun! We’ve got music going and staff running every which way, packing supplies and materials into boxes to HOPEFULLY make it next door to the new building with as little confusion as possible. Do you think we can do it? Monday and Tuesday of next week, the staff will be transitioning the admin offices into our new home, so keep that in mind if you try calling. Grand Opening is scheduled for Thurs, Dec 17th at 11am and we’ll have an Open House all afternoon.
Marie Alfred is a local artist who has been working in partnership with TWC over the past month. Since October 27, 2009, Alfred has been leading workshops with T.A.A.V every Tuesday on creating “story knives” by instructing them on wood working skills. Alfred’s efforts to work with the teens helps TWC achieve its goal of providing culturally relevant activities to its participants. Below is the interview active T.A.A.V member Maya Morris did with Alfred.
Maya Morris (MM): How long have you been doing wood carving professionally?
Marie Alfred (MA): Since May 2009
MM: Who taught you to do wood carving?
MA: My grandpa Adam Fisher. He passed in 1973. He had a business called Grandfathers Teaching.
MM: Are there other crafts you make?
MA: I do water colors, drawings, and work with ivory.
MM: If someone wanted to see your work, where could they go to look at it?
MA: At the art gallery at the the Yup’iit Piciryarait Cultural Center.
MM: Is any of your stuff for sale?
MA: Some water color paintings and wooden spoons. The water color paintings are around $100 and the wooden spoons are $250- $300.
MM: Do you have any current projects in the works?
MA: I’m making ivory earrings.
If you would like more information about Marie Alfred and her art work please contact T.A.A.V coordinator Abby Smith at TWC or the art gallery at the Yup’iit Piciryarait Cultural Center.
Thanksgiving is next week, which means Christmas is just around the corner! We have ordered a load of Christmas trees and they will be in Bethel shortly. We have a limited number of 3-5ft Noble firs for $115, many 6-7ft Grand firs for $135, limited 7-8ft Noble firs for $165 and limited 8-9ft Noble firs for $225. Call 543-3444 now to pre-order. TWC would like to thank Lowe’s Home Improvement for their labor and Northern Air Cargo for their generous donations!
Happy Thanksgiving
October 4th -6th 2009 ** Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska
Teens Acting Against Violence (T.
A.A.V) members Kisha Lee, Maya Morris, and Cynthia Andrew attended and served as presenters at the 2nd Annual Lead On! For Peace and Equality conference. Lead On! is a conference that unites youth leaders with community partners to develop projects to promote peace and equality in each of their home communities. At the conference T.A.A.V members participated in numerous workshops involving theatre, art and media to improve their leadership skills. Nationally acclaimed speakers like Courtney Macavinta, Gene Tagaban, Oscar Degruy and Ellen Frankenstein also served as inspiration to create positive change in the world.
One of the highlights of the conference was attending workshops and performances by The Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC). DAYPC is a multicultural teen group from Oakland, California that creates original performance arts pieces using song and rap, hip hop, modern, and aerial dance, martial arts, and theatre. “The Destiny Arts group was my most favorite part of the conference because they were good dancers, had a lot of talent, and taught me the five fingers of non-violence, ” said Cynthia A
ndrew.
During the conference T.A.A.V members also did a 20 minute presentation about conducting violence prevention work in the Yukon-Delta. Presenting proved to be an empowering experience for T.A.A.V member Maya Morris, “Although I felt nervous to present, afterward I was proud”. Overall Lead On! was a wonderful experience. T.A.A.V is currently integrating their new knowledge and resources gained at the conference into their violence prevention program. Stay tuned for updates!
