Dear Alaskans,

What do I love the most about working at Rasmuson Foundation? Being community focused. It is not about our priorities. It is about yours. 

This month, I had the privilege of traveling by plane and boat with Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to visit five communities along the Koyukuk River, including Evansville, Alatna, Allakaket, Hughes, and Huslia. These are small, deeply rooted villages in Interior Alaska where rivers are the main roads and where people have strong ties to one another. It is a part of the state that is hard to get to and, for me, even harder to leave once you have been welcomed in. 

TCC is a Tribal consortium that serves 42 communities across the region. Their work touches nearly every part of daily life. Health care, education, justice, housing, and culture. At its heart, TCC is about local people helping local people, guided by generations of knowledge and a commitment to the future. 

That kind of leadership reflects what we value at Rasmuson Foundation. We believe in showing up, listening first, and building relationships that go beyond grants. 

During this trip, we listened to first chiefs, community members, and young people. We learned about priorities, successes, concerns, and questions. We talked about possible solutions and how our organizations might be helpful. We shared meals, toured villages, and spent time learning alongside representatives from state and local governments and other Alaska leaders. 

Helping others is an Alaska tradition. That is especially true in our rural villages where history, culture, resilience, and innovation run deep. We heard stories of success and challenge, hope and aspiration, and what is next. 

At Rasmuson Foundation, we often say we invest in Alaska. That means funding. But it also means investing our time and our hearts. That is how we learn. That is how we build lasting partnerships. And that is what allows us to do our best work. 

I am so grateful to TCC for the invitation and to every community that welcomed us in. This kind of travel takes planning and patience, but it is worth it. It helps us stay grounded in what really matters. Alaskans helping Alaskans. 

Thank you for all you do.