Daily Sitka Sentinel

August 10, 2022, Community Happenings

SAFV to Launch Summer

Fundraiser on Thursday

Sitkans Against Family Violence invites participation in its two-week online fundraiser beginning Thursday.

The organization hopes to reach its goal of $10,000 to continue offering free services for victims and survivors of interpersonal violence.

SAFV also works with children and youths to provide them with skills to help them play a significant role in creating a healthy, respectful community.

This year, SAFV created a campaign to show how its programs align with its philosophy, and to explain why it is important for men to get involved in the work to support survivors of violence and to promote a healthier, safer community.

“For 17 years we have been working in the field of prevention,” said executive director Natalie Wojcik. “Our goal is to change the social norms so that violence becomes unacceptable as a tool to solve problems, be it in intimate relationships or otherwise.

“Our Sitka Youth Leadership Committee created a campaign called ‘Mold Your Masculinity,’’ she said. ‘‘Their goal is to help men rise to create their own healthy masculinity by educating on the harms of the man box. The man box refers to a set of unhealthy societal norms that men often feel pressured to conform to. These rigid, unhealthy norms can increase risk of harm to self and others. SYLC’s message to promote healthy masculinity aligns perfectly with SAFV’s philosophy of believing that all citizens have a responsibility to create an environment that prevents interpersonal violence or control over others.”

To learn more about the scope of SAFV’s work and philosophy and to donate, visit safv.org or use Facebook to find details of the fundraiser. Credit card donations will be processed through PayPal, and checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 6136, Sitka, AK 99835.

For more information, contact Wojcik at 907-747-3491 or director@safv.org.

Event to Welcome

AFS Students

The community is invited to a welcome potluck for the new Sitka AFS students 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Pioneer Park shelter.

Host families and AFS volunteers are available to answer questions about the program. Those attending are asked to take a dish to share. Call Carole at (907)747-5559 for questions.

Celebration for

Tlingit Code Talkers

Slated for Sunday

Tlingit Code Talkers will be celebrated in Sitka during National Code Talkers Day on Sunday, Aug. 14.

The documentary ‘‘Navajo Code Talkers of World War II’’ (2018) will be shown at 1 p.m. at the Coliseum Theatre.

A celebration will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 13. Guest speaker will be Kody Dayish, director of films including ‘‘Unbroken Code’’ and ‘‘The Red Hogaan.’’

Performances will be presented by Haa shagoon, Sheet’ka Kwaan Dancers and others.

The event is sponsored by Alaska Native Brotherhood, American Legion Post 13, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of Legion and AC Lakeside.

Visit Sitka Hosts

Workshop Friday

On Assessment

Visit Sitka has hired Roger Brooks, president and CEO of Destination Development Association, to perform a destination assessment of Sitka.

The assessment will provide a photographic review of the community through the eyes of a first-time visitor, Visit Sitka said. Its focus is “What else can we do to make our community even better?” 

Brooks will spend five days exploring and experiencing Sitka. from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Odess Theater he will conclude his visit with a ‘‘Findings and Suggestions Workshop,’’ which often includes between 40 and 80 suggestions on what Sitka ‘‘can implement today to make a big difference tomorrow, improving the community’s quality of life, economic vitality, and visitor spending.’’

The free workshop is open to the public. It will be available via Zoom. Visit the Sitka Chamber website at www.sitkachamber.com for details.