Quilt Show Thanks
Dear Editor: The Ocean Wave Quilters show committee wants to thank the many volunteers who helped make our recent 39th annual show a success by sitting and greeting visitors, hanging and taking down the quilts, making the poster, typing stories, arranging publicity and having their quilts in the show.
A huge thank you to Alaska Arts Southeast for use of Whitmore Hall for such a perfect venue.
Thanks to the Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka Soup, KCAW, KIFW and GCI. Without the publicity we wouldn’t have had the many people come and view the quilts, read the stories, vote for their favorites and enjoy the annual Mother’s Day Tea. What a great “audience.”
Ocean Wave Quilters
Show Committee:
Janine Holzman, Julia Smith
and Megan Pasternak
Boys on the Run
Dear Editor: Thanks to incredible community support, Sitka’s seventh season of Boys Run I toowú klatseen was a huge success! Following 10 weeks of learning social and emotional skills necessary to build healthy relationships and communities, nearly 30 third- through fifth-grade boys ran a 5K fun run on Saturday, May 14, accompanied by friends, family, and supporters.
1Boys Run works to combat Alaska’s high rates of suicide, substance abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault by teaching boys to recognize and process emotions, and connecting them to adult mentors and Southeast Alaska traditional culture and values.
Boys Run thrives in Sitka because of the amount of community support for the program. We at Sitkans Against Family Violence are thankful for our partners in the Pathways Coalition for coordinating this season of Boys Run I toowú klatseen; Youth Advocates of Sitka for providing coaches; Sitka Counseling for coordinating the 5K and providing coaches; Sitka Conservation Society for coordinating the community service project and providing coaches; Sitka School District for providing coaches and crucial support throughout the season; and Sitka Tribe of Alaska for sharing their knowledge of Southeast Alaska traditional culture and values with participants throughout the season and providing coaches.
Thanks to Raven Radio, KIFW and the Sitka Sentinel for allowing us to share Boys Run messages through their channels. Thank you to Sea Mart for donating gift cards, AC Lakeside and Ludvig’s Bistro for donating snacks, Harry Race Pharmacy and Harry Race Soda Fountain staff for their generous donations, Russell’s for providing discounted shoes, Harrigan Centennial Hall for providing the 5K space, SEARHC for their generous donation to the program, and Sitka National Historical Park for donating the park permit for the 5K. And thank you to the folks who came to help out at the 5K!
We appreciate our incredible coaches who gave their time weekly to serve as positive role models and mentors for program participants. Thank you for engaging in this meaningful and important work and ensuring the success of the program.
Of course, Boys Run would not be what it is without the enthusiastic and engaged boys who participate in the program. We can’t thank this season’s participants enough for their commitment to their goals and community. We’ve seen them grow an incredible amount throughout the season, and trust that they’ll go forward to practice the healthy expression of emotions, teamwork, allyship, and celebrate cultural diversity throughout their lives. This growth would not have been possible without the undying support of the parents and guardians. We greatly appreciate all of the reinforcement of the lessons behind the scenes, as well as all of the volunteering done by guardians at the 5K.
Sitka, thank you again for showing your care for and support of this community’s boys, and your dedication to helping them grow into respectful, inclusive men who can express their emotions in a healthy way and support their community.
If you’re interested in getting involved with Sitka’s Boys Run I toowú klatseen next year, or its partner program, Girls on the Run, please contact Emma Thompson at ethompson@safv.org or 747-3489. We’re always recruiting coaches and we’d love to have you join us in this work.
Brooks Olesek, Coordinator,
Boys Run I toowú klatseen
Sitkans Against Family Violence
