Jamie Gorman
Dear Editor: On Saturday, November 2, we celebrated the life of James Ogden Gorman. We were joined by over 300 of our neighbors, family, and friends to remember our lovely boy, Jamie. The memorial service was an incredible tribute. It captured Jamie to the core: his beautiful smile, his whimsical ways, his kindness and devotion to friends and his love for adventure and sustenance on the seas of the world. The speakers at the service also spoke to the darkness that tragically ended Jamie’s life before its rightful time and issued a plea to all to care for those at risk of following this terrible trail.
We will never be able to adequately express our gratitude to the phenomenal outpouring of community support, love and compassion that has enveloped us. The countless random and intentional acts of your kindness have soothed our grieving hearts and chased away our moments of despair. We have been humbled by your immense generosity. We know that Jamie, wherever he is, is eternally grateful to each of you for taking such incredible care of the family who loved him so dearly and whom he loved equally.
With our most profound appreciation,
Nancy, Mark and
Carrington Gorman
Thanks, Sitka
Dear Editor: Southeast Conference would like to express our gratitude to Sitka for your gracious hospitality as host for our annual meeting. The event was a success beyond expectation!
Our 300 participants enjoyed the well-appointed Harrigan Centennial Hall, and the business community was welcoming in many ways. We took tours around town and on the water, enjoyed many of your fine establishments – and shopped every free moment. The reception at the Odess Theater at Sitka Fine Arts Camp was simply amazing! The City and Borough of Sitka, Visit Sitka, Tribal Tours of Sitka and SEDA were part of the yearlong planning committee and, along with other local sponsors including SEARHC, First Bank, Samson Tug & Barge, Allen Marine and Sea Mart, ensured the event was a success. Thank you, Sitka.
Alec Mesdag, President,
Southeast Conference
Robert Venables,
Executive Director,
Southeast Conference
Community Cafe
Dear Editor: Sitka’s Early Childhood Coalition recently held a Community Café to follow up with the Early Childhood survey conducted with families last fall. The Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka School District, Early Learning Program, Youth Advocates of Sitka and Sitkans Against Family Violence worked together to facilitate discussions about early childhood needs.
Thank you, families, for showing up in force. You brought your experience and hopes to discussions about the cost and availability of childcare, access to parenting resources, the availability of family-friendly activities and spaces, and support services for families. This is only one of the many conversations the community will have as we work together for a better future for our children and families.
The Gájaa Héen Dancers acted as hosts for the event. They greeted families, sang songs, and filled in where they saw a need. Thank you, Lakrisha Brady, Alex Johnson, Claire Hill, Joe Weyhmiller, and Americorps volunteer Abbey Rothfeldt, for your work with our youths.
The childcare team provided play and activities for 30-some children. Thank you to Heather Chandler and Tori Hay for setting up a safe space for children age birth to 10. That was not an easy task. We would also like to thank Brandy Peer, Wendy Longtin, Grechen Stockel, Emma Thompson and Jill Hayden for their expert efforts during childcare time. Childcare made the event possible.
Pacific High School provided pasta dishes and salad for more than a hundred people. Thanks to Spence Lack, Mandy Summer and Emma Spencer. You exceeded our dream!
Harrigan Centennial Hall staff provided the excellent service for which they are known. Special thanks to Kent Gibson, Jumel Anquilo, Tony Rosas, Dawn Kluting, Lori Mau and Jennifer Mingo. Every time we had a question or need, staff were there ready to help. Gunalchéesh.
Coalition members planned the event and facilitated parent discussions. Thank you, Starr Jensen, Heather Chandler, Kari Sagel, Julia Smith, Gail Trujillo, Jean Swanson, Lisa Hodges, Tori Hay, Chris Washko and Clara Gray. Keep up the good work in advocating for early childhood.
The Sitka School District worked with the Tribe to offer free transportation via The Ride for families attending the café. Many thanks to Sabrina Smith for her willingness to make it happen.
Thanks again to the many families who brought their children and their dreams to the event. Special thanks to the childcare providers who participated in the event. A shout out to Assembly member Kevin Knox for attending to listen to the needs of Sitka’s families. We appreciated your presence.
This was the first of several events as the community of Sitka sets priorities for early childhood education. Please consider attending subsequent events. Your contributions and ideas are invaluable in planning next steps as we create our children’s future.
Mandy Evans, STEPS Director,
Sitka School District
Sitka AmeriCorps
Dear Editor: My name is Andrew Gallagher, and I am a member of the Sitka AmeriCorps Program serving with the University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka. Last week, I had the privilege of giving presentations to the Sitka Rotary Club and the Sitka Chamber of Commerce on my service through UAS Sitka’s Title III team. Our team’s mission is to develop programs that support students from rural communities and historically marginalized populations. Within this broad goal, I have been tasked with developing career services.
The presentations at Rotary and the Chamber allowed our team to check our ideas for our students’ career advising needs against the expectations of community members. Because I have spent most of my life in large metropolitan areas, learning how the job market functions in a unique community like Sitka has been essential. After all, we do not want to give the wrong advice! After giving a brief overview of our work, we shifted the presentations to a series of questions for the audience. We wanted to know how their organizations approached recruitment, if they saw value in having apprentices or interns, what skills they felt their recent hires were missing, and more.
During the Rotary Club session, I learned about how Sitkan employers’ preferences are different from those in my home city. For instance, one audience member said she would prefer that a student interested in a position with her organization express their interest by physically coming to their offices and asking about availabilities. I know that had I tried this in my home city, using this approach would have made me seem inconsiderate of another’s time, but priorities are different here in Sitka. Others in the audience mentioned how they weighed evidence of community involvement on par with education and work experience, and how critical cleaning your social media profiles is when living in a place with highly interconnected social groups.
In the Chamber session, I heard from audience members about their frustrations with recent young hires. Several Chamber members mentioned how they felt recent hires did not sufficiently anticipate what was expected from them on the job site, and as a result, this served as a barrier to hosting apprentices or interns in their organizations. Others in the room felt that these kinds of short term positions required more resources in training than they provided in useful work. This gap in short-term, experience-focused employment could be filled by our mentorship program, which connects students with community members so that they can share a series of short conversations about life and career goals.
Both experiences gave me a better idea of what employers in Sitka want from the job search process, but I also become more aware of the obstacles facing recruitment here. Both young adults searching for a career and older individuals with influence in their organizations can adjust their behavior to each other’s benefit: young adults must show more willingness to learn the expectations of their organizations, and older generations must be less immediately dismissive when someone learning does not immediately meet their unsaid expectations. I encourage readers to submit follow up letters on this subject so that all Sitkans can be better served by the local job market, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community.
Andrew Gallagher
Sitka AmeriCorps Program
Sitka Visit
Dear Editor: I hope this letter finds you well. My husband and I visited Sitka Aug. 18-22. We spent these four days among the most excellent people. Everywhere we went, from Sea Mart to the harbor, we felt welcome.
Exploring the islands via kayak through Sitka Sound Ocean Adventures (some of the best cookies and kayaking I’ve ever done) was a huge highlight. Hours among the whales, otters and eagles was so rejuvenating and beautiful.
The whole town runs like clockwork, and catching the residents relaxing at The Pub or Baranof Brewing Co. was so fun to hear their life and day-to-day stories.
We spent every day hiking and exploring the beaches. There is truly a tribal and hauntingly beautiful way about this small town on the edge of the sea. Our time spent here was not enough. We can’t express, truly, how this place has changed us for the better.
Other favorites: ‘‘A Whale’s Song Expedition’’ wildlife tour (Neil and Lione); John and Joan (Airbnb hosts); North Pacific Seafoods (the only place you need to go).
Just wanted to let you know how our trip was! Thank you!
Kari Ann Haskell, Utah
