Alaska Day Pie Sale
Dear Editor: The congregation of the Sitka Lutheran Church would like to most sincerely thank the citizens of Sitka for all their personal, verbal and financial support during their Pie Sale on Alaska Day. All 120 pies and 12 jars of jelly were sold in less then one hour. It was an amazing turnout!
We would also like to thank Raven Radio, KIFW, and the Daily Sitka Sentinel for their outstanding advertising of this event!
Sitka Lutheran Church
Pie Committee
DV Prevention
Dear Editor: Perpetrators of all types of violence, including domestic violence, are not born, they are made. Various individual, relationship, community, and societal factors contribute to the pervasiveness of this problem and allow for perpetration to exist at epidemic levels in our state and country. Alaska has some of the highest rates of violence in the nation for domestic and sexual violence with over 50% of adult women in the state experiencing some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime.¹ One example of a societal level risk factor is rigid gender norms and our collective definition of what it means to “be a man.” Many men subscribe to this notion that a “strong man” is supposed to be superior, dominant, aggressive, physically strong, hypersexual, should seek money and power, and never show emotion.
Unfortunately, this is damaging both to the individual and to society at large. Men and boys who internalize these messages may be more likely to perpetrate violence against others, drink excessively (which increases risk for violence independently), and excuse violence committed by peers, especially against women, as they often perceive them to be the “inferior” gender. Additionally, those who subscribe to these rigid gender norms but don’t feel as though they are living up to them, are more likely to suffer from depression and self-harm such as suicide. These messages, which many see as harmless, are actually adversely affecting boys and men especially when they are coming from various sources in one’s life e.g., friends, family, coaches, media, culture, etc…, and are one of the root causes of domestic and sexual violence.
In prevention, we work to counteract these harmful norms by working with men and boys to change the message of what it means to be a “strong man.” Strength is not defined by money, power, or muscles; it is defined by the respect you have for everyone and everything, including yourself and nature. One way in which we do this is through the Boys Run I toowú klatseen (BRITK) program, which teaches third through fifth grade boys that being a strong man is having strength in spirit. Students in this program learn critical social-emotional skills which allow them to process emotions and deal with conflict without resorting to aggression or intimidation. Through the curriculum, adult male mentors teach and role model how it is okay to feel and express a range of emotions (not just anger) and be vulnerable around others – this vulnerability is not an indication of weakness but of strength.
Additionally, we are also working with teens in the Sitka Youth Leadership Committee to develop campaign messages that encourage men to step outside of these norms, embrace their authentic selves, and to support each other in redefining masculinity. Through these various and continuing efforts, we can work together to create a world where men are free to step out of these outdated and limiting societal expectations of what it means to “be a man,” and all are experiencing a safer, more peaceful and violence-free life.
1. UAA Justice Center, 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey, http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/avs
Thank you so much,
Amanda Capitummino,
MPH, CHES,
Communications and Evaluation Specialist
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Hames Corp. Thanks
Dear Editor: Sitka High School foods and nutrition classes would like to thank the Hames Corporation who has helped us on our journey this school year.
A huge thank you goes out for their thoughtful and generous monetary donation to our program. This donation helps to buy the food and supplies that assist in making our class more real to life and interesting for each student. Students have the opportunity to visit local retail and restaurants, earn their State of Alaska food workers card, work as a member of a team, and learn cooking technique and a love of cooking while in class.
The Hames Corporation, specifically Roger Hames, has given time and resources to support our students this year and in the past. Community support is what makes Sitka such a great place to teach, raise kids, live and work in! We have so much gratitude for your continued support of our program at Sitka High School. Thank for supporting career and technical education in our community.
Meggan Turner,
Sitka High School
Foods and Nutrition Teacher
