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Gayle Schuh has lived in Alaska since 2003, after retiring from education in Illinois, where she taught middle school physical education and later served as an assistant principal. A desire to connect with the LGBTQ+ community drew Gayle and her wife, Julie Schmidt, to volunteer with Identity, eventually serving on the board from 2006 until the early 2020s. Gayle worked on the speakers bureau, staffed vendor tables, planned with the PrideFest and Pride Conference committees, and was part of the Alaska Rainbow Elders from their inception. As visible members of the LGBTQ+ community, Julie and Gayle were approached by the ACLU of Alaska to join a lawsuit against the state, Schmidt v Alaska. In April 2014, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in their favor and ordered the state to begin providing the property tax exemption to all loving, committed couples. This year, Gayle and Julie (who are celebrating 49 years of marriage) have been asked to raise the Pride flag behind City Hall to kick off Pride Week, and the Alaska Rainbow Elders have been designated as the Grand Marshals of the Pride Parade on June 27.

Phyllis Rhodes left Texas and arrived in Anchorage in 1967. Her first job here was with the Federal Field Committee for Development Planning in Alaska, assisting in the Committee's landmark 1968 study, Alaska Natives and the Land, which became a pivotal resource document for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed in 1971. After working as secretary to the U.S. Attorney for Alaska, Phyllis moved to the federal court and served as Clerk of the U.S. District Court for Alaska from 1989-1996, during a period when the court was knee-deep in lawsuits following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. As that litigation wound down, she tried retiring for the first of three times. She became a mediator, and upon retiring from that career, she found a volunteer opportunity to work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through Identity in 2002. When the Identity Executive Director position opened in 2005, she served in that capacity by her choice, without pay, for the next decade, before retiring to spend more time with her wife, Pam Richter, and her two daughters.

Doug Frank arrived in Anchorage in 1974 with the Air Force. After discharge, he worked for Alaska Village Electric Co-op, visiting many Native villages. Later, he worked for ARCO at Prudhoe Bay as a Supervisor and Planner and used his time off to support and strengthen the LGBTQ+ Community. In 1988, he helped coordinate the first World AIDS Day candlelight vigil on the Park Strip. In 1989, as co-chair, he helped with hundreds of volunteers to bring to Anchorage the AIDS Memorial Quilt, made by family and friends representing people who had died of AIDS. Through the AIDS Foundation, he helped with quilt displays in communities from Fairbanks and Juneau to Paris, France. When the entire quilt was displayed in Washington, D.C., in 1996, stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, Doug coordinated the opening and closing ceremonies. He also helped found a powerful LGBTQ conference that lasted for about 20 years.

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Lesil McGuire is a policy strategist and business development executive. She served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006, and then in the Alaska Senate from 2007 through 2016. In the Legislature, she led bipartisan efforts to modernize energy, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks and chaired multiple influential committees, including the Judiciary and Arctic Policy. In the private sector, Lesil has served as a consultant to global satellite ventures, expanding U.S. and Canadian markets for low Earth orbit (LEO) communications. A German Marshall Fellow and former Chair of the Council of State Governments West, she is an advisor on transatlantic policy, technology, and northern development. She is also the founder of the Alaska Women's Summit and the first woman to serve as President of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), where she led cross-border initiatives to strengthen economic resilience across the U.S. and Canada. Lesil was born in Portland, Oregon, and has lived in Anchorage since 1973. She earned both her bachelor’s degree and law degree from Willamette University.

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, aka JKT, was born and raised in Sitka. He served five terms in the Alaska House of Representatives, from 2013 to 2023, representing the state's 35th district, which encompasses many Southeast island communities including Hoonah, Sitka, Kake, Klawock, Craig, Angoon, and Petersburg. He is an Eagle Scout and, at age 14, served as the statewide chair of the Howard Dean presidential campaign. JKT, a Democrat, first won his House seat after leaving Yale University before his senior year to campaign against the incumbent chair of the House Finance Committee, whom he defeated by almost three dozen votes. He was part of Alaska’s bipartisan House Majority and one of its most senior members when he retired. In addition to his legislative service, Kreiss-Tomkins co-founded Outer Coast, a post-secondary program on the campus of the former Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka; helped develop a website to track Covid pandemic data in real time, and created the Alaska Fellows, a local service program in Sitka, Juneau, and Anchorage for recent college graduates.

In this election year, the Forum is providing an opportunity for numerous candidates for various statewide offices and advocates for ballot propositions to speak with us. This is a continuation of our year-round mission to help attendees become better informed about the people and issues that will affect the future of our community and our state. AUUF does not support or oppose any candidates for public office or ballot measures.

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Felix Rivera recently left the Anchorage Assembly after serving three consecutive three-year terms, the maximum allowed by the City Charter. During his time on the Assembly, Felix chaired the Assembly and several of its committees, and was one of the sponsors of the effort to create an Anchorage Public Safety Commission. He came to Alaska for college and never left. He earned his BA in Liberal Studies at Alaska Pacific University. While studying journalism there, he covered local events and also wrote for an international wire service. In addition to his community service as a member of the Assembly, Felix has served on the board of directors for nonprofits such as Alaska Institute for Justice, the Public Transit Advisory Board, and Alaska Youth Court. He is particularly proud of having helped fight for and eventually obtain protections for LGBTQ Anchorage residents in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Anna Brawley was first elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 2023, and currently serves as the Assembly's Chair. She is a planner and project manager, and she owns a small consulting firm in Anchorage. Anna earned her bachelor's degree in history from Denison University, a master's degree in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and her Master of Regional Planning Degree from Cornell University. She likes learning how complex systems work, such as cities, and how to improve them. Before serving on the Assembly, Anna has served as chair of the Anchorage Budget Advisory Commission, an officer for Spenard and Turnagain Community Councils, on the board of NeighborWorks Alaska, and as a community advocate. She lives in Turnagain with her family and two highly opinionated cats. When not working, she enjoys gardening, creative projects, biking, walking, and Nordic skiing.

Erin Jackson-Hill is Executive Director of Stand Up Alaska, one of the state's only BIPOC women-led social justice organizations. Her advocacy is particularly focused on issues that disproportionately affect minority communities. She's a proud alumna of Wonder Park Elementary, Wendler Jr. High School, and Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. Erin's foray into organizing was serving as the statewide coordinator for the Recall Dunleavy campaign. She was instrumental in founding the Alaska Civics Academy, a program dedicated to promoting civic participation and understanding. She is an active contributor to the Alaska Coalition for Justice, with a specific focus on police reforms and the school-to-prison pipeline. Erin is also a board member of Alaskans for Fair Courts and serves on the steering committee of Alaska Women's Ascend and the planning committee of Juneteenth Anchorage.

Slides - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yehzcyayeyo9wv5xx6lda/2026-0607PublicSafetyCommission_AO2026-62_ABB.pdf?rlkey=7uxhw2gv4uu9ze5k7qjbqzbka&dl=0

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Marisol Vargas is the Co-Executive Director of Operations at Alaska Literacy Program, with 16 years of experience supporting English language learners in overcoming barriers and achieving their goals. Originally from Mexico City, she earned a degree in business administration before immigrating to the United States in 1999. She attended Alaska Literacy Program to improve her English while raising four young children and became a U.S. citizen in 2009. In 2010, she began her career at Alaska Literacy Program as Director of Finance. In 2013, she joined the first Peer Leader Navigator cohort, helping connect her community to trusted health resources and advocating for adult learners. As a former student, Marisol deeply understands the needs of adult learners and is committed to advancing the organization's mission. In 2026, she became Co-Executive Director of Operations. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, watching her four children play soccer, and caring for a new puppy.

Amy Facklam is the Alaska Literacy Programs Co-Executive Director-Programs, a role that leverages her academic excellence and lifelong commitment to education. She was raised in a family of educators, a foundation that instilled in her a deep dedication to teaching and community service, and holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Accounting, and a Master's in Business Administration. Amy joined ALP in 2017 as a volunteer instructor, and her impact was quickly recognized as she transitioned to staff in 2018. Through successive leadership roles, including Director of Adult Education, she spearheaded the expansion of ALP's adult education services before assuming her current role as co-leader of the organization alongside Marisol Vargas. A proud Alaska resident of more than 30 years, she and her husband are raising their son in the Greater Palmer area. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys camping, kayaking, and hiking.

Slides - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hjyn47f8qge4df932w4fc/2026-05-31_ALP_AUUF.pdf?rlkey=5pllokw7pzdjxkm4w6eqwolac&dl=0

Website - https://www.alaskaliteracyprogram.org

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Zori Opanasevych is the Executive Director of the New Chance United Relief Program in Anchorage and a Ukrainian community leader. She serves communities across Alaska, leading efforts to resettle and support nearly 2,000 Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Alaska since the war began. Her work focuses on helping families secure housing, employment, education, and legal stability while navigating the uncertainty of humanitarian parole status. Before creating and leading the Ukraine Relief Program through New Chance, Inc., Zori spent many years organizing cultural, social, and community events for Alaska's Slavic community since the early 2000s. Having arrived in the United States as a refugee herself during childhood, she understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities involved in rebuilding life in a new country. Zori earned her degree in Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), and brings both academic training and lived community experience into her work serving newcomers across Alaska. She was recently recognized as one of the Alaska Journal of Commerce's Top 40 Under 40 for her leadership and impact in the community. Zori is married, a mother of three, and enjoys hiking and gardening in Alaska's outdoors.

Slides - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ukwlsinb9thyi1m9spkwb/2026NewChanceProgramOverview.pdf?rlkey=ed2qoz4hmup923vpgnybs3296&dl=0

Poster 1 - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/19r2vayhsf9x13xm7mdip/NewChanceInc1.jpg?rlkey=b29aydcphkpdfx8eb3qt1owmm&dl=0

poster 2 - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9l4vduex80apjlqi9f7p9/NewChanceInc2.jpg?rlkey=lf63t3v9vxsgjtz9pbnua9vzl&dl=0

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Barbara Jones served as Anchorages Municipal Clerk from 2012 to 2023 and was responsible, among her many duties, for conducting fair elections. After retiring as Clerk, Jones served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Suzanne LaFrance from July 2024 until last month. Prior to her appointment as Municipal Clerk, Jones served as the Anchorage Ombudsman from January 2011-July 2012, and as Executive Director and Staff Attorney for the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission from 1999-2011. Jones received her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and her law degree from the University of Denver and was in private practice before entering government service. Jones has been involved with the Alaska Bar Association and its Law-Related Education Committee, as well as the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks. She has also been involved in other community organizations, including the Arthritis Foundation and Girl Scouts.

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Gregg Brelsford grew up in Denver. After visiting his parents in Anchorage on a college break the year before, Gregg drove the Alaska Highway in 1972 with his brother Jim to begin a life in Alaska. He earned his B.A. and a Master's in Public Administration from UAA while working full-time, and then a law degree from Harvard Law School. He is a former Alaska prosecuting attorney, a British solicitor, and a former international lawyer. He was the manager of the two largest municipalities in Bristol Bay (during COVID), the Bristol Bay Borough and the City of Dillingham. Gregg served as the CEO of the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, one of Alaska's twelve Alaska Native regional tribal governing bodies. For five years, he served on the Alaska Federation of Natives board and is an adopted member of two tribes. Gregg has been blessed with three wonderful children. He and his wife, Puyong, have been married for 37 years.

Meda DeWitt is a lifelong Alaskan, born on Prince of Wales Island, and Tlingit from the Naanya. aay clan in Wrangell. She is the senior state manager for the Wilderness Society in Alaska and president of Yak-Tat Kwan Inc., the village corporation for Yakutat. Meda is a Lingt traditional healer who harvests local plants for traditional medicines and foods. She earned a master's degree in Alaska Native traditional healing from Alaska Pacific University and is currently in an Indigenous studies doctoral program at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, New Zealand. She has taught Traditional Health Practices at the University of Alaska for over ten years. Meda has 20 years of experience as a community and political organizer. She spearheaded the Campaign to Recall Governor Dunleavy six years ago, served as President of Stand Up Alaska, co-founded the Civics Academy through Alaskans Take a Stand, and continues to mentor emerging leaders in both Native and allied communities.

James William Parkin IV (JP4) was born and raised a military dependent, and first came to Alaska in 1968 when his dad was stationed at the naval base on Kodiak Island. After leaving Alaska to serve in the military and earn bachelor's degrees in Biology and in Natural Sciences Education, he returned 35 years ago. JP4 worked as a teacher and principal for 30 years in rural Alaska, along the way earning Master's Degrees in Educational Technology and in Educational Leadership, and serving as NEA President among other positions. For the last eight years, he has worked in the mining industry. His government and business experience includes serving on the Angoon City Council and coordinating programs with Native associations, corporations, city, state, and federal government agencies, and commercial businesses. He and his wife of 45 years have lived in Adak, Anchorage, and Angoon, and have six children, 25 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

In this election year, the Forum is providing an opportunity for numerous candidates for various statewide offices and advocates for ballot propositions to speak with us. This is a continuation of our year-round mission to help attendees become better informed about the people and issues that will affect the future of our community and our state. AUUF does not support or oppose any candidates for public office or ballot measures.

Send us Fan Mail

John McKay, our beloved Forum facilitator (and a poet in his own right), had the idea of celebrating Poetry Month by having members of the fellowship read inspiring poetry selections, rather than inviting a handful of poets to present their own work.

John's outreach included the following phrase - "This is the first time we have tried an entirely 'democratic' poetry Forum, rather than lining up all participants in advance," and it worked out well.

You can read more about Poetry Month here -

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/1783559/the-poetry-foundation-marks-national-poetry-month-with-free-programs-new-video-series-and-special-offers

and here -

https://poets.org/national-poetry-month-turns-30-join-celebration-april