Live. Work. Play. January 2016

JANUARY 2016

Bill Popp's flower garden.

COURTESY PHOTO

here is nothing like nurturing a beautiful flower into full bloom.

Gardening is near and dear to my heart and in the summer, my flowers are my pride and joy. I love watching them grow, seeing the blooms open into amazing color displays and having their fragrance fill my yard and home. It is work to bring plants to their full potential, but the rewards are great. The same can be true for nurturing a city to grow into its own full potential.

The Live. Work. Play. (LWP) initiative, a seed first planted in 2010, has grown enormously since its inception and we have made much progress toward our goal to be the #1 city in America by 2025.

What started with a group of 35 supporters in 2010, has blossomed to over 200 supporters in 2015, working on more than 40 projects. As successful as the initiative has been, we recognize that conditions can change and it’s possible that what the ideal Anchorage was for our community five years ago may have shifted. In 2015, AEDC announced the re-launch of our LWP initiative survey, in an effort to get a new pulse on Anchorage and check that our Narrative is still on point.

The response was tremendous with over 1,250 Anchorage residents weighing in. As a result of this, a new LWP Narrative Review Committee was formed made up

of over 30 community members with a diverse array of backgrounds. The Review Committee examined all of the new survey responses and used them to make revisions to the Narrative which is available on our website. This updated Narrative will be used to examine the direction of LWP and to mold our community improvement efforts for the next five years.

What’s on the horizon for Anchorage and LWP now? Changing the way we do business and attracting new talent to our community is more important than ever.

Housing, community safety, education, tolerance, health, creativity, empowering young talent and embracing our great outdoors are just the short list of things AEDC and our hundreds of community partners are working on to make Anchorage the best city it can be. Like a flower breaking ground in the Spring, we must continue to develop our strengths and remain resilient against the forces that would try to stunt our growth. Together, we can make our city the best it can be.

We hope you’ll join us.

Bill Popp President & CEO, AEDC

Mayor Berkowitz with his wife, Mara Kimmel, and daugher, Ziva Berkowitz-Kimmel.

COURTESY PHOTO

he Municipality of Anchorage is the gateway to the Arctic and the air crossroads of the world. We are distinctly global and uniquely Alaskan- - with the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the United States, and the highest percentage of indigenous population of any city in the United States.

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation wants to transform Anchorage into the number one city to live, work and play by 2025. Building a dynamic city means more than just economic growth and business development, it also means a thriving public education system, robust recreation

opportunities, a vibrant city center, cultural richness and engaged community members.

We live in a special place and it is up to all of us to nurture and grow that feeling. That means investing in our city, our neighborhoods and our infrastructure. I join AEDC in envisioning Anchorage as an even greater city.

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz

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LETTER FROM BILL POPP

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

6 NARRATIVE 8 GOOD BONES 12 NICE NEIGHBORS 16 WHAT'S 1+1?

18 LUNCH BREAK 20 TEAM SPIRIT 24 NEW IN TOWN 27 METRICS 34 AEDC LISTINGS

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LWP FOCUS AREA: WORKPLACE WELL-BEING Update from Co-Chairs Tamara Green, CEO, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center; and Lynn Henderson, vice president, sales and service Alaska market, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska After a year of collaboration and development, the Workplace WellBeing Employer Recognition Program is ready for prime time.

We wanted to create something that would have meaning within our workplace communities. Employers are beginning to recognize the substantial connection between the health and well-being of their workers and the success of their organizations. This program is a great opportunity to value and promote their innovations and successes in this space.

The Workplace Well-Being Employer Recognition Program, set to launch in 2016, acknowledges the work employers are doing in three areas: providing health programs and resources to workers, implementing relevant policies and practices and evaluating their organization’s well-being through meaningful measurements. Participants can apply online to earn the designation as an employer of choice for a twoyear period.

We’ve been very intentional about working with a wide network of community partners to find a great balance of influences. We know that a true culture of well-being has ripple effects that cascade out into our community. It was important to us that we set the stage in a way that really honors that reciprocal relationship between the health and well-being of our Anchorage community and all of the ways that we live, work and play.

We have big plans for the coming year of the workplace well-being focus, leveraging the launch of the recognition program to include an employer summit and workshop, as well as increased partnerships with the Municipality of Anchorage.

It’s going to be a big year for this focus area. This is something that our community has a lot of energy around, and we want to meet their enthusiasm with opportunities for action and engagement.

To learn more and get involved, go to: www.AEDCweb.com/live-work-play/ areas-of-focus.

y 2025, Anchorage will be the #1 city in America in which to live, work and play.

That’s the Live. Work. Play. (LWP) vision adopted by the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Board of Directors in 2010.

Last year, we plied Anchorage residents with the same simple, two-question survey that helped launch our initiative six years ago.

Why do you live in Anchorage?

Why would you leave Anchorage?

Responses from 1,275 residents were reviewed by a committee of 30 community members from diverse backgrounds and industries to update the LWP aspirational Narrative to guide us as we move forward.

In the year 2025, Anchorage is the city where everyone wants to live. This young and growing city is an inclusive, welcoming community with a diversified economy, strong workforce and available high-quality health care and education.

Choices for entertainment and outdoor recreation are abundant; there’s something to do at any hour of the day, any day of the week.

PLAY.

WORK.

LIVE. • In 2025, Anchorage is the business hub for Alaska, able to weather economic recessions.

• Alaskans have ready access to job training for high-demand jobs.

• Alaska’s kids have access to quality earlylearning and are proficient readers by 4th grade.

• People of all ethnicities, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, religions and abilities feel safe and engaged.

• The cost of living is competitive with other parts of the country.

• Anchorage offers a complete spectrum of quality, cost-effective health care.

• Collaborative community policing leads to a safe, healthy environment.

• Housing is varied and eclectic in nature with a mix of traditional, modern and unique designs.

• By 2025, the face of business has changed; technological advances mean employees and business can operate from anywhere.

• Anchorage has a diverse economy with innovative new industries.

• We boast one of the world’s largest cargo airports at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

• Beyond oil, gas and government infrastructure jobs, Anchorage now boasts a healthy retail sector, year-round tourism, transportation and shipping, medical and education jobs.

• Businesses have adopted forwardthinking culture with innovative retention programs.

• There’s a vibrant university district with opportunities for both post high school and non-traditional students.

• Arts and culture connect, provoke, inspire and provide communities with a unique way to communicate and reflect the rugged beauty of our city.

• Our homes are within a short distance of vast parks and extensive trails.

• Residents can commute by bike to access business districts and recreation.

• Recreation is accessible; every household has a fishing rod, hiking boots, camping gear.

• We skate, we ski, we run. We fly, we fish, we hunt.

• Anchorage is a winter city, host to Arctic Winter Games and Fur Rendezvous.

• The city is a place of high-quality performances with a robust musical and performing arts scene.

• Public and private investment in infrastructure means entertainment opportunities are accessible and affordable.

• Anchorage is a culinary contender with world-renowned local ingredients.

• Alaskans are creating beautiful works of art and Anchorage is their showcase.

JANUARY 2016 | LIVE. WORK. PLAY. |

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Calisa Kastning's Pinterest-inspired DIY kitchen and dining room. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALISA AND DREW KASTNING

ore and more locals are finding practical and clever ways to make the most of older homes. With deliberate and inventive designs—and some hard labor—a greater number of Anchorage residents are transforming tired, dated homes into modern, more-livable abodes. Here are three families who have done just that.

ANDREW AND CALISA When Andrew and Calisa Kastning moved to Anchorage four years ago, they knew they wanted to own a house—she was pregnant and was ready to nest—but they didn’t think they could afford a house that they’d actually want.

“Even if we had bought a $400,000 house, there were still things I’d want to change, so we decided to buy a fixer upper,” Calisa said.

“We got a really good deal in Airport Heights and pretty much gutted the place.”

Six weeks of frenzied work followed. The couple knocked out walls, painted, laid down flooring and got on a first name basis with the Home Depot employees. For those six weeks, the renovations were Calisa’s primary job and Andrew’s second nearly-full-time job.

“It was great, because we got to make it exactly what we wanted,” Calisa said. “It was just exhausting.”

Though the couple did a complete overhaul of their home, they only needed to hire an electrician.

“We watched a lot of YouTube videos,” Calisa said. “My husband and I still give each other high fives if we figure something out, like not having to hire a plumber if we can figure out how to do it

ourselves. It was definitely a learning process.”

Calisa said she drew a lot of inspiration from Pinterest and through that was able to figure out how to do the decorating as cheaply as possible—like making her own custom stencils for painting, rather than purchasing expensive wallpaper.

“My wife is really good at the visionary work,” Andrew said. “I’m here to make sure her visions stay grounded in reality.”

As their brood grew, they realized they needed a larger space, so they turned to social media to sell their home. Because it was movein ready and full of homey vibes, they found a buyer within 24 hours.

Now the couple is working on renovating their second home.

Though this time they have the luxury of taking their time. For now, they’re just painting and redoing the floors.

“We’re giving ourselves a year to figure out exactly what we want by living in it,” Calisa said. “We knew our first home would be a foot in the housing market, and we were hoping to earn a little bit of money on it to buy a bigger home the second time around. If we did it again, it would be something on the side, though. I think this will be the last new one for a while.”

Oliver, Brandon and Mary-Alice's son, is sitting by their custom-made mosaic door. PHOTO BY MATTHEW OLSON

BRANDON AND MARY-ALICE Brandon Olson and his wife, Mary-Alice Johnson, knew they wanted to do some remodeling when they purchased their log home in the summer of 2007. They just didn’t think it would need to be done until after they’d finished unpacking.

That winter, just a few months after they’d moved in, they had a disastrous heat failure. They had to close off the auxiliary rooms and relied on space heaters until spring. Once the snow had cleared, they jumped on gutting their home and rebuilding so it would be habitable for the next winter, all while staying in a rented RV. “It would have been preferable to take a room at a time, but that didn’t really work out for us,” Brandon said.

Though the situation wasn’t ideal, the renovations gave them more space, which they desperately needed with two small children in the house.

“One of the most helpful things I did was build a minecart in the attic,” Brandon said. “Because it’s an attic and you can’t stand up, it made a huge difference. And the kids love playing in it.”

It also gave them the opportunity to craft a house that reflected their interests and personalities. Mary-Alice took all of the doors off and painted elaborate mosaics on each of them. Brandon, who has interests in woodworking, hand-cut every piece of wood in their family room—affectionately dubbed “Pete’s Room” after the contractor who helped with the build.

Brandon also rebuilt their shed using the original wood. The shed had been shaken off the property line during the 1964 earthquake and because of grandfathered rights, they didn’t initially have to deal with it. In order to facilitate the permitting process they had to forfeit those rights. The shed was taken down and a new pie sliceshaped one was built on the property.

“The wood is priceless, that’s why I reused it,” Brandon said. “It’s thick-cut old growth white spruce from Southcentral Alaska that was cut in the 1940s and was still in excellent condition.”

Now the couple is working on plans to spruce up the backyard this coming summer.

JANUARY 2016 | LIVE. WORK. PLAY. |

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DRU AND RITA A few years ago, Rita Eagle and her husband, Dru Malone, were debating moving out of the 1959 owner-built house they’d moved their family into in 1998. Because it was owner built, it had its quirks—some electrical elements were strange, some rooms were oddly shaped, more insulation was needed. It was also on a corner lot with large windows and no fence, so it didn’t feel very private.

But because they loved their Rogers Park neighborhood they ultimately decided to stay and try to update their home.

After they’d constructed their fence, they turned their attention toward the massive, four-foot-thick, nine-ton, double-sided brick hearth that dominated most of their living and dining rooms.

“It was monstrously huge for this small of a house,” Rita said.

“But removing it has already changed our lifestyle so much. Now we have one big great room for our kitchen, living room and dining room, rather than three small rooms. It’s so much nicer for entertaining.”

From there, they’ve moved one room at a time, focusing their energy on replacing the carpets with hardwood floors, removing

the tile ceilings, improving the windows, modernizing the kitchen cabinets, installing a more energy-efficient Danish wood stove and generally making the house feel newer.

“We were ready to leave this place behind and looking elsewhere, but we just loved this neighborhood so much,” Rita said. “We figured if we just fixed it up a bit, there was no reason we couldn’t continue living here.” l

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Ravens' Roost from a birds-eye view. PHOTO COURTESY OF RAVENS’ ROOST COHOUSING

eople come and go in Anchorage. It’s one of the great things about this city: fresh faces, new ideas, an exciting mixture of dyed-in-the-wool Alaskans and transplants from the Lower 48.

But it doesn’t always make for great neighbors.

“It’s very transient where we live, and at times we’ve had not-very-good neighbors,” said Jeff Heusevelt, who currently lives in a condo with his wife, Anya.

Soon, though, Heusevelt will know every last one of his neighbors.

In fact, he already knows them; they’ve spent more than two years together creating an innovative way of living that could offer one solution to Anchorage’s housing crunch.

INTENTIONAL INTERACTION The future residents of Ravens’ Roost didn’t all start out as friends.

To build this cohousing neighborhood on Abbott Road, a small group of like-minded folks recruited additional families who also wanted to really know their neighbors.

“We’re still in the process of building Ravens’ Roost, so there are

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| LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | JANUARY 2016

a lot of decisions to make,” said Sandy Morris. She and her husband, Steve, are some of Ravens’ Roost’s newest members.

“We already feel like we know these people better than our current neighbors, just by the fact that we’re having to work together to figure things out,” Steve added.

The Morrises made the decision to purchase a home in the future community as a way to stay social in their retirement years.

“We knew all of our neighbors when our kids were all young and played together,” Sandy said of her Sand Lake neighborhood. “But as we’ve grown older, we don’t make the effort to connect with people.”

Legally, Ravens’ Roost is a condominium development. But the layout is meant to foster connection.

Residents have their own full-featured homes and small yards, but the neighborhood also features a common house with a shared kitchen where members can opt to partake in two to three dinners a week. Houses are clustered together, leaving lots of open space where kids can play, and the heated garages are located on the periphery of the property, providing an opportunity for neighbors to run into each other.

WE ALREADY FEEL LIKE WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE BETTER THAN OUR CURRENT NEIGHBORS.

“You can’t help but have conversations that way, instead of going from your car, into your garage, into your house, and never seeing anyone,” Sandy said.

PERFECT FOR A FAMILY When 35-year-old Katie Hubbard and her husband moved to Anchorage, they were disappointed with their housing options.

“We’d imagined a bigger house with guest rooms and a nice yard,” she said. “But houses that were new construction were very expensive, and we didn’t really have time or the energy to renovate.”

With less and less buildable land in Anchorage, potential homeowners often have to choose between spending more than planned or undertaking the renovation of an existing home. Or opting for a rental, which is what the Hubbards have done while they wait for their Ravens’ Roost home to be built.

The expecting couple is looking forward to raising a child in a cohousing setting.

“I think it’s going to be a really enriching experience for them to

grow up in a multigenerational community,” Hubbard said. “And the optional shared meals will take a lot of pressure off of us as working parents.”

The Hubbards are one of just a few younger Ravens’ Roost families.

“We struggle with economic diversity just because the project takes a bit of money to get into,” admitted Heusevelt. He’s hoping that changes as the community becomes more established.

But it’s a problem across Anchorage, said Brian Shelton-Kelly, director of community development at NeighborWorks Alaska. “It’s a challenge to develop housing in Anchorage that meets changing needs, especially for the millennial generation. What kind of opportunities are they going to have for home ownership?”

OTHER OPTIONS When NeighborWorks built the Hollybrook Terrace neighborhood in Independence Park, designers incorporated features meant to facilitate interactions between neighbors. They clustered together townhouse-style condominiums, then moved garages to the back

Hollybrook Terrace. PHOTO BY ALASKA VIRTUAL DIGITAL PHOTO

of each unit to make room for front porches. NeighborWorks also priced the homes to fall within Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s first-time homebuyer limits.

“The intention was to create a neighborhood within a neighborhood,” explains Shelton-Kelly.

According to him, Hollybrook Terrace has attracted both young professionals and older households downsizing from large, hillside homes in favor of more convenient access to the city and shared neighborhood maintenance.

A neighborhood can be as large as a six-acre planned community—or as small as a single city lot. Unit lot subdivision is a way of taking a city lot and dividing it into smaller lots for individual

sale. It’s one way Seth Andersen of Arete LLC thinks Anchorage could create more—and better—housing.

“It could be a tool that justifies developing a site to its best use,” he said. “More homes would be provided, resulting in lower development costs and more affordable housing, or housing with additional amenities.”

So instead of a four-plex of rental units with very basic design and a constantly rotating cast of temporary neighbors, a lot could be home to a handful of single-family-owned homes that can be designed to better fit in with the surrounding neighborhood’s characteristics and scale.

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LWP FOCUS AREA: HOUSING Update from Co-Chairs Carol Gore, president and CEO, Cook Inlet Housing Authority; and Tim Potter, vice president, DOWL HKM We knew through our surveys in 2014 that housing costs and lack of housing options were an impediment to recruiting workers to Anchorage.

We spent much of that first year identifying the regulatory and financial barriers affecting our housing market. In 2015, we really started to dig in and get the work done.

Following a well-attended work session of the Anchorage Assembly, an ordinance to amend the rules governing multi-family housing in the new Title 21 was proposed, and eventually passed in the form of AO-2015-100.

Additional changes will likely be warranted as others work through the new code, which became mandatory on January 1, 2016.

Gore, along with several others involved with LWP, was part of the Anchorage delegation trip to visit Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with Mayor Ethan Berkowitz in August. Both cities are working hard to create downtown housing opportunities and to become destination cities for young professionals and new businesses.

For the delegation, what was most remarkable was the way in which the private and public sectors in these two cities were members of the same team and working toward the same goal.

“We went on the trip knowing that we needed a few more tools in our redevelopment toolbox,” said Gore. “But we realized that ultimate success is defined by getting everyone on the same page to work towards a common goal.”

Housing production in 2015 was still far below the 900 units forecasted as needed to support demand in Anchorage. We know there is a lot of work to do in 2016, but there’s also a lot of momentum.

By bringing the right people together, having business, public officials and the general public come together, we can start to achieve our community goals.

INTROVERTS WELCOME, TOO All this neighboring might feel unfamiliar to city dwellers. After all, isn’t the point of living in a city anonymity and privacy? But Anchorage has always been a city with a small-town feel. And getting to know your neighbors doesn’t mean you can’t retain your solitude.

“Cohousing actually draws introverts because it removes the need to put effort into socializing,” explained Terri Pauls, who was the second member to join the Ravens’ Roost community. “But there’s no obligation to socialize. A resident can have all the privacy they want in their own home and private backyard.”

Pauls knows first-hand the value of good neighbors.

In January, as the current hillside resident recovered from cancer surgery, her fellow Ravens’ Roost-ers were the ones who brought food, took care of her and even organized a team to walk the Alaska Run for Women with her.

Will Pauls miss her spacious hillside home once Ravens’ Roost is ready?

“I’ve learned that having a lot of square feet isn’t what makes me happy,” she said. “I want privacy, but living alone is isolating. For me, a better measure of happiness is how much time I spend with friends.” l

To learn more and get involved, go to: www.AEDCweb.com/live-work-play/areas-of-focus.

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LWP FOCUS AREA: ONE ANCHORAGE, ONE ECONOMY Update from Mara Kimmel, first lady of the Municipality of Anchorage Diversity is far more than a catchphrase used to describe Anchorage, a city that has grown from a small Dena’ina village to a community of people from across Alaska and around the planet.

In 2014, Anchorage joined the Welcoming America project, through a partnership between the Municipality of Anchorage, local businesses, cultural organizations and the AEDC as part of One Anchorage, One Economy, LWP’s diversity effort. Although the national project focuses on immigrant and refugee communities, Welcoming Anchorage integrates all cultures and peoples living here.

Welcoming Anchorage highlights our city as a place proud of our heritage and poised to be a globally competitive, culturally vibrant 21st century community.

During the first year of this initiative, we will focus on economic diversification through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Diversity is a key to diversification: a welcoming community creates a growing and thriving economy that benefits all residents.

“Today’s young talent and tomorrow’s leaders are looking for a city that is aesthetically pleasing, welcoming and culturally vibrant. Attracting and retaining talent spurs economic growth and equips Anchorage to take on the challenges of tomorrow,” Archana Mishra, former Live.

Work. Play. director, noted.

“We know that no matter what our backgrounds or beliefs are—or where we come from—we share the same dreams and aspirations to make Anchorage the best place to live, work and play,” Mishra added.

To learn more or get involved, go to: www.AEDCweb.com/live-work-play/ areas-of-focus/ or contact Anchorage Ombudsman Darrel Hess at HessDW@muni.org.

push to promote diversity in the workplace is gaining ground among local businesses.

Launched at the beginning of 2015, the 1+1 Alaska Survey examines things like company policies, benefits and community outreach. 1+1 encourages lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)-supportive policies, working to strengthen the bond between Anchorage businesses and the LGBT community.

More than 40 organizations participated last year, and the number continues to climb.

“I think that’s one of many reasons why this initiative is so successful here, and probably couldn’t be replicated many other places— because of the involvement and engagement of the leaders in our business community,” said Josh Hemsath, regional development organizer for the nonprofit Pride Foundation.

The 1+1 premise is simple: Companies that actively include members of the LGBT community can compete for a deeper talent pool, finding the best person for the job and creating a welcoming environment for all employees. Drew Phoenix, executive director at

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Identity, Inc., said inclusion has a domino effect, because organizations that actively practice it will find loyal supporters among members of the LGBT community.

“Of course, that means the business benefits as well,” Phoenix said. “If you’re not inclusive, you limit your business.”

LGBT-supportive workplaces are good for the bottom line, he said, and Anchorage business leaders are recognizing the equation.

For businesses looking to adopt more comprehensive policies or become more engaged with the LGBT community, Identity provides training and outreach opportunities.

Companies like Wells Fargo and The Alaska Club were among the first to complete the 1+1 survey, Hemsath said.

Alyeska Pipeline Services Company is another standout.

“It wasn’t just a strict, yes-no survey where they were just checking boxes … they were looking at each question very intentionally, saying, ‘Do we have these policies in place?

We want this ‘No’ to be a ‘Yes,’ so let’s make some changes,’” Hemsath said.

The business community’s support for the initiative came in the wake of several divisive battles over Anchorage’s equal rights ordinance. The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce espoused the economic benefits of inclusion, and an anti-discrimination ordinance was passed by the Anchorage Assembly in fall 2015.

Phoenix said the companies at the vanguard of the 1+1 movement are setting the example for others. The result?

More and more businesses are choosing to capitalize on Anchorage’s diversity.

“They’re slowly being encouraged to come out,” Phoenix said. “I think we’re reaching that critical mass.”

And while organizations that foster LGBT-supportive workplaces can see a tangible economic benefit, Hemsath said, implementing those policies costs little to nothing.

When it comes to inclusion, the numbers don’t lie.

“To borrow a phrase from Joe Everhart, Alaska region president at Wells Fargo, it’s a small thing that has a really large impact.” l

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Building Leadership and Professionalism for Alaska’s Supervisors Training and professional development are critical to keeping you and your organization competitive.

The Certified Public Manager® Program is recognized as an effective vehicle for gaining or upgrading professional, technical and management skills.

The fee for a one-day, six-hour CPM course is $125; the fee for a two-day, 12-hour course is $250.

UPCOMING CLASSES IN ANCHORAGE Date

Class

Feb. 15

Quality Customer Service, CPM001

Feb. 16

The Role of Supervisor, CPM002

Feb. 17

The Supervisor as a Leader, CPM006

Feb. 19

The Role of Supervisor, CPM002

Feb. 20

Quality Customer Service, CPM001

Feb. 29 & March 2

Powerful Presentations, CPM008

March 4 & March 5

Performance Management for Supervisors, CPM004

CPM ad for live work play.indd 1

To register, go to bit.ly/ces-pwd.

For more information, contact the Professional and Workforce Development Coordinator, Anna-Mariah Kelly, at (907) 474-5042, email: afkelly@alaska.edu or visit www.uaf.edu/ces/pwd.

UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

JANUARY 2016 | LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | 12/23/15 1:50 PM

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LEAVE THAT SAD DESK SALAD BEHIND AND CHECK OUT SOME OF ANCHORAGE’S HOT SPOTS

h, lunch. The often forgotten middle child on your grub radar. It doesn’t have professional athletes endorsing it as “the most important meal of the day” like breakfast and doesn’t command the same attention as dinner. Even brunch, the cool, culinary cousin, steals more of the spotlight. The lunch plight ends now. Why? Because you’ve got time built into your day to meet with colleagues or clients and nosh on your favorite midday treats. So skip the tupperware container of leftover Hamburger Helper and head to one of these Anchorage area restaurants.

THE IMPRESS-THE-OUT-OF-STATECLIENTS LUNCH: South 11124 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK (907) 770-9200 southak.com

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Marrying rustic Alaska charm with sexier versions of your favorite sandwiches is what South excels at. “The philosophy is using fresh, local ingredients to make made-from-scratch, creative recipes and craft cocktails to become a real part of the community that we serve,” said general manager Tyler Crenshaw. That homey atmosphere and its location away from the bustle of downtown make it feel more like a well-kept local secret.

THE DIETARY RESTRICTIONS LUNCH: Middle Way Cafe 1200 W Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 272-6433 middlewaycafe.com If you’re looking for a menu that has gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, sugarfree or allergy-free options beyond water, Middle Way is your place. Their inventive menu is locally sourced and organic when possible and touts a variety of salads, bowls and sandwiches that will make you want to actually eat your vegetables.

THE SNOW DAY LUNCH: PHOnatik Vietnamese Cuisine 901 East Dimond Boulevard, Anchorage, AK 99515 (907) 336-8880 You’ll PHOrget about (see what we did there?) all other lunch places after sampling their slurp-worthy, customizable

rice noodle soup. What better way to warm up on a snowy afternoon than with a steaming bowl of savory soup? It worked for the snowman in those vintage Campbell's soup commercials, after all.

THE DOWNTOWN LUNCH: Glacier Brewhouse 737 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 110 9070-274-2739 glacierbrewhouse.com Though this restaurant in the heart-oftown is always busy, it doesn’t feel like it.

The cavernous, wood-beam restaurant is perfect for creating intimacy — especially if you get a cozy seat by the fireplace.

When you throw in the heady hops and malt aromas of their signature craft beers and the myriad of Alaskan salmon and halibut dishes or thin-crust pizza options, how can you go wrong?

THE LONG LUNCH: Bear Tooth 1230 W 27th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 276-4200 beartooththeatre.net You could go to the gym with your co-workers over lunch or you could sneak off to enjoy some pizza. Between The Grill, The Threatrepub Cafe and the Theatre auditorium, Bear Tooth has an extensive menu along with an impressive tap list.

“We strive for the Bear Tooth to be a community hub. Because of this, our menu offerings and options are pretty vast,” said general manager Stephanie Johnson. “We love being able to offer a wide variety of food, drink and experiences.”

THE SUPER ALASKA LUNCH:

THE FOOD TRUCK LUNCH:

THE MESS HALL LUNCH:

Seward’s Folly 1811 Abbott Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 222-1218 sewardsfollybarandgrill.com

AJ’s Rib A Go Go 1900 E Dimond Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 884-0558 ajsribagogo.com

Resolution Brewery 3024 Mountain View Dr, Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 330-4523 resolutionbeer.com

For when your love of barbecue can’t be contained to somewhere with pesky little things like ... walls, there’s AJ’s. And AJ’s throws down against the other BBQ mainstays in Anchorage with a multitude of slow-cooked meat options and scrumptious sides. The food truck opened in the 1970s, after AJ moved to Alaska from Louisiana. “The reason AJ opened the truck is because when he moved here 42 years ago, there was no good barbecue in all of Alaska,” said manager Ron Maiden. “So he took it upon himself to fix that.”

Now before you say, “Hold up, Resolution Brewery doesn’t have food!” bear with us. No, it doesn’t have food, but it has beer, cards and a BYOF (bring your own food) policy, making it the perfect place for when people in your group have either numerous allergy restrictions, are stubborn or have the palate of a five-year-old. Snag some schnitzel from West Berlin, a Kriner’s Diner burger, some sushi rolls from Tempura Express or maybe something to-go from Xalos or Hula Hands and meet up at Resolution for a craft brew lunch.

From the name to the brews to the food, Seward’s Folly is undoubtedly Alaskan. If it were a person, it would be sporting flannel and Carhartts and ducking out of work early to hit the slopes. Whether your jam is all-you-caneat beer-battered (with Alaskan Amber, of course) fish and chips or a create-yourown reindeer dog, you’re set at Seward’s.

THE DINER FARE LUNCH: City Diner 3000 Minnesota Dr, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 277-2489 citydineranchorage.com Maybe you skipped breakfast and in need of a giant diner sandwich.

Or maybe you really like retro-styled restaurants. Or maybe you really just want a milkshake for lunch and ordering it alongside a burger makes you feel like more of a grown-up. Whatever the reason, City Diner is there for all your comfort food needs.

Not bad for a former biscuits and canned-goods boom town. With these and other area eateries, Anchorage is rising as a culinary contender. From ethnic options to edgier comfort food and signature pizza pies to truly inventive takes on Alaska grown seafood and meat, Anchorage is staking its claim and turning the heads of foodies across the country. l

19

rika Coker wasn’t a sporty person.

Rather than kicking a ball, she preferred to find fulfillment delving into tales about literary protagonists and performing on a stage. Though she spent much of her childhood watching her four siblings participate in their niche sports, the aggressive and, at times, judgmental environment turned her off from playing herself.

That was until she found muggle Quidditch.

It was there that she discovered both a sport where she felt welcomed and a community eager to bring her into the fold.

I’VE SEEN IT TIME GOES OUT OF THE HERE. IT’S A PRET

20 |

LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | JANUARY 2016

PHOTOS BY REJOY ARMAMENTO AND JOSHUA GENUINO

E AND TIME AGAIN, WHERE EVERYONE EIR WAY TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL WELCOME TTY GREAT THING TO BE A PART OF.

Anchorage Quidditch players (L to R): Nikki Navio, Michael Perez, Meneka Thiru.

FINDING THEIR TRIBE So what do bookworms on brooms, derby dames and the rough and tumble ruggers of Anchorage have in common?

For many, Quidditch, roller derby and rugby have acted as vehicles for meeting—and forming a bond with—people they likely wouldn’t have otherwise known.

Coker heard about the Anchorage Quidditch team from a friend. Brendon Wehde, a UAA student and ardent Harry Potter lover, became acquainted with the team after seeing them practice in the Delaney Park Strip one afternoon.

“I was driving around with my buddy when we saw them playing and I couldn’t help myself,” Wehde said. “I just ran up and asked if I could play, too.”

Shannon Erickson (derby name: Shredder), like Wehde, randomly stumbled upon her sport.

Shortly after moving to Alaska from California she saw a poster for a roller derby game. She attended

the next game and was so bewitched by the fast-paced action, quirky derby attire and finesse of the athletes that she immediately signed up to participate.

And Mary Vaitohi was looking for something to get her out of her comfort zone when she happened across rugby, a sport which easily fit those parameters.

For them and many others, the groups gave them a solid foothold on a friend group of likeminded individuals.

A COMMUNITY OF INCLUSION Coker said while she enjoys playing Quidditch, the main draw of the sport is the people associated with it.

“I’d say it’s safe to consider us all really nerdy, which is a word that I think gets a bad reputation,” Coker said. “But I think that nerds are the kind of people who can get really, really excited about something and that translates to being the kind of people who don’t put others down, but build them up. I’ve seen it time and time again, where everyone goes out of their way to make others feel welcome here. It’s a pretty great thing to be a part of.”

Coker’s teammate, Wehde, a Nome native, said he knew a handful of people when he moved to Anchorage and was looking for a community he identified with. Quidditch was just that.

“We get each other, which is my favorite part about the team,” Wehde explained. “There might be some inside jokes that you might have shared with other people, but they pick up on it right away. You just fit right in there.”

That context and opportunity to get to know others with similar interests has fostered a family atmosphere for Quidditch and derby athletes alike.

“It’s a sisterhood,” Erickson said. “You feel like you have an extended family— we literally call each other derby sisters.

And because it’s a team sport, not an individual sport, you have to trust your sisters on and off the track.”

Erickson’s teammate Angelene “Ni'Kitah” Ketah echoed that ethos, saying the group supports each other, in derby and in life.

Emma Pokon, a rugger, said that beyond familial vibes, her sport cultivates an attitude of appreciation amongst the players, particularly because there are positions for all body types. While some sports may favor those who are slight and quick-footed or sturdy, muscular and powerful athletes, rugby has need of all varieties—even those who aren’t built like a stereotypical athlete.

“Because we need all body types for a well-rounded team there is a culture of acceptance and appreciation of diversity amongst the women who play,” Pokon said. “It makes it a very

Rage City Rollergirls (clockwise from bottom): Thai-Grrr (Jeannie Butler), Ice Crystal (Crystal Kappelman) and Bat Ma'am (Stacie Kinney-Tadlock).

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA GENUINO AND REJOY ARMAMENTO

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welcoming group of people.”

The teammates have such different personalities and are at such different points in their lives, Pokon’s friends sometimes wonder how they all fit together.

“They’ll say, ‘How did you find each other and how did you click?’” Pokon said. “But that’s your team in rugby and it’s that appreciation for different skill sets that seeps into it as well.”

Coker, the self-described non-athlete, said that she hopes the word “sport” doesn’t deter people from coming and, at the very least, testing out the team.

“If you aren’t sure about it, my advice would be to just come at least once,” Coker said.

“Hop on a broom and take it for a test drive.

If you decide that Quidditch isn’t your cup of butterbeer, that’s totally cool, none of us will ever force you to come back and play again, though we’ll be sad to see you go. But, if you think that it’s fun and you’d like to do it again, I promise, we will welcome you with open arms.” l

LWP FOCUS AREA: CREATIVE PLACEMAKING Update from Co-Chairs Shannon Daut, executive director, Alaska State Council on the Arts; and Bruce Farnsworth, artist, Light Brigade Creative placemaking is a national movement that integrates the arts into community development with the goal of making cities more active, vibrant and healthy. A significant upsurge of creative placemaking happened in Anchorage this past year, fueled in large part by an ArtPlace America national grant awarded to The Light Brigade, in partnership with the Anchorage Park Foundation.

The Northern Placemaking Pilot Project, which was conceived and spearheaded by The Light Brigade, resulted in five unique temporary public art interventions between October 2014 and December 2015, ending with the launch of the fifth and final sitespecific sculptural installation, 100Stone at Point Woronzof. The five projects in this initiative were Frost, Seeking the Source, Follow the Light, 5:30: An Urban Conflux and 100Stone. Tens of thousands of Anchorage citizens and visitors attended the many free events that the projects staged in parks throughout the city.

Moving forward, Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) was recently awarded an ArtPlace America Community Development Initiative grant, which is a three-year project that will enable their agency to incorporate creative placemaking into their community development efforts. LWP’s Creative Placemaking team will be a resource for CIHA as it embarks upon this exciting project.

Creative placemaking also had a presence in Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s Live. Work. Play. transition committee.

One of its primary recommendations was to complete the planning and implementation of Make Anchorage, a new local arts agency that will be dedicated to growing Anchorage’s creative economy and integrating artists and the arts into other efforts of the Municipality, from increasing walkability downtown to introducing arts strategies to address community challenges such as homelessness and transportation.

To see the latest creative placemaking projects, go to: www.northernplacemaking.com To get involved, go to: www.AEDCweb.com/live-work-play/ areas-of-focus

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23

LWP FOCUS AREA: TRAILS Update from Chair Beth Nordland, executive director, Anchorage Park Foundation We are improving trail system safety through the development of a Signage and Wayfinding Plan. A survey found that 66 percent of Anchorage adults would like to use the trail system more.

By implementing a consistent wayfinding plan, including trail signage, maps, online resources and mobile apps, our trail systems become more legible and easier to navigate, improving safety and confidence among trail users.

Local landscape architecture firm Earthscape, is working with MERJE, a national signage and wayfinding expert, to lead the development of the Signage & Wayfinding Plan.

As part of wayfinding planning and community branding, a group of local artists developed a series of neighborhood icons for neighborhoods and parks that connect to a major trail system. These icons reflect the character of specific neighborhoods and areas, reinforcing a neighborhood’s sense of place, and can be used as a marketing tools for the communities—a fun and creative way to brand a neighborhood’s identity.

In 2015, a Schools on Trails Coordinator, Brendan Stuart, was hired. Brendan and Schools on Trails volunteers are actively creating and encouraging partnership opportunities with leaders in education that allow young people, families and entire communities to create long-lasting connections with nature and public lands.

Schools on Trails connects teachers and students with local parks and outdoor learning opportunities, including the planning and design of Nunaka Valley Elementary’s outdoor learning labs in Russian Jack Springs Park, planning and design of the Westchester Lagoon Nature Trail, and Turnagain Elementary’s trail connection to Balto Seppala Park’s new Iditarod Trail Learning Loop.

October 2015 saw the celebration of the new bridge on the Coastal Trail, and the successful completion of the Chester Creek Trail repaving.

To learn more and get involved, go to: www.AEDCweb.com/live-work-play/ areas-of-focus or contact Beth Nordlund at beth@AnchorageParkFoundation.org.

e asked a handful of downtown locals what Anchorage newcomers should definitely experience during their first year in Anchorage.

Here’s what they told us.

24 |

LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | JANUARY 2016

sts th ganization ho t, business or or en sid re e ag or different Anch Twice a week a

“This is the land of outdoor epicness, so there’s a lot to do outdoors.

Skiing and snowboarding—Alyeska is great for beginners to advanced riders, so that’s rad. Drive down south to Girdwood, the Turnagain Arm has ridiculous scenery. There’s a lot of hiking, like Flattop and Eagle River has great trails. On the backside of Chugach Range is absolutely beautiful; there’s a lot of glacier lakes. Local music downtown all the time. Salmon runs and halibut fishing in the summer. I’d mainly direct people outside.”

-Will Ingram, zAKs Boardroom

otos of da t and shares ph stagram accoun In e ag or ch an e @ilove

age. ily life in Anchor

“Definitely do First Friday, it’s a great way to get to know the local artists and shops. Do Fur Rondy for sure; it’s a great experience. Do all the foot races. If you like to run, go to Skinny Raven and get their running schedule.

Title Wave Books is the best bookstore in town.”

-Faydra Lampshire, Octopus Ink

“There’s a lot of good breweries around here, so check those out. Or go to Moose’s Tooth, especially if you’re looking for a hearty, meaty pizza; like, you’re not looking for a fancy European classic style, but a big pizza, I recommend Moose’s Tooth. They have really good root beer, too.”

--Jackie Kim, G Street Fox

“Get to know your neighbors. Your neighbors are your first line of people who can help you out. Most people in Alaska are really nice and happy to help, so getting to know your neighbors gives you a sense of community and a sense of belonging.”

-Torgeir Robertson, Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-operative “The Anchorage Museum would be a great place to start, particularly for indigenous history. They’ve got a great collection and a great historical section, so you can see how far Anchorage has come in the last 100 years, from basically a construction camp to a modern metropolis.”

-Mark Novosad, Cafe 817 “Hiking at Flattop. Going to Girdwood. Fishing on the Kenai. Sledding during the winter.”

-Brianna Stough, Trapper Jacks Trading Post

“In your first year, get in the air in a small aircraft. And then look at a map and see how little you see, versus how big Alaska is. Then look at a map that shows you its relationship between it and the U.S. and it and the world. I don’t think people realize how big it is. I also think it doesn’t work to go hiking, because the reality of that is you only see so much. So make a plan to spend the money to get in the air. Also, get familiar with the art that is made here. It’s so unique.”

-Diane Louise, Aurora Fine Art One measure of a great city is the willingness of locals to welcome outsiders. If we had to put a number on it, we’d say our downtown experience netted helpful advice from 90 percent of the people we approached. Why do you live in Anchorage? This is why. l

Happy New Year Alaska Let’s make 2016 THE BEST YEAR EVER!

14

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LWP FOCUS AREA: COMMUNITY SAFETY Update from Chair Cory Evans, director of security, Anchorage Downtown Partnership Community safety and security in Anchorage, especially in Downtown, continue to be top priorities for AEDC and our community partners. The Community Safety team initiatives have shown considerable progress this year.

Programs like the Reflector Project, Green Dot Bystander Training and the Lighting Our City initiative have all shown outstanding community support and growth, and, in some cases, have created a backlog in trainings.

The Green Dot strategy is a comprehensive approach to violence prevention that capitalizes on the power of peer and cultural influence.

Informed by social change theory, the model targets all community members as potential bystanders, and seeks to engage them, through awareness, education and skills-practice, in proactive behaviors that establish intolerance of violence as the norm, as well as reactive interventions in high-risk situations— resulting in the ultimate reduction of violence. The mayor is supporting Green Dot, and trainings for Anchorage municipal employees have started. The initiative has grown so much, we are now encouraging more people to get certified as trainers so we can fulfill the demand for bystander training.

Our communities have started to step up and support the Lighting Our City initiative by looking into changing building exteriors that are not conducive to safety and inviting to the public.

We are implementing a compassionate panhandling initiative to help educate the community and the public about the dangers and cost associated with panhandling and how to give appropriately. Our community has seen a spike in panhandling over the past few years. As we looked into revitalizing an existing efforts, we soon realized we needed to start fresh with a new format that focuses on compassion and education. The initiative is catching wings with a newly formed Rotary Club partnership with the Downtown Club.

To learn more and get involved, go to: www.AEDCweb.com/live-work-play/ areas-of-focus.

n 2010, the Board of Directors for Anchorage Economic Development Corp. (AEDC) adopted a vision for Anchorage. By 2025, Anchorage will be the #1 city in America to Live, Work and Play. To accomplish this vision, quantitative metrics were selected to measure how Anchorage compares against the largest city in the each state and the District of Columbia. The metrics are divided into three categories: Live, Work and Play.

Each year AEDC gathers the data for the metrics, compares it against the other cities and determines the rankings.

JANUARY 2016 | LIVE. WORK. PLAY. |

27

Anchorage ranks 37th. Dropped 17 ranks from one year ago. The LIVE category encompasses data on the cost of living, diversity, health, education and crime statistics for the 51 comparison cities. For the third year in a row, Anchorage’s overall ranking for LIVE fell.

2BR, 1 Bath, 900 sq. ft. Apartment Rental Cost

28

2016

2015

SOURCE

30

+3

Council for Community & Economic Research

Diversity Index

22

+3

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Cost of Living Composite Index

40

+2

Council for Community & Economic Research

Share of Homes Affordable for Median Income Households

20

+1

National Association of Home Builders

% of Population Reporting Health Status as "Good" or better

11

–

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

% of Respondents With Any Type of Health Care Coverage

29

–

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Aveage School District Ranking

10

–

k12niche.com & greatschools.org

Property Crimes per 1,000 Residents, 3 Year Avg. Annual Change (2012-2014)

43

-1

Federal Bureau of Investigations

Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents, 3 Year Avg. Annual Change (2012-2014)

29

-11

Federal Bureau of Investigations

FOUR METRICS REMOVED

ONE METRIC ADDED

The 8th Grade Math Proficiency, 8th Grade Reading Proficiency, High School Reading Proficiency and High School Math Proficiency metrics have been dropped. The source organization for these statistics, the New American Foundation, ceased publishing this data.

Average School District Ranking has been added to replace the four education metrics that were removed. This metric is an average of two school district ranking sources, k12niche.com and greatschools.org.

| LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | JANUARY 2016

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Find us at

ALPARALASKA.COM or like us on Facebook

A special thank you to ALPAR’S SHIPPING PARTNERS Helping Helpingmake makecommunity community recycling recycling in in Alaska Alaska viable. work.

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BUY • SELL • TRADE TWO METRICS HELD OVER % of Population Reporting Health Status as “Good” or better and % of Respondents With Any Type of Health Care Coverage were held over from last year’s report. The Center for Disease Control & Prevention’s survey results from which this data is collected have not been released at either the city, county or Metropolitan Statistical Area geography level since the last LWP update and a suitable replacement metric was not available. AEDC is working with the CDC’s local survey coordinator to obtain the most recent data at an appropriate geography and, if successful, will update the metrics when the information is available.

ONE METRIC FELL SIGNIFICANTLY, -11 Violent Crimes per 1,000 residents, 3 Year Average of Annual Change (2012-2014). The number of violent crimes reported in Anchorage by the FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) increased by seven percent in 2014 over 2013. This caused the three year average to increase by 3.4 percent and will affect the metric until the 2017 UCR data is released.

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Live. Work. Play.

The Anchorage Public Library takes the motto quite seriously!

LIVE – APL helps you live life to the fullest by offering programs and classes from Healthcare Sign-Ups, Cyber Saturdays, and Resume Building.

WORK – with resources such as Lynda.com, skillful librarians and meeting spaces, APL can handle your training, research and gathering needs – FREE! PLAY – no one likes to play more than APL. February marks Anchorage Reads – a time to actively engage with each other and share a good book …the adventures, the drama, the comedy – oh, my!

Visit anchoragelibrary.org to explore the possibilities.

Anchorage ranks 2nd. No change in ranking from one year ago. The WORK category encompasses data on the economy, business, transportation, career opportunities and workforce development. This is Anchorage’s strongest ranking.

EIGHT METRICS FELL Anchorage’s Net Job Flows metric, a ranking of a region’s ratio of total jobs gained over the most recent four quarter period to the region’s total population, fell from 22nd to 33rd. An improving economy in the Lower 48 and a net migration loss for Anchorage in 2014 are likely causes for this decline. The drop in Anchorage’s Unemployment Rate metric from 17th to 23rd is also due to improving conditions elsewhere, Anchorage’s current 12 month unemployment average is 0.1 percent lower than the average used in last year’s metric.

2016

2015

SOURCE

Mean Travel Time to Work

9

+5

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

% of Population 25 & Older Who Are High School Graduates or Higher

3

+4

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Median Household Income

1

0

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Taxes as a % of income (for a Family of 3 with $50,000 Earnings Annually)

2

+3

DC Office of CFO

% of Population 25 & Older With a Bachelor's Degree or Higher

26

-1

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

% of Population Above Poverty Level

2

-1

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Per Capita Personal Income

7

-2

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Average New Hire Earnings

8

-4

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Average Monthly Earnings

12

-5

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Unemployment Rate

23

-6

Bureau of Labor Statistics

% of Commuters That Use Public Transportation to Get to Work

42

-7

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Net Job Flows

33

-11

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

FOUR METRICS IMPROVED OR SHOWED NO CHANGE Mean travel time to work rose five spots from 14th last year to 9th this year. % of Population That Are High School Graduates or Higher also improved, going from 7th to 3rd. Taxes as a % of income climbed from 5th to 2nd. Anchorage continues to hold the number one ranking in the Median Household Income metric.

JANUARY 2016 | LIVE. WORK. PLAY. |

31

LWP FOCUS AREA: EDUCATION Update from June Sobocinski of the 90% by 2020 Partnership, vice president, education impact, United Way of Anchorage In 2015, the Anchorage high school graduation rate broke the 80 percent threshold for the first time, rising to 82.6 percent. Ten years ago, it was 59 percent. Interestingly, in the past five years, there has also been a big increase in the percentage of Anchorage adults who believe it is the whole community’s responsibility to raise graduation rates, and not just the job of the schools. Are these parallel trends a coincidence?

The 90% by 2020 Partnership and Live. Work. Play. would say, “Definitely not.” Adopting and promoting a collective approach, dozens of Anchorage organizations are collaborating to target and improve student outcomes from kindergarten to college.

In 2015, hundreds of families with young children in key, underserved Anchorage neighborhoods received ongoing child literacy materials and attended positive parenting events co-hosted by schools, neighborhood associations, churches and nonprofits. Children of these families are far more likely to “beat the odds” and enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.

To boost middle school math results, half a dozen after school programs began aligning their practices to increase school attendance and math ability of 500 low income children they serve.

These agencies are collaborating closely with Anchorage School District math professionals on materials and approach.

Dozens of businesses stepped up in unique ways to change community norms and expectations about school and attendance.

Businesses have also identified employability skills they feel should be better emphasized to youth, and are finding ways to do so both in and out of schools.

To learn more, go to: www.90by2020.org, contact June Sobocinski at jsobocinski@ak.org or go to: www.AEDCweb.com/livework-play/areas-of-focus.

32

Anchorage ranks 13th. Improved two ranks from one year ago. The PLAY category encompasses data on arts and culture, recreation and entertainment.

TWO METRICS REPLACED % of “Yes” Responses to “During the Past Month, Did You Participate in Any Physical Activities?” and % of Population Neither Overweight or Obese are data points from the CDC survey referenced earlier in the PLAY section. These were replaced with two metrics from Gallup’s U.S. Community Well-Being Tracking data, % Who Exercise Frequently and % Not Obese.

THREE METRICS FELL SLIGHTLY Performing Arts Establishments per 100,000 Residents fell three positions from 22nd last year to 25th this year. # of Arts Related Jobs per 1,000 Residents also fell (-2, 29th from 27th), as well as Museums, Historical Sites & Similar per 100,000 Residents (-1, 7th from 6th).

TWO METRICS IMPROVED Full Service Restaurants per 100,000 Residents rose up the ranks from 24th last year to 22nd this year. # of Arts Related Businesses per 1,000 Residents also improved, going from 14th to 13th.

Proud Partner of AEDC

2016

2015

SOURCE

Full Service Restaurants per 100,000 Residents

22

+2

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Arts Related Businesses Per 1,000 City Residents

13

+1

Americans for the Arts

Library Visits Per Capita

44

0

Institute of Museum & Library Services

Acres of Parkland per 1,000 Residents

1

0

The Trust for Public Land

Number of Playgrounds per 10,000 Residents

9

0

The Trust for Public Land

% of Respondents Who Exercise Frequently

1

–

Gallup

% of Respondents Who Are Not Obese

44

–

Gallup

Museums, Historical sites & Similar per 100,000 Residents

7

-1

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

Arts Related Jobs Per 1,000 City Residents

29

-2

American for the Arts

Performing Arts Establishments per 100,000 Residents

25

-3

Department of Commerce Census Bureau

INVESTING IN RESPONSIBLE GROWTH

for Alaska’s year-round destination resort community

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CHAIR James Hasle, Managing Partner BDO USA LLP VICE CHAIR Marilyn Romano, Regional Vice President Alaska Alaska Airlines

Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska Lynn Rust Henderson, Vice President, Sales and Service Alaska Market

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Princess Cruises Ralph Samuels, Vice President, Government and Community Relations

Raquel Edelen, Vice President of Operations Hotel Captain Cook

Professional Growth Systems William Dann, President

2015 VOTING MEMBERS

Providence Health and Services Alaska Kirsten Schultz, Director for Communications & Marketing

Alaska Communications Randy Ritter, Senior Vice President, Managed Services

Stantec Timothy Vig, Senior Principal, Past AEDC Chair

Alaska Dispatch News Alice Rogoff, Publisher

The Wilson Agency, LLC Lon Wilson, President & CEO, Past AEDC Chair

Alaska Railroad Corporation Dale Wade, Vice President, Business Development

TOTE Maritime Grace Greene, Alaska General Manager

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union Wayne Bailey, Chief Risk Officer

Walsh Sheppard Jack Sheppard, President and COO

Bering Straits Native Corporation Laura Edmondson, Chief Financial Officer

Weidner Apartment Homes Gregory Cerbana, Director of Public Relations

BP Exploration David Van Tuyl, Chief Financial Officer

Wells Fargo & Company Joseph Everhart, Alaska Region President, Past AEDC Chair

CIRI Sophie Minich, President & Chief Executive Officer, Past AEDC Chair ConocoPhillips Paul Rusch, Vice President-Finance DOWL Steve Noble, Vice President ExxonMobil Corporation Kimberly Jordan, Public Affairs Manager FedEx Express Dale Shaw, Managing Director First National Bank Alaska Jason Feeken, Vice President GCI Greg Pearce, VP & GM Businesses Services, Past AEDC Chair KPB Architects Michael Prozeralik, President, Past AEDC Chair Lynden Inc. Rick Pollock, Vice President-Global Projects Northern Air Cargo Dave Karp, President & CEO Northrim Bank Larry Cooper, Senior Vice President

34 |

Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Scott Hansen, Business Manager

LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | JANUARY 2016

2015 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS – ALASKA LEGISLATURE Senator Berta Gardner Senator Lesil McGuire Representative Matt Claman Representative Gabrielle LeDoux 2015 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS – MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE

Alaska Pacific University Dr. Don Bantz, President Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Bruce Bustamante, President Anchorage Community Development Authority Andrew Halcro, Executive Director Anchorage Downtown Partnership Jamie Boring, Executive Director Anchorage School District Ed Graff, Superintendent Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility Tim Sullivan, AWWU Advisory Board Member Artique, Ltd. Tennys Owens, President, Past AEDC Chair AT&T Alaska Chris Brown, Director of Business Planning Management, Past AEDC Chair Chugiak – Eagle River Chamber of Commerce Susan Gorski, Executive Director Cook Inlet Housing Authority Carol Gore, President/CEO Delta Air Lines Tony Gonchar, Director Pacific NW, Global Sales Girdwood 2020 Diana Stone Livingston, Co-Chair Lynden Inc. Dennis Mitchell, Vice President Oil and Gas, Past AEDC Chair Municipal Light & Power Mark Johnston, General Manager & COO Port of Anchorage Steve Ribuffo, Port Director RIM Architects Larry Cash, President & CEO, Past AEDC Chair Solid Waste Services Paul Alcantar, Director

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz

State of Alaska, DCCED Chris Hladick, Commissioner

Chris Schutte, Executive Director Office of Economic and Community Development

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport John Parrot, Airport Manager, Past AEDC Chair

Assembly Member, Ernie Hall Past AEDC Chair

University of Alaska Anchorage Thomas Case, Chancellor

Assembly Member, Bill Evans

University of Alaska Mary Hughes, Board of Regents, Past AEDC Chair

2015 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS – APPOINTED BY THE BOARD Brian Nerland, Past AEDC Chair AIDEA Chris Anderson, Deputy Director

Visit Anchorage Julie Saupe, President & CEO

Clearly Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility

PLATINUM $10,000+

Rasmuson Foundation

Alaska Cargoport, LLC

Alaska Communications

The Superior Group, Inc.

Alaska Growth Capital

Alaska Integrated Media

The Wilson Agency

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation

Alaska Railroad Corporation

Thompson & Co. Public Relations

Alaska Institute of Surgical & Medical Specialties

SILVER $2,500+

Alaska Magazine

Alaska Business Monthly

Alaska Permanent Capital Management

Alaska Channel

Alaska Rubber and Supply Inc.

Alaska Executive Search

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Alaska National Insurance Company

Alaska Salmon Alliance

Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd.

Alaska Sausage and Seafood

Architects Alaska, Inc.

Alaska SeaLife Center

Bering Straits Native Corporation

Alaska Small Business Development Center

Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot

Alaska Waste

Brews Brothers (Glacier Brewhouse)

Alaska's Future

Carlile Transportation

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company

Chugach Alaska Corporation

Alyeska Title Guarantee Agency

Cook Inlet Tribal Council

American Marine International

DenaliTEK Incorporated

Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall- Simon Property Group

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iHeartMedia

Alaska Public Media

JL Properties, Inc.

Alaska Regional Hospital

NANA Development Corporation

Aleut Corporation

Odom Corporation

Alyeska Resort

Penco Properties

AT&T Alaska

Petrotechnical Resources of Alaska

BAC Transportation

Princess Cruises

Calista Corporation

QIP, Inc. / Alaska Inc. Magazine

Chugach Electric Association, Inc.

RIM Architects

CIRI

RSA Engineering

Coffman Engineers Inc.

SteamDot

Cook Inlet Housing Authority

Tesoro Alaska Petroleum Companies, Inc.

Creative Lighting & Sound

The Alaska Club

FedEx Express

Think Office, LLC

Flint Hills Resources

Verizon Wireless

KPB Architects Lynden Inc. Matson Northern Air Cargo Orthopedic Physicians Anchorage Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Peak Oilfield Service Company

36

BRONZE $500+ 3M Accurate Vision Clinic AECOM Agnew Beck Consulting AK Supply Inc Alaska AFL-CIO

Anchorage Concert Association Anchorage Convention Centers-SMG Anchorage Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic, PC Anchorage Golf Course & O'Malley's on the Green Anchorage Marriott Downtown Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center Anchorage Public Library Anchorage Sand and Gravel Co. Apokrisis, LLC Arcadis Arctic Controls, Inc. Arctic Wire Rope & Supply, Inc. Art Services North Artique, Ltd. Bank of America Merrill Lynch BBFM Engineers Inc. Beacon Media + Marketing Beacon Occupational Health & Safety Services, Inc Bear Tooth TheatrePub Better Business Bureau Bettisworth North Architects & Planners, Inc.

BiNW

Hawk Consultants LLC

Pacific Northern Academy

Bond Commercial Properties

HB Strategies

PangoMedia, LLC

Brilliant Media Strategies

HDR Alaska, Inc.

Parker, Smith & Feek, Inc.

Bristol Bay Native Corporation

Hilton Anchorage

Petro Marine Services

Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Alaska

Holmes Weddle & Barcott PC

Pfeffer Development LLC

Hope Community Resources, Inc.

Quantum Spatial

Hot Wire LLC

R&M Consultants, Inc.

Hughes Gorski Seedorf Odsen & Tervooren, LLC

RE/MAX Dynamic Properties, Inc.

International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 302

Reid Middleton, Inc.

Chenega Corporation Chenega Energy

Jack White Real Estate

Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce

JW Industries

Coastal Television

Ken Brady Construction

Color Art Printing

Kiewit Building Group

Commodity Forwarders, Inc

Kittelson & Associates

Cornerstone Construction Co., Inc

KPMG

Cornerstone Credit Services

Kumin & Associates, Inc

Covenant House Alaska

Lottsfeldt Strategies

Credit Union 1

Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center

Criterion General, Inc.

Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC

Davis Constructors & Engineers, Inc.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc

Denali Federal Credit Union

Matanuska Telephone Association

Dittman Research

Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union

Dowland Bach Corporation

MBA Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Eklutna, Inc

Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

Environmental Management Inc.

Microcom

Epoch Men's Health

Millrock Resources, Inc.

Excel Construction

Mind Matters Research LLC

F.R. Bell & Associates, Inc.

NANA Management Services (NMS)

Fairweather, LLC

National Cooperative Bank

Florcraft

NeighborWorks Alaska

Frampton & Opinsky LLC

Norcoast Mechanical

Furniture Enterprises of Alaska, Inc.

North Star Terminal & Stevedore LLC

Gina Bosnakis & Associates

Northern Economics, Inc.

Girdwood 2020

Old Harbor Native Corporation

Grant Thornton LLP

Opti Staffing Group

C2 North LLC Capital Management Benefits Corp.

Carr Gottstein Properties

RLG International RMG Real Estate Experts at Keller Williams Realty Roger Hickel Contracting Inc. Schneider Structural Engineers SLR International Corporation Sockeye Business Solutions Spawn Ideas, Inc. Spenard Builders Supply Spenard Roadhouse Stoel Rives LLP Tanalian Aviation The Arc of Anchorage The Foraker Group The Lakefront Anchorage The Planning Group of Anchorage The Trust Land Office UAA College of Arts & Sciences UAA College of Business & Public Policy UAA Community & Technical College Univar USA Vertical Harvest Hydroponics Visit Anchorage Wilson Strategic YWCA Alaska

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38

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| LIVE. WORK. PLAY. | JANUARY 2016

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