Alaska Women's Leadership Forum

07/31/2026

One of the best things about living in Alaska? There's always something to do.

Here are just a few events happening around the state:

🎻 Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival - Talkeetna | July 31–August 2
🫐 Blueberry Arts Festival - Ketchikan | July 31–August 2
🎣 Silver Salmon Derby - Seward | August 1–16
🎡 Kenai Peninsula Fair - Ninilchik | August 14–16
🏃 Anchorage RunFest - Anchorage | August 15–16

If you've never experienced the Seward Silver Salmon Derby, put it on your bucket list. For more than 70 years, Alaskans have gathered in Seward hoping to land a winning silver salmon, while everyone else enjoys the excitement around the harbor and weigh-ins. https://www.seward.com/salmon-derby/

Whether you're chasing live music, fresh blueberries, salmon, hometown fairs, or a finish line, there's something happening somewhere in Alaska! Woot! Woot!

07/29/2026

Speaking of fish. 🎣

Alaska's first female chief justice, Justice Dana Fabe, sat down with Rebecca Palsha to talk about her career and what it was like being the only woman on the Alaska Supreme Court for years.

But our favorite part may be the salmon.

Sandra Day O'Connor once came to Alaska to fish and gave Fabe one of her catches. It was marked “SDO” in Sharpie, and Fabe kept it in her freezer for years because...would you eat a salmon caught by Sandra Day O'Connor? 😂

Two women who made history. One very Alaska story.

Hear the conversation at Alaska News Source:

Justice Dana Fabe was the first woman appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court in 1996 and the first woman to serve as chief justice. She was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court by Governor Tony Knowles.

07/24/2026

It’s fair season in Alaska!

While it's been a wet summer across the state - we may set a record this year - summer is moving fast and Alaska’s favorite fairs are coming up:

🎡Southeast Alaska State Fair | Haines - July 23–26

🎡Tanana Valley State Fair | Fairbanks - July 31–August 9 | Alaska's oldest state fair

🎡Alaska State Fair | Palmer - August 21–September 7

Get out for good food, music, exhibits, rides, giant vegetables and plenty of Alaska summer.

07/21/2026

Way to go, Allie! 👏

Soldotna’s Allie Ostrander just added another impressive finish to an already incredible running career, taking second at the U.S. 8K Championships in 25:42, the highest U.S. Championship finish of her career.

For those who may not know just how accomplished this Alaska athlete is, Allie is a three-time NCAA steeplechase champion, 13-time All-American, six-time junior Mount Marathon champion, and the only Alaska woman to break 50 minutes in the senior Mount Marathon race. She’s also represented Team USA in international competition.

And she’s still going.

Congratulations, Allie! Alaska is cheering you on! ⭐️

Read more from Alaska Sports Report:

The Alaska Sports Report provides in-depth daily coverage of Alaska athletes.

07/21/2026

The fireweed keeps climbing.

Alaskans know what that means. 👀

Don't waste the long days.

There's still plenty of Alaska summer left. 🫐

07/15/2026

⭐️ Women are often at their best when they learn from one another, share experiences, and invest in their own growth.

Our friend, Tracy Roesch Williams of Journeys InSight, is inviting women to join her upcoming VIP experience focused on gaining clarity, setting direction, and taking intentional action. If you’re looking for dedicated time to refocus on your goals, this may be just the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Learn more here: https://www.journeysinsight.com/vip

We love highlighting Alaska women who are creating opportunities for others to grow, lead, and thrive. 🩷

An Intimate Vision Mapping Day at a Private Alaska Cabin • July 25, 2026 5 women. One powerful day. Your next chapter — clear, mapped and ready to move. This is not a workshop. It's a working day where you'll leave with your full Vision Map and your next 90 days completely planned.

07/12/2026

Who is a woman who has shaped Alaska?

Some are well known. Many are not.

AWLF is launching Women Who Shape Alaska, a new series celebrating women, past and present, whose leadership, service, and determination have helped shape our state.

We're looking beyond titles and awards to recognize the educators, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, volunteers, community builders, women strengthening rural Alaska, and countless others whose contributions have made a lasting difference.

Who comes to mind?

Message us:
• Her name
• Where she's from
• How she helped shape

We'll be featuring stories throughout the coming year.

If celebrating, connecting, and supporting women across Alaska speaks to you, we'd love to have you as part of the AWLF community.

Learn more about membership: https://www.awlf.co/membership

Because All Women Lead.

06/30/2026

💙 Women Who Shape Alaska 💙

Desa Jacobsson (1947–2017)

Born in Hooper Bay, Desa Jacobsson was of Yup'ik, Gwich'in, and Swedish heritage. Her Swedish ancestry traced to Visby, Sweden, while her roots in Alaska Native communities shaped a lifetime of advocacy. Desa helped bring national attention to violence against Alaska Native women and inspired meaningful conversations that continue today.

Known for her unwavering determination, Desa organized peaceful protests, public awareness campaigns, and even weeks-long fasts to expose issues that many preferred not to discuss. She challenged leaders, raised public awareness, and never stopped advocating for safer communities and greater accountability.

In 2002, Desa and Diane Benson became the first Alaska Native women to run together for governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska, breaking barriers and opening doors for future generations of Native women in public service.

Desa's advocacy reached far beyond Alaska's political landscape. Her work and insights have been recognized in books and scholarly research examining violence against Alaska Native women, including Ice and Bone: Tracking an Alaskan Serial Killer.

Her teachings and experiences helped deepen public understanding of the challenges facing Indigenous communities.

Desa's portrait appears on Yup'ik artist Amber Webb's renowned White Qaspeq, one of Alaska's most recognized works of advocacy art. Amber included Desa in recognition of her as one of Alaska's leading advocates for Alaska Native women. Her lifelong work helped bring visibility to violence affecting Indigenous women and inspired others to continue that work. https://aivanart.com/qaspeq/

Today, her legacy continues to inspire advocates working toward safer communities and justice for Alaska Native women.

⭐Honoring the women whose work continues to shape Alaska.

Photo courtesy of KTVA

06/05/2026

Happy Beautiful Friday! ✨

And remember:

06/05/2026

🌱 Interested in sustainable gardening in Alaska? 🌳

The Alaska State Fair is offering a free, hands-on Food Forest Workshop at Rebarchek Farm on June 13 and July 11.

A great opportunity for gardeners, families, and anyone interested in local food production.

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