Arctic Entries

Elijah moved to Alaska a few years ago from Michigan and decided to stay. He has served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon and is always planning another adventure. He enjoys hiking and running on Alaska’s beautiful trails

Destiny is originally from Alaska but grew up in Oregon and Idaho. She has worked with individuals with disabilities since she was 16. She is now a Registered Behavior Technician(RBT) and an Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) manager, and works with kids who have autism. She has three beautiful children and a wonderful husband. Michele is a proud Alaskan Resident who has lived here since she was three years old (that was 1969!). She has been married to her wonderful husband, Ken, for 29 years and together for 32 years. They raised three kids (now young adults) Jordan, Madison & Hunter to love Alaska, too. Michele and her husband own Distinctive Homes and System Clean. She is a survivor of the Route 91 Music Festival shooting in Las Vegas, and is grateful to her husband who continually reminds her that she is a warrior.She says Lighthouse Christian Fellowship is where you need to be, if you're looking for a church.

Growing up in Anchorage, Donteh was exposed to criminal activity and drug addiction at an early age. Soon he became addicted to the fast life, and making money was his mission. After his second prison term, he began to understand his potential and worth. He is now the author of a treatment manual entitled From Hustling to Healing which highlights overcoming the addiction to a criminal lifestyle. He has been featured on numerous news outlets for his continued involvement in positive community efforts, which include reentry housing and mentoring youth through public activities. He is an entrepreneur with a passion to encourage and inspire, seeking to continually motivate, change, and redirect the lives of men and women alike. He is now a man of faith about his Father’s Business.

Susan is a lifelong Alaskan. Volunteerism & advocacy are her passion. She has not expired, only semi-retired, and is a bit of a roamer between Anchorage & Homer.

Megan is a lifelong Alaskan, and proud Spenardian. She is the Communications Director for the ACLU of Alaska, but in her past life she was cranking out copy for peanuts in newsrooms around Anchorage, reporting on everything from homelessness to elephants. In her free time, she's either in the woods, hanging with her dog pack or looking for an excuse to go to Fire Island Bakery

One of Al's hobbies is exploring volcanoes. He has explored Mount Vesuvius near Pompeii, Mount Popocatepetl in Mexico, Mount Bromo in Indonesia, and Mount Katmai in Alaska.

Jacqui is the middle sister of 10 and an Auntie to over 20 nieces and nephews. She is a writer, graphic designer, and traditional dancer from Kotzebue. She has traveled across the world, but her favorite places are the Inuit communities in Chukotka, Canada, and Greenland. Jacqui is passionate about astrology, poetry, mental health, and old Native legends. You can find more of her work at jacquiiwithacue.com or on Instagram and Twitter.

When Holly’s twins were born (just over two years ago) she would drive out to Kincaid while simultaneously breast pumping to optimize her time skiing. During her husband’s 24-hour shifts working for the Anchorage Fire Department, she mines the chocolate chips out of the Ghirardelli brownie mix. Holly loves powder, cilantro, cats, Norwegian brown cheese, making the uncomfortable comfortable, and her husband, Rob.

Matt has been Anchored in Anchorage for 10 years, and serves as the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage. He loves painting, hiking, and spending time with his wonderful wife, his three amazing kids, his awesome dog, and his adequate cat.

Beth is an avid traveler, hiker, and photographer who can often be found in the Chugach Mountains. Beth is a fundraising consultant and an active community volunteer, including serving on the board of Alaska Public Media and the newly formed Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance (www.akeatingdisordersalliance.org). She has a dashing husband and two very cool adult children

David was born and raised in Texas and has been in Alaska since 2011. He even skipped the graduation at his University to get on the road quicker to drive up here. In his free time, David enjoys photography, biking, kayaking and hiking. He is a firm believer that bad decisions make good stories.

Aimee is a 42 year old Cannabis activist, writer, and mother. She moved to Alaska in 2005 from WA state. Aimee writes for Anchorage Press and Alaska Leaf. She enjoys riding bikes, reading books, adventuring, and exploring life with her two sons.

Natalie was tempted to put “Natalie Chai Fraser is an enigma”, but ultimately decided that would be a bit of a cop out. She is a senior at West High School and has an irrational fear of mold.

Growing up, Kelli’s parents encouraged her to explore, discover, and create. That basic principle has led her on a lifetime journey of exploring new places, going big, and pushing her boundaries. She spends her time in the mountains, exploring new places, skiing spines in the winter, cuddling her puppy Kenai, drinking whisky and beer, and hoping she doesn’t envision you all nude when she steps on stage

CIndy has been an Alaskan for 3 years. She loves that you can wear pants with a dress here and no one cares – the last time she got away with that was in 2nd grade...! Cindy is the mother of 2 adult children, a military spouse (he’s retired now) and a nurse. She is honored to be invited here to Arctic Entries!

Dela is an Alaskan who grew up Outside and returned home in adulthood. Still trying to find her niche, she has worked as a teacher, reservationist for a water sports company in Hawaii, naturalist park ranger, land sales specialist for the State, studied volcanology, and most recently became a licensed land surveyor. She loves hiking and orienteering, wants to do more kayaking, and is trying to like skiing, but recent winters keep conspiring against her, in spite of her briefly having an Olympic gold medalist as a neighbor.

Melanie is a born and raised Alaskan. She loves her mom and sister, adores her friends (who are the best people in Alaska) and walks with her dogs, fast bicycle rides, full-belly laughs and traveling to warm places during the unruly winter months. She has recently been into fermenting and making different types of hot sauces and kimchi.

Seemingly partial to the outdoor and nomadic lifestyle, Forrest seeks out ways to combine the two with work. An interest in fish, mountains, and reading the book “Hatchet” too many times as a kid brought him to Alaska. He enjoys art and music, the company of most people, free food, roadkill, and dumpster diving. He dreams of climbing tall peaks and eating weird food items while pursuing different avenues to educate himself and enjoy life.

Scott Owens is an emergency physician living in Anchorage, but often as not working abroad. He has worked with those affected by conflict in South Sudan, lectured remotely for Syrian medical students and residents whose training was interrupted by war, and taught ultrasound in a clinic for Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.

Isaac Sugimoto is a Seattle-born Alaskan wannabe who loves cooking for friends and public use cabins.