Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Forum Podcasts
The Speaker's Forum is held each Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Forum topics often address and spur dialogue about a current local community, statewide, national or international issue. Some forums feature a local author and the topic of the author's new book, or a representative of a local non-governmental organization (NGO) describing the organization’s work, programs, and accomplishments.
Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Forum Podcasts
Alaskas Retreat from Protecting LGBTQ+ Alaskans
Senator Löki Gale Tobin represents District J, including downtown Anchorage. She's also a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; her research topic is focused on culturally responsive education. Born and raised in Nome, Lki is a University of Alaska Anchorage graduate with a Master's degree in rural development from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Peace Corps Masters International Program, having served as a Youth Development Volunteer in Azerbaijan from 2008-2011. Löki is active with the Pride Foundation, has worked in marketing and communications for Alaskan nonprofits like Boys & Girls Clubs, Kawerak, and the Alaska Community Foundation, and was also a fundraiser for the Anchorage Museum. Sen. Tobin met her mentor, Tom Begich, on one of his many trips to Nome. This long friendship eventually led to her joining his legislative team in Juneau as Policy Director. For the past several years, she has worked to expand universal, voluntary pre-K across Alaska, protect renters and homeowners from predatory insurance practices, and champion the Alaska constitution. Lkis an avid bicycle commuter and community volunteer.
Mara Kimmel is the executive director of the ACLU of Alaska. She has been on faculty at the Seattle University School of Law, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and Alaska Pacific University. She has served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Anchorage Museum. Mara has worked as an immigration attorney and advocate for tribal subsistence rights. She's been involved with initiatives focused on equity, resilience, and combatting human trafficking. Mara serves on the national board of directors for Welcoming America, the regional advisory board for the Anti-Defamation League, and is a board member and co-founder of the Alaska Institute for Justice. Mara was a States Climate Action Leadership Team member and chaired the Advisory Committee for the 2019 Municipality of Anchorages Climate Action Planning process. Mara has a Ph.D. from Central European University, a JD from the University of Minnesota School of Law, a Master's degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a bachelor's degree from the University of California Berkeley.