| Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate
Program Reaches Out to Shareholders
The Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate Program (ANHRAP) was
created in 1997 to meet the information and referral needs of CIRI
shareholders living in the Lower 48 and acts as a referral agency
to resources providing assistance with healthcare, social services,
education, employment, legal referrals, or Bureau of Indian Affairs
enrollment and certificates of Indian blood.
CIRI shareholder Dusty Harrison serves as a liaison between clients
and agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Job Service,
Division of Social Health Services, King County, State of Washington,
and Seattle Housing Authority. The program does not provide services
such as case management, direct legal advice, or counseling.
To date, the Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate Program has
helped clients in 26 states, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands, and has several hundred applications on hand
for various types of assistance. An advocate is also available to
help clients fill out the appropriate paper work. A very important
aspect of this program is client development, which includes aiding
clients in their search for educational programs and possible funding
sources.
In addition to its regular daily schedule, the Resource Advocate
Program is open for Wednesday evening appointments, until 8 p.m.,
to accommodate clients preferring assistance after business hours.
The Resource Advocate Program will also meet with clients at the
Seattle Indian Health Board one day a week for clients requesting
assistance with SIHB appointments and coordination of services.
In order to assist clients better, ANHRAP recently moved to a new
location in South Seattle, Wash. They are now located in the South
Center Business District near the SeaTac Airport. Their address
is 1000 Industry Drive, Building 30, Seattle, WA 98188. The office
number is (206) 575-6757 or email dharrison@southcentralfoundation.com.
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Dusty Harrison,
a resource advocate |
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Alaska’s People
Assists CIRI Shareholders
Freida McCord, Alaska’s People employment specialist, and
CIRI shareholder Sandee Woodard worked together in Woodard’s
search for a new, challenging position with an opportunity to grow
professionally and personally. Alaska Growth Capital, a source for
business financing and consulting services, was the perfect fit
for Woodard.
Woodard is now a valuable employee for Alaska Growth Capital working
as a staff accountant for the subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional
Corp. McCord has also assisted Woodard’s husband with employment
placement and training referral. McCord counseled Woodard’s
daughter on job interview tips, resume preparation, and organizing
references.
“Frieda is doing a great job. She really helped me get my
name out there, and she is really an asset to Alaska’s People,”
said Woodard.
In 2002, Alaska’s People was instrumental in the placement
of 1,240 workers in trades, clerical, professional, domestic, and
retail positions with 481 distinct employers. CIRI shareholders
made up more than 28 percent of the placements. Alaska’s People
specializes in employment placement and referral, career counseling,
and training and education referral. For more information on services
provided by Alaska’s People, call (907) 263-7013. |
| New Senior Rental Facility Accepting
Applications
Cook Inlet Housing Authority has begun accepting applications for
Kenaitze Pointe, Anchorage’s newest independent senior rental
facility. It’s anticipated that construction on the property
will be completed in late June and the property should be ready
for occupancy on July 1.
All rental applications returned to Cook Inlet Housing Authority
offices by April 18 will be drawn randomly to establish an order
in which the units will be offered to eligible applicants. Cook
Inlet Housing Authority anticipates completing the eligibility process
and offering all units to eligible applicants no later than May
30.
Kenaitze Pointe contains 53 apartments (47 one bedroom and six two
bedroom units) in two wings, separated by a grand community room
and kitchen. The property is situated, along with Cook Inlet Housing
Authority’s existing elder rental facilities, in a secluded
area in East Anchorage offering fantastic views of the Chugach Mountains.
Amenities include a library, large screen TV room, crafts rooms,
computer lab, and small sitting areas on most floors. Common area
laundry rooms and individual tenant storage areas are located on
each floor, and the property contains an elevator in each wing,
heated sidewalks, and an on-site manager’s office. Three units
are fully equipped for elders with disabilities, and all units have
emergency equipment for occupants with sight and hearing impairments.
Extensive landscaping will be completed this summer.
In an effort to provide assistance to interested applicants, Cook
Inlet Housing Authority staff will hold application clinics at its
main office, and at the Salamatof Heights and Chickaloon Landing
properties throughout the months of March and April. For more information,
contact the Kenaitze Pointe program manager by calling (907) 276-8822
or visiting Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s main offices at
3510 Spenard Road in
Anchorage.
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Rendering of Kenaitze Pointe |
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ANYMI participants get hands-on training
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Recruitment Begins for 12th Alaska
Native Youth Media Institute
May 2nd at 5 p.m. is the application deadline for high school-age
students to apply to the Alaska Native Youth Media Institute (ANYMI
2003). Created by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation’s Training
Center, ANYMI 2003 gives Native youth a hands-on introduction
to media to encourage them to explore additional training and
career development in the field.
Since its inception, ANYMI has collaborated with local newspapers,
television stations, universities and school districts to give
students a realistic introduction to media professions. Instruction
will take place in the studios of KNBA 90.3 FM and in classrooms
at Alaska Pacific University.
Students will receive an introduction to careers in video and
radio production, print and photojournalism; get a close-up look
at the industry through tours of local newspapers and television
and radio stations; and receive hands-on training in radio production
and Internet technology. A radio feature produced by the students
will be broadcast on KNBA 90.3 FM and made available on the station’s
website.
The lead instructor for ANYMI 2003 is Brian Maracle, a Mohawk
journalist who was the host and principal reporter for “Our
Native Land,” a program that ran for 22 years on the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Maracle has designed and conducted
radio journalism training programs for the CBC, Alaska Public
Radio Network, National Public Radio, Native communication societies
across Canada, and government broadcast agencies in India and
Papua New Guinea.
“ANYMI is a great opportunity for Native youth to get an
excellent hands-on introduction to the world of radio journalism
that they can’t get anywhere else,” Maracle said.
“If someone is even slightly interested in a career in the
media, and especially in radio, they should check this out.”
ANYMI 2003 will be held in Anchorage June 9th through the 16th.
Application forms will be available in Alaska high schools and
on the Koahnic website at www.knba.org.
Prospective applicants may call Melinda Moore at (907) 258-8884
or email feedback@knba.org for more information.
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| The CIRI Foundation Announces Deadlines
for Scholarship and Grant Program
The mission of The CIRI Foundation is to promote individual self-development
and economic self-sufficiency through education and to maintain
pride in culture and heritage among Alaska Natives who are original
enrollees of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. and their lineal descendants.
The following is a listing of application deadlines for all scholarship
and grant programs offered and administered through The CIRI Foundation.
Awards are made based on availability of funds.
March 31
Annual Scholarships
The 2003 Howard Rock Foundation Scholarship
March 31, June 30, September 30, And December 1
Education Grants
The CIRI Foundation Vocational Training Grants, Career Upgrade Grants,
General Fellowships, Cultural Fellowships, and Internships; and
Vocational Grant Programs of Kenai Natives Association, and Tyonek
Native Corporation.
June 1
Annual Scholarships
The CIRI Foundation Special Excellence, Excellence, and Achievement
Scholarships, Cap Lathrop Scholarship, and George Miller Jr. Management
Fellowship; and Salamatof Native Association Scholarships/Grants,
and the Carl Marrs Scholarship.
Semester Scholarships
The CIRI Foundation General Semester Scholarships and semester scholarships
for Kenai Natives Association, Ninilchik Native Association Scholarships/Grants
and Tyonek Native Corporation Scholarships.
December 1
Annual Scholarships
George Miller Jr. Management Fellowship.
Semester Scholarships
The CIRI Foundation General Semester Scholarships and semester scholarships
for Kenai Natives Association, Ninilchik Native Association Scholarships/Grants,
and Tyonek Native Corporation Scholarships.
Because proof of eligibility is required as part of an application
for scholarship or grant funding, it is a good idea to plan ahead.
It can take time to gather the required documentation, such as tracking
down copies with relatives or actually requesting copies of documents
from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The CIRI Foundation staff is
available to assist applicants with determining what documents will
be required and how to obtain them. Detailed information on The
CIRI Foundation Scholarship and Grant Program may be found at www.ciri.com/tcf/
under Scholarship and Grant Application Form and Guidelines. For
more information, contact The CIRI Foundation at (907) 263-5582
or toll-free at (800) 764-3382.
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| Log on to www.cookinlethousing.org!
Cook Inlet Housing Authority began working with a contractor in
late September to design a website that Cook Inlet Housing Authority
staff hopes will reflect the high quality, friendly, dynamic, forward-thinking
nature of the organization. The site was launched at the end of
February.
The site is designed to serve primarily as a Cook Inlet Housing
Authority on-line brochure. Visitors to the site can learn general
information about the Housing Authority, as well as specific information
about programs, eligibility requirements and how to apply for assistance.
Potential clients can download applications and e-mail questions
and comments. The site offers a private venue for exploring the
details of Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s various programs.
Whether you’re looking to become a homeowner, could use rental
assistance, need emergency repairs on your home, or are just looking
to discover more about the current activities of the organization,
cookinlethousing.org
will point you in the right direction.
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Cook Inlet Elders Take to the Dance Floor for Valentine’s
Day
A couple of local attorneys, a college professor, nearly a dozen
local firemen and a number of Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s
own ‘Casanovas’ had their dance cards full on Valentine’s
Day. For the second year, the Valentine’s Day dance at Cook
Inlet Housing Authority’s senior housing complex in Muldoon
was a success. Anchorage bachelors, and a few married men, spent
the evening swinging the ladies around the dance floor at Chickaloon
Landing–the Housing Authority’s 75-unit property-on
the most romantic day of the year. “These guys took their
volunteer responsibilities very seriously; many of them barely took
time from the dance floor to grab a sip of punch,” exclaimed
Nichole Fanning, organizer of the event and the Housing Authority’s
resident services coordinator. “And, it had been awhile–some
30 years or more–since many of these elders had put on their
dancing shoes.”
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