PDF - Flipbook - Page 46
OUR WO R K
THEMES
S E LF - DETERMINED ECONOMIC DEVEL OPME NT
Alaska Native Resilience Circles
Alaska Native Resilience Circles (RC) is a trauma-informed,
culturally responsive program that enhances the well-being
and success of growing Native-led organizations in Southeast
Alaska. RC sits within a community development 昀椀nancial institution (CDFI) as an anchor program to strengthen the capacities of Alaska Native enterprises for ecosystem guardianship,
long-term economic resilience, comprehensive well-being, and
community mental health. The two-year program employs an
integrative curriculum to address capacity building, intergenerational trauma, and lack of capital. Year one consists of 12
months of wrap-around, customized support for a single cohort
of 10 individuals. In year two, Resilience Circles will operate
two cohorts concurrently. An added bene昀椀t will be a focus on
growth through access to capital provided by CDFIs, impact
investors, and other aligned long-term funders.
At the end of 2023, RC 昀椀nished selecting the
昀椀rst cohort of 10 Alaska Native enterprises
from the region and recruited a circle of Alaska
Native support practitioners, from business
coaches to mental health providers to traditional culture bearers. The larger vision is to operate
regional Resilience Circles across the Americas,
supporting Native-led organizations to lead the
regenerative economy.
