The Department of Education suddenly rescinded See Stories’ grant funding, which made up 2/3 of our organization’s budget and funded the bulk of our teacher and student programs.

Without this funding, our work is severely impacted. This grant supported us to train educators and equip youth with the tools to understand, contextualize and share their own stories and build the confidence to tell them. Over the years that we have worked in Alaska, we have had the honor of working collaboratively with an array of teachers, culture bearers, artists and experts to provide transformative, rooted and trauma-informed learning experiences for our youth that measurably support positive educational outcomes and we remain dedicated to continuing this work. We are reminded that it is our community that inspires and enables our vision to be actualized.

We are working to repeal this decision, and to raise funds to keep our core programs going Here’s how you can support:

• Donate to See Stories here: Any donation makes a difference, and recurring donations are encouraged.
• Contact 5+ friends and colleagues about donating: Sign up here to get talking points and informational materials you can share with them.
• Create a Facebook or Instagram fundraiser here: We encourage you to fundraise for $500 or more.
• Sign our petition to reinstate our federal grant.
• Share one of our informational graphics to inform others.

One thing that’s been clear since we shared this news with our community has been that See Stories matters and has left a lasting impact. One note, from an emergingTlingit filmmaker whose love for film took flight during our programs, captured this beautifully: “See Stories “believed in me before I believed in myself, and… planted the seed that’s now grown into a deep passion and career path. I’m so grateful for everything you have done– for me and for countless others. You all have built more than films; you built futures.”

We affirm what we have always believed: that young people like this one can thrive and achieve their goals when they are encouraged and given the tools they need to transform their struggles and strengths into story. We look forward to commitment to building an inclusive Alaska with film and story, and continuing to offer engaging, non-partisan programming that improves the lives of Alaskan youth and educators.

Sign Our Petition to restore our federal grant funding!