May 15, 2004
Andy Hunt, from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, addresses the academy.
(photos by Sandra Kleven)
by Sandy Kleven
Forty participants from across the Y-K Delta met in Bethel for the Communications Academy April 27 - 29 to learn skills in getting one's message out to the public. Sessions included Spokesperson Training, Event Planning, Media Relations and how to create powerful PowerPoint presentations.
This training was open to partners who serve the needs of children in the region as well as to employees of YKHC. This included public health nurses, Indian Child Welfare workers and others. About 12 different villages sent representatives.
The faculty included local staff as well as those who traveled from outside Alaska to assist in the training --Andy Hunt from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Juanita Panlener from Vangard Communications in Washington, DC, Annie Foncannon from St Louis, Nellie Moore from Independent Native News, Gladys Johnson from the inhalant program outreach, and Lisa Demer form the Anchorage Daily News. Angela Denning-Barnes from KYUK and Kelly Lincoln from Delta Discovery also took part.
Participants overwhelmingly rated the program as "great" and made plans to use the tools they learned in their home villages.
Thanks to KYUK for use of equipment and staff, to the Covenant Church for the facility and to Pacifica for space on short notice. Thanks are also due to the those who provided entertainment—Teens Acting Against Violence with Grace Danborne, Vince Chmeilarczyk for song and guitar, Alicia Spotted Eagle for poetry, and Gladys Johnson for teaching Native dance.