AUUF Podcasts

A moderated conversation with Gary Holthaus and Kameron Perez-Verdia, first and current directors of the Alaska Humanities Forum. The conversation explores how the humanities are deeply woven into our daily lives - helping Alaskans address issues of the day and providing a way for people to connect with their ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Kameron is a lifelong Alaskan with two decades of leadership experience in the non-profit and education sectors. Most recently Mr. Perez-Verdia was Senior Director of Education Impact at United Way of Anchorage, where he helped to lead the 90% by 2020 Community Partnership, a collective impact initiative working to improve educational outcomes for children and youth. Mr. Perez-Verdia is currently the president of the Anchorage School Board. He is also the former President/CEO of Avant-Garde Learning Alliance, an Alaska nonprofit organization that works through partnerships to improve the capacity and effectiveness of Alaska’s rural schools and community organizations. Born in Alaska and raised in the Iñupiaq village of Point Barrow, Mr. Perez-Verdia obtained a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Puget Sound. He holds an MBA, with an emphasis in executive leadership, from Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and has earned leadership certifications from Center for Human Systems and Harvard University’s Kennedy School for Executive Education. Mr. Perez-Verdia has held senior leadership positions at Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Catholic Social Services, Charter College, and Alaska Pacific University. He is also the former executive director of the Family and Intercultural Resource Center in Dillon, Colorado, and former senior vice president for Girl Scouts of Colorado. He lives in Anchorage with his wife Monica, who is a nurse, and two young children, Isabel and Mariela. Gary has served as the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship called minister since 2012. Originally ordained as a Methodist minister, Gary has also made a living as a poet, author, educator and non-profit administrator, and has been involved in environmental and social issues for 60 years. He arrived in Alaska in 1964. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Sacred Theology from Boston University. He has published numerous books of poetry and non-fiction, including "The Unauthorized Bible".

Gary Holthaus has served as the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship called minister since 2012. Originally ordained as a Methodist minister, Gary has also made a living as a poet, author, educator and non-profit administrator, and has been involved in environmental and social issues for 60 years. He arrived in Alaska in 1964. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Sacred Theology from Boston University. He has published numerous books of poetry and non-fiction, including "The Unauthorized Bible".

Gary Holthaus has served as the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship called minister since 2012. Originally ordained as a Methodist minister, Gary has also made a living as a poet, author, educator and non-profit administrator, and has been involved in environmental and social issues for 60 years. He arrived in Alaska in 1964. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Sacred Theology from Boston University. He has published numerous books of poetry and non-fiction, including "The Unauthorized Bible".

A Service of Thanksgiving

Gene White joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1969. Trained as a sonar operator, he primarily manned radar patrols in the North Atlantic. After discharge in 1973, White worked six years as a community school coordinator in both Oregon and Alaska -- then qualified as a journeyman electrician, ultimately serving as Lead Support Specialist for the Chugach Electric Association. Retiring in 2007, he served as campaign manager for the successful 2008 Chris Tuck for State House campaign -- then worked four more years as Tuck’s legislative aide in Juneau. He’s also a former percussionist with the Anchorage Symphony and past president of the Alaska Computer Society.

Veteran's Day Panel

Erin Freel is a 2000 United States Air Force Academy graduate and served as an intelligence officer for five years.  She currently serves as an Arthritis Foundation Legislative Advocate and Arthritis Ambassador.  Erin has testified to the Alaska State House on the impact of various health care bills currently in review by the Alaska legislature, particularly those related to caring f long-term chronic conditions, as well as publishing in local Alaska newspapers about the impact of proposed repeals of the Affordable Care Act on Alaskans.or

A celebration of All Souls - a story for all ages - Reading of the Rolls.