Our Boards & Commissions Leadership Program

Lead for Change in Your Community✨

Rise & Represent Alaska is a program designed to empower Alaskans to step into leadership and serve on local and state public boards and commissions. Participants received a small stipend, one-on-one mentorship, and hands-on support to lead with confidence and purpose. You can sign up for The Alaska Center Education Fund’s email list to receive updates on Rise & Represent Alaska.

Applications for Cohort 2 are now closed. Please check back in December for updates on Cohort 3.

Our Mission

Local and state public boards and commissions influence decisions that directly impact our communities’ access to public health, parks, arts, education, and more. Yet many Alaskans, especially Alaskans from underrepresented communities, don’t feel prepared or welcomed to serve in these roles. We’re changing that by breaking down barriers and empowering, strengthening, and educating diverse leaders. We aim to increase diversity and representation on public boards and commissions by prioritizing the support and recruitment of women, people of color, and other individuals with underrepresented identities; while we work together to create a network of values-aligned and community focused leaders. Our goal is to build a more reflective, inclusive, and effective government – one participant at a time.

Who Should Apply?

This program is for Alaskans who want to lead change in their communities. Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or building on experience, Rise & Represent Alaska will support your growth and prepare you for meaningful service.

What Participants Will Gain:

  • Valuable knowledge about local and state public boards and commissions, and the ins-and-outs on how to apply and get appointed
  • One-on-one mentorship from experienced local leaders
  • Group sessions with topics and presentations that will enhance your leadership skills and eliminate barriers and fears
  • Hands-on practice on how to create change in your community
  • A network of like-minded community members and local leaders committed to making a difference

Program Requirements

To successfully complete the program, participants are expected to:

  • Attend the program kick-off event
  • Attend and participate in all program sessions
  • Complete a group project
  • Participate in one book club session
  • Connect with mentors at least monthly during the program
  • Complete all assignments and surveys
  • Submit an application to a municipal or state public board or commission
  • Attend the graduation celebration

*While attendance to all events and sessions is required, we understand that life happens – if you’re unable to attend an event or session, please let the program manager know as soon as possible.

Contact Us

For more information about the program, reach out to:

Felix Rivera

📧 Email: felix@akcenter.org

Interested in being a Mentor?

We’re seeking a diverse group of community-minded individuals with leadership experience – leadership takes many different forms, and we welcome all kinds and levels. Be prepared to share knowledge, experiences, guidance, and encouragement. Mentors will need to connect with their program participant monthly throughout the duration of the program. 

If you’re interested in being a mentor, please email Felix Rivera at felix@akcenter.org

Our Appointed Leaders

“The Boards and Commissions Leadership Program connected me with a supportive network and provided me with the skills – and the confidence – I needed to step into public leadership.”

“The Alaska Center is a driving force for an all-inclusive, diverse, transformative organization, anchored in giving ordinary citizens a voice to participate in our community and democratic discourse. I am glad to have participated in the Boards and Commissions training at AKC. Today, I am a member of the Municipality of Anchorage Board of Ethics and hope to utilize the knowledge and information I acquired during the training for a meaningful transformative change in our community.”

“Thanks to the training, exposure, and mentoring I received at the Alaska Center Education Fund Boards and Commissions training program, I was appointed to the Housing, Homeless and Neighborhood Development Commission (HHAND) in August of 2025. Training in conducting board meetings and coaching through mentoring were key aids to my success at the commission.”

“The Alaska Center Education Fund provided me with the kind of information I needed to confidently step into public service at the local level. I realized that before the Boards and Commissions training I was more nervous about serving locally, even after 15 years of working with Federal Agencies. It’s because of the intimacy we have with our own small communities, our neighbors, and being in service to those we see in the grocery store every day. The program eased my fears and built up the excitement inside of me. I was selected to serve on a local commission, and at my second meeting I was nominated to become the chair. I highly recommend this training!”

“Through the Boards and Commissions program, I gained a solid foundation to understand the civic landscape and the confidence to step into engagement opportunities with clarity and purpose. This experience has not only expanded my awareness of how decisions are made, but also strengthened my commitment to bringing community voices into those conversations.”

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