In this one, Cody and co-host Aurora Ford talk to Heidi Huppert. Aurora is a former journalist and currently works at Covenant House Alaska; Heidi is the Chief Program Officer at Covenant House. Heidi’s perspective on homelessness in Alaska is unique because, in her younger years, she spent time on the streets of Anchorage. Her mom had a violent and abusive boyfriend and Heidi didn’t feel safe at home. So, one night after an especially brutal domestic situation, she found herself wandering around Spenard, trying to figure out what she was gonna do. She was about 12 years old and she had school in the morning. Because it was open and because it was familiar, she ended up just hanging out at McDonald’s.
She says that, for a long time, she didn’t tell her story. It was just too hard to relive those memories, and the violence and the pain that came with them. But right now, she’s at a point in her life where she sees how much power and strength there is in telling her story. How it can potentially help a young person understand that they might be in the middle of the worst moment or moments of their life, but it won’t last forever. Things can get better.
Heidi says that the issues of homelessness and human trafficking — another issue that she deals with a lot at work — are ones that we have to care about because they involve young people and they are the future of Alaska. They will one day hold the political, economic and social power. So, if we want our state to be healthy, we have to care about what is happening to our young people.
EP 138 What happens to Alaska when oil is no longer economically viable for the economy of the state?
Museums in a Climate of Change: Chatter Marks EP 72 Creating sustainable exhibitions with Lizzy Bakker of NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam
EP 137 Carrying on a storied history with Matt Fernandez of Anchorage Community Theatre
Museums in a Climate of Change: Chatter Marks EP 71 How climate change is affecting the traditional Sámi way of life with Anne May Olii of the Sámi Museum in Norway
Museums in a Climate of Change: Chatter Marks EP 70 The myth of climate indifference with Miranda Massie of the Climate Museum
Museums in a Climate of Change: Chatter Marks EP 69 Imagining the future with Lath Carlson of the Museum of the Future in Dubai
EP 136 Frances changed my life with John Gourley
EP 135 What happened is what was supposed to happen with Josh Boots
Chatter Marks Ep 67 Culture comes from our environment with Cordelia Qiġñaaq Kellie
EP 134 Inuit soul music with Qacung
Chatter Marks EP 65 Anchorage made me who I am today
Chatter Marks EP 64 A responsibility to be optimistic about the future with Mary Mattingly
EP 133 The story of JB Deuce with Jason Borgstede and Jesse Burtner
EP 132 Did Darian Draper land the first double-cork in snowboarding?
EP 131 All or nothing with Rosey Fletcher
Chatter Marks EP 62 Alaska history from the bottom up with Ian Hartman
EP 130 Being authentic and a fear of forgetting with Zane Penny
Chatter Marks EP 60 Little, wild places with Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich
EP 129 A leap of faith with Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing
EP 128 Self-realization, reclamation and embracing their Eyak heritage with Brother Buffalo
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