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.
Chatter Marks EP 024 What food tells us about love, identity and culture with Julia O’Malley
EP 097 A lifetime of exploring Alaska’s natural world with Roman Dial
EP 096 A leukemia diagnosis at 32 and the power of a strong support system with Mitch Kitter
Chatter Marks EP 023 Cultural burning and Indigenous knowledge with Dr. Amy Christianson and Matthew Kristoff
EP 095 Young Madison would be so stoked on adult Madison, with Madison Blackley
Chatter Marks EP 022 How language influences identity and culture with Kirk Gallardo
EP 094 The power of comedy with Jessica Singleton
Chatter Marks EP 021 Destroying art, compassion for nature and the impermanence of us with John Grade
Chatter Marks EP 020 Living intentionally with Jovell Rennie
EP 093 A history of bucking stereotypes in the snowboard industry with Tina Basich
EP 092 Addiction and recovery with Ryan Earp
2020 Throwback: EP 077 A life in the tattoo industry with Deb Yarian
Chatter Marks EP 019 Protection and hope through illustration with Ted Kim
Outrun Your Demons Part 3
Outrun Your Demons Part 2
Outrun Your Demons Part 1
Chatter Marks EP 018 Rethinking art in the Circumpolar North with Charis Gullickson
EP 091 King of the Hill Part 4 with Nick Perata, the director and event promoter
EP 090 The artistry of snowboarding with Pika Burtner
EP 089 Inspiring you to be better with Preston Pollard
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