Cathy Giessel, the majority leader of the Alaska Senate Bipartisan Coalition. She was first elected to the Senate in 2011 and served as Senate President from 2019-21 before taking a short break from elective office. She was born in the Territory of Alaska, in Fairbanks, where she was raised and graduated from Lathrop High School before moving south to Anchorage in 1974. Cathy is a Nurse Practitioner, in Family Practice. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and her Master of Science degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, both in Nursing. She is actively engaged in community service with a behavioral health board, a school-based clinic, children's programs at her church, and as a foster care and health fair volunteer. She received the Anchorage Republican Woman of the Year award in 2007 and was named an 'exceptional leader' by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in 2010. She and her husband of 50 years, Richard, raised three kids in the home Rich built for them in 1979. They have 7 grandchildren.

George Bryson is a journalist who worked for the Anchorage Daily News for 30 years as a reporter, Washington correspondent, magazine writer and editor of We Alaskans. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing and has taught courses in journalism and literary nonfiction at both UAA and UAF. He's co-authored books on natural science and Alaska history and served as the longtime organizer of the University of Alaska /Anchorage Daily News Creative Writing Contest. Since retiring from the newspaper, George has traveled extensively by motorcycle, bike, boat and foot. A 46-year resident of Alaska, George was born and raised in California where he developed a love for rowing that he still maintains as a member of the Anchorage Rowing Association and through trips around the world for the World Masters Games. He and his wife Ann have three grown daughters and three growing grandchildren and are happily settling into their new home in Bear Valley.

Slides - https://www.dropbox.com/s/j15x4lp54eyrn0w/Girls-in-the-Boat.pdf?dl=0

George's slides contained several videos. Videos are a little weird in PDFs and so I have placed "place-holder" numbers on the slides where the videos go.

Video links for slide place-holders -

Slide #27 video - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1icxew82qlqh2irsgtch2/27_kiss_the_joy-trailer.mp4?rlkey=z8eqsugdwdd2shq8wwnps8kb0&dl=0

Slide #30 video - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wqlztl1hpru5yguctlgng/30_A_HERO_FOR_DAISY-trailer.mp4?rlkey=hano2nwj4cdy3831h5iz1ecrn&dl=0

Slide #32 video - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d8b9p3pb368whycbe6i1k/32_Alaska_Sports_Hall-of_Fame_Inductee-Kristen_Thorsness.mp4?rlkey=7clvvq0dsb41eexpsj71qtce0&dl=0

Slide #43 video - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hqljmf2h775uhig28idyl/43.mp4?rlkey=ed7jyuyw3kxnswt19zx6vv6gu&dl=0

Amanda Metivier is an alumnus of Alaska's foster care system. Amanda and a group of foster youth/alumni co-founded Facing Foster Care in Alaska in 2003. Through her advocacy with FFCA, She has led efforts to expand services and support for foster youth across Alaska. Amanda is the Director of the Child Welfare Academy, overseeing the training of child welfare staff and the Office of Youth Empowerment (OYE), a partnership of the Child Welfare Academy and FFCA. She spent a decade managing the college fund for foster youth & provides training for child welfare staff & allies. She was a foster parent for 15 years and has adopted from foster care. Amanda has been recognized for her work to amplify youth voices and share her own experiences. She received the Casey Excellence for Children Award, was named one of Alaska's Top 40 Under 40, was recognized by Alaska Children Trust as a Champion for Kids, was honored by the YWCA as a Woman of Achievement, was named one of Treehouse Foundation's Champions for Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America in 2020, and was recognized by the University of Alaska Anchorage as an Alumni of Distinction in 2021.

Heidi Huppert (she/her) is a life-long Alaskan and social work veteran of over twenty years. Heidi is the Chief Program Officer for Covenant House Alaska and a subject matter expert in human trafficking, ethical storytelling, and youth experiencing homelessness. Heidi's passion for this work comes from her own experience as a young person experiencing homelessness. Heidi has been featured in several publications, panels, and public appearances for her lived experiences. Heidi received a Bachelors in Social Work and Anthropology from UAA. She was a 2021 40 under 40 award recipient and recognized by the Alaska Legislature for her work. Heidi graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy in 2021 and served on their board until 2024. On her off-time, Heidi cannot be found as she usually travels in the woods or hides in her art studio. Heidi is known as a mischief engineer, a friend of dogs and lover of science fiction.

Slides - https://www.dropbox.com/s/tumgmogavmrkhqm/20250512_0900.mp3?dl=0

Facing Foster Care AK website - www.ffcalaska.org

Covenant House AK website - www.covenanthouseak.org