AUGUST 14, 2015  

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Teachers are already back in the classroom gearing up for this year’s classes, and our kids will be joining them next week. I can hardly believe it!  I hope everybody has been making the most of the summer, and that you get a chance to get out and have some fun this weekend.

This Saturday there’s an excellent opportunity for our youth to get involved in your community by attending StepUpAK. Here’s a description of kind of important community issues StepUpAK is tackling with this Leadership Summit:

“As the generation gap grows within Anchorage, there is a steady decline in volunteerism amongst young adults aged 18-35.  In addition, many of the current community leaders are burnt-out and/or moving toward retirement.  To address the need for more young adults to become actively engaged in the community, NeighborWorks Alaska collaborated with Leadership Anchorage, and other community partners, and developed a unique one day leadership summit called StepUpAK.  The goal being to engage young adults by providing a day of fun interactive learning, energizing social activities, and games to foster civic engagement and commitment to take on community based leadership roles.”

The summit is free, but space is limited! Click here to register.

An important conversation with the Mayor.

This past week Senator Ellis and I had an extremely productive conversation with Mayor Berkowtiz about the needs and priorities of our district. His administration is just getting started, but he shares my goal of making sure everyone in our district has a good paying job, affordable housing, access to healthcare, and can walk the streets confident that they’ll be safe and protected.  I passed along concerns neighbors have shared with me about neighborhood crime, snow plowing, speeding drivers, and safe pedestrian access.  I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Berkowitz in the coming months and years. 

Rep. Geran Tarr, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, Hula Hands owner Charlene Goeas,
and Senator Johnny Ellis meeting for lunch at Hula Hands restaurant 
in Mountain View.  Turns out it was the same day as their 15th anniversary.  
Congratulations Hula Hands!

Last night, I attended the 9th annual Book Party in the Park, a very well-attended event put on by thread. Nothing makes me happier than seeing kids getting excited about reading! Reading is crucially important for children’s development. So important in fact, that the Independent  Democratic Coalition insisted on maintaining funding for Pre-K and early learning programs in our final budget package.  Report after report confirms the value of early learning.  Here’s a link to one from the RAND Corporation that’s worth a read.

If you’re interested in getting your kids involved in any early-learning programs, or if you want to see how you can help out, be sure to check out Kids’ Corps Incorporated’s Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, as well as Best Beginnings. Best Beginnings has some really excellent Early Learning Activities you can do at home with your child to prepare them for school when they’re older.

Kids getting excited about reading!

 

With Meghan Johnson of thread after Mayor Berkowitz and Rep. Tarr
read to kids for Story Time.

United Way 90% by 2020 interviews with students about their future.

Thanks for taking the time to read everyone, and I hope you have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr