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Alaska’s Hidden Paycheck: Five Industries Where $100K Doesn’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree From the processing floor to the patrol car, forum panelists mapped tangible career pathways, built on certifications, apprenticeships, and on-the-job grit, that put six-figure salaries within reach for Alaskans willing to show up and commit. ANCHORAGE (03/18/26) — Forum Summary by Ross Johnston, […]
Alaska’s Schools Grapple With Progress and Peril By Ross Johnston ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s education system stands as a testament to resilience. At a recent forum hosted by Commonwealth North, five superintendents from districts large and small laid bare the triumphs of their classrooms against a backdrop of fiscal cliffs and shifting student needs. Moderated by […]
Can a New Pension Plan Stem Alaska’s Talent Exodus? Forum Summary by Ross Johnston, Executive Director. Stay informed with the latest briefs by signing up for our email list. A roomful of policymakers, constituents, economists, educators and public servants grappled with a ghost from Alaska’s past: reviving a once-robust pension system. The stakes couldn’t be […]
ANCHORAGE — At a Commonwealth North forum on April 23, 2025 at the Anchorage Museum Theater, educators and policymakers confronted the deepening crisis in Alaska’s public schools, from vanishing teachers to crumbling classrooms. Yet, the state’s tight-knit communities emerged as a beacon of hope, with panelists — including the education commissioner, a school board vice chair, a charter […]
CWN Presents The Value of Civic Education August 21st 7:30am-8:30am Breakfast The Petroleum Club of Anchorage 3301 C Street Video of this program is available online. Commonwealth North welcomes Jon Parrish Peede, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, to our August forum. He will discuss the value of civic education in growing our […]