AKMuckraker

Name:	AKMuckraker
Location:	Anchorage, AK

My personal volunteering highlight:

This winter, residents of Western Alaska in remote villages faced a crisis. Mismanagement of fisheries resulted in poor salmon harvests, which normally provide food and income for village residents. The unusually cold winter came early, and the barge containing the much-needed fuel that would keep the villages warm for the winter couldn’t get through. A letter written by a village leader shared cries of help from neighbors who had to choose between keeping their elders and children warm, or giving them enough to eat. Mudflats was one of the first to hear the call, and helped raise enough money to send progressive independent journalist Dennis Zaki to Western Alaska to document the situation on film. This resulted in CNN picking up the story. Mudflats was able to spread the story far and wide on the web. Mudflats served as the communication channel for a food drive that resulted in hundreds of people sending flat rate boxes full of staple foods, diapers, and powdered milk to the villages. Cash donations through the blog helped residents buy heating fuel, and disaster was averted. Mudflats continues to shed light on rural issues, including resource development, fish and social issues so that the need for long term solutions can be kept in the spotlight.

What motivates me:

I live in a very red state, and I have seen the power of the progressive bloggers. I have seen them organize some of the largest rallies in political history in the state. I’ve seen them rally people to donate to progressive candidates, help those in need, spotlight issues of local concern, disseminate information that nobody else was, and tell the world about their Republican Vice Presidential candidate. Progressive bloggers in Alaska actually have made change. How can you not be motivated to continue being politically active when you’re actually making a difference?

How I try to motivate others:

The blog itself is very active. I’ve written over 1100 posts since the beginning of The Mudflats one year ago, and have gotten almost 150,000 comments. I try to make my posts a variety of political talk, reporting from events, humor, serious issues, and tidbits about life in Alaska. And, I always try to tell people how to be engaged – who to email, who to call, where to go, and how to contribute in concrete ways. People tell me it’s never boring. The community which has built up around the blog inspired the creation of discussion forums, which include directed political chat, a place to organize events, rallies and meetups; book clubs, photo contests, and swaps that keep people close, connected and willing to participate in the blog community, and the community outside their doors. The personal connections people forge make them want to reach out in all kinds of ways, and change the world.

Where I see myself in five years:

I see the force that the blogging community in my state has become, and I marvel at the mutual support we give each other. I hope to be able to be a part of continuing that tradition, strengthening our connections, and evolving into a herd of organized cats in some form. I also plan to seek out good progressive candidates and support them with everything at my disposal. I have faith that Alaska can become purple, and I want to help.