Michael Mills InnovAction Award Winner

(l to r: David Schaefer [Calibrate—sponsor]; Sarah Carver [Alaska Legal Services Corporation]; Jennifer Johnson [Calibrate—sponsor]; Rick Kathuria [Judging Panel Chair])

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) is pioneering the community justice worker (CJW) program—an innovative approach to expanding access to justice by moving beyond traditional attorney and courtroom models. In 2023, ALSC launched the Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC) to: (1) support the hundreds of CJWs currently training or serving throughout Alaska; and (2) collaborate with partners in the lower 48 to grow a nationwide CJW movement. Click here for video. 

This project, which serves as a model for other US states, Canadian provinces and territories, is rooted in strong collaboration with tribal and community partners and provides culturally appropriate, community driven legal services to all Alaskans, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas. CJWs, non-attorney volunteers trained in specific legal issues, are embedded in community organizations to assist with civil legal issues affecting the health and safety of community members. The CJWRC develops training and certification standards, supervises cases and outreach, and addresses CJW wellness. The CJWRC has built a statewide network of CJWs that serve Alaskans living in even the most remote villages, ensuring a more accessible, community-centered approach to legal assistance. ALSC continues to expand this successful model further into rural Alaska and assist similarly interested tribal communities throughout the United States.

Conference Highlights

Click here for conference photos, speakers' slide decks, and more. 

Futures Forum: Talking Tech – How COLPM Fellows are Really Using AI

Did you miss this amazing session? Or, would you like to share it with your colleagues or staff? Click here to watch the video.

Our next webinar is in April, so watch here for registration information and session details. And, of course, we encourage you to join us in person in February at the 2025 Futures Conference. Click here for the preliminary schedule and here to register. 

In Memoriam

The College Fellows In Memoriam pages capture College Fellows’ personal memories of their friends and colleagues, and remembrances of their contributions to the profession. If you would like to contribute a message or memory to the In Memoriam pages, please write the College Administrator. 

Geraldine "Gerry" St. Germain Malone, 1940-2024