Comings and goings

Welcome aboard to new Coalition board member Michele Brown. She led the United Way of Anchorage for 17 years, served as Alaska’s Commissioner of Environmental Conservation and was Rasmuson Foundation’s senior fellow addressing homelessness. While with the Foundation, Michele worked extensively with the Coalition to acquire and convert four hotels into 271 housing units and the state's first complex care shelter. She received the ACEH community partner award last year and joined the Coalition board in March.

Two new staff members also recently joined the Coalition team! Stacey Tessandore serves as director of finance and grant administration. She has lived and worked in Alaska, Japan and Australia. For the Coalition, she oversees areas finance, administration, organizational compliance, and grant management. Mike Hill, formerly with RurAL CAP, is outreach and housing navigation specialist. He is in the field most days connecting with people experiencing homelessness at our pop-up events and camps.

Congratulations to team member Ziona Brownlow! She has been promoted from Coordinated Entry specialist to healthcare integration director, filling the role that had been held by Dakota Orm. Dakota, who led a pilot project examining how health care can impact chronic homelessness, is transitioning to a similar role with the State of Alaska working to address health interventions for those experiencing homelessness. We will miss her but are glad we will stay connected!

Meanwhile, if you are interested in joining our team, we are seeking a Coordinated Entry specialist. Read the job description and learn how to apply here.

Michele Brown, Coalition board member

Ziona Brownlow, healthcare integration director

Dakota Orm is seen on her last day at the Coalition with flowers of appreciation.