The story of Akhiok graduate Denise Kalmakoff (“Meet an Alaska graduating class of one,” Marc Lester, ADN, May 25) is a lovely account of family, school and community uniting to help a daughter launch her dreams. And while the story describes how it is to go to a school of 13 in a Kodiak Island village, its fundamental lessons apply here in Anchorage and anywhere else in Alaska.
When you have a strong family, no matter its size; when you have capable, caring and creative teachers; when you have a community that wants to see all its children succeed and backs up its words with work — then what you’ve made is home. And home, from stalwart mom to caring neighbor to patient teacher, gives sons and daughters the heart to venture far beyond home if that’s where their spirit and passion take them — and helps them earn the means to do so, even if the odds run against them.
That’s what United Way of Anchorage and its partners focus on with the 90% Graduation by 2020 initiative — unite families, schools, businesses and volunteers in the work of giving all our sons and daughters a decent start at a good, purposeful life. A high school diploma is an essential part of that start. Hundreds of these kids who had been chronically absent, failing classes, missing credits, or needing a caring adult to count on testify to the power of home.
That power, created by many of us joining together for the sake of our kids, has contributed to a significant improvement in our graduation rates.
One of Marc Lester’s photographs in the story captures Denise Kalmakoff as she adjusts the cap of incoming kindergartner Joseph Amodo White on stage at the school during graduation.Sweet moment, and one that evokes the abiding nature of care that our kids need, care that doesn’t stop at 90 percent or 2020.
Congratulations and best of luck to Denise Kalmakoff, her family and our fellow Alaskans in Akhiok. “Meet an Alaska graduating class of one” is recommended summer reading.
— Michele Brown
President, United Way of Anchorage
Anchorage
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