Press Release: Alaska Wilderness League Announces Inaugural Recipient of Storytelling Grant Award
Contact: Aileo Weinmann | 202-538-5038 | aileo@alasakwild.org
Alaska Wilderness League Announces Inaugural Recipient of Storytelling Grant Award
Polly Andrews to help others tell their stories via youth workshops
Washington, D.C. – At a recent event, the Alaska Wilderness League community gathered together to celebrate Alaska’s wildest places and announce the inaugural recipient of the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant Award.
The exciting announcement was a major inspiration during the event. Roughly one year ago, Alaska Wilderness League announced the creation of this new initiative, established in memory of the League’s late executive director, Adam Kolton, an impressive storyteller who dedicated his career to protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and led the organization from 2017 to 2021.
2022 Recipient: Polly Andrews
Polly Andrews, Cup’ik from the village of Chevak on the Bering Sea coast, combines ancient and contemporary story, song, drum and spoken word to showcase the unique values and strengths of Alaska Native people. She intends to use the grant to help others tell their stories through youth workshops in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Polly accepted the award virtually, sharing a few remarks as well as an original song.
“The quality of applications received during this initial year of the grant program was overwhelming in the best possible way,” said Chris Konish, development director of Alaska Wilderness League. “Amidst the many strong applicants, Polly’s work stood out to our selection committee. We are so delighted to support her storytelling practice, to carry on Adam’s legacy and to partner with Polly in the year ahead.”
The full event recording is available here, including an introduction and presentation of the award to Polly from League board member Ellen Ferguson, and Adam’s wife, Laura.
The Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant Award was made possible thanks to generous contributions to the Adam Kolton Memorial Fund. To help support future opportunities like this, and to drive critical campaigns forward like the fight to protect the Arctic Refuge, donate to the Fund today.
To receive information on the 2023 application cycle for the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant Award, please email Chris@AlaskaWild.org.
