R.O.C.K. Mat-Su created the Braided Stories: Building Equitable Communities for Alaska’s Children & Families workshop because understanding and addressing historical trauma in the Mat-Su is critical to achieving its vision. The workshop aims to engage community members and social change leaders in an educational experience that will deepen their understanding of systemic racism, as a catalyst to make systemic and cultural change in their spheres of influence.
Braided Stories creates a safe space for the exploration and transformation of racism in Mat-Su communities. The workshop was intentionally designed to be reflective rather than instructive.
The workshop was developed in deep partnership with local residents who helped to build a curriculum that explores racial equity in the context of the Mat-Su community. This was accomplished through the dedication of a local workgroup, by using credible sources to build a timeline that includes Alaska and Mat-Su history, and by interviewing Mat-Su residents about their own experiences. In addition to community workgroup members, the work was guided by a design team composed of Agnew::Beck Consulting, Alaska Humanities Forum, COIO, and KYUK, with additional historical research provided by David Reamer.
Braided Stories was created for and is available to adult audiences, not children. The Mat-Su Borough School District was not involved in the development of the curriculum and there has been no communication with MSBSD about offering the workshop specifically to teachers or staff.