Tribal health issues find champion with Gilbert

KATHLEEN CUMMINGS

May 02, 2008 at 10:12AM AKST

For Alaska Newspapers

Alisa Gilbert is committed to bringing quality health care to Alaska Natives

The director of the Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation said she draws on her own life experiences, her indigenous heritage and family support as she builds toward the goal.

Also, Gilbert is quick to attribute her accomplishments to teamwork and the many mentors she has had throughout her career.

A cancer survivor, Gilbert has been instrumental in getting the foundation off the ground. Part of that launch effort was a recent inaugural Raven’s Ball fundraiser in Anchorage that brought the black-tie-only set out for a Saturday evening that included an Alaska Native art auction that reportedly hit the $300,000 mark.

The foundation, part of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, is focusing on five basic initiatives: cancer care improvement, wellness and prevention, healthy village environments, scholarship funds and elder care support, according to Gilbert, former director of the Alaska Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

She said that the consortium, which is less than 10 years old, already has made significant contributions for the birth of the foundation.

"The one thing they didn’t have was the fundraising stream," she said, noting that that’s why she came on board a year ago this month.

"Our vision is that the Alaskan Native people (can be) the healthiest in the world, but right alongside that vision, we have a huge challenge of not having enough funding to provide support to many of our programs," Gilbert said.

"So how are we going to figure that out?" she said. "A lot of that has to do with building signature events, fundraising, building community to support what we’re doing, and those are the things that I happen to be pretty good at."

Gilbert, who sees the Raven’s Ball as the foundation’s annual signature fundraising event, said the financial goal is likely to be at $500,000 next year.

"I believe in what I’m doing, so it makes it easy for me to do this work," said Gilbert, who has been working in the nonprofit world for more than a dozen years, 10 of which have been in Alaska.

She said she was drawn to nonprofit work because of adversity she faced when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Gilbert said had to choose between treating her cancer and getting a job so there would be enough money for food and rent. She said she knew she couldn’t do both.

Bald and struggling through chemotherapy, Gilbert forced herself to ask for help. She said that was humiliating but life changing.

She said afterward she dedicated herself to making sure others would not have to go through the same experience.

"I know there is an easier road," said Gilbert, who worked for many years with the American Cancer Society before becoming its director. "I know we can connect patients with the care they need. I know there are these missing gaps because I faced them myself."

Gilbert, who left that post to join the consortium, also was chosen as an Echoing Green Fellow for her program working with Alaska Native cancer survivorship. Echoing Green provides seed money to organizations.

She said that being chosen as a fellow opened her eyes to the "enormous possibility for change."

Gilbert said she always has been drawn to Native issues because of her American Indian heritage. Her family and that background have been very influential in shaping her altruistic perspective, she said.

Gilbert said her grandmother and mother taught her that the issues close to home should always come first. For that reason, she said she is "extremely community driven" and believes that "we must take care of the people in our own backyard" before addressing the plights of people on other continents.

There is much to do, she said.

Cancer is the leading cause of death among Alaska Natives, and there are 39 villages in Alaska that do not have access to fresh water, she said.

"We can do better," said Gilbert, who along with her husband has two children, two stepchildren and a grandchild.

Gilbert said her husband, a senior director at the consortium, supports her work. She said he even took over all the parenting and housekeeping responsibilities during the intensive periods of planning for the recent Raven’s Ball.

If it weren’t for that support, Gilbert said she thinks it would be impossible to give so much back to the community.

Gilbert said she believes that anyone can make a difference in the nonprofit world if they believe in what they are championing.

She confesses to being "up at night" thinking about what to do next.

"All of these problems have solutions. That’s the great thing," said Gilbert, who considers herself an optimist.

It’s just about getting the right people involved, she said.