Who We Are
The Alliance is a collaborative effort of multiple and diverse partners across Alaska who recognize the impacts of alcohol misuse on individuals and communities. We are personally and professionally committed to working together to address this complex problem in our state.
Our primary goal is to connect and engage communities as partners — increasing protective factors, reducing risk factors, and changing social norms — to prevent underage alcohol use and eliminate adult misuse in Alaska.
Our Journey Here
Our Team
Regional Co-Chairs
In Alliance pre-proposal work, it became apparent that in order to do this work effectively we cannot simply rely on meeting at a statewide level. Regional breakouts of The Alliance help determine what is working and what challenges and expectations exist at the regional level. There is also the reality that Recover Alaska does not hold all the important relationships, nor should we.
The purpose of identifying and collaborating with a regional co-chair is to empower leaders around the state to interact with their regional partners in real-time, acting as liaisons between their region and the overall Alliance. The regions, as defined for the purposes of The Alliance, are Northern, Southwest, Anchorage/Mat-Su, Gulf Coast, Interior, and Southeast. This regional breakout is likely to expand as The Alliance grows.
Recover Alaska Staff - Our Coordinator
JESS LIMBIRD (she/they)
Program Manager, Recover Alaska
[email protected]
Jess is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and made her way to Alaska permanently in 2007, by way of Olympia, Washington, where she studied liberal arts at the Evergreen State College.
In 2009, she took a position with Anchorage School District’s Title VI/Indian Education program, where she advocated for Alaska Native and Native American families and students, working with grant initiative Project Ki’L as well. Her work with Title VI/Indian Education won her a Denali Award in 2011.
With a keen awareness of the inefficiencies of people-serving systems, and a strong desire to create change, Jess pursued a Master’s of Arts in Education degree through Goddard College, based in Vermont. She brought those same values to her work at YWCA Alaska as a Youth Empowerment Manager. Her work with Recover Alaska began in 2017, where she manages programs, including Education and Prevention. Jess has been The Alliance coordinator since 2019.
Jess is mother to a sweet boy. Jess and Solomon enjoy being Alaskan – adventuring, fishing, and visiting with family. They are also the proud owners of three wonderful cats.
MARLENE ADAMS
Program Manager, Recover Alaska
[email protected]
Marlene is Inupiaq, born in Kotzebue and raised in Fairbanks and Kenai, Alaska. Her family relations span across the North with many residing out of state. Marlene has one adult child who she raised as a single Mom, and she now resides in Anchorage. When asked about why she loves prevention, Marlene says it started when she gave birth to her child because she wanted a different world for her that included education around healthy choices, breaking the cycle, and advocating for herself.
Marlene loves hiking year-round, berry picking, yoga, traveling to new places, and spending time laughing with family and friends.
Marlene's work experience has been in the nonprofit world, and she thrives when she is part of a team that strives to provide education and healthier choices to our youth—who Marlene believes are our future leaders. I’m excited to join Recover Alaska’s team and look forward to connecting with the Alliance and others interested in the reduction of substance misuse in our great state of Alaska.
