See Stories was founded as a nonprofit in 2019 by a dedicated and diverse Board on the premise that representation matters, that Alaskan youth are uniquely equipped to share authentic local histories through film making and podcasting, and that empowering youth with media literacy is a vital skill in today’s world.

Student Workshops

See Stories leads documentary film and podcast workshops with diverse teens throughout the state to craft new stories via podcasting and filmmaking that better represent the Alaska they know at no cost to the students. In media workshops, youth choose topics they are passionate about, interview peers, family, and community members, then edit their footage into a film or podcast that they share at a celebratory community showcase. We work at Title I Schools throughout the state, and also work with adjudicated youth.

Educator Workshops

See Stories engages educators in free, virtual and in person workshops where they learn to lead multimedia projects in their classrooms. We offer 3 – 5 teacher workshops annually in which teachers not only learn vital media skills, but also earn credit through the University of Anchorage, Alaska PACE (Professional & Continuing Education) Program. We have worked with hundreds of educators from dozens of communities across the state.

See All Workshops

Awards

2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Awards

See Stories led an annual film workshop at the Kodiak History Museum (then known as the Baranov Museum) over the course of five years that was awarded the NAHYP Award, known as the Nation’s highest honor for out-of-school arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America’s young people. See Stories Founder / Director and then student Rafael Bitanga received the award at the White House from Former First Lady Michelle Obama.

NAHYP Award Ceremony

2022 Outstanding Public History Project Award, Honorable Mention

See Stories, along with director, Howdice Brown III and co-producer, Alice Qannik Glenn, won an Honorable Mention for the 2022 Outstanding Public History Project Award for our project, The Forgotten Slavery of Our Ancestors by the National Council of Public History.

2024 Governor's Award in the Humanities

See Stories received the 2024 Governor’s Distinguished Service to the Humanities in Education Award in recognition of our work strengthening communities by contributing to a better understanding of the world, one another, and the human experience. The Governor’s Arts and Humanities Awards is an annual partnership between the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation, and the Office of the Governor to recognize and honor noteworthy contributions to the arts and humanities in Alaska.

Special Projects

Workshops with Adjudicated Youth

See Stories has an ongoing partnership with McLaughlin Youth Center, an Anchorage based school and facility for adjudicated youth. The students at McLaughlin have inspired us to apply our mission to build inclusive communities with film and story in new ways beyond film and podcasting, so that in addition to documentary film workshops we lead hip-hop and Shakespeare workshops. Students study Shakespeare and create original hip-hop songs inspired by Shakespearean themes that intersect with their own lives, ranging from betrayal to jealousy, and from racism to redemption. While films and songs cannot be shared to protect student privacy, students challenged See Stories’ director to create her own hip-hop song which you can listen to here.

Adjudicated Youth

Digital Storytelling Curriculum

See Stories FREE Digital Storytelling curriculum is now available for download on our new TeacherTools online community.
Teach your students to make their own films or podcasts! You can pick and choose lessons that fit your classroom or dive in to a full 4 week curriculum. Lessons start with “Exploring Theme and Selecting a Topic” and “What Makes a ‘Good’ Interview Question”. We offer tips for editing and polishing and even suggestions for how to celebrate and share students’ films/podcasts.
This curriculum was developed by a team of Alaskan Educators. The project was generously funded by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Evidence-Based Comprehensive Afterschool Programs through the American Rescue Plan Act Grants.

Digital Storytelling Curriculum image

Land Acknowledgement

See Stories is based in Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage is located within Dena'ina Ełnena, the traditional homelands of the Dena'ina Athabascan people. Learn more about land acknowledgements at native-land.ca.

Staff

Marie Acemah

Marie Acemah

Founder & Director

Marie (she/her) is a mama, educator and dreamer who is obsessed with blueberry picking, impromptu living-room dance parties, and the light in a young person’s eyes when they feel seen and heard. With a desire to become an educator outside of traditional settings, she applied the skills she had gained delving into her Alaskan, Midwestern and Scandinavian story to support youth in exploring their own stories through film. That initiative has now grown into See Stories. Marie lives on Dena’ina Land.

Alicia Sharp

Alicia Sharp

Communications Coordinator

Alicia (she/her) is an educator and creative who is passionate about her faith, family, nature, education, and dark chocolate. She is curious, compassionate, and creative, and has worked in Alaska and internationally sharing stories through photography and writing. As Communications Coordinator, Alicia manages See Stories' social media, website, and newsletter and finds ways to ground See Stories programs in nature. Alicia lives on Sugpiaq Land.

Seth Bader

Youth Education Programs Manager

Seth (he/him) lives on Lingít Aaní (Tlingit) Land and has taught science in classrooms between Washington and Alaska for the past 10 years. You can find him spending most of his time exploring the waters and mountains of South East Alaska with his wife and their dog, Trout. He is also the founder and Education Director for Fathoms Alaska, a wilderness program for adolescents and young adults. Seth will manage our multi-week digital storytelling workshops in villages and communities around Alaska, and expand programming into the greater Southeast Alaska region.

Megan McBride

Educator Programs Manager

Megan (she/her) lives on Dena'ina lands in Anchorage. Before joining See Stories, she worked in education as a high school social studies teacher and with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action. Megan believes in the power of bringing people together, sharing stories, and forging connections. She enjoys playing outside, gardening, and cooking with her husband and two children. As Educator Programs Manager, she leads professional development for educators and creates lesson plans to accompany See Stories films.

Hanna Agasuuq Sholl

Indigenous Curriculum Manager

Hanna Agasuuq Sholl is a Sugpiaq artist & educator and lives in Kodiak. She collaborates with See Stories on developing a Kodiak-specific Indigenous enslavement curriculum for teachers to implement in their classrooms. She also leads a dedicated team of Indigenous creators to create a curriculum on Indigenous enslavement in regions throughout Alaska. Her commitment to preserving and sharing these unique stories is invaluable to See Stories' mission.

Iqlas Dubed

Development Assistant

Iqlas Dubed is a student at the University of Alaska Anchorage who first connected with See Stories at East Anchorage High School. Originally from the Somali Region of Ethiopia, she’s passionate about justice, equality, and the power of storytelling to create cultural understanding. Iqlas is a poet and writer who dreams of becoming a human rights attorney and published author. She hopes to use both law and literature to advocate for positive social change.

Connor Meyer

Cultural Media Mentor

Connor Meyer is a Yakutat Tlingit Tribe member and professional photographer  working as a Cultural Media Intern Mentor for all three youth interns. Connor was born and raised in Yakutat, where he developed a special relationship with the unique ecosystems of the forest and ocean environment. Connor’s lifelong relationship with the community of Yakutat, paired with his unique skill set as a professional photographer allows him the opportunity to educate the youth of his community through a culturally-responsive lens; with a focus on prioritizing positive outcomes for youth.

Takondwa Semphere

Development Manager

Takondwa (she/her) is an educator, writer, and researcher with a commitment to work in the digital humanities. She’s obsessed with questions at the intersection of technology, culture, and storytelling. Throughout her career, she has designed curricula, worked in children’s edutainment, produced podcasts, and managed edtech product development. Takondwa believes that teachers hold up the sky, that stories can bring liberation, and that both are crucial for our collective survival. She serves as Development Manager to support the magic at See Stories.

Consistent Collaborators

Rafael Bitanga

Rafael is a See Stories alum and a proud FGLI graduate of Cornell University. He is actively spearheading See Stories' initiatives. With a track record, he has overseen LGBTQ+ film workshops and peer youth podcasting workshops, resulting in the Alaska Teen Query Podcast. Rafael is a talented documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur, owning his production company, Bitanga Productions. As someone with both lived experience and professional skills, Rafael's vision and leadership are vital assets to See Stories as the organization works to uplift youth voices.

Tayy Tarantino

Tayy Tarantino

Tayy Tarantino is an American hip hop recording artist and songwriter from Anchorage. He started his music career singing in the children and youth choir at his local church, rapping at the age of 10, and forming a rap group while attending Robert Service High School. His musical influences are J-Cole, Jay-Z, Kanye, Drake, Lil Wayne, and Timberland. He currently performs between the East and West Coasts & Alaska, and collaborates consistently with See Stories on our Shakespeare & Hip-Hop program at the McLaughlin Youth Center.

Keith McGill

Keith McGill is an actor, comedian & educator from Louisville, KY. As one of the instructors for See Stories' Shakespeare and Hip Hop program for adjudicated youth, he brings a unique blend of teaching artistry, comedy, and a love of Shakespeare to the classroom. Keith's passion for storytelling shines through his dynamic and engaging instruction.

Elizabeth Ellis

Elizabeth Ellis, the driving force behind Be Wild Honey Workspace, is a Virtual Assistance virtuoso. With a knack for support small businesses and Non-profits with an array of skills, she excels at managing admin tasks, ensuring seamless operations, and supporting the See Stories team. Elizabeth is your go-to pro for making things run like a well-oiled machine.

Sarah Asper-Smith

Sarah Asper Smith of ExhibitAK is an integral collaborator at See Stories, bringing a creative touch to the organization through her design expertise. Her expertise in design extends to crafting curriculum for Professional Development Workshops, Student Workshops, and the newly developed Indigenous Enslavement curriculum. Her artistic vision adds depth and richness to See Stories' educational programs.

Roben Itchoak

Roben Itchoak, an Iñupiaq educator in Shishmaref, was a former participant in a See Stories professional development workshop and has transformed into a dedicated collaborator. Serving on steering committees and offering valuable insights, Roben plays a key advisory role in shaping both professional development and student workshop programs for See Stories.

Chelsea Jolly

Raised in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, Chelsea is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, with over 9 years of experience in storytelling across commercial and documentary filmmaking- this combined with a background in applied linguistics and conflict resolution, brings a unique creative perspective to the table. With significant time spent volunteering and working with organizations in the nonprofit sector focused on conservation, sustainability, and social impact, she excels at amplifying critical messages and connecting communities through creative media. Her work spans science communication, advocacy, and community-driven initiatives, where she builds unexpected alliances to support lasting change.

Board of Directors

Andrés Javier Camacho

President

Andrés Javier is a documentary filmmaker and enthusiastic fisherman with a Colombian-Mexican-American heritage. He is widely recognized for his hands-on approach to documenting stories, immersing himself in the lives of his subjects for extensive periods. Andrés has an undeniable passion for all activities related to water. He enjoys meeting new people and has an immense respect for the wisdom of elders. He relishes challenges and finds enjoyment in physically demanding activities. Andrés finds joy in bonding with individuals over food, music, and animated conversations.

Iam Murakami

Ian Murakami

Vice President

Ian (he/him) grew up in Hawaii immersed in his Mom's stories, and now loves to connect the power of storytelling to social justice and advocacy. He is passionate, eager, and curious, and recently finished his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, and currently serves as Social Justice Coordinator at the YWCA where he hosts conversations on the intersection of race, land and culture.

Emily Anna Lucy

Treasurer

Humanities Forum and has over a decade of experience in the non-profit and education sectors, working intentionally with indigenous communities and minorities. She draws inspiration from people who are authentic and passionate about their work, and enjoys spending time outdoors and connecting with loved ones. Emily strives to bring positivity and empathy to all situations while focusing on personal growth and building strong relationships. She is excited to be a part of the See Stories board.

Ketmany Sourivong

Board Archivist

Ketmany Sourivong is a renaissance woman of many talents. She works as Customer Relations Manager for EasyPark, cooks a mean Kao Piak (the ultimate Lao comfort food), and has been to Costco in four countries. Ketmany graduated from Bettye Davis East High after growing up in Anchorage, and makes her home here with her husband and two sons. Her support of See Stories started several years ago when she connected students with the modified car community for a documentary project, and from there she has become increasingly involved as a volunteer.

Alisha Drabek

Alisha Drabek, a Sugpiaq author and artist from Kodiak, where she lived summers on a fishing boat as a child and now raised her three boys. She’s written several children’s books like Iqsani’s Trout Hook and Red Cedar of Afognak and Her dissertation explores Kodiak Alutiiq literature. Featured in the PBS documentary "Keep Talking", Alisha teaches Sugt’stun online and empowers youth to share local histories with See Stories. She now lives on Kanaka Maoli land in Kaua’i.

Shoshi Bieler

Shoshi Bieler is a painter with a deep passion for visual and multimedia storytelling. As Director of Stories and Grants at the Alaska Humanities Forum, she gets to spend her days working with storytellers across Alaska through grant-making, a magazine, and filmmaking. She loves work that allows her to dig deep into big questions. Shoshi grew up in northeast Ohio; she now lives on Dena’ina Land with her partner. Some of Shoshi’s happiest moments are when she’s making things – working on a painting, building a shed, or finding her way through a knitting or sewing project.

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