Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media

The lead up to the holidays can be fun and exciting, but it can also be stressful and lonely. Financial pressure in the season of gifts and big meals can strain family budgets and what about those who are alone? On the next Talk of Alaska we'll hear from community members who help connect people to everything from food and housing to job assistance and friendship. Listen now

Being incarcerated is hard. So is being released. How are people from rural Alaska connecting with their communities and their cultures while in prison, and preparing for what’s next? Listen to a conversation at Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome.

Solving community problems can be hard, unless you tap into the power of collaboration. This is how Chickaloon does it.

Fifty years ago, Alaska had a really big problem: it was hard to get medical care in small, rural communities. To solve it, the Indian Health Service worked with local governments and Congress to create the Community Health Aide Program. And it's still making communities healthier.

The Surgeon General spoke about his approach to ending the opioid epidemic and its root causes.

Today was the first day of school in Anchorage, and for the second year in a row, teachers are starting the year without a new contract. Listen now

A few years ago, residents of the Mat-Su Borough identified child abuse and neglect as one of the area's major problems. In response community organizations teamed up with government agencies, schools and judges to develop a comprehensive solution and build connections throughout the region. LISTEN HERE

Over the past few centuries in the United States, laws and policies have favored some racial and ethnic groups over others. It's led to racial inequity in Alaska and beyond. Now different groups are working together to educate people about these problems and develop solutions. LISTEN HERE

At Spring Creek Correctional Center, the prison store funds the clubs. The clubs fund the hobby shop. And the hobby shop creates an outlet for growth but only limited options for making money - right now.

The Surgeon General is traveling around Alaska talking about the opioid epidemic. Though he sees progress, he says the community needs to form new partnerships to address larger issues to get to the root of the problem. Listen now

The world inside Spring Creek Correctional Center is in many ways just like the world outside. Prison clubs function as nonprofits, filling service gaps and trying to build healthier communities.

Prison commissaries around the country make millions each year, and most of the profits go to private companies. But not at Spring Creek Correctional Center, where the prisoners own and operate the store and use the profits to benefit the communities inside and outside the prison walls.

Rachel Bedsworth looked after herself for years, developing a fierce independence that led her to bounce from placement to placement during her 12 years in foster care. This is the story of how she learned that sometimes it's okay to ask for support. 

Seward used to host a lot of bake sales. It was the only way to raise money for small organizations. Now, instead of buying cupcakes, people can donate little bits of money that are invested and help the whole community go a long way.

Sharks. Alaska's waters are full of them. But they aren't just predators to be featured in horror films. Sleeper sharks, spiny dogfish and flat sharks like skates play key roles in the state's marine ecosystem keeping it healthy for all species. LISTEN HERE

Let’s say you want to start a business or buy a house. You’ll probably need a loan from a bank. That means you need a good credit history or collateral – something to prove that you’ll pay it back. But if that’s not an option… then what?

Rivers and streams across the state are closed to king salmon fishing and sockeye returns are shockingly low in parts of Southeast Alaska. Meanwhile, commercial fishermen in parts of Bristol Bay are netting millions of sockeye. What’s happening to salmon stocks around the state? Hear from salmon scientists about what’s affecting this year’s runs on the next Talk of Alaska. LISTEN HERE

This week we're hearing from Lewis Pagel in Kotzebue. Pagel is a chiropractor who also serves on the local city council. Listen now

Conoco buys BP's stake in Alaska No. 2 oilfield; Two new wildfires are  fought in Yukon Flats; Alaska CDQ group wants Congress to count heads; Missing backpackers found dead; Stand for Salmon join Bethel group in protesting Donlin Mine; State officials tour  Yukon River communities, talking salmon; Head of Iditarod drug testing resigns; Wildlife get 3,000 more acres creating corridor on Afognak Island; Coast Guard moves north for 'Arctic Shield' 2018; North Pole moves ahead with water project; Mount Marathon racers: David Norris Listen now

Many crimes are fueled by drug and alcohol addictions. So what can prevent some criminal activity? Helping people receive treatment. During Community in Unity: Recovery Behind Bars, inmates, staff, and other community members gathered inside Goose Creek Correctional Center near Wasilla to share stories about treatment, crime, and recovery.