Dear Friend,

This Black History Month I’ve been reflecting on powerful Black leaders in Alaska’s history.

Today, I want to tell you about Senator Bettye Davis. A woman whose life truly exemplifies public service to me.

Bettye served on the Anchorage School Board and in both chambers of the Alaska Legislature. She was the first African American woman elected to the state Senate in 2000.

After her time in the State Senate, Bettye returned to the Anchorage School Board because she felt like her service was not yet done. This is when I got to know Bettye Davis and her fire.

I remember sitting in on an Anchorage School Board meeting years ago, myself as an education advocate in the audience, and Bettye serving on the board. We were listening to administrators talk about restructuring the middle school schedule and they were focusing on corners that could be cut to save money.

When it came time for comment, Bettye went first. She paused before she started and then lit up the room as she reminded the board and the administrators who we were all here for: the students. Bettye recalibrated the room from what is the most efficient thing for our bureaucracy to what is best for our students. Leaders who are able to recenter conversations around our shared values are the most powerful to me.

We lost Bettye in 2018, but her spirit and fire live on in all of the lives she made better through her public service.

I invite you to take a moment with me to honor Bettye by recentering and reminding yourself why we’re here and what we’re fighting for.

Gratefully Yours,
Alyse