Heather Evoy (she/her), is from Ketchikan and Metlakatla (Ancestral lands of the Taant’a and Sanyaa Kwáan Tlingit). She currently resides in Juneau, Alaska (Ancestral lands of the T’aaḵu and A’akw Kwáan Tlingit ). She has a variety of experience in local politics, environmental advocacy and conservation, youth mentorship, and is a lifelong advocate of food sovereignty and climate justice. In this work, Heather centers that Indigenous peoples have ancient oral histories that teach us how to live in right relationship with the salmon, the herring, edible greens and beach foods.
Nigel Wrangham has been a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Certified Prevention Specialist since 2000. He’s been a preschool teacher, counselor for federal prisoners on parole, parenting coach for families experiencing poverty and homelessness, and a freelance illustrator. When he worked in Uganda studying wild chimpanzees, he taught forest conservation to young people in local villages. From 2003 through 2017, Nigel taught prevention science, psychopharmacology, and media studies at the University of Oregon. He has served as the National Youth Coordinator for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and is a certified Master Level Trainer for CADCA, where he develops curriculum and mentors young trainers in prevention and public health. His passion is supporting young people to build the equitable, just, and healthy society they deserve. He works with groups across the United States, sharing skills in prevention, social justice, brain development, and youth leadership. Nigel also spends time at home in Eugene, Oregon with his wife, his two extremely disobedient cats, and his two young children. When he gets the chance, he listens to old punk rock music way louder than he probably should. But these days, he hardly ever gets the chance
A Philippine-born, Alaska-grown, Professor of Public Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). He is also the Chair of UAA’s Master of Public Health Program. Dr. Garcia was the recipient of the Alaska Public Health Association’s “Short Term Service Award” in 2002 and “The Barbara Berger Excellence in Public Health Award” in 2012. At UAA, Dr. Garcia has been awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Community Service (2012), Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Diversity (2016), and the Center for Community Engagement & Learning’s Community Builder Award (2013). Dr. Garcia, along with a group of UAA faculty and students, were awarded the UAA’s Stewardship Award in 2014 and the American Lung Association in Alaska’s Breathe Easy Champion Award in 2015 for the group’s successful effort in making the University of Alaska system smoke and tobacco-free. From 2015 to 2023, Dr. Garcia served as one of the health commissioners of the Anchorage Health Department. Dr. Garcia’s research interests include health promotion and disease prevention, tobacco prevention and control, Asian and Pacific Islander health, and issues related to social determinants of health.
Jake White is a national speaker and sought-after expert in the field of youth drug prevention. As the co-founder of Vive18, an author and podcast host, he helps students overcome peer pressure with confidence so they can become resilient, passionate leaders for their schools and communities.
With over a decade of experience, Jake has contributed significantly to the substance use prevention field with works like “The Vive18 Playbook” for student leaders, “Beyond Alcohol Drug & Vaping” curriculum and toolkit, and “The Opposite Direction: How My Parents Kept Me Off Drugs and Alcohol.”
His insights and life changing message have not only been featured in prestigious news outlets like USA Today and ABC but also showcased on the stages of the DEA’s Youth Summit and various universities across the country.
Jake is the founder of Vive18 – a Youth Drug Prevention Initiative, and Party.0, a movement dedicated to sober events, demonstrating his innovative approach to drug prevention. His initiatives have led to the launch of 25 new student clubs, furthering his impact into new communities and schools.
Jake White’s journey is more than just a career; it’s a mission to ignite leadership and purpose into young lives for a substance-free future.
