For the Juneau Empire

Andrew Ebona

ANCHORAGE - The Rural Alaska Community Action Program Inc. (RurAL CAP) announces that Andrew Ebona of Juneau was recently elected president of the board of directors.

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Ebona will serve his fifth term as RurAL CAP board president and bring his extensive experience to a demanding leadership role. A long-time member of the RurAL CAP board, Ebona also served as president in 1983, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

As the former executive director of the National Congress of American Indians and president of the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp II, Ebona has represented Alaska's first people on many issues. He is also the group leader for the Yaaw Tei Yi dancers. This Tlingit dance group shares traditional dances and recently traveled to New Zealand to perform during the World Indigenous Conference on Education and to participate in a cultural exchange with the Maori people.

As RurAL CAP president, Ebona chairs board meetings and oversees one of the largest and most diverse non-profit corporations in Alaska.

"I would like to thank the board for the vote of confidence in my leadership abilities to oversee an organization that is making a positive difference in the lives of low-income Alaskans," Ebona said. "I know that we have wonderful staff and I look forward to working with all of them, especially our executive director, David Hardenbergh."

RurAL CAP, a statewide, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, has been working to improve the quality of life for low-income Alaskans since 1965. RurAL CAP employs nearly 700 people annually with expenditures over $20 million. It provides resources and services to enhance child and family development, improve housing, save energy, develop leadership, promote environmental conservation, prevent substance abuse, and foster independent living.

"We are very pleased to have Andrew Ebona at the helm," stated David Hardenbergh. "He and all the other board members serve the organization as volunteers. They do so out of a strong commitment to improve the lives of their fellow Alaskans. Andy does a superb job conducting board business and representing the organization publicly." Hardenbergh added that, "the board also elected Mike Williams from Akiak as vice-president and Barrow resident Taqulik Hepa as secretary/treasurer."