Community Connections

20 years and counting! Thank you, Marlane Waggoner, for your continued service to Ketchikan.

Circle of Security Parenting™ Classes Are Starting Soon!
Because kids don't come with instruction manuals, but what if there was a new way to better understand what they need?
Join our Circle of Security Parenting™ class and learn practical tools to strengthen your relationship with your child, better understand emotional needs, and create a secure foundation for lifelong connection.
Wednesdays beginning August 5th
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Zoom Only
In this supportive, judgment-free class, you'll learn how to:
Better understand your child
Recognize and respond to your child's cues
Build stronger family relationships
Help your child feel secure, supported, and loved
Open to families in Ketchikan, Prince of Wales, and Metlakatla.
RSVP today to receive the Zoom link!
Mindy Trozelle
907-826-3891
[email protected]
Alli Willet
907-225-7825
[email protected]

Event: Community Connections Board Meeting
Date: Thursday July 30th, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Community Connections Office (721 Stedman Street) and
Videoconference (Zoom)
The Community Connections Board’s regular monthly meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Community members are always invited to attend, comment, or ask questions.
*This is an in-person and virtual event.* For the Zoom link, see https://comconnections.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

Brynn Bolling, a light in the dark.

There are people who pass through our lives, and there are people who leave a lasting light behind them. It is no small thing to carry a torch entrusted to you and continue to illuminate the path for others year after year, decade after decade. For 25 years, Brynn Bolling has done exactly that. Through moments of uncertainty, challenge, and discovery, she has been a guiding light for countless children, families, colleagues, and communities across Southeast Alaska.

I often find it difficult to imagine how someone can dedicate a quarter century to serving others without giving a piece of themselves to every life they touch. Yet that is precisely what makes people like Brynn so rare. Her compassion, patience, wisdom, and unwavering commitment have helped children find their footing, families find hope, and communities build brighter futures. Her work has not simply been a profession, it has been a calling.

After 25 years of extraordinary service to Community Connections, we extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to Brynn Bolling as she retires and begins a well-earned new chapter. While her leadership in the Early Learning Program will be deeply missed, the light she shared continues to shine in the lives she has changed, the families she has empowered, and the team she has inspired.

Brynn leaves behind more than a legacy of service; she leaves behind a path made brighter for those who follow. For that, and for every child, family, and colleague whose life was enriched by her presence, we offer our sincerest thanks.

Thank You, Brynn. Your light will continue to guide us long after this chapter closes, and we wish you every joy in the adventures that lie ahead.

Happy Disability Pride Month!

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the disability community, recognize it as a natural part of human diversity, and honor the history, culture, and contributions of people with disabilities.

Disability Pride means embracing who we are, speaking up for accessibility, and building communities where everyone can belong and thrive.

At SAIL, we know independence is unique for each person. We're proud to work with individuals, families, advocates, and community partners across Southeast Alaska to help remove barriers and create more opportunities for people with disabilities.

Disability Pride isn’t just for July. It's all year long.

Let Us Know You've Used Our Resources!

ACT has online materials translated into Spanish, Yup'ik, Hmong, Samoan, and, most recently, Iñupiaq. You can explore them here. https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/materials

We'd like to hear from YOU if you've used these materials and found them helpful. This information helps us in producing more resources you love!

Send a quick email to Kaila Pfister, Director of Community Engagement, [email protected] and let us know.

Developmental Screenings vs. Well-Child Exams: What's the Difference?

As parents and caregivers, we all want to make sure children are growing, learning, and thriving. Did you know that developmental screenings and well-child exams serve different, but equally important purposes?

Well-Child Exams focus on your child's physical health, growth, immunizations, and overall wellness.

Developmental Screenings take a closer look at how your child is learning, communicating, interacting with others, solving problems, and meeting developmental milestones.

Both play a vital role in supporting healthy development, but developmental screenings can help identify concerns early by opening the door to support and services when they can have the greatest impact.

Community Connections' Early Learning Program partners with families of children from birth to age 3 to provide developmental screenings, evaluations, parenting support, therapy services, and more.
Ketchikan/Metlakatla: (907) 225-7825
Prince of Wales: (907) 826-3891
www.comconnections.org
Early support makes a difference. Contact us today to learn more about developmental screenings and how we can help support your child's growth and development.

Congratulations to Woody Green our Stellar Staff for July 2026! Woody, thank you for your years of dedication, your advocacy, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to helping people live full and meaningful lives. Community Connections is stronger because of you, and we are honored to recognize you as this months recipient.