Iamsomebody

We’re reading The Familiar Stranger by Tyler Staton as a staff, and it has been so good.
There’s something powerful about reading the same words and then coming together to talk about what stood out. Different perspectives, different takeaways, and so much wisdom comes out of every conversation.
Read with a group or read it on your own but read. Keep learning. Keep growing. Knowledge is power.

With our chilly autumn days, we find ourselves wanting to curl up with a good book!
📖📚🍁🍂

Some people wait for a seat at the table. Amberly builds the table.

Today, we gathered around a table to celebrate Amberly Breja and the years she has poured into Northgate Alaska and iAMSOMEBODY.

And somehow, a table feels fitting.

There have been doors Amberly knocked on that didn’t open. Ideas that were met with “no.” Visions that required resilience before anyone else could see what she saw.

So she kept building.

She built relationships. She built partnerships. She built pathways for people to belong, churches to collaborate, and our community to care for one another in ways that didn’t exist before.

And now, this isn’t really goodbye.

The table she helped build here remains and there are people sitting around it, carrying the work forward. But Amberly is stepping into a new season where she gets to build more tables, in more places, for more people.

Amberly, thank you for reminding us that a closed door does not always mean the vision was wrong.

Sometimes it just means there’s a table waiting to be built.

We love you, we honor you, and we cannot wait to see what you build next. ❤️

🎉 ThriveFest Registration is Now Closed!

Thank you to everyone who registered for the 2026 ThriveFest Youth Shoe Giveaway & Family Carnival!

Our team is now preparing for an incredible day filled with new shoes, welcoming smiles, community resources, meaningful connections, and family fun. We can't wait to serve your family on Saturday, August 1!

If you have already registered, please watch your email and text messages for important event information, reminders, arrival instructions, and what to expect before event day.

Thank you to our volunteers, partners, sponsors, and community for making ThriveFest possible. Together, we're creating a day where every child and family knows they matter.

Hello friends,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the gently-used clothing closet will not be available at Stuff The Bus this year. We do apologize for the inconvenience.

Our friends at Frontline Mission will be hosting a BIG Community Clothing Giveaway this Saturday from 11am-3pm!
A hot dog lunch is provided, and all items are free of charge.

Please bring your students to this large annual event, where you'll be able to pick out clothing to get ready for the first day of school.

Thank you, Frontline Mission team, for all you do in our community!

For more information on Frontline Mission's events, visit frontlinemission.org.

🍎 Is mealtime a struggle? Does your child suffer from medically complex feeding issues. We’re here to help! 🍎
At Guidepost Pediatric Therapies, we offer SOS Certified Feeding Specialists who are licensed Occupational Therapists trained to help children with sensory-based feeding challenges.
Our therapists use the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, an evidence-based program designed to help children:
• Become more comfortable around new foods
• Reduce mealtime anxiety and stress
• Improve sensory processing related to eating
• Increase food variety and acceptance
• Build positive, successful mealtime experiences for the whole family
Whether your child is a picky eater, has sensory sensitivities, or struggles with feeding due to developmental or medical concerns, our compassionate team is here to help.
✨ No waitlist for many appointments!
📍 Serving children throughout the Mat-Su Valley and beyond.
📞 Call us today at 907-376-4880
🌐 www.guidepostpediatrics.com
Helping children gain confidence—one bite at a time. 💙

👟 Registration is NOW CLOSED for ThriveFest 2026!

For many students, a new pair of athletic shoes means more than starting the school year with something new.

It means walking into school with confidence.

It means feeling prepared for PE, recess, sports, and everyday life.

It means one less thing for parents to worry about.

But ThriveFest is about more than shoes.

It's a day where families are welcomed, community organizations come together, children laugh, volunteers serve, and connections are made that often last well beyond August 1.

If your family has not registered yet, there's still time.

📅 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🕐 1:00–5:00 PM
📍 Menard Sports Center
👟 Free athletic shoes for eligible Mat-Su students K–12
🎡 Family Carnival • Community Resources • Activities for All Ages
♿ADA parking available

Registration is free, but advance registration is required to receive shoes.

Register today:
https://tinyurl.com/397ed42c

Know a family who could benefit? Please share this post. You may be the reason someone experiences hope, encouragement, and belonging this school year.

Reminder for MSBSD families: The new ParentVUE app is required starting June 19 for mobile access to student information and should be installed before Online Registration opens July 1.

Simply download ParentVUE (New) from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and log in using your existing username and password.

Need help? Call 761-HELP (4357).

📚 Hey Mat-Su!

Did You Know?!

Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open!

https://www.matsuk12.us/about-us/registration

If you haven't enrolled your student yet, now is a great time to get it checked off your list. Registering early helps schools prepare for a great start to the year and ensures your child is ready for day one.

Here's to an amazing school year ahead! 🍎✏️

Registration Registration - Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

FROM THE HEART OF Ty Nichole

This photo was taken more than 13 years ago.

My husband Phil had kept some of his old military gear from his years of service, and one afternoon we passed it along to my cousins. Pictured here are Delaney and Tre, proudly trying it on.

That same day, we spent time talking with their older brother about military service, purpose, and the opportunities that come with serving others. That young man was Taj.

Years later, he chose to serve in the United States Air Force.

I can't say it was because of that afternoon. Life is never that simple.

But I do believe moments matter.

Sometimes a tangible gift becomes an invitation.

That's one of the reasons I believe so deeply in ThriveFest.

A new pair of athletic shoes isn't just about footwear. It can help a student walk into school with confidence. It can remove one barrier to joining a team, attending youth group, or simply feeling like they belong.

When we connect young people with caring adults, sports, youth groups, community organizations, and opportunities to grow, we create moments that can shape a future.

We may never know which conversation, invitation, or act of generosity becomes part of someone's bigger story.

That's why we keep showing up.

Because every young person deserves a place to belong.

Follow iamsomebody as we share ways to get involved, support local youth, and connect with organizations across the Mat-Su that are investing in the next generation.

DIGNITY MATTERS

A young boy once received a new pair of shoes he was genuinely excited about. He smiled the whole time he wore them.

Later, another child made fun of them and called them “Dollar Tree shoes” because they weren’t trendy or brand name.

Kids remember moments like that.

For some students, receiving a recognizable brand-name pair of shoes for the first time is more than just getting footwear. It can feel like finally blending in instead of standing out. It can feel like confidence. Relief. Belonging.

That doesn’t mean worth comes from labels, it doesn’t. Every child has value regardless of what they wear.

But dignity matters.

The way kids treat each other over clothing and shoes is real, and small moments can deeply affect confidence at school and in social settings.

Part of why events like ThriveFest matter is because they help remove barriers that many people never see.

Sometimes a pair of shoes says: “You matter too.”

Thrive Fest 2026 Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/397ed42c