What We Do

We work at the intersection of cultural, economic, and ecological well being.

The Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) addresses complex social, environmental, and economic challenges through purposeful collaboration.

For nearly ten years, SSP has worked to catalyze community-driven initiatives that improve the quality of life and resiliency of Southeast Alaskans.

Our network is based on commitment across organizations and individuals to a common agenda, shared infrastructure, continuous communication, mutually reinforcing activities, and a shared measurement framework. 

Members of the network  leverage their unique perspectives, expertise, experiences, resources and insight to catalyze on-the ground initiatives that build cultural, ecological, and economic prosperity for our communities and region. 

We are process focused and values-driven and prioritize trust and relationship building. We meet virtually every month, and in-person as a full Partnership twice a year to identify, and act on, opportunities to collaborate. We mobilize a robust communications and storytelling program that helps to connect our communities, inspire and empower local leadership, and share opportunities and resources across rural Southeast.

Our Work on the Ground

From Culture Camps and affordable housing projects to school lunch programs and community-led land management collaboratives, our catalysts initiate meaningful projects across Southeast Alaska.

  • Abundant Lands & Waters

    The health and prosperity of our communities are inextricably linked to the health of our coastal rainforest. Our partners support sustainability-focused, community-driven stewardship. We work with private, state, and federal land managers to ensure local priorities, local employment, and Indigenous values, are paramount to the treatment of local lands and waters.

    READ MORE >

  • Food Sovereignty

    Our partners work to forge resilient food systems that decrease dependence on outside sources, eliminate waste streams, promote knowledge and skill sharing networks, support tribal food sovereignty, cultivate place-based food enterprises and improve household and community health.

    READ MORE >

  • Localized Economy

    Our partners support place-based economies where locally-owned and operated businesses thrive, natural resources are used sustainably and our unique cultural resources are honored. We work together to ensure that more money, more expertise, more job opportunities and more business leadership remains in our rural villages.

    READ MORE >

  • Energy Independence

    Our partners are committed to renewable energy solutions that are clean, reliable, and affordable. Through education and awareness, we strive to reduce Southeast Alaska’s dependence on expensive outside energy by innovating and supporting local efforts to reduce costs and improve efficiency of existing energy resources for transportation, homes, commercial and public buildings.

    READ MORE >

  • Cultural Vitality

    Our partners promote cultural vitality, community health and collective well-being. We recognize that supporting the healing process from colonial trauma and the exploitation of people, lands and resources is foundational to our work. Through focused training that decolonize and indigenize internal processes and systems, to community programs that celebrate, and honor our Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimsian partner’s cultural heritage, we work to promote respect and understanding across Southeast. 

    READ MORE >

    • Dive Deeper

    The following publications explore the origin of our Partnership, describe and quantify the value of our collaboration, and share the voices of our partners.

  • Catalyst Directory

    Updated Annually, 2023

    SSP Catalysts represent communities and areas of expertise and collaborate regularly across the region. Catalysts are ambassadors for our shared values and mission, and connect resources, people, ideas, and networks. Meet the 2023 SSP Catalysts.

    VIEW PDF >
  • Balance at the Speed of Trust

    Peter Forbes, 2018

    This long-form narrative discusses the inception and significance of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership through history, narrative and case studies. The benefits of SSP are interdependent and rooted in complex historical, cultural, and ecological contexts.

    VIEW PDF >
  • The Value of Collaboration

    Ecotrust, 2018

    This report presents an impact evaluation of SSP. The outcomes and benefits of our work are identified, classified and then valued in dollar-equivalent terms. The purpose of this report was to examine and analyze, as rigorously as possible, the self-reported outcomes and benefits of participating in the network.

    VIEW PDF >