Capital Chat

The Marine View Mural Project team invited Juneau artists to take part in a collaborative public art initiative and educational opportunity. This is an ongoing 3 year public art project, with one group displayed every year, May-April.  Artist Murals displayed were chosen through an application process. After selection, participants received hands-on guidance in the form of a month-long workshop from experienced muralists and public artists, gaining insight into scaling artwork for large surfaces, navigating the legal aspects of public art, and learning the full mural creation process. This project is open to high school students, university students, and adult artists in any stage of their career. Selections are be based on the quality of the proposed mural idea, and having a diverse selection of backgrounds and styles of art. HOW TO APPLY FOR THE NEXT GROUP  Artist interested in participating in the next group should apply between August 15, 2026-November 15, 2026, though an application portole hosted by The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council webpage, https://www.jahc.org/.  Applications will be open August 15-November 15 every year.  Artists should prepare the following materials before submitting the application: Contact info, Artist bio, Mural proposal & description, and Artist portfolio samples. TIMELINEArtist application open: August 15, Deadline to apply: November 15, Notification of selection: December 1, Project launch: January, Installation: May-April, Opening Ceremony/Celebration: May First FridaySponsors & PartnersThis project is made possible with support from Princess Cruises, Picture This, the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, and the Downtown Business Association.

On this edition of Capital Chat we'll explore the Juneau Community Foundation’s grant program. Learn how the foundation advances its mission by supporting initiatives that promote a healthy, safe, and culturally vibrant environment. The series explores how thoughtful grantmaking, community dialogue, and strong partnerships ensure resources reach the people and programs making a difference.From building a permanent endowment to fostering collaboration among nonprofits and service providers, the Juneau Community Foundation plays a key role in strengthening the community—making giving more meaningful, effective, and impactful for Juneau’s future.

The Juneau Maritime Festival is an annual event celebrating Juneau’s rich maritime culture, history, and commerce with thousands of your family, friends, and colleagues. The Juneau Maritime Festival takes place annually in beautiful Downtown Juneau. Join us on May 9, 2026, as we celebrate our nautical way of life with live music, a beer garden, 100+ vendor booths, local food options, harbor cruises, and US Coast Guard demonstrations. Free for the whole family!

This year, Aware's 2026 Sexual Assault Awareness event Denin Day at the Crystal Saloon, is a high-impact fashion show featuring community members rocking a series of original statement graphic tees.  The aim is to show that sexual assault prevention is a community responsibility.WHAT TO EXPECT The Runway: A showcase of denim paired with powerful advocacy slogans. Solidarity: A space for Juneau to stand together, bust myths, and support survivors. Community Vibe: Volunteers will rock shoes by Shoefly and walk to the beats of live DJ Al Boogie. Show up in your favorite denim to show your support!Admission: Free. Donations Accepted. Family-Friendly, under 21 okay with a parent.

NAMI Juneau’s mission is to provide education, advocacy, support, and public awareness so individuals affected by mental illness can build better lives. We are a peer support organization, and value lived experience in all that we offer. Education: We provided many peer-led workshops and classes about suicide prevention and mental health. Learn about our peer-support associate class here, our suicide prevention trainings here, and keep an eye out for our calendar for all our upcoming educational opportunities. For organizations interested in bringing a mental health training to their workplace, click here for more information. Advocacy: We engage in local advocacy around issues affecting our community. The best way to stay engaged with our advocacy efforts and learn how to get involved is to sign up for our newsletter. Support: If you are seeking mental health resources for yourself or someone you support, reach out to us. We can answer questions about mental health resources in Juneau, and help you navigate juneaumentalhealth.org. Click here to learn about our peer-led support groups.  Public Awareness: To help make our community a better place for individuals affected by mental illness to live, we do public awareness activities to help spread accurate information about mental illness and break down stigma. We table at many community events to help spread this information.

Spirits of Alaska is the cocktail edition of Capital Brewfest—shaken, stirred, and served with a view. Each spring, the Juneau Chamber kicks off visitor season by bringing together Alaska’s craft distilleries for an evening of flavor, fun, and fantastic company at the top of the Tram.Sip your way through unique spirits, enjoy delicious food, and soak in sweeping views of downtown Juneau as the community gears up for the busy season. With live music, great networking, and a lively crowd, it’s equal parts celebration and connection.And because we like to keep things interesting—don’t miss the bucket raffle and silent auction, all in support of the Chamber’s work in our community.Come for the cocktails. Stay for the view. Leave with a new favorite spirit.CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Walk SoutheastMake the 297-mile virtual trek from Juneau to Ketchikan between May 1 – September 1! You track the miles you walk, run, or hike—on your favorite trail, when walking the dog, while on vacation, whatever works best for you— and virtually pass through Southeast Alaska communities on your way. The more miles you walk the more chances you have to win great prizes. Participation is free!Registration Help SessionsNeed help with registration or setting up your My Virtual Mission account? Help Sessions are available in Juneau, stop by and we can give you a hand!April 21 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Mendenhall LibraryApril 29 | 3-5 p.m. | Douglas LibraryMay 4 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Downtown LibraryParticipating CommunitiesWalk Southeast is open to all, however residents of Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Petersburg have some added bonuses like registration the help sessions noted above. There are also group hikes, local prizes, and a contact in town. Find out more HERE!

Allie Brown joins Capital Chat from Coasst at the University of Washington to discuss the upcoming training to become a citizen scientist in Juneau to monitor sic, injured or dead birds along our coastline. What is citizen science?While citizen science has been used as an umbrella term for any public involvement in science, it can be distinguished from other terms based on how the project is initiated and run. For example:– Citizen science is a process where members of the general public aid in scientific research, typically by collecting data for projects designed and initiated by professional scientists. This teamwork allows scientists to gather far more data than they could alone.– Community science is initiated and managed by community members to address local needs, often related to social or environmental justice.We recognize that the term citizen can hold legal or exclusionary connotations, however, in this context it truly refers to citizens of the world and reiterates that science is for everyone.COASST accepts everyone interested in collecting data using our protocols.Learn more about participating with COASST

Juneau Symphony Executive Director Charlotte Truitt and Music Director & Conductor Brad Horgarth join Capital Chat to discuss this weekend's concert.This spring program dances between elegance and vitality. Joseph Bologne's sparkling overture opens with Classical poise and charm, followed by Haydn's brilliant Trumpet Concerto—a work of wit and virtuosity. After intermission, we are thrilled to premiere composer Ed Littlefield's Overture to Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit Russian Battles and Copland's beloved Appalachian Spring, a radiant portrait of hope, humility, and openhearted joy. Music that lifts and lingers with both refinement and spirit. The Juneau Symphony is deeply grateful to the Tlingit artists, composer Ed Littlefield, orchestrator Rory Stitt, and librettist Vera Starbard, and to Sealaska Heritage Institute for bringing forward the first full opera in the Tlingit language, Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit - Russian Battles, produced in partnership with Perseverance Theatre this fall. 

The Juneau Skating Club’s Spring Show is an annual event that is open to the public. It is a chance for our Learn to Skate skaters and Figure Skaters to share their love of skating with the Juneau community. Any skater, from our youngest Snowplow Sam Skaters to adults, who has taken a Juneau Skating Club class at any time during the year, is invited to be in our Spring Show.Each year, we invite one or more guest skaters from outside Juneau to put on a fantastic skating show. Previous year’s themes have included Heroes and Villains, Nursery Rhymes to Fairy Tales, Magic and Mystery, and Beyond the Stars. It’s an event you don’t want to miss!

Juneau Bone and Joint Center is the largest orthopedic practice in Southeast Alaska. Dr. Hightower joins Capital Chat to discuss some of the new services being offered along with tips to stay healthy and ready to hike our amazing trails in Juneau.At Juneau Bone & Joint Center, we provide expert orthopedic care for all of Southeast Alaska. Our board-certified physicians and dedicated care team have served the Juneau community for over 20 years, offering comprehensive services including digital MRI and X-ray, orthopedic surgery, and rehabilitation. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing back pain, or seeking advanced surgical treatment, we’re here to help you return to the activities you love. With our commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare to Southeast Alaska, JBJC is proud to be your trusted partner in orthopedic health.

Cancer Connection is a grass-roots, nonprofit organization that assists Southeast Alaskans living with cancer, their families, and support systems. Cancer Connection sponsors education programs and awareness events with the intent of prevention and early detection of cancer. Stay up to date with events happening in the Cancer Connection community.  From Board Meetings to Support Groups, to community events, you’ll find it all here. Support groups for cancer survivors are held every third Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 pm. Contact us for more information! (907)796-2273 or [email protected]

As of April 7, 2026, this episode of Capital Chat follows the continuing journey of Cade Jobsis and his family as they navigate hope, uncertainty, and cutting-edge science in the fight against a rare disease.After a powerful, Juneau community-driven fundraising effort raised $1.15 million to cover hospital and regulatory costs, Cade was selected for a Phase 3 clinical trial in Dallas—an important and final step before potential FDA approval. Now nearly five years old, Cade is preparing to receive an experimental gene therapy known as Melpida, designed to address SPG50, a rare and progressive neurodegenerative disorder he was diagnosed with two years ago.In this episode, Cade’s mom, Emma Jobsis, shares what the past months have looked like—from traveling between Alaska and Texas, to undergoing extensive medical screenings, to the emotional reality of waiting for treatment day.

Friends of Jensen-Olson Arboretum is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the projects and programs of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum, Southeast Alaska’s outstanding public garden and national primrose collection.Caroline Jensen donated the historical arboretum property at 23-mile Glacier Highway to the City and Borough of Juneau. The arboretum was opened to the public in 2007 and has evolved into a garden destination and a living laboratory featuring over 1200 native and cultivated species.The arboretum embodies Caroline’s vision of a garden that inspires learning in horticulture, natural sciences, and landscaping while preserving its beauty for aesthetic enjoyment and maintaining the historical and cultural context. Caroline’s garden is protected by a conservation easement held by the Southeast Alaska Land Trust so that her garden will remain for future generations to enjoy its beauty.

 The 2026 Juneau Travel Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM AKDT at the Mendenhall Mall. Organized by Travel Juneau, this free community event allows locals to find exclusive discounts on summer adventures, including whale watching, fishing charters, and flightseeing, while also offering opportunities to win Alaska Airlines tickets.

Chancellor Palmer joins Capital Chat to talk about Giving Day, the Honorary Degrees and Meritorious Service Award being presented this year and the Military Friendly designation the University just received. UAS operates from two locations in Juneau—Auke Bay and downtown Juneau.The main UAS campus is located in Auke Bay, 12 miles from downtown Juneau. Housing, campus services, the library, and most classrooms are located in Auke Bay.The Technical Education Center in downtown Juneau houses the UAS School of Career Educations, offering health care, construction, welding, mining, and power technology programs.Email: [email protected]: 907-796-6100Toll Free: 877-465-4827

At Therapeutic Health & Home, Southeast bring expert care to you. They provide pediatric physical and occupational therapy where life happens; at home, school, and throughout the community. Their holistic services also includes pelvic floor therapy for all ages and specialized lactation support for infants. ServicesOccupational TherapyPhysical TherapyLactation & Infant Feeding TherapyPelvic Health TherapySchools & DaycaresThey empower children to reach their full potential by targeting key developmental milestones, gross motor skills, and emotional regulation within their natural environments. This mobile approach minimizes clinic anxiety and maximizes results. Beyond pediatrics, they are dedicated to restoring quality of life through pelvic health physical therapy for bladder and bowel control, and providing expert breastfeeding support to ensure a healthy start for infants and mothers.

Family Promise of Juneau walks alongside families in crisis—delivering life-saving services like homelessness prevention, shelter, and long-term stabilization. Together, we help families rebuild and thrive. The Taste of Promise event is coming up April 4th at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Hosted by Family Promise of Juneau and supported by local restaurants and businesses, this event brings together the best flavors from around Juneau, with all proceeds going to support programs for families with minor children experiencing homelessness.Get ready for a night of delicious food and drink, plus an exciting live and dessert auction, and this year, including a live band, Steady Going. Dust off your “Alaska Formal Wear” (whether it’s jeans and Xtratufs or that special dress you've been waiting to wear) and come celebrate with us. We can’t wait to enjoy this wonderful night together for a great cause.

Welcome to the story behind Ewing Dry Goods, a family-run business rooted in the rugged beauty of Juneau. In this episode, we sit down with Ashleigh & Dan Ewing, the makers behind the brand, whose handmade leather accessories and everyday carry pieces break away from the ordinary.Drawing inspiration from North Coast Native traditions and classic American heritage style, Dan creates work that feels both timeless and distinctly personal. Each piece reflects a respect for culture, function, and individuality, built not just to last, but to stand out.Join us as we explore the philosophy, process, and environment that shape Ewing Dry Goods, and discover how a small workshop in Southeast Alaska is making a big impression in the world of leathercraft.