An engaged Alaskan democracy

Bill Hall

Bill Hall served as a co-creator and leader of  Let’s Talk Alaska, a library based program in civic dialogue initiated by Alaska Common Ground as a collaboration with the Anchorage Library.  From its beginning in 2006 the program has facilitated “Doing Democracy” dialogues in six communities across the state –  over 50 since 2012. In the last two years the focus has been on making sense of political change through it’s “Saving Democracy” dialogues. The program is presently suspended due to low participation.

Bill is a life-long Alaskan and former mayor of Cordova. He has received facilitation training from the Kettering Foundation and a Certificate in Dialogue Deliberation and Public Engagement from the Fielding Graduate University. He has also received training in specific facilitation techniques, including Appreciative Inquiry, Civic Dialogue, and Issue Framing, and Compassionate Listening. His formal education includes a BA in Organizational Management and an M. Ed. in Adult Education.

He worked for the Alaska Legislature from 1968 to 1985 as a Sgt.-at-Arms, Administrative Assistant and Senior Advisor. Other work included 30 years as a commercial salmon fisherman, several positions with the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank including Vice President and Branch Coordinator, Executive Director of Governor Sheffield’s Fishery Policy Task Force, and Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for the UAF Cooperative Extension Service.