2012 Convention to Highlight “Success Beyond Barriers”

Keynote Speaker Carol Wren

The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Committee officially announced today that the 2012 AFN Convention, slated for October 18th through the 20th at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, will focus on ”Success Beyond Barriers.”

“This year’s Convention theme recognizes our Native communities’ achievements in context,” announced AFN President Julie Kitka. “It’s about our peoples’ repeated success at overcoming barriers and finding ways to thrive beyond the challenges that persist, especially in rural Alaska.” She further stated, “AFN is very pleased to announce an exciting and extremely credible keynote speaker, Carol Wren — we are all very much looking forward to hearing and discussing her ideas.”

Carol Wren is the Director of Employment and Training Services at Cook Inlet Tribal Council. She is Alaska Native of Inupiaq heritage, who grew up and went to school in Dillingham (pop. approx. 2,400), in the Bristol Bay area of southwestern Alaska. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is married to Eric Wren and has two children, Jade (6) and Kenny (3).

Carol is a recognized leader in the development and implementation of innovative and effective training and employment programs for Alaska Native adults and youth. Over the past decade, she has been instrumental in establishing Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) as the primary workforce development, employment, and training center for Native people in Anchorage — Alaska’s largest Native community.