We’re talking to you, young professionals, and anyone who supports you.
Everyone wants to live in a thriving community, and each person plays a part in building it. In this article, though, we’re specifically talking to young professionals. You’re pushing Anchorage closer to that vision every day. You show up, do the hard work, and help us re-think dated solutions and old ways of doing things. You’re cementing a better tomorrow, brightening next month, and growing many hopeful years for our community. Why?
You believe in it. You know what’s possible, and you see what’s at stake. Buying your first home. Nurturing your family. Receiving regular health care. Becoming Alaska’s future leaders. Your investments now will pay off later for our community—and will help your careers.
The question is: What do you do now to get where you want to be? The answer is: You keep putting in the effort: in yourself, in your friends and family, and in your community.
Beyond Job Descriptions
Many skills that employers value most are learned outside the office.You can lead volunteers, serve on committees, address community challenges, and make big decisions with real-world impact. Your experiences will hone your judgment and build confidence in ways that formal training cannot. When you get involved in your community, not only do you create and move forward outcomes that affect real lives, but you add to your skillset.
Added Value
Your experiences carry value, particularly in Anchorage. We live in a community where relationships matter, social circles overlap, and connections develop over time. The people that you volunteer beside today may become future collaborators, mentors, clients, or employers. But the real benefits go past networking and are so much deeper. You learn how to show up, pitch in, and lead with purpose.
Personal Development
Volunteerism gives back what you put into it. Do you want more opportunities, more connections, more solutions, and more resources for yourself and our community? Then, investing your time and energy in local opportunities makes sense. In fact, you can hear more from our Communications & Engagement Coordinator, Lauren Petersen, when she presents on May 12, 2026, at the Anchorage Chamber Young Professionals Group Monthly Meeting.
Towards Meaningful Involvement
Your career and your future stem from your choices, which impact our community. The tough challenges facing Alaska require all of us lending a hand. Strengthening financial security. Improving health outcomes. Expanding access to education. Supporting families with reliable childcare. No sector alone, organization alone, or you alone can solve the problems. So where do you begin? Start with your values. Ask what moves you, identify your strengths, and carve out time to make a difference.
Start Small
A low-barrier way to explore causes that genuinely resonate with you is to sign up for volunteer shifts at local nonprofits. Volunteering makes an immediate difference in our community and gives you a nice boost. Whether you mentor at-risk students, deliver groceries to hungry families, or help spruce up a building, your service turns your values into action. Then, your actions become patterns that strengthen your career.
Go Deeper
When you’re ready to take on more, serving on a Board of Directors offers you another level of growth. Board members help guide organization’s strategy, oversee their finances, and steward their mission. If you accept that role, you’ll also learn how to lead without direct authority—a skill rooted in trust, clarity, and shared purpose.
Show up once, do it again, and then keep going.
Why Give This Advice?
For 70 years, United Way of Anchorage has supported Alaskans, organizations, and our community. We’ve become Alaska's trusted partner. When the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Young Professional’s Summit invited our President and CEO, Eric Utraq Billingsley, to speak, we jumped at the chance to present on what we do best: We build our community by building up young people.
What you just read is a summary of the presentation that Eric gave. You, young professionals, are gearing up to lead where our community goes. Your work, your careers, and your commitment will improve our neighborhoods, our economy, and our future. They’re the very things that United Way does daily since 1956: We connect people, accelerate projects, and make good work last.