Staff Snapshots | Keira Alkema

• Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
• Role: Deputy secretary of the Alaska Senate
• Years of legislative service: Seven

"I love helping the legislative process become more accessible to everyone inside and outside the Capitol."

Alkema

Why did you choose to work at the Legislature?

Initially, working at the Legislature was a way to stay in Alaska. During college, I spent summers working in tourism, but I was always curious about spending winter in Juneau. After graduation, a friend encouraged me to apply for session jobs. In 2017, I started work as a session moderator in the Legislative Information Office before moving into the Senate Secretary's Office after one session.

I studied political science and economics in school, and I loved seeing principles I studied in school come into play in the legislative process. More than that, I love helping the legislative process become more accessible to everyone inside and outside the Capitol. I especially love when our office gets calls from folks all over the state who have questions about the legislative process, terms they heard while listening to a committee meeting or even how to use the Legislature's website. It's always a reminder that the work we do in our office matters.

What skills or talent are you most proud of?

I have a high tolerance for Type 2 fun: anything that is challenging in the moment but ultimately rewarding or "character building." Being able to deal with and even embrace temporary discomfort that comes from a challenging hike, dealing with language barriers while traveling or other uncomfortable situations has helped me deal with challenges in every part of my life.

What's the best advice you were ever given?

The Four Agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don't take anything personally.
3. Don't make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.

Who or what inspires you?

Acts of generosity and kindness.

What's one thing you love about your state or territory?

I love Alaska for the nature, but I also love the way it shapes the people who live here. Folks in Alaska are generous, kind, resilient, resourceful and adventurous. Our close-knit communities are created by extreme weather, geographic isolation and lack of "Lower 48" amenities. (Amazon Prime takes an average of two weeks, and that's just my experience!)

Even out of state, Alaska folks live up to their adventurous reputations. I once struck up a conversation with a woman on a flight from Beirut, Lebanon, to Amman, Jordan, only to find out that she lives a few blocks away from me in Juneau!

What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?

Reading: "Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture" by Kyle Chayka; "Eyeliner: A Cultural History" by Zahra Hankir; and "Free: A Child and a Country at the End of History" by Lea Ypi

Listening to: Najib Alhoush's "Free Music"

Watching: "Somebody Somewhere"

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Use the email icon above to suggest a legislative staffer for the "Staff Snapshots" series.

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