PUBLISHER'S NOTEBOOK: My Friend Janel

My Friend Janel

Two months prior to my arrival two years ago this month, Elliot and Janel Gagnon moved to the Mat-Su Valley from California. Alaska is Elliot’s home state. They hit the ground running with their new business Gagnon Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Adding to the move was acclimating their daughter Annika and son Finn. A move from the lower 48, opening a new business, helping your children adjust to new schools for most people that would be enough to take on but not for Janel. Almost immediately Janel immersed herself into the Mat-Su community.

Wasilla Sunrise Rotary

I first met Janel at Wasilla Sunrise Rotary. Not knowing any better I thought Janel had been a member for years. The club welcomes its new members with open arms. By the time I joined a couple of months after Janel she was already actively involved. She began by handling the social media for the club. Most importantly she jumped into the one of many community projects that club applies its resources. No More Mat-Su was introduced to the club by Burchell High School Principal Jason Marvel. A small group at the club took hold of the cause with club support.

No More Mat-Su

The mission of No More Mat-Su is to end sexual assault and domestic violence in the Mat-Su Valley. It’s a daunting task and the Valley stats on these two issues will make you shudder. It started as a handful of members putting together No More Mat-Su awareness materials and distributing them. It is now a multi-agency campaign. The Wasilla Sunrise Club, Thrive Mat-Su, United Way of Mat-Su, and other community organizations along with involvement from the Mat-Su School Districts High School’s Student Advisory Board have come together. It’s becoming quite the juggernaut of a movement. It is not a coincidence that the movement gained steamed after Janel became involved. She rallies the troops like no other. There is a long list of names who have been involved with No More Mat-Su and Janel will be the first to point to them. But Janel’s energy is irreplaceable.

Rock the Resilience

Last year at this time No More Mat-Su held a summit event at Glenn Massay. Although the speakers were powerful the event was poorly attended. Janel and team went to work right away. Janel asked anyone who would listen their opinion. Everything was on the table including not having an event. But Janel is no quitter. She and the team met regularly and together created ‘Rock the Resilience’. Then Janel began her mission of involving the High Schools. Speaking to the Student Advisory Board, contacting various music teachers she was determined to fill the event with speakers and entertainment. The event was held Wednesday night and it was incredible. Attendance was fantastic. The entertainment was incredible. Those who spoke from victims to those who want spread awareness tested the audience’s emotional fortitude. The event will stay with those who attended for a very long time.

Personal note

I was in Alaska for a year before my wife was able to move here. I distinctly remember one afternoon at work when I was feeling particularly home sick and missing her. My desk phone rang and on the other end was Janel. “Dennis, I just want you to know I’m proud of the work you are doing. I love the Frontiersman.” We had a short conversation following and it was the lift I needed.

When Janel speaks of her family she can easily get emotional. She wears her appreciation for them on her sleeve. Her love of her new community is crystal clear. She’s involved with much more than No More, Rotary, the family business and her family. She’s positive, selfless, and extremely supportive. My appreciation for my friend Janel is growing each day.