Champion for Kids

Jaime Cabral serves as the Dean of Student Development, Activities & Athletics Director, and Title VI Indian Education Coordinator at Petersburg School District. He is also the Head Volleyball Coach and Head Native Youth Olympics Coach at Petersburg High School & Mitkof Middle School. He has taught for 15 years and just completed his 20th season as a coach!

Jaime was born and raised on the west side of the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i, graduating from Waimea High School. He obtained his B.A. degree in Education from Western Oregon University and his M.S. degree in Health & Human Performance from Fort Hays State University. His first goal was to be an elementary teacher when starting at Western Oregon University but changed to secondary after getting his first opportunity at coaching as a student assistant for the WOU Women’s Volleyball Team. Jaime enjoys coaching and loves athletics activities that serve as educational- based activities and believes that they offer unlimited opportunities for our youth to experience success and sometimes failure as individuals and in team environments.

Jaime is inspired daily by his entire family, including his wife who is a Special Education Teacher at Stedman Elementary School, his children Kieran, Tavyn, and Talaya, and the community in Petersburg that supports all it sets out to accomplish for youth.

Deborah Northburg serves as the Sr. Director of Child & Family Services at Cook Inlet Tribal Council, providing a continuum of child welfare support and early childhood services for more than 20 years.  She began her career in Washington working with families in crisis as a home-based family therapist, continuing this work at the Anchorage Center for Families prior to joining CITC in 2002. In Deborah’s role at CITC, she has worked closely with the state’s child protection system in various shared initiatives aimed at reducing the disproportionality of indigenous children in the child protection system.  Deborah’s work within the organization focuses on developing and sustaining partnerships to support prevention, early intervention and economic stability of families.  Her passion is promoting family wellness, unity and resilience.

Deborah’s roots and family are in Whitefish, Montana where she learned the value of helping others from her grandmother, June Munski.  June was an active leader and volunteer, dedicating decades of her life to support families in the community to meet their basic needs through a grass roots food bank that began in her garage.  Deborah is fortunate to call Alaska home since 1998, moving to Anchorage for temporary employment that grew into a love of this state.  Deborah and her husband are a blended family and share six children, two grandchildren and two beloved dogs.  She enjoys being in the outdoors, gardening and spending time with her family. 

Born and raised in a small North Carolina community with limited opportunities for peer friendship, G Denny, “Mr. G,” found solace in watching The Little Rascals, considering them his ‘gang’, and drawing inspiration from their antics. At the age of 19, he made a life-changing decision and moved to Alaska, believing that the lifestyle in the lower states of America didn't resonate with him. He firmly believed that by choosing one's home, one could find true contentment.

In Alaska, G embraced a wide range of jobs, gaining diverse experiences and insights into life in the vast wilderness. Eventually, he settled in Talkeetna, a small and tight-knit community. During this time, G mostly worked in the health services. He was an EMT who worked in Home Health Care and owned and operated an Assisted Living home with his wife Emmila. However, G never lacked time for his true calling – helping the youth in the area.

Seeing similarities between the struggles faced by the Talkeetna youth and his own upbringing, G was determined to make a difference. He was instrumental in the development of the Green Light Circus, a youth circus program that has grown and thrived over the last 30 years, becoming one of Talkeetna's most beloved programs for children.  When asked, “Why circus?”, G replies, “Circus is the ultimate choice for ‘Kids of all ages.’ A notion so all-inclusive and yet so specialized that an individual with a lifetime of desire can fulfill those dreams of ability, confidence, and the just reward of an endearing audience applause.”  G's vision for the circus was that it would provide a place where everyone, regardless of their background or ability, could find a role and a sense of belonging.

G continues to work as a literal, and figurative, trail builder, and devotes much of his time to volunteering and mentoring the youth of Talkeetna. His passion, support, and enthusiasm for life have had a profound and positive impact on multiple generations. Many adults fondly remember their time in Circus and credit G and the Green Light Circus founding families for providing them with a fun ‘gang’ to run with and a healthy direction to focus on.

Today, G Denny is one of Talkeetna's most cherished community members. His dedication to the well-being and development of the town's youth has made a lasting impression, leaving a legacy of love, support, and empowerment for generations to come. His journey from a challenging childhood to a Champion for Kids serves as an inspiring example of how one individual's determination and kindness can change lives and uplift an entire community.  As G says, “It really is so simple, you just have to work at it along with the rest of us.”