Mana Sweeps Leadership Awards for Cultural Impact and Community Storytelling

July 20, 2025

Anchorage, Alaska - Founders and Mana team members honored with statewide and national awards for their visionary work uplifting Filipino American voices. All four members of the Mana leadership team were recently recognized with prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions to cultural preservation, public engagement, community storytelling, and executive leadership.

Tasha Elizarde was named Emerging Journalist of the Year (2024) by the Asian American Journalists Association for her work highlighting Filipino American narratives in Alaska. Shayne Nuesca was named University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Journalism and Public Communications 2025 Alumni of Distinction for demonstrating excellence in her career of journalism and community impact. Lastly, Joshua Albeza Branstetter and Pearl-Grace Pantaleone were listed as one of Alaska’s 2025 Top Forty Under 40 by the Alaska Journal of Commerce for their role in founding Mana and extensive volunteer work across the state. Each award reflects Mana’s growing presence as a cultural force in Alaska and beyond.

“We’re proud to see our team’s hard work being recognized,” says Pearl-Grace Pantaleone, Co-Founding Storyteller and Community Engagement Director of Mana. “These awards are not just personal honors, they reflect the resilience, creativity, and community power behind Mana’s mission. They give us aa chance to proudly represent our movement and encourage the next generations of leaders.”

Founded to celebrate and preserve Filipino American history in Alaska, Mana has hosted statewide events, launching an award-winning exhibit to kick off Alaska's inaugural Filipino American Heritage Month, and connected artists, advocates, elders, and youth through storytelling. With another exhibit and collaborations on the horizon, Mana empowers all to join its growing movement to amplify voices and intergenerational stories. They are gearing up for her annual event during Filipino American History Month this October.

For more information about Mana and the space it’s creating in Alaska, browse through our website.