The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Animal welfare. I do a lot of work with Friends of Pets.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Walk the dogs… Right now, we only have three: three dogs, three cats.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Probably Greece.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
I think a lion. There’s so much about a cat that’s mysterious to me, and to have a big cat that you could rub their belly, comb their mane, and have a protector in the house would be lovely.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Animal welfare. I do a lot of work with Friends of Pets.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Walk the dogs… Right now, we only have three: three dogs, three cats.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Probably Greece.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
I think a lion. There’s so much about a cat that’s mysterious to me, and to have a big cat that you could rub their belly, comb their mane, and have a protector in the house would be lovely.
Off the Cuff
uietly one of the largest private sector employers in Alaska, the 500 staff of Hope Community Resources support people with disabilities at assisted-living homes statewide. “We’ve tried to be a big organization that’s more family friendly, as much as we can,” says Executive Director Michele Girault.
From a family of teachers, Girault expected to become an educator until a college friend invited her to join a small institution in California. She recalls, “I never even volunteered with Special Olympics. But I fell in love with the people and the work.”
Likewise, Girault fell in love with Alaska during a vacation, and a one-year stay turned into forty. “I felt so free here, like you could really make a difference as one person,” she says.
One way Girault makes a difference is by rescuing animals, like her gray poodle-Maltese mix, Esther. She also has a Tibetan terrier and Labrador retriever.
At work, Girault strolls through the studio where clients make art that’s sold in Hope’s well-stocked gallery. A shade of blue paint catches her eye, and it clicks with the title of the fantasy novel she’s reading. The teacher is always learning.
Michele Girault: I am one of those people that can’t stop volunteering. I go from work to volunteering.
AB: Is there a skill you’re currently developing or have always wanted to learn?
Girault: Technology; I learn something new every day. Many of the people that we support teach me things.
AB: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Girault: A high ropes course in Kodiak. Being very afraid of heights, I was able to master that. That was a big accomplishment.
AB: What are you superstitious about?
Girault: Be kind? I don’t know if karma is a superstition, but I think if you send out good stuff, good stuff will come back—and if you don’t, you better watch what’s coming back.
AB: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
Girault: Moose’s Tooth.
AB: Dead or alive, who would you like to see perform live in concert?
Girault: P!nk.
AB: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Girault: Travel probably… I have an affection for Colorado; we have a cabin there, so I do go back and forth there.
AB: What’s your best attribute and worst attribute?
Girault: I can stay calm in the midst of chaos. I think that’s my superpower. It was very helpful during the pandemic. What’s my worst? I am not tech savvy.
