Title: Karluk’s Plea for Families Receives Overwhelming Response: Proving the Power of a Viral Ad
The remote Native Village of Karluk, located on the southwest end of Kodiak Island in Alaska, has captured the attention of thousands after an advertisement offering cost-free living went viral. In a bid to secure state funding and re-establish their school, the Karluk Tribal Council extended an invitation to two families, each with four children, to relocate to their community. The response to the poster has far exceeded expectations, with between four and five thousand individuals expressing interest in the unique opportunity.
Expressing her surprise at the overwhelming response, Kathryn Reft, Secretary and Treasurer of the Karluk Tribal Council, shared, We never knew it was gonna blow up to be this huge! We just figured we tried to do something like this just to see if we get any kind of attention. The village, which currently has only 37 year-round residents and two children, requires a minimum of 10 students to qualify for state funding. To address this challenge, the Tribe decided to dig deeper and actively seek families interested in moving to Karluk.
Efforts to attract new residents to the village had previously been fruitless. Reft explained, We had our feelers out there… We tried going through agencies and we just couldn’t find any interest, and then somebody brought up ‘Why don’t we get a poster out there?’ and that’s what we did. The advertisement has since captivated families not only from different states across the U.S., including Florida, but also from international locations such as Canada and the Philippines.
The closure of Karluk’s school in 2018 due to dwindling enrollment has been a significant setback for the community. However, a recent visit by staff from the Kodiak Island Borough confirmed that the former school building could potentially be reopened with minor maintenance. Despite the positive development, the lack of students remains a pressing concern. To entice families, the Tribe is offering a package that includes housing, utilities, moving expenses, and even a food stipend for an entire year. Additionally, they are prepared to provide job training to ensure a more permanent presence in the community.
Cyndy Mika, Superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School District, acknowledged the unexpected nature of the viral advertisement but expressed willingness to assist Karluk in their endeavor. Mika noted, If they make those 10 students, we’ll have to do something… But at this point, it’s going to be very difficult staffing at this late of a date and it’s not part of this budget at all. The school district has faced its own challenges in filling rural positions and has recently encountered significant budget cuts.
Recognizing the vital role schools play in fostering population growth, Mika empathized with Karluk’s struggle. I know that the villages need schools and that the schools are what makes them be able to grow in population. It’s really hard to grow if you don’t have a school for your students or your children out there. Time is of the essence, as the state determines student populations for schools in October. Therefore, the Karluk Tribal Council aims to relocate new families before the end of August to ensure a seamless transition for the upcoming school year.
In the coming weeks, the Tribal Council will diligently review applications from interested families. Their ultimate goal is to find the right candidates to breathe new life into the community and secure the future of Karluk’s school. The overwhelming response to their ad has demonstrated the powerful impact of viral marketing, showing that with creative thinking and community engagement, even the smallest of communities can capture the attention of the world.
