Walking a Mile in Another’s Shoes: Sen. Löki Tobin on Leading with Empathy

By Juliet Zucker

Löki Tobin never set out to be a politician. But when the incumbent representative for Anchorage’s downtown district asked her to join his team, she found herself immersed in education policy, bipartisan collaboration, and cross-party dialogue. When he decided not to seek reelection, he encouraged Tobin to run in his place. Within ten minutes, she filed her paperwork. Two years later, she serves as the state senator for Senate District I, representing a community as diverse as her own life experiences.

Alaska’s legislature is uniquely structured, with coalitions of Democrats and Republicans working together. Tobin embraces this collaborative approach, focusing on putting Alaskans first.

“We strongly believe in Alaska that you have to work with one another and listen to people whose perspectives are different from your own,” Tobin told Future Caucus. “It is a value that is deeply entrenched in the folks who chose to make Alaska their home. It’s always Alaska first, and everything else second.”

Raised in Nome by parents from New York, Tobin grew up in a community that valued inclusion. As a queer woman of color, she brings a distinct perspective to the legislature, one shaped by a deep connection to Alaska’s Indigenous communities. Her work in the state capital often reflects a commitment to addressing historical injustices, including the legacy of redlining in Alaska’s Black neighborhoods.

Beyond politics, Tobin has been a leader in advocacy. She has served on the Arts Board, worked with queer justice organizations, and founded the Alaska Children’s Caucus to champion early education. As a Future Caucus Energy and Environment Innovation Lab fellow, she merges policy with activism, working at the intersection of community and sustainability.

Her experiences abroad have also shaped her approach to leadership. Through the Peace Corps Master’s International program, Tobin spent three and a half years in Azerbaijan, living in a predominantly Shia Muslim community. She grappled with her own identity while witnessing a society rebuilding from Soviet occupation.

“It was probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she said. “There’s real power in walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. I think the Peace Corps offers that in a way that so many Americans would benefit deeply from.”

Being one of 19 women of color among 3,000 volunteers came with challenges. She navigated moments of “otherness,” from comments on her hair and skin color to questions about her identity as an American. But those experiences strengthened her belief in empathy and common ground.

“We all experience and communicate in ways that aren’t always helpful. If you dig down to the core of an issue, you’re probably going to find common ground. But you have to approach it with a radically positive spirit,” she said.

For Tobin, bipartisanship isn’t just a political strategy—it’s a way of life in Alaska, where community ties run deep. Every year, Nome swells from 3,000 to 20,000 people for the Iditarod, the legendary long-distance dog sled race.

“It’s an incredible time to witness the athletes and the feat they’ve completed,” she said. “It gives you real insight into what it’s like to live in rural Alaska.”

Alaskan traditions have also shaped Tobin’s values. She recalls the time her father pulled her out of school so she could learn how to harvest a walrus, a practice he had been taught by an Alaska Native elder.

“I hope every child has the opportunity to connect with the tribal groups that steward the land they live on and to learn a heritage language of their region,” she said. “That’s how we stay connected. That’s how we honor our responsibility to this place and ensure our planet continues to thrive.”