Löki’s origin story starts with her parents’ love story. Löki’s parents were raised during the fall of segregation, and as a result of their experiences, they did not want to raise mixed race children on the East Coast. After many ups and significant downs, they made the bold decision to move literally across the country and landed in Nome, Alaska. It is there that both Löki Gale and her sister were born. Unfortunately, the strain proved too much, and Löki’s parents divorced. Consequently, Löki Gale spent her early years between family homes, learning and growing from each. Sometimes, she was with her grandparents, and other times, she lived with her mother in Juneau and Kodiak. Whenever possible, she was with her father in Nome. Over time, she returned to Nome where she completed her secondary school years in the home of her single father. In Nome, she was surrounded by the love and acceptance of her birthplace.

Early on, as a young community advocate, Löki Gale Tobin learned the importance of community engagement, helping others in need, and providing tools for the next generation to succeed. Löki Gale met Tom Begich on one of his many trips with the Division of Juvenile Justice to Nome. This started a long friendship that led to joining his legislative team as his Policy Director. During her time in Juneau, Löki Gale successfully carried several pieces of legislation, including expanding universal, voluntary pre-K across Alaska, protecting renters and homeowners from predatory insurance practices, and recognizing the resiliency and continued saliency of the Alaska constitution.

In 2001, she moved to Anchorage to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). Her time at UAA was profound as Löki served four years as the Concert Board Chair and helped establish the “recycling club.” She later would pursue a master’s degree through the Peace Corps Master’s International Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, writing her master’s thesis on the importance of culturally responsive education.

Löki Gale credits her love of philanthropy and doing good in the world to her father and her surrogate-mother (and former Girl Scout Leader) Rochelle. A tireless advocate for equity and community-led development, Löki Gale started her career working for the Nome Community Center before becoming a certified lifeguard for the Municipality of Anchorage Park and Recreation Department. Throughout her collegiate career, Löki taught adaptive aquatics and introduction to swimming at West, East Bettye Davis and Bartlett High Schools. Löki Gale has worked in marketing & communications for Alaskan nonprofits like Boys & Girls Clubs, Kawerak, and the Alaska Community Foundation. In addition, she was a certified fundraiser for the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center prior to joining #teamBegich in Juneau.

Löki Gale is a board member of the Anchorage Concert Association, chairs the Fairview Community Council Committee on Fun, Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, an avid bicycle commuter, local education champion, and dedicated community volunteer.