2026 Board Elections

Past work with voter registration, education and community outreach, being an active volunteer in Missoula to help engage voters.

From working on voter registration and education during my Forward Montana Fellowship, meeting my neighbors while canvassing all over the City of Missoula, and now working with organizations advocating for tenant protections, I have seen all the right energy for inclusive change in Missoula. I would value the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience, as a member of the Forward Montana Board, and to work to share the advocacy and organizing skills I have gained from my community.

Volunteer & Community Engagement
Polling Place Manager & Election Judge, Missoula County Elections Office, 2020-2026
Montana Supreme Court’s Justice Initiatives Committee, Member
Volunteer, Missoula Community Dispute Resolution Center, 2025-2026
Volunteer Award, Garden City Harvest, Missoula Summer 2024
Planting Volunteer, Seeds for Solidarity, Summer 2024
Fellow, Forward Montana, Missoula September 2023- November 2023 Wild Montana Action Fund, Missoula, July 2022 – August 2022

Canvasser, Montana Public Interest Research Group, Missoula, MT June 2021 to 2023
Watershed Education Network, Montana Americorps Service July 2020 – August 2020 Montana Legal Services

Previous voter education programs, work in the county elections office, disability civil rights advocacy background and lots of connections to my neighbors from volunteering across youth after school and environmental education programs.

The Changes that are Happening

To become a Voice for Montana Diversity

I have worked on the board of Galveston County and Dallas Tx Battered Women

I am Kind I am actively a member within the community I have motivational speaking skills and I have the ability to bring change

After some time serving on the board now under my belt, what excites me is seeing how much my community depends upon and looks up to the work and guidance that Forward Montana provides to voters! The education and excitement around voting the Forward Montana uniquely provides, especially to younger voters, is invaluable.

I have really enjoyed serving on the board and have learned so much. It’s one of the biggest honors I could imagine as a Montanan, truly. I want to be a part (even if just a tiny bit) of helping Montana continue pushing back against corruption and voter suppression in our government.
I love seeing fresh and younger candidates step up and get involved and I value the role that Forward MT plays in amplifying the voices of young voters and candidates in Montana.

Aside from my time serving on Forward Montana’s Board, I was on the board of Kitty Corner Cafe, and started my own nonprofit called SustainaBillings.

My fervent love for ensuring that Democracy remains accessible to everyone in our state.

I love how Forward Montana actively works to engage younger voters, we need our young people to engage, have hope in our future, and participate in making their voices heard. Their voices matter immensely, and it is time for those >40 to make the world listen.

I love Montana and I deeply believe in the real Montana values we hold, not the ones politicians say we do. The values that make us the biggest geographical small town. The fact that as Montanans we help each other, we don’t tell each other how to live, and approach things in a measured and reasonable way. We care for our community and work hard every day to ensure that we are providing a solid foundation for our children to build on. The fact that we can see past how someone voted and know that we have way more in common than we don’t. I want to help our state remember that. I’m also a policy nerd, who loves helping people via policy. Our systems can get better, they won’t ever be perfect, but they can be good and do good for our communities and citizens.

I’m a former Dawson Community College Trustee, member of the Bell Street Bridge Committee, CASA, and a chronic volunteer for a variety of organizations over my lifetime.

I am a solutions based human, systems thinker, relationship builder, and hope holder. I think that especially in politics it is easy to lose hope and get bogged down in everything that is terrible. We can always find a silver lining and a path forward to make the state (and world) a better place. I see it as my duty and mission in life to give back to the community and state that raised me and has made my life as wonderful as it is.

What excites me about Forward Montana is how we treat young people as real agents of change, not just future voters. I believe youth have a huge amount of untapped power, and Forward Montana creates pathways for that power to actually show up, whether that’s through voting, advocacy, or community organizing. I’m especially passionate about civics education, because understanding how systems work is the first step to changing them. Forward Montana is doing that work in a way that’s accessible and inspiring!!

I’m interested in joining the Forward Montana Board because I care so damn much about this organization and the role it plays in empowering young people. As I wrap up my first term, I serve on the political, finance, and executive committees and act as treasurer, which has given me a well-rounded understanding of how the organization operates and where it’s headed.
I feel like I’m just getting into my groove, and I’m excited to keep building on what I’ve learned so far. I’m especially motivated by the opportunity to help shape and implement a longer-term vision for the organization, making sure it continues to grow sustainably while staying grounded in its mission.

I bring a mix of hands-on nonprofit, political, and community organizing experience that closely aligns with board service. I currently work at a sexual and reproductive health clinic and facilitate Montana’s reproductive health coalition, where I collaborate with partners across the state, coordinate strategy, and support collective advocacy efforts. This role has strengthened my ability to think collaboratively, manage relationships, and contribute to mission-driven work at a systems level.
I first got involved in this work at 17, when I worked for candidates running for the state legislature after serving as a page. I was so surprised at how accessible our local electeds are and had the realization that they are just normal people. Around that same time, I partnered with Forward Montana to run a voter registration drive at my high school, which sparked my long-term commitment to civic engagement. Since then, I’ve worked on a wide range of campaigns, from school board to state senate, gaining experience in grassroots organizing, voter outreach, and campaign strategy.
In addition to my professional work, I regularly volunteer my time on weekends to knock doors and support candidates and committees with compliance work. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of governance, accountability, and the operational side of advocacy organizations.

I bring a strong combination of lived experience, leadership, and commitment to Forward Montana’s mission. I started in this work as a teenager and have stayed deeply engaged ever since, which gives me a long-term perspective on how impactful youth civic engagement can be. I understand both the barriers young people face and the incredible power they hold when they’re supported and informed.
Professionally, my work in sexual and reproductive health and coalition building has shaped my ability to collaborate, think strategically, and navigate complex issues. Through my roles as treasurer and committee member, I’ve also built skills in financial oversight, governance, and organizational leadership.

Voting is our chance to make a difference in our community. The more of us that are voting, the better!!! Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation do tremendous work to GET OUT THE VOTE! I could not be more proud or more grateful for this tireless work. Ease and access to voting remain as critical as ever and FM and FMF are there to advocate for the younger and newer voters in Montana to ensure their voice is heard.

I am passionate about the Forward Montana mission to be a youth-led civic engagement organization that builds political power with and for young people. I am grateful for their push of government and communities to become more just, sustainable and equitable for all of us. My experience is outside the political and civic engagement space, but I believe I still have more to give through my background in leadership, collaboration, team building, and getting things done.

I have been on the Forward Montana board for four years. I am grateful to have served and look forward to the chance to serve again! I was also on the Sweet Pea Festival Board for five years.

I am a proven change agent, agilist, positive leader, teacher, and coach. My comfort zone is in cheering others on to help them maximize their own potential. I thrive on getting things done and bringing people together to make that happen. I have 15 years of experience in the software industry and recently I have stepped into public education for which I believe in deeply.

I’m drawn to Forward Montana’s focus on building long-term civic participation, especially among young people, rather than short-term engagement around election cycles. The emphasis on leadership development, policy awareness, and sustained community involvement feels both practical and necessary in a state like Montana, where geography, access, and representation can create real barriers to participation.

I also appreciate how Forward Montana connects issues that are often treated separately (i.e. civic engagement, education, housing, and economic opportunity) into a more complete picture of what it takes for people to fully participate in their communities. That kind of integrated approach aligns with how I’ve approached my own work.

At this point in my career, I’m especially interested in applying my experience in communications, fundraising, and external positioning closer to home. Forward Montana’s work feels like a meaningful opportunity to support a strong, locally rooted organization that is building the next generation of leaders and strengthening civic life across the state.

I’m interested in joining the Forward Montana Board because I’m at a point in my career where I want to contribute more directly to the strategy, sustainability, and growth of organizations working at the state level.

My background is in strategic communications, fundraising, and external positioning, and I’ve spent the past 15 years helping organizations clarify their message, strengthen donor engagement, and navigate complex stakeholder environments. I see a clear opportunity to bring that experience to support Forward Montana’s continued growth—particularly in strengthening fundraising narratives, expanding visibility, and ensuring the organization’s work is clearly understood across different audiences.

After growing up in Montana and spending 15 years working in DC and internationally, I’ve returned home and am increasingly focused on contributing to organizations shaping the future of my own community.

While I have not formally served on a nonprofit board, I bring nearly 15 years of experience working closely with and reporting to boards through my roles in international nonprofits. I have contributed to board-level strategy and communications, including developing annual reports, shaping organizational positioning, and supporting leadership teams in preparing for board engagement and decision-making.

I have also presented directly to boards, translating complex programmatic and technical work into clear, actionable insights to support discussion and strategic direction. My work has often sat at the intersection of communications, fundraising, and organizational strategy, including developing high-stakes proposals and advising leadership on aligning external messaging with board priorities.

This experience has given me a strong understanding of how boards operate and how to contribute effectively in a governance setting. My work has also included advising on fundraising strategy, developing high-stakes proposals, and shaping external communications that reflect organizational priorities and long-term strategy, often in close coordination with executive leadership and board expectations.

In addition, I have trained government officials and civil society leaders in public communication and have worked across diverse stakeholder groups, which has strengthened my ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and contribute thoughtfully in governance settings.

I bring strategic communications expertise, fundraising experience, and the ability to translate complex issues into clear, actionable narratives. My work has focused on helping organizations strengthen their external positioning, connect with funders and partners, and communicate effectively across diverse audiences.

I have extensive experience developing proposals and donor communications, supporting organizational strategy, and ensuring that messaging aligns with both mission and long-term sustainability. I’m also comfortable working at the intersection of technical work and public communication, which helps me bridge internal priorities with external understanding.

Beyond technical skills, I bring a collaborative, thoughtful approach and a strong sense of accountability. Having worked across global and cross-sector environments, I’m used to balancing different perspectives and contributing in ways that support both strategic direction and practical outcomes.

I have been following Forward Montana and it’s advocacy efforts in Montana since the fall of Roe V. Wade in 2022. It was that summer that my feminist rage boiled over, and I took my very pregnant self to the streets to march. I made a conscious decision at that time to be a part of positive change in Montana, so I began to seek out communities and organizations leading the charge. Forward Montana was one of the organizations I discovered, and I was immediately impressed by it’s engaging use of informative emails & social media, legislative activism, voter participation initiatives, and collective vibes. Forward Montana empowered me as a someone who was new to activism and organizing. I was inspired by this group of young Montanans fighting for the same future I know our state and nation has the potential to live up to. A future where our states natural beauty is preserved, individual rights are protected, and where every one of us has the same access to healthcare, housing, and equal representation.

I would love the opportunity to serve on a board that can help me continue to develop as a leader so that I can bring those leadership skills back to my community in Great Falls. While Cascade County has historically been a very conservative community in Montana, I can tell you that there is a progressive movement blooming here. Every month our protests grow larger, our civic engagement evolves, and our mutual aid systems scale. I am deeply committed to serving this community, because I love the people here and I think they deserve honest, humble leadership. I could live without the wind, but we can’t win them all ! I believe Forward Montana can teach me how to lead my community in a way that creates connection, encourages action, and fosters change.

While I don’t have the specific experience of serving on a board quite yet, I have worked in partnership with or volunteered with organizations/ groups such as Wildly United, Great Falls Rising, Cascade County Democrats, Indivisible, 50501 Montana, Montana Abortion Access Program, Helping Hands, Housed Great Falls, ect. I have helped fundraising & donation efforts on behalf of many of these non-profit organizations. I have also organized many events in conjunction with these organizations. Any time that I have volunteered to my community has always been unpaid.

As a virgo with self diagnosed ADHD, I can throw together one heck of an organized event with little notice. I have organized most of the protests here in Great Falls over the last year, and most recently hosted and mediated a successful candidate forum. As a nurse, I have learned the ability to communicate and form connections with just about anyone. I have also recently taken on the role of campaign manager for a local candidate, which is strengthening my networking skills. I run an online group called Blue Hearts Big Sky that helps blue dots across the state join forces to organize in their communities, form connections, and fortify their movements. Running that group has taught me the power of social media, and helped me maximize my reach for protests and civic engagement. Lastly, as a mother, I have mastered multitasking and gained so much empathy for the most vulnerable populations in our communities.