Author: Dara Deines

I’m excited by FMT’s long-standing commitment to engage and mobilize young people and shape a more inclusive democracy. I think there are a lot of ways this organization can evolve as generations evolve to meet young folks where they are at and I would love to support that mission.

I have filled out the Board application every time it opens up for the last few years but haven’t submitted. This year, I feel like I’m finally in a place in my life where I have the time and energy to put the work in to this organization that it deserves and I would like to support the mission in any way I can.

My first experience volunteering on a political issue was with Forward Montana in college, back in 2015. Since then, I’ve stayed engaged organizing for Planned Parenthood, working on ballot initiatives, and building experience in campaign operations and political organizing. I currently serve as Vice President of Membership for the Big Sky Democrats and work at a nonprofit where I focus on membership development and donor relations.

Growing up in rural Montana shaped my understanding of access, representation, and the role community plays in empowering young people. I bring a perspective in how young Montanans can make an impact within state government, informed by my experience working in Senate Minority during the past two legislative sessions. My journey in issue-based advocacy began with Forward Montana, and since then I’ve gained experience in organizing, campaign operations, and nonprofit membership work, all of which I’m excited to contribute to the board.

Getting youth motivated & activated.

To help the cause of youth involvement in our communities.

Chapter Leader for Yellowstone Indivisible February 2025 to present.Canvassing for candidates and causes that help the causes of good governance and forward progress since 1980.

One on one skills with making people feel inspired to help the good causes. Desire to help in service of a cause greater than self.

I’m always excited to see how Forward Montana creates spaces for young Montanans to advocate for the issues they care about. From the Community Organizing Fellowship, to the Transcendent Joy zine, to the Stitch n Bitch events – FMT creates spaces to debrief, grieve shitty legislation, build community with each other, and collectively work on how we move forward. I think this work is incredibly powerful.

I’m stoked to be running for reelection this year! I first got involved with FMT seven (!!) years ago as the Missoula Field Manager. I cut my organizing teeth while on staff and later went on to manage the statewide field team as the Senior Organizing Manager. I was first elected to the c4 board in 2023 and I’ve served as both the board secretary and co-chair of the Political Action Committee. I feel like I’ve gained a solid foundation of critical board expertise and I’d be excited to expand on those skills. I also think returning board members are essential as Alice transitions into her role this summer. I want to build on the work we’ve accomplished during the 2025 legislative session and the 2024 election and continue to support this organization as a values-led and relationship-oriented board member.

I’ve served on the FMT c4 board for two years, as both the c4 board secretary and the co-chair of the Political Action Committee. In addition to board experience, I’ve been a member of various issue coalitions, including serving on the leadership team of the Missoula Home Coalition.

I know and deeply understand the mission of FMT as well as the political landscape of Montana. My skills include managing teams, developing processes and planning timelines, training, and relationship building. I have immense experience and a passion for all things leadership development and love pairing the big picture with the day to day work. I’ve always considered myself an advocate for staff and would be honored to support Alice in her ED transition! I value transparency, vulnerability, and accountability in everything I do and I would continue to bring these values to the board.

I believe deeply in the kind of grassroots community organizing and civic engagement that Forward Montana does with and alongside young Montanans, cultivating an interest and an ability to engage in our political systems. In my work at Catalyst Montana, we do similar kinds of work with low-income folks. I see this work of connecting neighbors and rebuilding the fabric of communities as an antidote to the polarization and hostility of our current political moment. Forward Montana does incredibly critical work taking that organizing, civic engagement, and leadership development to young people, so many of whom are experiencing a crisis of loneliness and isolation, and gives them an accessible path to engagement and community. Not only do I have immense respect for the organization, it has never been more necessary than at this moment, and I want to do whatever I can to help it continue in this mission.

I also have immense respect for Forward Montana’s work on affordable housing and houslessness issues around Montana, and have worked side by side FMT organizers to push back against the criminalization of houselessness and poverty both in Missoula and at the state legislature. After several years of state policy work, I have a lot of appreciation for Forward Montana continuously showing up to push for fair policies and making sure young voices are in the room where policy decisions are being made, usually by bodies of people in which low-income, young, and other marginalized groups are not well represented.

Finally, I’m excited by the work Forward Montana is doing to push back on the criminalization of poverty and would be excited to see the organization engage even more with young people involved in the criminal legal system, the numbers of which are growing in Montana, as each legislative session policymakers pass more laws to increase penalties for youth offenses, including those for which they can be tried and sentenced as adults even though they may be as young as twelve. As a member of the board, I would encourage Forward Montana to consider deepening its outreach to this group of young Montanans, as justice-involved young people are deeply impacted by the laws policy-makers pass, are more likely to be BIPOC, low-income, have a higher number of adverse childhood experiences, and come from families coping with mental illness and substance use, and could benefit immensely from being engaged as voters, activists, and leaders to advocate for a better and fairer system.

Forward Montana is doing deeply important work, and I’m very excited about the opportunity to participate as a board member.

Forward Montana is doing absolutely necessary and critical work of engaging young people in the political process and helping them to discover the power of their voices to advocate for change. I’m interested in being a part of the body that helps guide the organization to its maximum impact in line with its values. I take seriously the importance of being an active community member and am very excited by the prospect of getting to engage more directly with Forward Montana. I have immense respect for the staff and leadership as well, and would love to contribute my skills to ensuring the success of all. I believe in Forward Montana’s ability to empower and support young people to become activists, advocates, and leaders and would be honored to serve as a board member in helping them fulfill this mission.

I’ve been on the board of the Montana Budget and Policy Center since 2023. As a board member, I attend quarterly meetings, participate in financial review, legislative session and interim programming review, and provide support and guidance to the executive director in issues related to staffing, research directions, and grant opportunities. Like Forward Montana, MBPC is also a close partner to Catalyst Montana, and as such I always disclose any conflict of interest ahead of issues on the agenda. That relationship has not interfered with my ability to offer guidance or direction as a board member and I view my responsibility to MBPC in my board member capacity as equal to and distinct from my role as a Catalyst MT employee.

Many of my skills pertain to the work that Forward Montana does: I am a skilled policy advocate with experience lobbying at both the municipal and state level, and I’m a community organizer with a deep commitment to civic engagement. As Director of the Justice Initiative at Catalyst Montana, I have extensive expertise and knowledge about the criminal legal system and particularly how it impacts young Montanas. In this role, I have launched and run the first jail-based voter registration program in the state and continue to advance programming to bring civic engagement to justice-involved Montanans both inside and outside of prison and jails. This interim I will be actively engaged with interim committees advocating for just and humane policy reforms to the youth justice system in Montana, among other issues.

I also have executive leadership experience, as the former executive director of Free Verse, which brings healing through the arts programming to incarcerated young people across Montana. In that capacity, I gained significant experience with grant writing and grant management, in addition to the grant management oversight I provide as a current board member at the Montana Budget and Policy Center. Furthermore, I cultivated extensive knowledge of the youth justice system in Montana and the youth detention facilities around the state, and more importantly build relationships with the youth themselves. My knowledge and understanding of the circumstances that lead many young people into the justice system, including poverty, neglect, hunger, and trying to provide for younger siblings, motivates my own advocacy work and is something I would love to offer to the Board of Forward Montana. Finally, my experience working with incarcerated youth across Montana and helping them learn the power of their own voices in telling their stories has given me insight into the critical role Forward Montana plays in leadership development for young Montanans and which I would love to see them offer to justice-involved young Montanas. As a Board member I would love to help support that effort.

Furthermore, I have significant publishing experience both through Free Verse, gained through the publication of zines, anthologies, and journals of student work, and as the former Editor-in-Chief of CutBank Literary Magazine at the University of Montana. That publishing knowledge could be a valuable addition to the board, given that Forward Montana publishes the Transcendent Joy zine.

Altogether, I am a skilled leader and advocate and a strong writer and communicator, with honed skills in relationship-building, research, publication and grant-writing and would be eager to contribute these skills to the Forward Montana Board.

I love that Forward MT is focused on supporting young people to build the power we need to create the future we all deserve. And, I’m excited to be a part of an organization that is authentically committed to doing that through grassroots organizing and power building. FMT does an incredible job of meeting the young people of MT where they’re at, whether it’s through catchy, informative social media posts or building its membership base with creative community events.

What excites me is that Forward Montana doesn’t just engage young people for a single campaign or election cycle. Instead, it focuses on longterm power building and transforming MT’s communities to be more just, sustainable, and equitable. As someone who believes deeply in the power of relationship-based organizing, I’m inspired by FMT’s commitment to building joyful, justice-driven, people-powered movements. I’m eager to contribute my skills and perspective as part of a board that’s helping to shape and sustain this work for the long haul.

Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a commitment to people-powered change. I’m interested in joining the Forward MT Board because it aligns with both my values and the through-line of my work: building inclusive, grounded movements led by young people who are closest to the issues at hand.

In my current role as the Political Campaign Coordinator at the Western Organization of Resource Councils, I work on political strategy and campaigns at the state and local level. I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to invest in young leadership, creative organizing tactics, and sustained base-building. I’d be honored to support an organization that is doing deep, relational work to grow civic engagement and long-term power in Montana.

I also bring experience with youth leadership development, program design, and grassroots strategy that I believe could complement and strengthen Forward Montana’s mission. With a background in education, I’ve spent years developing the leadership of young people, both in the classroom and then developing the leadership skills of instructors when I was the Program Director at the Montana Outdoor Science School. I care deeply about making sure young Montanans see themselves as not only participants in democracy, but as leaders shaping their collective future.

As the Program Director at the Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS), I worked closely with our Board of Directors to implement our summer program. I coordinated with them on budgets, fundraising, hiring decisions, and personnel policies. In my current role, I regularly collaborate with Montana Rural Voter’s steering committee (which is our governing body). I write memos to update them, create steering committee meeting agendas, co-facilitate meetings with the president, and regularly request their input on strategic decisions. Through both of these roles, I’m confident navigating board bylaws, understand fiduciary responsibility, and know how to effectively structure and participate in board meetings.

I bring a mix of strategic, programmatic, and on-the-ground organizing experience that I believe would be a valuable asset to the Forward MT Board. I’ve led canvassing operations across rural Montana, managed and trained young leaders in both educational and political settings, and currently work in political strategy and campaigning with a focus on building long-term progressive infrastructure.

I know how to think both big-picture and tactically, whether it’s designing a voter contact plan, facilitating a coalition, or building a leadership development pipeline. I also bring deep knowledge of Montana’s political landscape, particularly how power-building looks different in rural and urban communities, and how essential youth organizing is transforming MT’s political landscape. While I expect the role of a Forward MT Board member is focused on the bigger picture, I do believe that my direct experience planning campaigns will help me to thoughtfully guide the strategic direction of the organization.

As a former educator, I value clarity, curiosity, and accountability. I’m energized by group decision-making, and I care deeply about making sure people feel heard and respected – especially young leaders just finding their political voice. I’d bring that relational, justice-oriented lens to the Board’s work and culture. In short: I lead with relationships, clarity, and a deep belief in collective power, and I’d be proud to bring those skills and beliefs to the Forward MT Board.

I was an intern in high school and regularly interact with the staff at the voting booths and tables at the university. I love the mission and I want to help.

I feel I have a unique perspective being raised in poverty in a mostly conservative area. I understand the mindset of those struggling and feel I can help.

I worked for you back in high school under Pari with the Billings branch.

I’m young, still in school. I see and interact with other students in a peer to peer way. I’m a very good leader I’ve always been in a management position at any of the jobs I’ve had. I have had boots on the ground for protests pride and other events that have strengthened ties to the community.

What excites me most about Forward Montana and the Forward Montana Foundation is how deeply rooted they are in communities around Montana and in making democracy accessible. I love how they center young people in the democratic process and make civic engagement approachable, empowering, and fun. It makes me so happy to know that FMT has established itself as an organization that provides accessible, trustworthy, and nonpartisan information. FMT is an organization that upholds the values of the Montana that I was raised in, one that cares about their neighbors and will work to protect them. During every election cycle, I share and use the Voter Guide. I love how it helps me understand what is on the ballot and the implications of each measure. It is an essential resource for informed voting.
I am continually inspired by how FMT builds community through creative and educational events. One event that stands out to me was a screen-printing workshop that reminded me how Forward Montana makes political engagement feel joyful and rooted in connection. Events like these are the backbone of community organizing because they serve as reminders to be in community with each other in the happy moments so we can be ready for the challenging moments. The zine is such a sweet place for Montanan’s to share their art, poetry, and stories. I always look forward to reading the zine! I love how FMT is creating a space for truly hard work, like court cases and advocating for Montanan’s rights, while also celebrating Montanans. FMT upholds the values that I believe Montana was created with.
When I was 16, I participated in Forward Montana’s Organizing Internship. It is the foundation of my political education and confidence. It was the first time I felt confident navigating political spaces. Under the mentorship of Erin Miller, I finally felt empowered and assured in my organizing capabilities. She made me feel important to the internship and it was one of the first times where I felt like I was doing exactly what I was meant to do with my life. I knew that this was the start of a long journey in grassroots movements. I was so energized by registering voters and informing them about the upcoming elections. It was the first time I felt like I was making the change I wanted to see in the world, one voter registration form at a time.

I am interested in joining the Forward Montana Board because Forward Montana gave me my start in organizing. FMT shaped my understanding of grassroots democracy and helped me realize my own capacity to lead. Through the Organizing Internship I was introduced to the tools, community, and confidence I needed to step into my power. I learned that leadership is about listening, showing up consistently, and making sure others feel welcome to participate. In times like these, it is so easy for young, marginalized Montanans to feel isolated and FMT is uniquely positioned to help and empower young people. I want to be part of the conversations that determine how we meet the evolving needs of young people in our state. That means not just standing by our values, but actively examining how we live them out. I am excited by the opportunity to help guide the organization’s strategy, support its mission, and ensure its values of equity, access, and joy in civic life remain at the forefront. As someone who works at the intersections of youth organizing, education, and climate justice, I see how deeply young people want to make a difference. Forward Montana was the organization that gave me confidence in my voice and my power. I would be honored to be part of organization that guided me to my strengths and to give that back to the community. Serving on the board would be a beautiful full circle moment for me and a commitment I would approach with care, urgency, and heart.

I have served on the on the Climate Mental Health Network’s Gen Z Advisory Board since January 2024. I have worked closely with other young leaders and the organization’s founder to bridge the gap between climate activism and mental health care. Our role is to offer our perspectives to make CMHN accessible and interesting to the younger generations. We shape strategy, messaging, and programing. In this role, I co-created a climate mental health zine designed as a toolkit to help young people name, process, and move through the intense emotions that often come with climate awareness. The zine centers creative reflection, community support, and action as mental health strategies. A unique part of it is after each submission, there is a guided journaling prompt. I have co-facilitated events like a Climate Café with the University of Calgary, an intergenerational healing dialogue between youth and elders, and a workshop on burnout prevention tailored specifically for Gen Z activists. In my role I have also helped to secure a grant to support our youth programming, I took part in writing sections of the proposal and completing the application process. After that process, I had a better understanding of the behind-the-scenes labor that sustains nonprofit work. It was a powerful reminder that being on a board means not only championing an organization’s vision, but helping to secure the resources that make that vision possible.

I bring a unique combination of lived experience, organizing insight, and deep dedication to youth rights and democratic access that I believe would be a valuable addition to the Forward Montana Board.
I am one of the youth plaintiffs in Held v. Montana where I helped set a historic legal precedent for enforcing constitutional environmental protections, affirming the right to a clean and healthful environment for present and future generations. I am continuing this constitutional climate work as a plaintiff in Lighthiser v. Trump, where 22 young people are challenging the federal government’s ongoing promotion of fossil fuels, working to safeguard their rights to life, liberty, and property. These experiences have given me firsthand knowledge of how young people can shape powerful legal and political outcomes when given the tools and support to organize. My understanding of constitutional rights and environmental justice would help FMT to equip young people to hold systems of power accountable. I know the weight of civic responsibility and the transformational power of youth-led advocacy. I also know just how powerful Montana is. As a Held plaintiff, I have had the honor of letting the world know that Montana can be a leader in climate justice. We have the power to make this state as great as its constitution.
I am student at the University of Montana, where I study English Literature and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. These fields have developed my critical understanding of how systems of power function and how they impact culture and art. Intersectionality is the foundation of my studies and it has become the lens that I view the world through. As a queer person, I understand how important it is that youth see themselves reflected in the leadership of that claim to serve them. I am committed to creating spaces where all young people—especially those who are queer, trans, disabled, Indigenous, Black, or otherwise marginalized—can see their rights, needs, and imaginations centered. I am dedicated to facilitating the connection of creativity, imagination, and grassroots organizing.
Beyond policy and academia, I also bring a perspective of an artist and storyteller. My creative practice is rooted in creating a space of climate catharsis and community care. I create art that helps me process what it means to be alive at this moment in time. I have had the honor of speaking across the country about youth organizing and climate mental health. My art has served as the representation of translating complex issues that language cannot fully capture. I believe that personal, vulnerable, and creative storytelling is essential to sustaining movements. My art allows me to imagine what could be and to process what is.
As a board member, I would bring deep care, strategic thinking, collaborative energy, and a fierce commitment to youth empowerment. Young people across this state deserve organizations that inform and empower them. I would be honored to work with other Montanans who care about a Montana that reflects our values, beliefs, and hopes.