Author: Dara Deines

Our up and coming generations are exciting. We are speaking out and advocating in a way that hasn’t been seen before. Forward Montana providing an empowering space in a sometimes intimidating space is really exciting. Heck I still get intimidated but it is so important to have a community that has the same values and mission. It’s great seeing this type of movement in Montana.

I’m interested in being involved in the community. Although not a native, Bozeman has become my home over the past 2.5 years. I love what it is but see so many gaps. I think our community is strong enough to build not only a better Bozeman, but a better Montana for generations to come. I am growing in the nonprofit and political space and finding a voice. I would love to continue that growth with Forward Montana.

I currently work for Veterans for Responsible Leadership as an Engagement Manager. This organization is a Super Pac but working to get a 501c19. I manage everything from budget, compliance, reporting to volunteer events and engagement. I also sit on the board for the Sweet Pea Festival as an advertising chair. I love being a part of the community and helping with advertising and marketing efforts. A few years ago I interned with Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance and worked on grants, in-kind donations, and event organization.

operational skills (prior to my current role I was in payroll + accounting for 3 years), event planning, volunteer engagement, partnerships, communication and outreach skills. Any skills that I lack on I am eager to try to revamp them.

I love FMT and FMF because it’s sometimes the only place I can see my values and voice reflected in the Montana political process; when I engage I know I’m being heard and advocated for. I love this state with every piece of me, and because I love it I want to fight to make this a place that I, and the people I love, can live safely. FMT and FMF give me an avenue to do that.

I’m approaching the end of my first term as a board member and am currently the Vice Chair of the Forward Montana board. I would be honored to continue working with wonderful people who care about the future of the state, and advocating for the most vulnerable in this current economic and political climate. I feel strongly about continuing to work towards a future where there is bodily autonomy, climate justice, housing justice, and equity for all Montanans.

I have 10 years of nonprofit experience as an employee, volunteer, and board member for various nonprofits. I am the Executive Director for a nonprofit in Livingston and serve as the Vice Chair for the FMT board and sit on the finance committee.

I have experience in nonprofit communications, development, strategic planning, and management. But more importantly I love to have a good time with likeminded people!!!!

Forward Montana isn’t afraid to embed care and creativity into the ways they engage with politics and the communities they serve– so many of the conversations we see around politics are more of the same, reenforcing status quos and what have you, but it’s evident that Forward Montana strives to make political engagement inclusive, expansive… and, dare I say… fun? When we talk about harnessing collective power to create new worlds, so much of that is intertwined with our capacity to imagine, radically— and I think that Forward Montana is committed to imagining, and helping other imagine.

Much of why I’m interested joining the Forward Montana Board is reflected in my answer to “What excites me about [the org.],” but I would add a couple things. Firstly, I am somewhat driven by a sense of obligation— I consider the privileges that I’ve enjoyed, for example access to education and gainful employment in the nonprofit sector, and I feel like the thing I “ought to do” to leverage those privileges, is to apply my skills toward where they can do the most good. I believe I could do some of that good through this board appointment, supporting Forward Montana’s sustainability and capacity to empower Montanas to acknowledge and cultivate their unique spheres of influence.

Secondly, I’d just say that I’ve lived in Montana for two years— I moved here to take a development job with the ACLU, where I am still working. The job, and, moreover the connections that I’ve been able to make through the job have been incredibly rewarding. I see this board service as an opportunity to grow the amount and depth of my connections with fellow residents, while exercising different “muscles” than I get to as a fundraiser.

From 2020 to 2022, I worked as a paid Senior Storytelling and Communications at an antiracist policy advocacy nonprofit in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, called Forward Through Ferguson. From 2022 to present, I’ve been working as a fundraiser at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Montana.

I’ve picked up a lot of hard skills in my time in the nonprofit sector— some that may be relevant to this board service include cross-departmental project management, familiarity with budget drafting and fundraising data analysis, fundraising itself, and event planning.

Equally important are the soft skills I’ve gained— I think the most important one I’d like to share about, is the ability to show up to professional environments as the fullest, most authentic version of myself possible, even when it may feel a little uncomfortable. This has allowed me to build relationships with colleagues based on feelings of mutual safety and trust. My work style is marked by organization and attentiveness to detail, frequent and inclusive communication at all stages of a particular project, and a willingness to try new things.

As far as my personal background, my heritage plays a big part of who I am. I’m an American, born to a mother who emigrated here from the Philippines–her late-father was a senator, who sought asylum in the U.S. under threat of assassination by the dictatorship in-power at the time. My father’s side of the family is made up of Jewish immigrants who left Europe between World Wars. I think about these things often, as I reflect on the “team sports”-ness of modern politics. For my family who came before me, “politics” wasn’t some ambiguous concept that they could tap into and out of caring about on a whim. Their lives (and by extension, mine) were drastically shaped by their contemporary leaders and policies. Therefore, I feel that “politics,” whatever that may mean, is an inextricable part of my being.

Beyond this, I’ll share that I grew up in a low-income environment, that my education path has been non-linear, and that I have a history of dealings with the criminal legal system, including multiple arrests for non-violent offenses. I raise these things only to help indicate what different types of perspectives I might be able to speak from.

FWMT helped me run a voter registration drive at my high school in 2015. It really jumpstarted my interest in activism. I am excited to see FWMT still doing the great work that helped me get involved when I was young.

I feel like I would be a great addition to the board given my experience in the political arena and unique upbringing.

Currently I am employed at a non-profit (Big Sky 55+) where I serve as the political director. I also am a volunteer of many non-profits, most recently knocking doors with the AFL-CIO and collecting signatures for a ballot measure for PPMT.

I am organized, thoughtful, and trustworthy. I believe my experiences would bring diversity to the board. I am a first generation college graduate and homeowner. I grew up in a home filled with addiction and learned a lot from growing up in that type of home.

I am blown away and energized by this organization and all the critical work that they do to GET OUT THE VOTE, get out the YOUNG vote, educate voters, use litigation to keep this crazy supermajority and greg in check, and of course, advance progressive policy that supports ALL in Montana.

I came to the board because I wanted to give back to a cause in which I deeply believe. I’d love to stay for the energy! I am in awe of the mightiness of both the staff and board members. It is palpable. The future of our beautiful state depends on its youth and I look forward to the work that Forward Montana will continue to do to GOTV, create community, lean on those with power to do the right thing, and celebrate diversity. I’d love the chance to help in these endeavors!

I have been on the board of Forward Montana for two years. I was on the board of the Sweet Pea Festival for 5 years. I am grateful for the opportunity to round out my private sector career by volunteering for causes that I believe in.

Leadership, HR, hiring, communications, process, efficiency, and coaching. My team at Avalara supports several thousand software engineers to deliver incrementally on Avalara priorities, achieve Avalara KPIs, embrace change through Agile methodologies, routinely optimize through data insights, ensure a mind-nourishing culture of continuous learning, extend team-ability with powerful tooling, maximize value delivery and value capture through minimally sufficient, accessible, easy-to-follow policies and processes, and delight customers by responding to their issues and taking their feedback improve products.

This is a great organization for sharing information about issues impacting Montanans, and resources for how to get involved.

I would like to help keep such a valuable resource available and growing.

I haven’t gotten to serve on a board before. If chosen, I will not take this duty lightly.

I have seen firsthand the changes that have impacted healthcare for Montanans, and can be a voice for what those changes mean for individuals.

The advocacy and social media presence, watching FMT grow has been awesome!

I am passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion. I am a social work student who has chosen to stay in Montana because of the need. I hope one day to make a difference within my community through housing, food, and empathy.

I do not have any experience.

I was a training manager in the Air Force, I am a very organized person and I’m very proficient with computer programs. I also carry courage wherever I go, I have a very strong sense of social Justice to speak up for those who may be unable. I also am a social work student set to graduate in about a year. I love what I do and am extremely passionate about it, spending my free time often researching social service programs as well as statistical data to provide better insight to provide better care to ever individual. I was also a resiliency training assistant within the Air Force, I attended many trainings for mental health as well as sexual assault prevention and care for victims.

What excites me most about this organization is the potential to make radical changes in areas that we need the most.

I’m interested in joining the board because I believe that my 10+ years of experience in technology startups can empower the organization to move forward in effective ways.

I’ve been a board member at Mekice, a 501c3 mental health non-profit based in San Francisco.

Being a Director of Recruiting at a billion dollar technology startup has taught me the power of effective communication and leadership to help guide conversations and ideas in the right direction. I’m formally educated in Anthropology which has given me the tools to discuss culture as a science. With the current state of affairs and what can be politely coined as a culture war, we need education and empowerment now more than ever. 

I love how solutions-focused and action-oriented FMT is, working at the community level to make improvements here and now, as well as for future generations.

As someone with many intersecting identities, I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and perspectives to aid FMT’s mission of diversity inclusion.

I’ve never been a board member before. But I’m a former administrative employee of the YWCA so I have some experience working within a nonprofit structure.

As a queer, nonbinary, mixed individual, I have much lived experience that is relevant to this work. I also have professional experience in a variety of industries. Having also contributed to past issues of Transcendent Joy, I’m familiar with some of FMT’s processes.

I believe that the work that Forward Montana (FM) is doing is so deeply vital to the success and well-being of young people (and all people) in our state. Montanans face many obstacles within governmental systems, and young people feel disempowered in making any change in their community. FM provides spaces and structures for people to feel empowered and respected again in creating the future we want.

I have a passion for political change and a deep interest in being engaged in this community. When I attended Seattle University, I chose to major in public affairs and environmental studies; I wanted to do work that supported people in accomplishing getting us all to a better world. Forward Montana has been doing this work for years, and the idea that I could serve a term and support the work motivated me to apply for this board position. Coming from Seattle for the last few years and fighting in Washington, I could bring a different perspective to the board about what actions are being taken. In a state where we are fighting for justice and respect, I believe being diverse is important and that seeking various voices as council will benefit our leaders in making thoughtful action.

I spent time in my undergraduate on different boards at Seattle University. Including being the only undergraduate to sit on the official ‘Board of Trustees.’ Furthermore, having moved to Bozeman, I have been actively getting involved in the community and, as such, have accepted a board member position for Queer Bozeman for the next two years, which I look forward to serving.

I believe I would provide interesting and thoughtful insight to the strategic plan of Forward Montana from the experiences I’ve had. I’ve worked with other organizations across the country, like New Era Colorado & the Sunrise Movement, which has given me insight into supporting organizations. I have experience in marketing and grant writing and would love to get more involved with Forward Montana.

FMT and the Foundation fill an often-overlooked gap of engaging and advocating for Montana’s young people. More than ever, policies created everywhere from the legislative halls of Helena to school board rooms are being enacted with little care or input from those of us most affected. However, I also know that young folks are more aware and invested in public policy than ever before, creating a great opportunity to motivate an audience eager to act — and in turn generate policy that better reflects the world as we dream it can be. The stakes are massive, but so is the opportunity to empower our generation, and I would love a chance to play a bigger role in that movement.

Forward Montana was a bright spot in my college years. Throughout my time at MSU-Billings, volunteering with FMT and attending your events introduced me to a network of motivating advocates and public servants, while allowing me to play a small part in crafting a better government. Also, as the President of Montana College Democrats, I spent considerable time organizing the same type of events FMT has so effectively administrated: registering, educating, and empowering youth voters. At the end of this all, I was lucky enough to be selected as an FMT 25 under 25 in 2018.

I’ve experienced firsthand the critical role FMT plays in the fight for youth representation and building a state that serves all Montanans, and I would cherish an opportunity to play a role in advancing this mission.

I currently serve on the MSU-Billings alumni advisory board, which focuses on keeping alumni engaged with the MSUB community and ensuring MSUB students have access to all the tools they need to succeed after graduation. During my time on this board, I have helped organize alumni events, and connect with alumni across the country. I have also served on executive boards of several service-centric organizations throughout college and law school.

Through my experience running statewide youth voter engagement and turnout campaigns, I am intimately aware of what it takes to be successful in this space and the importance of building a diverse and welcoming team. On top of this experience, my legal training may be of some assistance even though I would not be serving in a legal counsel position.risks of each. I present my findings and thoughts to my clients in order for them to make informed decisions regarding potential outcomes and risks. Board members implement a similar process when making a decision that impacts the organization.

I am always in awe of how Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation are constantly asking questions like, where is our work needed? Who are we working with? What is our purpose within the broader movements happening in Montana? I admire organizations that are willing to adapt to meet the moment and willing to either step up or step down, depending on the circumstance. The strides made in leadership development opportunities, in organizing, in voting rights, in LGBTQ+ advocacy, in engaging young people, and in getting shit done is something I would love to be a part of (again).

I had the immense pleasure of working for Forward Montana for almost 5 years, from 2018 to 2022, as the Missoula Field Manager and later the Senior Organizing Manager. During my time at FMT, I was a part of the strategic planning committee where I worked closely with the board wrestling with gigantic questions about the years ahead for Forward Montana and it would be incredibly exciting for me to join FMT on the board member side! I’d love to support staff in their visions for the organization, learn the ins and outs of being a board member, and continue to be involved in FMT’s awesome work.

This would be my first board experience! I have worked closely with the FMT and FMF boards before as a staff member and have served on a number of coalitions in Montana, including on the leadership team of the Missoula Home Coalition, which I think would be transferable experience.

I have experience organizing in Montana with Forward Montana and alongside many of FMT’s partners, so 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 value transparency, vulnerability, and accountability in everything I do, and I would bring these values to the board as well!

It gives a voice to the disempowered majority of Montana.

I think I’d bring a well-informed transgender voice to the table!

I haven’t had any

I’m compassionate and morally driven to do what’s right for everyone. I am always willing to admit when I need to be educated more on a topic I’m unclear about. Skill-wise I’m good at Microsoft Excel, research, math, and art/graphic design.

I grew up in a very rural part of Montana, and it was not until I attended college in North Dakota that I was able to find passionate, like-minded individuals. This gave me the room to grow and discover myself. I then left college, and Montana, to find community; however, after being gone for ten years, I recently moved back to the state. I have since been searching for communities and organizations that not only espouse what I’ve learned from living outside of Montana, but also incorporate the traditional Montana values of hard-work, responsible land stewardship, and mutual aid. And that is Forward Montana. The folks at Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation advocate for so many important issues, including 2SLGBTQ+ rights, education, medical access, racial equity, voting, housing, tribal sovereignty, and the environment (to name a few!). It’s exciting to see an organization in Montana that openly advocates for such issues in a state in which its government can be so hostile, and it gives me hope that others share the idea that everyone belongs under the Big Sky of Montana.

In addition to what I stated above, I am interested in joining the Forward Montana Board because I want to be more involved with my community, and I want to bring more like-minded people together. Montana is a large state, but we are divided by more than just land area. There is also a deep political division among the people. While this phenomenon is not unique to Montana, I do want to help bring people together to make the Big Sky State a better place for everyone. In pursuing that goal, I don’t think I will find more passionate individuals in Montana than I would at Forward Montana.

This would be my first time serving on a board! However, I have served in various leadership positions in several organizations during my time in university and law school. I am excited for the opportunity to learn and to bring my perspective to the Board at Forward Montana. 

Being a board member is a leadership position, therefore, proficiency in different types of communication is a required skill set. I hold a Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law, and I am currently a first-year associate. These experiences helped me to develop strong skills in written and oral communication.

Furthermore, these same experiences helped me to develop solid analytical skills. In my current position, I am required to research relevant laws, rules, and regulations to help determine possible challenges our clients may face, or to help develop creative solutions. These skills are instrumental in helping a board solve complex problems and identify opportunities to strengthen the organization. 

Moreover, strategic decision-making is an important factor when considering board membership because any critical decision will impact the future of the organization. As a litigation attorney, it is my job to help my clients make strategic decisions; I gather the relevant facts, analyze those facts under the appropriate circumstances and/or case law, develop potential decisions from my findings, and subsequently weigh the risks of each. I present my findings and thoughts to my clients in order for them to make informed decisions regarding potential outcomes and risks. Board members implement a similar process when making a decision that impacts the organization.

During law school, I took classes that addressed corporate structures and potential tax consequences to non-profit organizations. Additionally, before law school, I was an accountant that primarily prepared tax returns for large corporate clients and high equity individuals. The culmination of these experiences not only demonstrate my financial literacy, but also my general familiarity with corporate/non-profit structures.

Forward Montana is committed to doing the hard, unrelenting work to engage a new generation of voters AND protect Montanans from the undemocratic decisions being made across the state. FMT’s strong mission and dedicated staff are exactly what the fight for democracy and equality needs. It’d be a wildly exciting, rewarding, and important honor to be a part of the work here.

My political advocacy work has its roots in youth engagement. Whether that was registering voters on my college campus, mobilizing high school students to speak out against our town’s vice mayor’s bigoted statements, or connecting with college students in various states nationwide to support their work on campus — youth engagement is front and center in my work.

In Montana, I started with direct voter contact as a field organizer in 2020, spent 2021-2022 raising money online for candidates in MT-01 and SD-13, and now I am eager to expand my involvement to serving FMT’s Board. Engaging youth voters has long been my favorite part of being politically active, and being a part of FMT’s board is an exceptional opportunity to maintain direct involvement in Montana politics during this troubling time for our democracy.

In undergrad I served on the College Democrats of America executive board. My elected role as Secretary meant I was in charge of increasing our work’s transparency, logging virtual meetings, and planning biannual conferences with nationwide membership. I also held direct contact with 46 state leadership boards and strengthened relationships between our campus chapters and the national board.

Additionally in undergrad, I served on the Pacific University Center for Gender Equity Board of Directors; this was in addition to my position as staff Co-Chair. On the board, I had influence on decisions regarding budget, program priorities, and overall vision of the Center’s projects.

From advocacy organizations to campaigns, I have extensive experience in leading diverse groups, simultaneously handling multiple complex projects, and maintaining clear and consistent communication throughout the process. In 2019 I served as campaign manager in a municipal race, electing one of the youngest people in Oregon history.

In 2020, my experience with volunteer recruitment and management shined in Montana. In an all-virtual campaign, I secured 150 volunteers in my precinct who completed multiple shifts over five months. Most recently, I led digital programs for Casey Schreiner’s 2022 state senate campaign and Monica Tranel’s 2022 MT-01 congressional campaign — raising nearly $30,000 and $790,000 respectively.

Presently my work with She Should Run means I have a strong vision for how to recruit and engage young women into political action, which is an incredibly strong asset as FMT looks to expand youth engagement while being committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I’m consistently impressed by how Forward Montana mobilizes young people to become active citizens. I first discovered FM through the voter guides and was so excited to see such important work being done!

We’re at such a unique cross-roads right now and I want to do all I can to help an org like FW make as big an impact as possible in our communities. As an activist for over 20 years I understand how demoralizing times like these can be and I want to ensure people keep up the good fight and show up.

I’ve worked closely with boards in my career and am also a current advisor. Not much experience in the non-profit space, but a lot in corporate.

My sage advice. Just kidding! I’m neurodivergent and have a knack for spotting opportunities other people may have missed. I’ve worked in marketing for my whole career and bring a unique perspective on how to utilize emotional intelligence to encourage action.

When I was in college, I spent a summer working for NextGen America; canvassing, phone banking and hosting events all across the Seacoast of New Hampshire. During my time working there, we knocked on a lot of doors in suburban neighborhoods to talk about progressive issues affecting young people (so, as you could imagine, our target demographic was nowhere to be found). What draws me to Forward Montana is that you all are working to engage people in their communities and show them why the issues that are being highlighted matter to them, and how it will affect their daily life. Not only that, but you are doing it in a way that is engaging and easily digestible. Your voter hubs and guides to the legislative session bring all the information that people need to make informed decisions right to their fingertips. That level of ease and clarity is something that progressive politics has needed for a long, long time and Forward Montana is delivering that for people across the state.

Forward Montana strives to create the type of community that I want to live in. One that is neighborly, caring, and equitable. I want to help Forward Montana continue this work because I am a firm believer in the importance of providing the resources people need to educate themselves on the issues that will inevitably affect them, especially on the local level. This also seems like a great opportunity to engage more with my community (and beyond) in a purpose driven way.

This will be my first experience on a board of directors. At the nonprofit I work at, I have limited interactions with our board as that doesn’t align with my role, but have interacted socially at events with our board members.

I have consumed a lot of politics in the past 5-7 years, both academically while studying political science and environmental conservation, and in my personal life post-grad. Like I mentioned previously, I have experience (albeit limited) with community organizing and can understand the amount of energy and passion it takes to do what Forward Montana does. Having this experience, I hope to bring a drive and dedication to forwarding the goals of this organization, but also the grace to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work being done. Also, I pride myself on being an extremely organized and efficient person who can juggle a lot of things at once, which is incredibly relevant to the ever changing nature of mission driven organizations. Lastly, I hope to assist Forward Montana in keeping their message and content relevant for upcoming generations to ensure Forward Montana’s impact doesn’t fade out as millennials and GenZ age.

I have interned, volunteered and attended events through Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation. Through those interactions I have learned to trust the information that comes from Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation. The fire inside me is ignited when I learn about other young people fighting for our state, registering people to vote (especially marginalized communities) and planning inclusive and educational events that help the community. Anytime I see the words “Forward Montana” I am immediately interested in what is happening.

I stand behind everything that Forward Montana represents and I want to help make decisions that benefit young people and Montanans. I believe I have a unique perspective as a young person who has been involved in the Billings community for 6 years. I would love to learn the ins and outs of being on a Board of Directors and help bring Montana Forward. Being on the board would not only further my career and personal goals, it would teach me a great amount and help me connect with like-minded people.

I have helped obtain materials for and organize packets for board meetings at Northern Plains. I have continuously learned about the board’s role while I have worked at Northern Pains for the past two years.

I am a young queer person who thrives on keeping a positive attitude. I have lived in Montana for 6 years and have experiences in many aspects of life including volunteering to help those experiencing homelessness, interning with Forward Montana during the election season, and working at a non-profit that works on conservation issues in Montana. I have learned a great amount about the legislature and the importance of electing the right people to represent young people’s interests, staying up to date on local issues in our community, data analysis and data entry, and I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Communication Studies and Organizational Leadership. I was honored to receive the 25 under 25 award from Forward Montana in 2021 and I have a drive to help people and love getting involved with organizations such as Forward Montana, Planned Parenthood and Kirks Grocery. I will bring my organization skills, ability to be detail oriented and my positive attitude to the Board of Directors.

I have great hope in the future of Montana with the progressive thought, passionate bravery, and loving acceptance of our Montana youth (and young at heart!)

Since moving here from Oakland, CA three years ago I’ve been looking for ways to continue my activism work, learn from and engage more fully in the community we’re part of, and be part of the change our state deeply needs to reflect the values of our upcoming generation of leaders. I’m deeply passionate about social justice and equity issues: gender, race, and LGBTQ+ issues

I served as a treasurer on our elementary school board in Oakland, CA where I was also part of a restorative justice committee. I also led our Oakland school’s efforts to create and running solidarity schools during the Teacher Strikes of 2019. In addition I’m currently a board member for our Bozeman neighborhood’s HOA, as part of the design team.

(In addition to the board positions mentioned above). I have a MA degree in Multicultural Counseling from Columbia University with a good amount of my training in racial identity theory. I worked as a High School Guidance counselor in New Jersey for 3 years. More recently, my professional career has been around brand marketing and editorial work. I’ve worked with dozens of household brands like Target, GAP, Williams Sonoma, Ford, etc for over a decade in creating engaging, visual, editorial, and video content to promote a variety of branded campaigns. I also consult businesses in content creation, social media, and brand marketing. I have also organized racial justice bookclubs and discussions groups for non-BIPOC folks based in Oakland meeting monthly from 2020-2022. I’m a social justice lover, and a community builder! I would love to help explore organizing and mobilizing more young Montana families (a population segment that I fall into), and work to build a more politically vocal and politically active group locally. In terms of value, I can bring my experience from being involved in activism in a very diverse, activist, and progressive city of Oakland, CA. My passion and professional experience building communities (especially for women). Lastly, my entrepreneur experience (primarily in operations/social media/content marketing) in growing and scaling a business.

I love Forward Montana in part because everyone I have met from Forward Montana brings powerful joy into the room. The Foundation is doing work that has the ability to impact our communities and state for generations. Listening to Izzy testify this session also makes me really excited to support this organization.

I would love to assist an organization that is supporting Montana’s Youth, who are the fastest growing and arguably the most powerful part of our voter base. So many of our youth are socially aware and passionate about social justice and this can change our communities for the better from the inside out.

I am currently on the Board of the ACLU of Montana, and was recently elected as their National Representative. I have been on the board a total of 3 years with a break in the middle because of a job. I have served as the chair of the governance committee, chair of the search committee for ED, and as the law school representative. I also participated in several boards in law school including as Co-President of the Native American Law Students Association, President of the Student Bar Association, and as an active member of our 2SLGBTGIA+ group the OUTLaws and the Womens Law Caucus.

I grew up in poverty raised by a single mother, and I have raised my daughter as a solo parent. I have worked both as a prosecutor and a public defender. Today, I bring compassion and patience into spaces (including the courtroom) where it is not often found. I have a lifetime of customer service experience, which lends to strong relationship building and nurturing. I navigate difficult conversations and situations with grace and love, even when it is hard. I have a growth mindset, which includes recognizing that we are all learning and growing in different spaces. We can help each other. I am a survivor of violence and a queer woman raising queer daughter. We are really proud of that. I am a strong advocate.