Blog

Notes from the Field

Welcome Kiersten, new Executive Director!

Our Board of Directors has been on a nationwide search for the next strategic leader to take Forward Montana into 2020 and beyond. And we have some BIG news to share with you. On behalf of the Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation Boards, we’re excited to introduce you to our incoming Executive Director, Kiersten…

Notes from the Field

We’re passing the torch!

Forward Montana is stoked to be announcing an Executive Director search for our next leader to steer us through 2020 and beyond!  While we’ll miss our current leadership team, Rachel and Kiah, who are transitioning into new phases of their lives within the year, we’re proud that Forward Montana continues to grow strong leaders who go on…

Notes from the Field

Grab your clipboards! Let’s get to work.

One of the things we love most about Forward Montana is working with young people to change our local communities for the better. We know that the combo of passion + conversation + clipboards is unstoppable in creating local and statewide change, and as organizers we’ve seen that change first-hand over the years. Like when,…

Notes from the Field

Join the Forward Montana Board!

I have served on Forward Montana’s Board of Directors for years. It’s been exciting to see how this organization has grown, and the many faces of its’ leadership. One of the best things about Forward Montana is that we are a cooperative organization: our Board of Directors is made up of and elected by Forward…

Notes from the Field

I’m back!

By Rachel Huff-Doria, Executive Director Transitions always bring new opportunities and new leaders to the forefront. While I’ve been on maternity leave, I’ve been inspired by our staff, interns, and volunteers who have been making waves across the state. Week after week, Forward Montana leaders continued to make headlines and BIG changes for our community:…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap-Up: Conservation

Public Lands SB 24 will increase funding for trails and outdoor recreation generating roughly $1.8 million for trails, state parks, and fishing access sites! It does this by increasing the voluntary motor vehicle registration donation from $6 to $9, and it’s the only funding increase for public lands to make it through the legislature this…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap-Up: Economic Justice

Medicaid Expansion Let’s quickly recap the ups and downs of Medicaid expansion this session. In the beginning, we were huge supporters of HB 425, which was Rep. Mary Caferro’s bill to continue expansion without adding any new hoops for enrollees to jump through. But that bill was killed by the House and Human Services committee…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap-Up: Equality

Montana Human Rights Act Efforts to add gender identity and expression and sexual orientation to the Montana Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination, failed in the legislature. Our state lacks basic anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and adoption. That means it’s currently legal — unless you live in one of the five…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap Up: Voting Rights

Ok, so we took kind of an L on this one, y’all. But let’s review the two major types of voting rights legislation that was considered this year. Youth Enfranchisement Two bills that would’ve been awesome — allowing 16-year-olds to be election judges and allowing 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote — went down this session. These bills…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 14 Midweek Update

Hello folks.  It’s not Sunday, but I’m sliding into your DMs anyways because the equivalent of a week’s worth of updates has been crammed into TWO DAYS OF LEGISLATING.  I wanted to give y’all a Wednesday update on some big wins! We’ll make it brief. Let’s go. Medicaid Expansion Passes On Tuesday, the Senate voted…