Since we launched our Amplify Montana initiative in 2018, our members have been involved in many community and state level activities. We want to recognize all that work and dedication here, in a recap article. Moving forward we will share Amplify Montana updates on a regular basis.
Hats Off to Our First Cohort!
October 3, 2018
On October 3, 2018, our first Amplify Montana Speakers Bureau cohort completed their training and shared their stories to an audience of about 75 people at their graduation ceremony in Helena. We had seven graduates who worked hard through nine weeks of training, practicing public speaking skills, storytelling, learning about advocacy, and growing as leaders. Our speakers captivated the audience through their stories about generational poverty, struggles with addiction and mental illness, work that does not pay the bills, and more. We are sad to see our weekly workshops end, but we know this is only the beginning for these talented and passionate individuals! We hope to watch them continue to speak and educate our community and beyond.
What Does Hunger Look Like? A Training with the Youth Leadership Council
November 30, 2018
Every year, Governor and First Lady Bullock convene the Youth Leadership Council, which is a group of middle and high school students from across Montana who are passionate about ending poverty and hunger in their communities. They begin their journeys with the Youth Leadership Council by participating in a day-long orientation training. At their training, they learn all about food insecurity in Montana and start brainstorming projects to work on in their own communities. This year, Selena shared her story with the youth to help inspire them to take meaningful action. In her speech, she wrote:
“Go volunteer at your local food pantry. Talk to the people there and learn about their circumstances. Ask them what your school or community needs to solve hunger. Everyone has their own story and their own struggles, and the people who have really experienced hunger can tell you the best ways to try and solve it. Build relationships with people you might not normally befriend. Don’t judge people for their situations or decisions. Instead, get to know them and understand them.”
Farm Bill Negotiations – Advocating for Our Right to Food!
A number of Amplify Montana members advocated throughout 2018 to protect SNAP in the Farm Bill negotiations and re-authorization process. Our members shared their stories with staffers from all three Congressional Offices – Representative Gianforte, and Senators Daines and Tester – to ask for their support in strengthening the SNAP program and keeping food on the table for thousands of Montanans. The Farm Bill was successfully signed into law on December 20, 2018. Lanessa in Helena also wrote an excellent Letter to the Editor illustrating how important SNAP is for her and her family. You can read Lanessa’s letter HERE.
Lobby for Change: Every Montanan Should Have Access to Healthy Food!
March 28, 2019
During the 2019 legislative session, Amplify Montana members joined the Missoula Food Bank, the Flathead Food Bank, the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Family Services, and more to raise our voices in the fight for healthy food! We worked hard to educate legislators and lobby on many different food related bills, included Double SNAP Dollars, the School Breakfast Incentive Bill, the Farm to School Grants bill, among others. Legislators NEED to hear the voices and stories of everyday Montanans – because every person deserves to have access to healthy food, every day.
Amplify Montana Working to Educate the Community During Fight Childhood Hunger Week
April 17, 2019
Selena has been very busy this Fight Childhood Hunger Week! During Fight Childhood Hunger Week, we work hard to raise awareness of the issue through a social media campaign, events that happen across the state, and more. This year, a Youth Leadership Council member chose to host a Hunger Banquet, at both her local high school and at the Capitol with elected officials. Participants were assigned a different meal at random depending on where they sat down.
Some who were assigned lower income brackets ate beans and rice, while the few who sat at higher income designated seats received a gourmet meal. Selena was invited to share her story twice, once with the local high school community, and again at the state Capitol. She did a magnificent job!
Transportation Challenges in Helena: Amplify Members Featured on Helena Civic Television
Helena Civic Television, the local TV station here in Helena, MT, put together a short film to illustrate the challenges people face with transportation, especially those who are financially disadvantaged or who have a disability. In the film, they discuss how the current transportation system works, while also discussing the interconnectedness of housing, transportation, and food security. The film also features real community members sharing their experiences with trying to access transit services, and how they can be improved. Amplify Montana member, Toni Osterloth, was featured as an interviewee in the film!
Congratulations to Our Bozeman Amplify Montana Cohort!
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
On Wednesday, July 10, eight powerful leaders shared their stories at their Speakers Bureau graduation ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Wilson in downtown Bozeman, and nearly 80 people from the Bozeman community came to show their support, listen, and learn. The speeches were incredibly powerful and touched on many interwoven topics, including chronic disease and disability, the need for healthcare access, domestic violence and family law, the criminal justice system, structural poverty and homelessness, mental illness, and more.
Powerful decision makers were in the room, such as the mayor and deputy mayor, nonprofit leaders, government officials, staff from all three Congressional Offices, state elected officials, and more. Graduates urged decision makers to take action on the issues at hand and make changes that allow our government and society to better support families who are struggling. This group of leaders and advocates are sure to make big waves in Bozeman and across the state of Montana.
Preserving Summer Meals – Advocating for Child Nutrition
August 23, 2019
With summer winding down, we took our last opportunity to share the importance of the Summer Meal Program with Congressmen Gianforte. The Summer Meal Program provides free meals to kids ages 0-18 during the summer months while school is not in session. The program was under scrutiny as Congress debated Child Nutrition Reauthorization. CNR is a broad piece of legislation that determines funding for many nutrition programs, including School Meals, WIC, Farm to School, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. We need Congressman Gianforte’s support of this essential program that helps keep kids fed all year long. Two Amplify Montana members, Julia and Brianna, shared how summer meals matter for their families and while this essential program needs to be strengthened and preserved.
Congratulations and THANK YOU Amplify Montana Members!
November 20, 2019
Another small cohort of two members graduated from the Speakers Bureau training on November 20. Hanna and Donna worked hard over the last 10 weeks to improve their public speaking skills, perfect their stories, and mentally and emotionally prepare to deliver their heartfelt speeches to a small audience.
Hanna shared about the struggles that low-income youth face living in the Flathead Valley, often having very little access to safe and healthy recreation. Youth in the Flathead face difficulties with mental illness, addiction, and sometimes a lack of opportunity from growing up somewhere with very few job opportunities and infrastructure.
Donna discussed many symptoms of poverty that interlock with one another, such as a lack of available affordable housing, a lack of transportation, and difficulty getting Internet access to be able to apply for jobs and community resources. The audience was captivated by their powerful speeches, and we had a fruitful discussion afterwards around how certain challenges could be addressed on the local level. Hanna and Donna will both continue to be community leaders!
Poverty is Systemic! A Community Poverty Simulation
January 23, 2020
A number of organizations in Helena, including the Lewis and Clark Public Health Department, Montana No Kid Hungry, Helena Food Share, United Way of Lewis and Clark County, Good Samaritan Industries, and more, came together to facilitate a community-wide poverty simulation.
The poverty simulation was geared towards decision makers, as we had a diverse audience of elected officials, government representatives, and nonprofit leaders in attendance. Participants experienced a month-long simulation, in which every 15 minutes represented a week in poverty.
Participants had to get to work, drop kids off at school, pay bills, deal with unexpected emergencies, and navigate the social safety net with limited time and very limited financial resources. Everyone then debriefed in small groups and had the opportunity to hear from a panel of Amplify Montana members who shared their own personal perspectives on poverty in our community, stigma, and what needs to be done about it. It was a very successful event!
Bozeman Amplify Montana Members Attend Women’s Policy Leadership Institute!
February 7, 2020
Montana Women Vote put on their annual Women’s Policy Leadership Institute this February 7 & 8, 2020. Three Amplify Montana members attended the two-day conference to network and sharpen their skills. They learned about navigating the legislative process, voter suppression, allyship, the state budget and fair taxation policy, community-driven criminal justice reform, as well as hearing some spectacular keynote speakers. We are excited for them to take their new skills to the Capitol!