As we wind down this tumultuous year, we reflect on all the joys and challenges that 2020 brought. We mourn the many losses we’ve endured, and we celebrate our victories in pivoting and still moving forward. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, we had big plans to expand Amplify Montana by doing two more in-person cohorts. Our plans were quickly derailed, and we began the switch to a digital platform by adapting our curriculum, purchasing tablets and hotspots, and figuring out a new recruitment strategy.
With pleasure, we can say it was surely a success! While we missed getting to know each other face-to-face, 13 individuals came together online to connect, share their stories, confront biases, support one another, and build community. After 9 weeks of hard work, participants shared their testimonies to a virtual audience of about 70 people and educated everyone about the tough realities that community members face, discussing issues such as affordable housing, healthcare, safety, fair taxation, and more. Going online allowed us to expand our reach, by developing new organizational partners and gaining members from Boulder and Butte, two communities where Amplify Montana previously had no presence. Despite all the chaos 2020 has brought, we can celebrate the relationships that have been built and the fire that has been lit in all of us to continue working towards a brighter and more equitable future.