June 29-30, 2012 MOP Annual Meeting “Uniting the Divides”

By Sheena Rice | Published May 10, 2012

Please join us in Billings, MT June 29-30 for the 2012 MOP Annual Meeting “Uniting the Divides”. This year’s annual meeting will feature Pamela Chiang with the Center for Community Change discussing the “role of organizing in uniting the divides” and author and activist Gyasi Ross who will discuss “racial justice in the Northwest”. Please check out our full agenda here!

Other items of note for this years event are:

  • Uniting the East/West Divide: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities from Baker to Missoula
  • Breakout issue discussions on creating a state bank, affordable housing in Eastern Montana, better budget solutions for Montana, and health care.
  • Action based workshops to develop leaders in lobbying, communication, and organizing skills.

MOP 3rd Annual Meeting “Uniting the Divides”

June 29-30, 2012

First Congregational Church

310 North 27th Street, Billings MT

A limited number of rooms have been reserved for a discounted rate of $84.99 (plus tax) at Billings Clock Tower Inn in downtown Billings until June 15th. Please make your reservation TODAY by calling them at 406-259-5511 under the reference “Montana Organizing Project.” There are both single and double occupancy rooms available.

Information about transportation options will be posted soon!

For more information please contact Sheena Rice 406-490-9777 or sheena@montanaorganizingproject.org. Register TODAY!

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MOP Organizing Notes: March 2012

By Sheena Rice | Published March 26, 2012

Be sure to check out the just released March 2012 edition of March 2012 Newsletter. In this newsletter you will find updates on:

  • What’s at Stake for Health Care in 2012
  • Faces of Social Security
  • Jobs, Not Cuts
  • Housing Trust Funds
  • Thank Taxes Events in Montana

There is also information about our upcoming annual meeting in Billings, Montana June 29th and 30th. Be sure to save the date! As well as the newest MOP members University Congregational UCC in Missoula, Congregation Har Shalom in Missoula and United Steel Workers Local #443 in Billings.

March 2012 Newsletter

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2012 Eastern Montana Housing Conference

By Sheena Rice | Published March 26, 2012

Please join us for an eastern Montana wide discussion addressing the challenges and opportunities around housing and infrastructure in our communities, and potential solutions that will work for our families and towns. Register Today!

Friday April 27th: Communications Tools YOU Can Use (Optional Workshop)

Hands on workshop on effective messages for building public support for affordable housing and homeless programs.  The past decade has seen significant advances in the sophistication and success of affordable housing communication campaigns. Learn about the type of messages that work and how a cohesive messaging strategy can shape the debate in your favor.  Workshop will be led by Michael Anderson with the National Housing Trust Fund Project.

Time: 5:30 PM

Location: The Tavern 11 North Main Street, Baker

You must Pre-Register to attend the communications workshop. Space is Limited.

April 28th: Eastern Montana Housing Conference

Addressing the challenges and opportunities for eastern Montana communities as they tackle the housing shortage facing them as a result of increased economic activity.

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Fallon County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall

This conference is sponsored by the Montana Organizing Project with support from the Center for Community Change, Neighborworks MT, SMART, Eastern Montana Economic Development Authority and more to come. If you are interested in sponsoring the conference, please contact Sheena Rice at 406-490-9777.

You can register for this free event TODAY!

Rooms are reserved for the night of April 27th at the Montana Motel(406) 778-3315 and Sagebrush Inn (406) 778-3341 until April 13th. Rates for rooms vary. Please reserve using the code “Housing Conference”.

Questions: Please contact Sheena Rice 406-490-9777 or sheena@montanaorganizingproject.org

 

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Leaders in Billings Gather to Discuss MOP’s Priorities for 2012

By Sheena Rice | Published February 23, 2012

On February 21st over 25 community leaders and MOP activists gathered in Billings to discuss the goals and objectives of MOP for the 2012 year and how we can continue to move forward in our fight for economic, racial and social justice in Montana. After learning about MOP’s history and priorities as well as listening to a discussion about social justice and how it can be accomplished, the group split up into small groups to further dive into the issues. Below is an overview of what was discussed.

Community leaders and MOP activists discussing priorities for 2012 at St. Pius X Parish

Health Care and the Affordable Care Act

  • How health care and racism impact each other- MOP needs to play a role in education in these areas for older adults.
  • Need to continue to do education around the importance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and ACA’s positive impacts so far.
  • Better education about how health care reform works well at a lower cost than what we used to have. Should document this through picture books or slide shows.

 

Vital Services in Our State and Federal Budget

Programs that are vital to Montana communities and need to be advocated for in the 2013 legislative session:

  • Food Stamps and TANF Funds
  • Medicare/Medicaid
  • Senior Services
  • Homeless Programs
  • Affordable Housing Programs/More Transitional Housing
  • Mental Health Care
  • Substance Abuse and Addiction Services
  • Education Assistance (Job Training, Adult Education, Student Loans)
  • Higher Education
  • Funding for Education is VITAL as it reduces racism, poverty and injustice

 

Action Items before Legislative Session:

  • Register voters.
  • Hold candidates forum BEFORE election to hear from candidates about how they approach budget/revenue issues.
  • Educate voters using real stories to connect to the real issues.

 

Rebuilding Montana’s Economy

  • Need to establish a race frame for economic justice in Montana, more people of color in group advocating for economic legislative priorities that affect them.
  • Increase Montana labor pool, creating more jobs for Montanans.
  • Incentives for any company that prioritizes hiring Montanans.
  • Education of the labor market: emphasis on higher education and adult education as well as reinvesting in vocational education and programs.
  • Educate Voters about so called “Right to Work” bills.

 

Creating a Public State Owned Bank in Montana that would:

  • Keep mortgages/loans in state- avoid derivatives,
  • Support mission driven local investments (affordable housing, small business, etc),
  • Not compete with our locally owned banks and credit unions,
  • And support our state budget.

 

Action Items for the Public Bank:

  • Make sure people realize it is not government taking over.
  • Need education about importance of regulation.
  • Consumer education about personal finance and difference between national and local banks.

 

Other Social Justice Matters

  • End discrimination in housing and health care for LGBT people.
  • Address racism that is happening across the state and in various communities. 
  • Education around legislative referendums that will be on the 2012 ballot.

 

Posted in Banking, Health Care, Jobs Not Cuts, Protecting Vital Services in the State Budget | Leave a comment

Mortgage Settlement a Tiny Drop in a Big Bucket

By Sheena Rice | Published February 10, 2012

The mortgage fraud settlement announced yesterday is a tiny drop in a big bucket. It does not do justice for the millions of homeowners who lost their homes or hold the banks fully accountable for their crimes. For homeowners who were defrauded and lost their homes, $2,000 is too little, too late. It is a paltry down payment toward full relief for homeowners.

Despite its flaws, the settlement announced today is stronger than it would have otherwise been because of grassroots groups and the courageous stance of Attorneys General from Montana, California, New York, Nevada, Delaware, and Massachusetts, who fought hard to bring more relief to homeowners and make sure that any settlement does not allow the banks to avoid accountability for fraudulent activity not yet investigated.  Due to their work and the work of many allies, momentum is building toward broad-scale relief for homeowners. Thanks must go out to Montana’s Attorney General Steve Bullock who was able to secure $20 million of the settlement for Montanan homeowners.

However this fight is not over. The Obama Administration needs to make sure that its task force goes the distance and delivers at least $336 billion in principal reduction on underwater mortgages and $50 billion in restitution for affected homeowners.

What happens next is critical. This is the President’s chance to show he is a champion for homeowners across the country.

###

The New Bottom Line is a new and growing movement fueled by a coalition of community organizations, congregations, and individuals working together to challenge established big bank interests on behalf of struggling and middle-class communities. Together, we are working to restructure Wall Street to help American families build wealth, close the country’s growing income gap and advance a vision for how our economy can better serve the many rather than the few. Coalition members include PICO National Network, National People’s Action (NPA), Alliance for a Just Society, and dozens of state and local organizations from around the country.

 

 

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Happy Holidays! Here is to a Bright 2012!

By Sheena Rice | Published December 20, 2011

Happy Holidays from the Montana Organizing Project!!!!

2011 has been an eventful year here at the Montana Organizing Project (MOP) as we celebrated our second anniversary in June and have much to be proud of this year, thanks in large part to support of our awesome members and supporters, like you!

Here are some of our accomplishments you helped make happen in 2011:

  • MOP turned out 350 people from all over the state, including critical rural communities like Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, to the “No Fooling with Our Future” budget rally that brought 2,000 Montanans to the state Capitol in April. This, along with, our significant lobbying efforts and the work of our members helped restore ¾ of the harmful cuts to vital services such as Children’s health care, services for seniors, and job training programs.
  • We have expanded our outreach efforts across the state, most notably in Eastern Montana where we are working to help communities facing extreme housing shortages due to oil and gas development in the area. In Baker (population 1,500), MOP facilitated a community meeting that was attended by 90 people and has led to new efforts to help the community grow in a smart way.
  • In February over 60 MOP leaders convened in Helena to speak to their legislators about the same public investments in education, health care, social services and other public infrastructure investments.
  • We released a statewide budget storybook and several health equity reports.
  • MOP staff has educated hundreds of Montanans about health care reform and the different provisions of the recently passed legislation.
  • MOP leaders played an active role in stopping legislation that would have nullified health care reform in Montana.
  • Launched “Invest in Montana: Buy Local, Bank Local” to educate Montanans about the importance of supporting our local economies for community based development.

 

While we are proud about what we have accomplished, we are most excited about what we CAN do in the future for economic, racial and social justice in Montana. In 2012 we will educate voters about key budget and revenue decisions that affect them, build a coalition around creating a state bank of Montana similar to the Bank of North Dakota, help advocate for consumer friendly health care policy, and promote affordable housing development in our eastern Montana communities. In order for this to happen we need YOUR support for our organizing efforts.

Your financial contribution will support our outreach to communities from Ronan to Plentywood, will support our program work and advocacy on important issues such as the implementation of a state based health care exchange, and help us develop community leaders who can advocate on issues in their communities.

You can donate online today.  Or you can mail payment to Montana Organizing Project c/o Sheena Rice PO Box 438 Billings MT 59103. We hope that you will also consider becoming a MOP Trailblazer by making small donations ($10 or more) on a monthly basis (offered online only). This is a GREAT way to give as it allows those on a budget to give more in a year and ensures a steady revenue stream for our work.

Here is to a bright 2012! Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Sheena Rice and Molly Moody and the entire MOP team!

PS. Your donations to the Montana Organizing Project are tax deductible through our fiscal sponsorship from the Alliance for a Just Society.

Have you watched our 2011 year in review video yet? Check it out now!

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Montanans head to D.C. to “Take Back the Capitol”

By Sheena Rice | Published December 8, 2011

Montana Delegation at Take Back the Capitol

Members of SEIU Healthcare 775NW and the Montana Organizing Project headed to Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5 to join with thousands of peaceful protesters from around the country to Take Back the Capitol and send a message that Congress needs to represent the 99 percent, not just the 1 percent.

Over the past few months the country has begun to focus on the growing disparity between the 99 percent and the 1 percent, and its impact on our cities, neighborhoods, and rural areas.  Thousands of Americans converged on Washington, D.C. to participate in four days of peaceful protests to make the voices of the 99 percent heard and counter the influence of the 1 percent.

“The problem in Washington is that too many members of Congress listen to corporate lobbyists from K Street and their campaign contributions instead of the 99 percent,” said Donavon Hawk, of Indian People’s Action a member organization of the Montana Organizing Project.  “Now the 99 percent are coming to the corridors of power to make our presence felt.”

The situation for the 99 percent is dire.  Nearly 14 million workers in the United States are without jobs; median incomes for most workers have fallen 6.7 percent in the two years since the recession of 2009; and income inequality is at its worst since the 1920s. And while the middle class and working people are suffering, taxes for the 1 percent are at an all-time low.

Montanans waiting to meet with Representative Rehberg to discuss job creation

“I got on a plane and came to Washington because I’m part of the 99 percent that Congress has been ignoring,” said Winnifred Schafer a homecare worker and member of SEIU Healthcare 775NW from Wolf Point Montana.  “We need good jobs here in Montana, not more budget cuts that make the economy even worse. We’re going down there to make sure Congress hears from the people, not just the lobbyists.”

Members of the Montana delegation are traveled to DC from many points across Montana:  Wolf Point, Butte, Great Falls, and Missoula.

 

 

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Invest in Montana: Bank Local

By Sheena Rice | Published November 21, 2011

Local community banks and credit unions are essential for community development and growing community wealth. By choosing to bank locally, we as Montanans can support the places that we call home, rather than Wall Street. It means profits are invested in Montana and creating jobs that pay salaries and wages to people who live in our communities.

We can use our money to reflect our values, support our small businesses, create jobs and grow our economy all by having our money in a locally owned bank or credit union instead of a national bank.

When choosing a bank or credit union, think of how the decision can impact you or community by considering these principles:

  • Community: It is important to understand the ties that a financial institution has to your community. Do the employees, managers or stockholders live and work in Montana? When a bank or credit union has these ties to a community they will be invested in doing what they can to make the community prosperous.
  • Local Economy: Although local banks control less than one-quarter of all bank assets, they account for more than half of all small business lending. Big banks, meanwhile, allocate relatively little of their resources to small businesses. The largest 20 banks, which now control 57 percent of all bank assets, devote only 18 percent of their commercial loan portfolios to small business. Ask any prospective bank or credit union what they do to support small business development in Montana.
  • Lower Costs: For the most part, local banks and credit unions offer the same services as a national bank, from online bill pay to debit cards. Yet while the services are the same the fees associated with them are quite often much lower than the fees of a national. Be sure when choosing a bank to ask about any fees associated with the account, what those fees are and how they are used.
  • Decision Making: At local banks and credit unions, decisions like loan approvals are made locally, by people who live in the community, understand their customers and what the local needs are. Better yet, in the case of credit unions, control rests with the members, with all credit union members receiving equal decision making authority regardless of the amount in their accounts or volume of business.

 

Where you bank does matter. So talk to your current bank or research prospective banks using our Moving Money Guide. When you bank local, you are investing in Montana!

Be sure to check out our new campaign“Invest in Montana: Buy Local, Bank Local”!

 

 

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Invest in Montana: Buy Local, Bank Local

By Sheena Rice | Published November 11, 2011

This Holiday season the Montana Organizing Project and the Montana Small Business Alliance encourage all Montanans to invest in their state and their communities buy spending and saving their money locally.

Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.

Similarly, when you bank in a locally owned financial institution (either a locally owned bank or credit union) your investment is more likely to stay within your community helping support small businesses and community development projects. By banking with a local credit union, you as a member obtain a degree of ownership. By banking with a locally owned bank, profits stay in Montana.

The result of buying and banking locally is a strong investment in our communities and a significant investment in Montana.

If you are the owner of a local Montana business or financial institution and would like an “Invest in Montana: Buy Local, Bank Local” poster to hang in your establishment please contact Sheena Rice at 406-490-9777 or sheena@montanaorganizingproject.org.

Find out more about the benefits of moving your money to a local financial institution.

Join our movement by pledging to buy and bank locally.

 

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Bank Local: Take Your Money Back from Wells Fargo

By Sheena Rice | Published November 1, 2011

For years Wall Street and the Big Banks have been taking from the 99% to make the 1% richer. While they crashed the economy, American families are stuck picking up the tab.  That’s why Americans are coming to collect and do what politicians have failed to do.

While 46.2 million Americans live in poverty, Wells Fargo is bringing in record profits:

$43.7 Billion: Bailout money from US taxpayers

$24.6 Billion: Profits since bailout (2009-2010)

$17.1 Million: 2010 CEO John Stumpf total pay

$27.2 Billion:  2010 bonuses and compensation

COMPARE TO : $22,100/yr Average Wells Fargo bank teller wage


If you have money in a big bank like Wells Fargo it is time to Take it Back!!!

Go to www.moveourmoney.usa to join the fight! Move your money TODAY to a local bank or credit union.

We’re Taking It Back because…

1. Wells Fargo Practices Discriminatory Lending

Wells Fargo has been the poster child for discriminatory lending targeting communities of color.  Wells has been sued on several occasions for discriminatory lending practices, and the Federal Reserve Board recently issued you an $85 million civil fine for steering borrowers inappropriately into subprime loans

2. Wells Fargo is Foreclosing on American Families

At the end of 2009, Wells Fargo modified loans for only 22% of those eligible for modifications under the government program HAMP. Unlike other big banks, Wells Fargo hasn’t changed its foreclosure procedures despite many confirmed reports of “robo-signing” and other illegal practices in the foreclosure process.

3. Wells Fargo is Not Paying Their Fair Share

Over the last ten years, Wells Fargo paid the lowest worldwide tax rate of the top five big banks – they paid only 24.8% on their $110.9 billion in earnings and reportedly did not pay any federal taxes in 2009.

4. Wells Fargo is Stealing our Democracy

Wells Fargo’s dollars are helping our elected officials rig the system to work for Wall Street and not the rest of us. Since 2003, Wells has spent over $20 million on lobbyists.

We need an economy that works for all of us.

Every dollar that we take back goes towards rebuilding our new bottom line. Bank Local.

For more information visit www.moveourmoney.usa

 

 


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Courage NOT Cuts!!!

By Sheena Rice | Published April 6, 2011

MOP activists Connie and Paul from Butte and Lynea from Bozeman

Last Friday, April 1st, 2011, one hundred Montana Organizing Project leaders and activists partnered with the many groups within the Partnership for Montana’s Future for the “No Fooling with Our Future Rally! Courage- Not Cuts!” rally at the Capitol.

Media is estimating that 1,500 – 2,000 Montanans flooded the lawn to voice their objections to sweeping and hurtful cuts in the Montana state budget. The crowd consisted of faith leaders, union workers, Montanans struggling with disabilities, health care providers, Native Americans, children and many many more.

Speaking at the rally, Pastor Dan Krebill, Montana Association of Churches President and MOP Board Member led the crowd with chants of “These Cuts Hurt” while discussing cuts to vital services across the state.

The message was loud and clear. We need Courage NOT Cuts! Read the Great Falls Tribune article about the rally here. See all of our pictures from the event on our facebook page here.

MOP leader Terry from Butte

MOP and Indian People's Action leader Newlyn from Crow

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Montana Organizing Project Sets 2011-2012 Priorities

By Sheena Rice | Published June 28, 2011

At its second annual meeting Montana Organizing Project (MOP) reset and refined its issue priorities.  Sixty Montanans representing diverse areas of Montana from Hamilton to Hardin and from about 20 communities of faith, labor and civic organizations gathered in Butte.  They reviewed the last year of MOP’s work and educated themselves on everything from revenue options for the state budget to the issue of poor ambulance service in Hardin for Native Americans.  At a plenary to set the issue priorities for the next year the MOP gathering decided to adopt the following broad platform:

Fostering Economic Development in Montana

The Montana Organizing Project affirmed that we will continue to look at Montana based solutions for fostering economic development here at home and to explore innovative ways to make banks work for Montana’s economy.

Possible Opportunities for Action

  1. Identify the current challenges and barriers that are keeping Montana controlled banking institutions from investing in local economic development, we can then campaign for: community standards agreements with banks, affordable loans for small businesses, consumer friendly account services, more accessibility in rural areas, protection from foreclosure, and loans/financing and an increase in the state housing fund for resident owned communities (manufactured homes).
  2. Explore the idea of a state bank for Montana, similar to the nation’s only state bank, the State Bank of North Dakota, which has protected North Dakota from revenue shortfalls and has reinvested local money in agriculture, small business, education and other economic development initiatives.
  3. Collect stories from Montanans that are struggling to live and work in eastern Montana due to the shortage of housing. We will also focus on collecting stories from other communities where the lack of affordable housing is contributing to the economic climate.
  4. Hold town hall meetings addressing both the need for affordable housing and the rights that homeowners and tenants have

Protecting Essential Services in State and Federal Budgets

The Montana Organizing Project will continue building momentum around state budgets and revenue that will invest in Montana’s future and protect those who need the most help.

Possible Opportunities for Action

  1. Contribute to the federal budget debates, especially on attempts to privatize programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
  2. Participate in community based town hall meetings to discuss what budget cuts will mean in those communities and to highlight the victory that MOP and other organizations had during our 2011 battle over funding social services.
  3. Track stories of those whose lives are being disrupted by cuts at the state or federal level.

Continuing Education on Health Care Reform

The Montana Organizing Project will continue being diligent in making sure the Affordable Care Act’s rules and regulations are not weakened down by insurance lobbying or undermined by lax enforcement.

Possible Opportunities for Action

  1. Host educational forums in communities across the state to talk about the benefits of health care reform to continue the ongoing dialogue about the need to improve access, affordability and the continuity of health care.
  2. Support continued funding for Medicaid and other much needed health care programs,
  3. Continue to monitor the federal appropriations process for the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

The MOP gathering also adopted the following resolution committing to support Indian People’s Action.

Solidarity Vote for Indian People’s Action

Montana Organizing Project, as an organization with ‘social and racial justice’ in its mission statement, affirms the commitment of staff time and resources to building a Montana based Native voice through Indian People’s Action.

MOP also encourages member institutions, as well as groups which collaborate with MOP to support Indian Peoples Action where appropriate on their local and national campaigns.

 

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Glendive Community Health Care Forum

By Sheena Rice | Published July 19, 2011

 

Got Health Care Questions?

Community forum set to answer the public’s questions about health care and the Affordable Care Act.

Glendive, MT – The Montana Organizing Project and the Montana Small Business Alliance are holding a community forum to answer questions about the Affordable  Care Act. The forum is scheduled for Thursday July 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm and will be held at the Glendive Medical Center.

Whether you are wondering about what the new health care law means for your family’s insurance, for the insurance you provide to your employees, if your child’s pre-existing condition is covered under your insurance, or about the timeline of when different parts of the Affordable Care Act will go into effect, we have answers to your questions.

Individuals interested in attending the public event can contact Sheena Rice with the Montana Organizing Project (406-490-9777 or sheena@montanaorganizingproject.org) to RSVP and for additional information.  Light refreshments will be served at the meeting.

What: Health Care Community Forum

When: Thursday July 28, 201 from 6:30-7:30 pm

Where: Glendive Medical Center, Room 1

202 Prospect Drive

Glendive, Montana

 

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Worry Free Lobbying For Non-Profits

By Sheena Rice | Published July 25, 2011

Sign up now to attend a lunch time workshop featuring one of the experts in the field – Marcia Avner – Former Public Policy Director of the Minnesota Nonprofit Association and now staff of Northwest Area Foundation.

August 3rd in Billings – August 4th in Helena

Learn some skills and perspectives – share lunch with your peers in the nonprofit world.

Sponsored by Rural Employment Opportunities and  Montana Organizing Project

Call REO to sign up – limited registration for this free session (lunch contribution requested). (406) 442-7850

Or contact Gary Sandusky – gsandusky@communitychange.org

 

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Medicaid Makes a Difference

By Sheena Rice | Published August 3, 2011

Congress was recently locked in a budget battle that’s grabbed round-the-clock media attention. Lost in the coverage are the real stakes in the debate, including the lives of the more than 50 million people covered by Medicaid, which remains in the budget-cutting cross-hairs. More than half of these 50 million are people of color. Racial disparities in health coverage have already reached alarming proportions. Cuts to Medicaid would make these disparities even worse, taking a toll on the real lives of real people.

The experiences and perspectives of some of these real people are captured in Medicaid Makes a Difference: Protecting Medicaid, Advancing Racial Equity, from the Alliance for a Just Society and 14 members of its Health Rights Organizing Project, a network of grassroots organizations across the country committed to the fight for health equity. Montana Organizing Project and Indian People’s Action contributed to this report.

Thanks to Medicaid, Ann Blacksmith, of Hardin, Montana, was able to treat her foot that she broke after she fell and slipped on the ice. Without Medicaid she knows that she would never have had her injury taken care of. Gina Owens’ grandchildren, in Seattle, Washington, get their asthma inhalers through the program. And when Hubo became pregnant in Lewiston, Maine, doctors and nurses were there to help because of Medicaid. Without the program, none of this care would be available to Ann, Gina and her grandchildren, Hubo, and millions of people like them.

Congress has been doling out tax breaks to corporations and millionaires. It’s time for Congress to change its priorities, because Medicaid matters, and so do our country’s communities of color.

Go to the Alliance for a Just Society website to read the storybook.

Click here to call your Member of Congress and tell them to protect Medicaid and stand strong for people of color.

 

 

Posted in Health Care, Medicaid | Leave a comment

MOP Travel Diary: Baker, MT- Creating a Community Vision

By Sheena Rice | Published September 6, 2011

(editor note: MOP travel diaries will be a regular feature on our website highlighting the outreach MOP staff are doing and the work that is happening across the state, from Baker to Kalispell and everywhere in between- Sheena Rice, MOP Eastern Montana Organizer)

Baker, MT is a town of about 1,8oo people. Locals there joke that it is either next to nowhere or the center of the universe (being around 200 miles from Billings, Bismarck ND and Rapid City SD). And it is not the first town that traditionally comes to mind for a grassroots community organization to work in. Well for some that is, but for an organization like MOP, Baker is exactly where we need to be.

Baker Montana

As MOP has expanded its outreach efforts into Eastern Montana it did not take long to realize the potential for work in this tiny town 83 miles southeast of Miles City. This is a town that boasts some of the oldest oil fields in Montana, and due to oil and gas exploration in the Bakken and other potential projects the town is on the cusp of substantial economic growth. And the community is trying to be ready.

There are significant challenges facing Baker from lack of housing, need for beautification and restoring abandoned buildings, stress on existing infrastructure and miscommunication among community leaders. In order to address these concerns the Eastern Montana Economic Development Authority decided that they needed to bring as many people together to discuss the opportunities and challenges in a way that would help create a vision for Baker and for Fallon County. It was at this step that they reached out to MOP to help with this process. By working with them MOP hopes to develop community leaders and help promote the need for real solutions.

small groups discussed opportunities and challenges facing Fallon County

On September 1, 2011 MOP facilitated a vision meeting at the Fallon County Fairgrounds that was attended by over 80 community members. A diverse group of people were represented, from faith leaders, small business owners, oil field workers, bankers (including MOP institutional member Fallon Credit Federal Credit Union), teachers, elected officials and farmers and ranchers. A group of energetic high school students also attended and inspired the entire group with the energy and commitment to community.

It was an inspiring event with hundreds of ideas thrown out on how to prepare the community for the opportunities it is presented with and clearly showed the commitment of community leaders to continue moving forward to reach its vision. But there is still a lot more work to do and the Montana Organizing Project is committed to continuing to work in Baker and other eastern Montana communities as they face the challenges of the current oil and gas boom in the area.

 

But to continue addressing the housing shortage, working with community leaders and empowering them to speak out on issues that affect them we need YOUR help.

Please consider becoming a MOP Trailblazer. By donating just $10 a month, Trailblazers support MOP’s outreach efforts to communities like Baker. As the Eastern Montana Organizer, I need to drive 230 miles to get to Baker, and that is not the only town I drive to and our projector director Molly Moody puts a fair number of miles on her car as well conducting outreach from Havre to Hardin.  (And sometimes flat tires happen….)

when driving 1,500+ miles a month, your chances of a flat tire greatly increase

MOP’s commitment to outreach in areas that do not get a lot of attention has significant costs, but they are costs that ought to be supported as the work is so vital to Montana’s future. The more thriving communities in our state the better Montana will be. Please become a MOP Trailblazer today. Just $10 a month and you will help guarantee that Molly Moody and I will continue criss-crossing Montana, meeting community leaders, allowing those in rural communities to have their voice heard in statewide policy discussions and day by day change Montana.

To become a MOP Trailblazer, join the Montana Organizing Project by selecting a recurring donation of at least $10 a month. For about $0.35 a day Trailblazers can support MOP’s continued outreach into our state’s more rural areas.

To see more pictures from our work in Baker please visit us on Facebook or on Flickr!!!!


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Organizing Notes: Fall 2011 Edition

By Sheena Rice | Published October 5, 2011

We are excited to introduce MOP Organizing Notes a quarterly newsletter to keep our members and supporters up to date on the work that MOP is doing across the state!

In the Fall 2011 Organizing Notes you will learn more about:

  • What issues MOP is working on
  • Why MOP is choosing to work in communities like Baker, MT that are a bit off the beaten path
  • Where MOP will be holding upcoming community events
  • How many miles Molly and Sheena have driven this year doing community outreach (warning the number is a bit shocking…but in a good way)

But more importantly…..

  • Why YOU should get involved! Whether by becoming a MOP Trailblazer and supporting our work through a small monthly donation, or by getting more involved in your community, MOP cannot do our economic, racial and social justice work without the support of Montanans like you across the state.

You can read the Fall 2011 Organizing Notes here . Or if you would like to request a paper copy please contact Sheena Rice in our Billings office at 406-490-9777 or sheena@montanaorganizingproject.org. Also contact Sheena if you are interested in submitting content for the Winter edition (due in January).

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