Montana Voices

“The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.” — Representative John Lewis

Montana Voices is a coordinated civic engagement table that works with seven organizations doing grassroots voter engagement. Montana Voices is committed to making sure all Montanans are able to participate in our democracy. Their mission is “to collaborate on programs related to civic access, voting rights, voter modernization efforts, civic engagement and leadership development.” They do this by removing barriers to voting access, making voter registration more accessible and implementing programs to increase electoral and civic participation among historically disenfranchised communities. Montana Voices understands that voting is just one half of the equation for a functioning democracy; we also need good people to vote for. To that end, they oversee a leadership development program to help organizations recruit and train future progressive leaders so that our elected officials engage proactively in public service.

Montana Voices’ executive director Amanda Frickle gave KABF highlights of several of the organizations that received a portion of our grant:

• MontPIRG Leadership Fund
  The MontPIRG Leadership Fund is dedicated to educating and mentoring the next generation of civic leaders. Through research and education they empower citizens to be a strong voice for a clean and healthful environment, open and accountable government, and strong consumer protections. MontPIRG has been at the forefront of some of the most robust civic engagement programs in the state, and will be engaging in an aggressive statewide voter registration effort in 2020.  

 

• Forward Montana Foundation
  Forward Montana Foundation is Montana’s largest youth civic engagement organization, educating, engaging, and organizing young Montanans (16 to 30ish) to shape their democracy to improve their lives and the lives of fellow Montanans. FMF combines large-scale voter registration and mobilization efforts with intentional leadership and relationship building to grow the political power that young Montanans hold year round.
  

 

• Montana Women Vote
  Montana Women Vote works statewide to engage low-income women in the democratic process through leadership development, voter engagement, and policy advocacy. MWV works with low-income women, women in the LGBTQ+ community, Native women, and their allies, to fight for health care access, reproductive rights, economic justice, and violence prevention. Their statewide Census & voter registration program employs field & community organizing tactics.

KABF is grateful for the work of Montana Voices. To learn more about Montana Voices, visit their website.