Recent Events

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Chuck Marohn, founder of the Strong Towns movement, was named one of the most influential urbanists of all time by Planetizen.  Marohn was in Helena to share his ‘Strong Town’ vision and approach for creating financially robust and resilient communities.  Marohn is the author of Strong Towns:  A Bottom-up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer:  Transportation for a Strong Town. This free public event is made possible by Resilient Helena in cooperation with the City of Helena, The Montana Book Company and generous community donors.   

Opportunity for our Community:  The North Coast Hiawatha Route, which will connect 24 counties across Southern Montana. Lewis and Clark County is one of seven remaining counties that has not joined the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA), which puts Helena at a disadvantage concerning the planning, routing, grant possibilities, and scheduling of the train line. The forum explains the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the passenger rail line for Helena, and how we might convince the County Commissioners to get on board and join the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.   The forum featured six panelists, including Mayor Wilmot Collins, Dr. Jeremy Johnson, professor of political science at Carroll College, and Mike Rooney of Downtown Helena Incorporated, and Dave Strohmaier, chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.  Sponsored by the Sleeping Giant Citizens' Council (SGCC).

Community Discussion re how to Reduce Helena's waste footprint - April 5, 2021.

Presentation by Leigh Ratterman, Zero Waste Manager for Home ReSource, a local building materials reuse nonprofit that is helping is doing to drive Missoula's Zero Waste efforts, described how she collaborates with community members and city leaders how to best get Missoula to its goal of Zero by Fifty.    What can Helena learn and what can we do to reduce our waste stream?!!  Organized by:  Helena's Citizen Conservation Board/Waste Committee; Hosted by:  Resilient Helena.   

Resilient Helena hosted a discussion with members of the Helena's Citizen Conservation Board (CCB) Waste Committee and others actively working to Helena's waste footprint - with an ultimate goal of 'Zero Waste'.  The CCB passed a Waste Reduction Resolution on 1/14/21 and the Helena Citizens' Council endorsed it on 1/27/21.  The Resolution now goes to the City Commission for a vote on February 22, 2021.  Please show your support for these efforts!  Email the Commission and/or speak on the 22nd.

The 5 Rs of shrinking our waste stream:  Refuse, reduce, reuse, rot (compost) and recycle.    Please join us in this effort to make Helena more resilient and reduce our contribution to climate change.  

Resilient Helena hosted a discussion about Helena's first annual Sustainability Report presented by Patrick Judge, Helena's Sustainability Coordinator.  For instance, with the City's energy savings actions, we are currently saving $600,000 each year (as compared to the 2001 baseline energy use) and

 saving $5,000 per month by replacing parking garage lights with LEDs.  There is much more our community can do to reduce our waste footprint, conserve and protect our water resources, and use energy most efficiently.  Watch the recording to learn what is already happening and how we can improve!

Resilient Helena hosted a discussion with members of the Helena's Citizen Conservation Board (CCB) Waste Committee and others actively working to Helena's waste footprint - with an ultimate goal of 'Zero Waste'.  The 5 Rs of shrinking our waste stream:  Refuse, reduce, reuse, rot (compost) and recycle.   This discussion focused on recycling - what can we do now, what happens to Helena's recycling, and where do we want to go to reduce waste.   Please join us in this effort to make Helena more resilient and reduce our contribution to climate change. 

Resilient Helena held a 'Learn and Act' discussion re: the Helena Area's Food system.  Briefly, what is it and how does it work?  Where are its vulnerabilities- not just for vulnerable populations but for all of us? How would the availability of more locally grown, prepared, processed food benefit the community? Where is it already happening? Who could use our support?  How would it make all of us more food “secure” and healthier in a time of frequent disruptions- economic, ecological, even political.  

Resilient Helena hosted a discussion with members of the Helena's Citizen Conservation Board (CCB) Waste Committee and others actively working to Helena's waste footprint - with an ultimate goal of 'Zero Waste'.  The 5 Rs of shrinking our waste stream:  Refuse, reduce, reuse, rot (compost) and recycle.  Read notes  here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gbhTuwDz1BwFMSll2vWsT7MVNmL27Xye/view?usp=sharing 

The Waste Committee of Helena's Citizen Conservation Board (CCB) hosted a community discussion about how to reduce Helena's waste footprint and move towards a goal of Zero Waste.  The 5 Rs of shrinking our waste stream:  Refuse, reduce, reuse, rot (compost) and recycle.  

Speakers included:  Chase Jones, Energy Conservation and Climate Action Coordinator for Missoula; Katie Deuel, Executive Director of Home ReSource in Missoula; John Hilton, Owner, Helena Recycling; and Ryan Green, Co-Owner, Happy Trash Can in the Gallatin Valley.  

Resilient Helena hosted a virtual community meeting to discuss how we can prepare for and respond to wildfires as we continue to work to create a resilient and thriving community.  

What are the risks?  What can we do as individuals?  What response plans are in place for Helena?  Do you know the evacuation routes?  Do you have a 'go bag' ready in case of a fire or other emergency?  

Speakers:  Reese Martin, Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, and Amy Teegarden, Program Manager for Fire Safe Helena and the Tri-County Fire Safe Working Group.

Resilient Helena hosted a virtual community meeting to discuss how we can continue to create a resilient and thriving community in these challenging times and in a changing climate.

Meeting Agenda

• What is happening in Helena? 

                            Resilient Helena

                            L&C Public Health Department - Eric Merchant

                            Helena Solidarity Network - Julie Cruse

                            Elevate Montana - Rebecca Hargis

• What is needed? 
• Creative ways to come together
• Celebrating Earth Day in Helena:   https://www.helenaearthday.org/ 
• Next Resilient Helena meeting:  Tuesday, June 9, 2020

                       Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation - focus on wildfire 

Resilient Helena hosted a fun and interactive 'Community Mapping' discussion.   We began identifying key community resources (people, organizations) and potential partnerships as we work to create a more resilient Helena!

The key areas include:  Energy, Water, Transportation, Air Quality, Public Health, Waste/Recycling, Social/Environmental Justice, Food, and Climate Adaptation.  We categorized efforts in these areas as either Policy/Advocacy, Community Engagement, and Education.  Not surprisingly, there are many opportunities for greater collaboration.  We identified other topic areas and stakeholders/potential partners who could/should be involved.   Please contact us if you'd like to help us refine our community resiliency resource map.  

Resilient Helena sponsored a Community Discussion and invited representatives from the Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) and the Sierra Club (a national effort) to lead a discussion about how we can move towards 100% Clean Electricity in Helena (and Montana - this is a state-wide effort).    https://www.sierraclub.org/ready-for-100 and https://meic.org/2020/01/helena-ready-for-100-info-session-presentation/ 

In July 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a Special Report on Land Use and Climate Change. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/08/4.-SPM_Approved_Microsite_FINAL.pdf  The message is simple and clear:  our land use decisions impact climate change.  Done poorly, we exacerbate the impacts; Make good land use decisions and we can help minimize and mitigate climate change impacts.  It's our choice.  We need to get this right.  No time to lose.   Resilient Helena invited speakers active in regional Land Use Planning, the Consolidated City-County Planning Board, and the City Planning Department to lead the discussion re: the current update to Helena'a Growth Policy (2019 update to the 2011 Growth Policy).  

The Helena High School 'Green Group' is sponsoring periodic climate actions, including the September 20, 2019 'Climate Strike' at the City-County Building in Helena.  The 'Climate Strike' is inspired by Greta Thunberg, amazing teenage climate activist and her actions in Sweden, globally.   https://www.vox.com/2019/9/17/20864740/greta-thunberg-youth-climate-strike-fridays-future 

Working with a grant from the Post Carbon Institute, Resilient Helena hosted a community gathering with local leaders to discuss climate action and identify 'critical shifts' that need to happen to create a more resilient community.  Those 'critical shifts' are:  1)  Supporting the Helena Citizens' Conservation Board; 2) Increasing Opportunities for Affordable, Local Food; 3) Working Towards Zero Waste; and 4) A Visual Emblem/Logo Designating Resiliency Actions and Partners