SOLD OUT! Thank you for supporting local food and chefs!
Helena's Longest Table Community Dinner - September 19, 2024
Limited tickets now available for Helena’s inaugural Longest Table Dinner from 5:30 to 8:00pm at Ten Mile Brewing Company. Featuring local foods and cuisine from Benny's Bistro, Grateful Bread, Sunflower Bakery, The Hopper and The Union. Sales go to the restaurants and food producers for their time, energy, & food.
Something to think about... How to Build a more Resilient he
Building upon our 'Community Mapping' meeting
Resilient Helena held a 'Community Mapping' exercise and identified various sectors (clean energy, water conservation and management, green infrastructure, local food, waste reduction, public health, etc.) for us to 'dive deeper' and explore what we can do in Helena to create a more resilient and sustainable community. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Let us know: reslient.helena@gmail.com or on FaceBook: Resilient Helena
At each meeting, we will bring in the identified organizations and individuals to discuss ongoing initiatives and needs as we 'Learn and Act' coming together as a stronger community.
PAST Events
Thurday, June 13, 2024 - 6:00-7:30 pm at MT Book Store
Join us Thursday evening for a conversation with Author Don Hall and Resilient Helena, hosted by the Montana Book Company (upstairs at the Trailhead - 330 Jackson Street)
Leadership for the Great Transition--
a changemaker's toolkit for cultivating personal and community resilience
The Regeneration Handbook offers an abundance of insights, stories, tools, practices, and resources for experienced and aspiring changemakers to step into their full power at this time of unprecedented global crisis.
By introducing readers to a different kind of activism - based on universal patterns of Transformation, Expansion, Wholeness, and Balance - it points the way to a truly just and regenerative future.
Drawing on author Don Hall's experience as a leader in the international Transition Towns Movement - as well as the work of dozens of regenerative thinkers and doers across many fields, including ecology, psychology, sociology, organizational development, and systems thinking - this book will help you:
* Better understand our current environmental, economic, and social polycrisis
* Develop a holistic and inspiring vision for the future
* Cultivate the confidence to lead and strengthen inner resilience
* Work effectively in collaborative groups and organizations
* Reach beyond the choir to engage people from all walks of life
* Design and implement practical projects that foster sustainability and justice
While none of us can change the world alone, we all have an important part to play in the Great Transition. By starting wherever we are and leaning into this historic challenge, we'll discover our deepest purpose, realize our highest potential, and learn how to harness the power of regeneration to radically transform our lives, our communities, and our world.
24 HOurs of GIving! May 1 at 8 pm - May 2, 2024 at 8 pm
Resilient Helena is participating in the Greater Helena Gives Day
Generous donors will match your contribution.
Please consider making a donation now in support of our work via Greater Helena Gives
You can also support our work by donating below or by mailing a check to:
Resilient Helena PO Box 1445 Helena, MT 59624
Thank you!
April 20, 2024 Xeriscaping and Rain Barrel Workshop
1-3 pm at Plymouth Church, lower level (800 S. Oakes, Helena)
Learn about:
- Designing a native and climate-appropriate landscape
- How to collect water and make rain barrels
And... get a rain barrel to take home!
Cost: $80 (rain barrel included, $105 value); limited to 20 participants
$25 Workshop participation only; limited to 30 participants*
* be entered into a raffle to win a free rain barrel!
April 20, 2024 EARTH DAY Vigil 10 am at Plymouth Church
Dear people of faith and fellow Earth-lings ,
You are invited to join with Helena Interfaith Climate Advocates in a Vigil for the Earth in
observance of Earth Day.
Helena Interfaith Earth Advocates is comprised of members of Helena area congregations and faith communities who believe that our faith traditions mandate love for our planet, humanity, and all beings. This love compels us to take action to protect our climate and environment and those who are harmed or threatened by unwise or greedy exploitation of the Earth and its creatures.
Learn more on our Fb page:
Helena Interfaith Climate Advocates
The Vigil for the Earth will include speakers bringing messages from our various
participating faith traditions, periods of silence, an opportunity to share our own words of
gratitude, grief, and hope for the Earth and its community of beings, as well as an
opportunity to participate in a meditative walk through the labyrinth located on the
grounds of the church. For more information, contact Nelson Bock nbock6552@gmail.com or Frank Kromkowski fkromkowski@gmail.com
April 27, 2023 - Resilient Helena receives a grant from the Helena Area Community Foundation
Resilient Helena is exited to announce that we received a small grant from the Helena Area Community Foundation. These funds will be used to support our work in climate resiliency, specifically by hosting water conservation workshops.
Earth Day - April 22, 2023
A Billion Acts of Green - Take Action
"We need to build a global citizenry fluent in the concept of climate change and inspired by environmental education to act in defense of the planet."
- EarthDay.org President Kathleen Rogers
Climate change is here, it's real, it's happening. The time to act is now.
Wednesday, April 12 - Early Earth Day Climate Justice - St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Dinner, 5:30 pm Proceeds donated to Our Children’s Trust for Montana youth lawsuit Held v. State of Montana. Learn how you can support sixteen Montana youth who are suing to defend our rights to a “clean and healthful environment.” The trial begins June 12 in Helena.
Speaker, 6:30 pm Paul Lachapelle, PhD, founder, Climate Smart Montana, will speak on climate change challenges faced by communities, including obstructionist strategies by the fossil fuel industry, and opportunities for citizens to make positive change through organizing and collective social movements. In person at St. Paul’s Sanctuary (512 Logan St, Helena) or online on St. Paul’s YouTube channel.
WaterWise Workshop Series: A Water Makeover
In March and April 2023, Resilient Helena hosted a series of three WaterWise Workshops:
#1 Water Sources and Water Use - How much water do we use? Where does it come from? How to read your water meter (where is it located anyway?), and more.
#2 Water Efficiency Indoors - ways to use less water, identifying and fixing leaks, and more.
#3 WaterWise Landscaping - what to plant, how to water effectively and efficiently, and more.
We live in the high desert and get about as much annual precipitation as Tucson, AZ. We use 5-6x as much water in the summer and basically irrigate with drinking water so it's a good idea to become 'WaterWise' and save money and precious water resources. Take the Challenge!
Past events
Chuck Marohn, Founder of Strong Towns, in Helena February 2, 2022
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.
Can We Bring Passenger Rail Back to Helena?
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).
Past Events
Learning from Home ReSource's Waste Reduction Efforts
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.
February 1, 2021 - Helena's Waste Reduction Resolution
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.
November 17, 2020 - Sustainable Future for Helena
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!
November 10, 2020 - Reducing Helena's Waste Footprint: Recycling
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.
More Past Events
September 30, 2020 - Helena's Food System
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.
September 14, 2020 - Continuing the Discussion re: Reducing Helena's Waste Footprint
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
August 18, 2020 - Reducing Helena's Waste Footprint: A Forum
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.
June 9, 2020 - Resiliency: Climate Change and Wildfires
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.
April 14, 2020 - Resiliency: Connecting and Building Community
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
February 11, 2020 - Community Mapping for Resilience
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.
December 11, 2019 - Ready for 100: 100% Clean Electricity by 2030
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/
October 8, 2019 - Land Use and Climate Change: Why Growth Policy Matters
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).
September 20, 2019 - Climate Strike
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
July 23, 2019 - Community Gathering
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