Wonky Word Wednesday: Legislative Summit

Dec 03, 2014

By MBPC Staff

Ok, I admit this is not really a wonky word. However, our 2^nd Legislative Summit is coming up next week on December 8 and 9, and it is all I can think about! So instead of skipping wonky words due to lack of time, I thought I would explain our summit and all of the exciting things we will feature next week. Our 2^nd Legislative Summit will be at the Gateway Center, 1710 National Ave in Helena on December 8 and 9. The purpose is to bring together Legislators, community leaders, advocates, policy experts, and friends to talk about issues such as the state budget, health care, education, conservation, labor, and more. The first day of the summit (December 8) is titled “Taking a Seat at the Table: Strategies for Indian Country.” This year we are pleased to offer an entire day devoted to Indian Country. On Monday, we will bring together various leaders from Indian Country to discuss how to get involved during the legislative session and identify effective strategies that can be used to make progressive policy changes for Indian Country. These workshops will assist attendees in sharpening their advocacy skills. There will be facilitated discussions about inter-tribal budget policy priorities for 2015 legislative session, such as language preservation, tribal college funding, and economic development programs. We will conclude the day with a reception that will give all of the attendees from Indian Country a chance to meet advocates from nonprofit organizations around the state and learn about ways these groups can support progressive changes in tribal communities learn more about how these groups can help advocacy efforts in Indian Country. Read the agenda for day 1 here.  The second day is titled “Making an Impact: Advocacy for the 2015 Legislative Session.” We will be brining together national and state experts, influential state leaders, elected officials, experienced policy analysts and advocates offering their insights and expertise. We will have discussions of key tax, budget, health care, education, conservation, labor and other issues at the forefront of Montana. There will be sessions to coordinate work during the session to build a strong economy, fight poverty, and reduce inequality. Read the agenda for day 2 here. At 6 pm on December 9, we will have a reception and an inspiring an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever an accomplished scholar, writer, and public speaker. She is an authority on race, gender and the economy, poverty, inequality of educational and economic opportunity, and issues of privilege, power and policy in the US. We are excited to have such an incredible speaker join us. Now that you know everything we’ve got going on – don't you want to join us? There is still time to register – and it is free! You can sign up here. You can register for day 1, day 2, both, or just the reception keynote on Tuesday evening. I hope you will consider joining us for what is going to be a great two days. We know how important issues are like Medicaid expansion, pre-K, Indian Country Economic Development funding, a state budget and tax policies that help all of us, and more. This summit will help everyone learn a bit more and coordinate so we can have a successful legislative session.