A Missoula Rises Community Conversation to discuss the surge of popular movements that are reshaping local, state and national political systems – especially important in the run-up to the June 5 Montana state and local primary.

The conversation is set for 6:30pm, Monday, April 30 at the Missoula County Library, 300 East Main Street. (www.missoulapubliclibrary.org) This event is free and family friendly.

Our intention: To facilitate a serious local conversation about the dynamic tensions between movements and electoral politics and to discern what we can learn from those on the front lines about leveraging the dynamics of movements and political systems to advance economic, racial, gender and environmental justice.

The program consists of two parts: Presentations grounded in the experiences of panelists, and then, moderated break-out conversations among those attending the conversation intended to explore our own roles as activists, voters and concerned citizens.

Program panelists: State Senator Diane Sands, District 49, Missoula; Lori Gendron, principal organizer of Service Employees Union #775 based in Montana; George Price, PhD, teaches Native American and Afro-American History at the University of Montana; and also University of Montana student, Treyace Yellow Owl, a Blackfeet woman fluent in her native language who actively promotes traditional cultural knowledge.

Community Conversations, a part of Missoula Rises, offers thoughtful and genuine space for dialogue about key issues facing Missoula and Montana.

For information and assistance contact: Annabelle Winne at 406-529-6394 or annabellewinne@gmail.com,