The Montana Youth Leadership Forum is a unique leadership training program for high school students with disabilities.  Each year the program begins with the Forum that takes place for a week in July where students are brought to the campus of Carroll College for training.  During the Forum students have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of disability, self advocacy skills, and how the enhance their self esteem.

Upon completion of the Forum the alumni receive a year of follow along services.  During that year alumni are contacted on a regular basis to ensure that the skills that they learned during the Forum are being utilized.  Additionally alumni are provided the opportunity to participate in local, state and national opportunities should they choose.

The 2010 Montana Youth Leadership Forum will be held on July 13-16 on the campus of Carroll College.  Currently MYLF is recruiting delegates, staff, and presenters for the Forum this year.  Applications can be found on the web site at www.montanaylf.org

For further information contact the MYLF office at 442-2576 or by e-mailing June Hermanson at mylfjuneh@bresnan.net or Mike Beers at mylfmike@bresnan.net

People First started in 1994 with the formation of local chapters across the state.  In 2000, representatives of local chapters came together to form a statewide organization, the People First of Montana Senate.  In April 2009, People First of Montana officially became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

People First of Montana exists to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.  It is a network of local self-advocacy groups formed for the purpose of:

• Assisting people with disabilities to speak up for themselves and make their own decisions
• Promoting equality for people with disabilities by promoting the People First concept of people first, disability second
• Providing peer support
• Working together locally and statewide to remove barriers to people with disabilities in housing, transportation, employment and other areas of life
• Educating the public and People First members about the rights, abilities and strengths of people with disabilities

People First works collaboratively with other organizations as issues arise on a local or state level that negatively impact people with disabilities.

There are fifteen People First Chapters located in Anaconda, Billings, Boulder, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell, Libby, Livingston, Malta, Miles City, Missoula and Polson/Ronan.  Each chapter meets at least monthly.

Here is a video of Mike Schaff, a Senator member from Helena, MT, speaking about what People First of Montana is, what they do, and what it means for people with disabilities to have a job.

Click here to read the People First of Montana Constitution.

Click here to view People First of Montana’s 501(c)(3).

For more information contact Rebecca Hargis, People First of Montana Coordinator at mtrox09@gmail.com

2009 Board of Directors are:

Rocky Hughes, President – Kalispell

Stephanie Botham, Vice President – Billings

Barb Willis, Secretary – Missoula

Darwin Nelson, Treasurer – Helena

Kelly Murray, Sergeant at Arms – Anaconda

Mike Schaff, Senator member – Helena

Paula Lockhart, Senator member – Kalispell

Raylynn Van Oort, Senator advisor member (nonvoting)

2010 Board of Directors are:

Rocky Hughes, President – Kalispell

Robin Reagle, Vice President – Helena

Connie Lewis, Secretary – Missoula

Paula Lockhart, Treasurer – Kalispell

Kathy Rose, Sergeant at Arms – Kalispell

Mike Schaff, Senator member – Helena

Open position, Senator member

Raylynn Van Oort, Board of Director advisor member (nonvoting)

Here are some photos of general members and board members: