April 22, 2025
Hello Indivisibles!
It has been just over two weeks since Helenans joined citizens in more than 1,300 cities and towns across the country to protest Trump’s dismantling of our democracy. The April 5 “Hands Off” Rally, in Helena and elsewhere, was a powerful day with energetic ralliers, knowledgeable and passionate speakers, and a fantastic turnout! Thanks to all who were able to be there.
On April 7, representatives of partner organizations and Indivisible volunteers met at the Lewis and Clark Library. The group reflected on the rally, celebrated the huge success of it, and identified ways to improve future large events (i.e., better staging and sound system). Barbara Barnes facilitated a discussion of next steps for Indivisible Helena, and will help us in our formative stage for the next couple of months. A group of volunteers stepped forward to lead Indivisible Helena in formally organizing and strengthening the organization. Those who volunteered included Claudia Clifford, Janice Frisch, Tony Jewett, Bonnie Lambert, Marshall Mayer, Joan Miles, Jane Smilie, and Ronnie Whitaker.
The group has met twice and has adopted these key goals:
- build an organization that has the strength and endurance needed for the long-term work of protecting our democracy from the billionaires;
- repair or rebuild the parts of our democracy they have damaged or destroyed; and
- constructively engage members, potential supporters, key partner organizations, and the public to achieve these goals.
Initial work has included researching local Indivisible groups in Montana, Oregon and Washington. Interviews with leadership in those organizations has provided us with information about how they are structured, how they meet, build community, prioritize, make decisions, take actions, hold events, utilize volunteers, communicate, collaborate with other community groups, and more. We will create committees around key action areas in order to best utilize the talents and skills of members and volunteers (communications, legislative actions and accountability, events, elections, etc.).
Again, we know this work will take patience, endurance and an organized effort. We want not only to build power locally, but to use our power at critical and strategic moments.
We will be in touch with you frequently, at least weekly. Thank you again for joining us in this work, and please contact us at indivisiblehelena@gmail.com to become involved “to form a more perfect union” in Helena.
Solidarity 🌹
The Helena Indivisible Leadership Team
Here Are Three Actions Indivisible Helena Recommends This Week
There is a school board election on May 6 (ballots arrive in the mail today!). Voters will elect three trustees as well as decide on three fund levies. These elections are usually low turnout, mainly because voters do not have a lot of information upon which to make their decisions. Fortunately, the League of Women Voters in Helena is hosting two events:
1. Candidate Forum—Helena School District Board of Trustees
Wednesday, April 23 from 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Lewis and Clark Library
Meet the candidates running for the Helena School District Board of Trustees. There are six candidates running for three open positions on the school board: Jenny Murnane-Butcher, Siobhan Hathhorn (incumbent), Carrie Jones, John Klein III, Kay Satre (incumbent), and Hanna Warhank.
The election is May 6.
2. Our Public Schools: Levies, Laws and Local Impact
Monday, April 28 at 6:00 pm
Lewis and Clark Library
Learn about the upcoming Helena School District levies on the May 6th ballot, the Montana Legislature’s education bills, and how recent federal actions may impact local public education. The meeting will close with a question-and-answer session.
- Rex Weltz, Superintendent, Helena Public Schools
- Rob Watson, Executive Director, School Administrators of Montana
- Gary Myers, Director of Educational Technology, Helena Public Schools
- Siobahn Hathhorn & Kay Satre, Trustees, Helena School Board
Information about the school board race and the levies on the ballot can be found at VOTE411.org, the League-sponsored, nonpartisan online voter guide.
3. Speaking of schools, Indivisible is launching its Safe Schools Program:
Donald Trump’s reckless rescission of the “sensitive locations” guidance has unleashed a wave of fear among immigrant families, stripping away critical protections that kept ICE out of schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Schools, long regarded as safe havens for learning and growth, are now at risk of becoming battlegrounds of fear and enforcement.
The Safe Schools for Every Student campaign arms Indivisible groups with the tools to demand that local school boards take a stand and adopt policies that keep schools safe for all students, no matter their immigration status.
This guide — adapted from the National Education Association’s Guidance on Immigration Issues — lays out a comprehensive plan for action, helping Indivisible groups safeguard immigrant children in their communities. With detailed steps, legal insights, model policies, and ready-to-use outreach materials, this campaign provides a framework to challenge ICE’s overreach, empower school staff, and protect families. Let’s turn fear into action and make Helena schools safe again.
Ready to get right to work? Jump to our Safe Schools step-by-step campaign plan.
Recommended Reading This Week
Indivisible was founded shortly after Trump’s first election. The Indivisible Guide helped jumpstart the first resistance. In the two weeks after Trump’s second election, Indivisible’s founders and Co-Executive Directors, Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, updated the Guide to reflect what they learned in the previous eight years as well as updated their tactics and strategies for a much more dangerous threat to democracy by the billionaire bullies.
Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink is the best outline of the strategies and tactics that Indivisible uses, both nationally and locally, for everyday Americans to fight back together against the broligarchs. Indivisible Helena is following this guide, as well as other resources found on Indivisible’s Group Support Hub. Indivisible has done an incredible job at making capacity-building resources available to small-d democrats organizing to meet this dangerous moment—and win!
Spread the Good News!
We’ve come a long ways in a hundred days! Do you have friends, co-workers, and family who want to join Indivisible’s resistance in Helena? Feel free to forward this email to them. Or better yet ask them to sign up: all they need to do is sign up here. Then we’ll remain in touch through this newsletter.
Solidarity 🌹
Indivisible Helena