What We Do

Our Vision for a More Just Future

EmpowerMT envisions a Montana where each person is respected, where differences are understood, where youth, institutions, and communities share a commitment to correct injustices, and where all people have the opportunity to thrive without the risk of violence or oppression.

Our Roots

EmpowerMT was founded in 1998 as a community-led grassroots organization. We are now a well-established 501(c) 3 non-profit organization serving the state of Montana and beyond. We are a leadership development organization that educates and inspires youth, institutions, and communities to end mistreatment, correct systemic inequities, and strengthen community cohesion. EmpowerMT empowers the building of community through education, skill building, leadership development, and collective action.

Our Approach

We believe that lasting change starts with relationships. Our programs are rooted in the values of:

  • Belonging and self-worth

  • Empathy and connection

  • Anti-oppression and justice

  • Healing-centered leadership

  • Youth voice and community wisdom

Whether working with students, educators, business leaders, or community members, we help people build the skills and confidence to lead inclusive change.

Where We Work

EmpowerMT supports:

  • Youth & Schools – Leadership training, identity-based groups, educator workshops, and GSA support

  • Businesses & Organizations – Equity training, consultation, and restorative practice development

  • Community Engagement – Public events, intergenerational healing spaces, and regional coalitions

EmpowerMT Land Acknowledgement

EmpowerMT acknowledges that we are occupying ancestral and unceded Indigenous land. The Missoula and Bitterroot valleys are the homelands of the Salish (Séliš) and Kalispel (Ql̓ispé) people who have inhabited this land since time immemorial. This area was also frequently used by other tribes, including the Kootenai (Ksanka), Blackfeet (Niitsitapi), Shoshone (Newe), Crow (Apsáalooke), and Kiowa (Ka’igwu). We respect the original stewards of this land and their descendants, many of whom continue to live, work, teach, and thrive in this community despite years of colonization, genocide, displacement, and erasure. We honor and affirm tribal sovereignty and are committed to dismantling white supremacy and deconstructing racist and oppressive systems and attitudes in our thoughts and actions.

While land acknowledgments can be meaningful, they represent just one step toward repair and reconciliation. Genuine commitment requires ongoing action: educate yourself about Indigenous histories and systemic barriers, actively support Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives in your community, and contribute to Indigenous advocacy efforts at local, state, and national levels.

We encourage you to seek out and support Indigenous-led organizations in your community. 

Ready to Get Involved?

Whether you're a student, educator, professional, or community leader—there's a role for you in this movement.