FOR FREEDOMS 50 State Initiative Billings
Partners and Presenters
Partners and Presenters
Janine Pease
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Carolyn Lopez-Pease, represented District 42 of the Montana State Legislature for four terms, where she served on the Agriculture, Human Services, Judiciary, and Legislative Administration committees. She was recently instrumental in preventing the passage of House Bill 615, which would have allowed county clerks to refuse to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, on the grounds that this kind of discrimination would spread to the way she and her people are treated as well.She is a native of Crow Agency,
ROLE: Panelist/Conversation Starter, Native American Race Relations and Healing Series "For Freedoms" Town Hall |
Judge John Robinson
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Judge John Robinson was born in Lame Deer in 1943, is married, and resides in Ashland District, Northern Cheyenne Nation. He is a veteran of the United States Army, attended Eastern Montana College and the University of California at Berkeley, and graduated with a Paralegal Degree from Antioch School of Law. He was first hired as Juvenile Judge in 1979, and has served in every judicial capacity since then. Judge Robinson is a member of the Kit Fox Warrior Society, and serves on several non-profit Boards
ROLE: Panelist/Conversation Starter, Native American Race Relations and Healing Series "For Freedoms" Town Hall |
Russell Rowland
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Native American Race Relations and Healing Series
Co-Facilitators: Russell Rowland This series promotes dialogue about the history, effects, problems, and solutions to race issues between Native Americans and settlers in Billings, MT. Meets monthly at the Billings Public Library Russell Rowland is the author of four novels as well as the non-fiction narrative, Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey. He has an MA in Creative Writing from Boston University. ROLE: Town Hall on "For Freedoms" on September 13, 2018 |
Rev. Dwight Welch
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United Campus Ministries at Montana State University Billings
Reverend Dwight Welch The purpose of United Campus Ministry at MSU Billings is to provide a dynamic understanding of the Christian faith as it is embedded in campus life and as it reaches out to the broader community and world. UCM does this by providing opportunities for students, faculty and staff to: explore faith, ask questions, work for justice, find support, connect spiritually and enjoy religious community. Rev. Dwight Welch is ordained in the United Church of Christ and is the campus minister at United Campus Ministry at MSU Billings. He also teaches philosophy part time at MSUB. Having directed the Interfaith Center at Southern Illinois University and taught World Religions at Oklahoma City Community College, he remains interested in the question of how we overcome the barriers that separate us from one another. ROLE: Facilitation of Free To Be Me: Diversity at MSUB event on September 15, 2018 |
Ta'jin Perez
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Western Native Voice
Marci McLean, [email protected] (Executive Director) (Piikuni)Ta’jin Perez, [email protected] (Program Coordinator/Communications Coordinator) (Tutunacu) Western Native Voice’s purpose: “We inspire Native leadership so our communities flourish.” Mission: “To foster sustainable positive social change in our communities through community organizing and mobilization, leadership development, education, civic engagement, and public policy advocacy. “ Ta'jin Perez joined Western Native Voice as the Program Coordinator and Communications Coordinator in March 2017 after organizing local efforts in solidarity to the Water Protectors at Standing Rock. Ta'jin has a B.A. in History from Austin College in Sherman, TX. Ta'jin is interested in issues surrounding poverty, food security, feminism and tribal sovereignty. Ta'jin grew up in Wyoming, is a first generation American, and a first generation college graduate. Ta'jin stays active in the Billings community by serving on the city's Human Relations Commission, participating in the Billings Parks community garden project, and recently ran for Billings City Council. ROLE: Ta'jin Perez will be table discussion leader at Native American Race Relations and Healing Series For Freedoms event |
Sonia Davis (photo by Ed Kemmick)
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SURJ Billings
Sonia Davis Local chapter. SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. We work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change. ROLE: Sonia Davis will be a table discussion leader at Native American Race Relations and Healing Series For Freedom event |
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Women's and Gender Studies Center at Montana State University Billings
Dr. Jennifer Lynn, Associate Professor in the Department of History and Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Center, The MSUB Women’s and Gender Studies Center (WGSC) supports programs and research which examines the status, expectations and achievements of women on a local, regional and national level. The center is committed to providing support, programs and resources related to women and education, our LGBTQ+ community, women’s health, elevating the image and self-esteem of women, and promoting gender equality. Working with campus and community partners, the WGSC is dedicated to promoting equality and social justice in all forms and supports the diversity of our campus and community. ROLE: Table discussion leader at both events 
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Angel Shandy
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Club Art Collective at Montana State University Billings
President: Angel Shandy, Creatives and emerging artists from MSUB working together to make art, share art, and live art. Angel Shandy is an artist born and raised in Montana. She attends Montana State University Billings, pursuing degrees in Art Education and Fine Art. She is the president of Club Art Collective of MSUB, a group devoted to sharing and creating art with fellow students and the community. As an artist, she specializes in portraiture and character illustration using a variety of mediums. Her work is a method of discovery, valuing personal connection to her subjects, discovering their stories, and translating them into 2D form. ROLE: Organizer for creation of What Freedom Means banner project |
Dr. Leanne Gilbertson
Betty Avila
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Northcutt Steele Gallery at Montana State University Billings
Dr. Leanne Gilbertson, Associate Professor of Art (Art History), and Director of Northcutt Steele Gallery at MSU Billings, ROLE: Related Community Event/Facilitator for Mountain Plains Museum Association conference panel “Contemporary Art in its Contexts: What is the Role of the Museum Now?”, Gallery Director and facilitator Dia de los Muertos exhibition and talk.
Betty Avila is Executive Director of Self Help Graphics and Art in Los Angeles, California.
ROLE: Related Community Event/Betty will discuss the Dia de los Muertos: A Cultural Legacy, Past, Present, and Future exhibition
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Western Heritage Center
The Western Heritage Center strives to engage in activities that bring about a deeper understanding of our region and a broader appreciation for its people. Our mission is to collect, preserve and tell the stories of the people and places of the Yellowstone River Valley and the northern High Plains region. We do this by implementing comprehensive arts and humanities projects, programs and exhibits based on broad regional interest and need. ROLE: Related Community Event/Noon lecture series and tour |
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Sherri Cornett is an independent curator, artist, and writer who has directed exhibitions, facilitated socially-engaged projects and shown her own art internationally.
ROLE: Artist Director, For Freedoms 50 States Initiative Billings
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Supported in part by a grant from the Montana Arts Council, an agency of the State Government
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