By Shannon James
As a grassroots advocacy organization, MEIC is only successful if we both invest in and draw upon our “people power.” Having a wide and deep network allows MEIC to energize and mobilize supporters, recruit new members, support community-led initiatives, and uplift a diversity of voices before decision-makers.
We recently launched MEIC’s new Community Connectors Program with the goal of engaging a handful of dedicated individuals as advocates and liaisons between MEIC and communities we serve. We are thrilled to have Erica Littlewolf in Busby and Katie Harrison in Billings join as Community Connectors.
Erica and Katie are playing a crucial role in growing our movement, fostering community engagement, and bringing positive change by connecting people across the state with opportunities for impactful involvement. If you get a chance to connect with them, please thank them for their contributions and join us in welcoming them to our team! We are excited to see how the program evolves and connects us with communities across Montana. Now, meet Erica and Katie!
What is your favorite way to connect with members of your community?
Erica: I have three ways I like to connect with my community. The first is with food or coffee, the second is at social gatherings, and the third is through doing normal things, like running into people at the store or gas station.
Katie: I love organizing events! Be it a gathering at my house, or vendor fairs and pop-ups. Not long after I moved to Billings, I felt that a community revolving around sustainability was needed here, so I started SustainaBillings. Starting out as a sustainability and earth-focused
vendor pop-up, SustainaBillings has since evolved into the largest Earth Day celebration in eastern Montana!
How do you spend your time for MEIC?
Erica: As I will only be with MEIC for three months, I am currently spending most of my time building a structure for the Community Connector work. This is work that is fun, creative, and life-giving for me.
Katie: My primary focus at the moment is coordinating an event series called A River Runs Brew It. We partner with breweries all around the state, as well as local watershed experts, to discuss the importance of safe and clean fresh water. I have also worked in the capacity of contacting MEIC members to encourage their participation in hearings such as with the PSC and the EPA, asking them to protect the earth and our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.
What environmental issues are most compelling or invigorating you personally?
Erica: Currently, I am most interested in climate change and the loss of biodiversity. These are two things that I have witnessed in my life span. What truly invigorates me is returning to plant medicines and understanding the medicinal use for each one.
Katie: I am very passionate about fighting plastic dependency and waste. In fact, I am a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by Cottonwood Environmental Law Center just last year against the State of Montana for the role the State plays and has played in perpetuating plastic waste in our state. Our lawsuit argues that, based on the science, plastic not only causes irreversible damage to the environment, but also to human health.
What are your hopes for the future of Montana?
Erica: I hope Montana and the people of Montana will continue to protect the land we love. I like the feeling I get when I come back home after traveling to big cities – the silence, the darkness, the slow pace, and the commentary on the weather. I hope Montana will always be the place that offers me and others that.
Katie: To acknowledge injustices against Native Peoples in the state, and look to them for leadership in the great fight of our lifetime against the continuation of fossil fuel dependency and extractive practices.
This article was published in the December 2024 issue of Down To Earth.
