Boulder, MT

The director of the 21st CCLC program, Maryellen Earnhardt is scheduled to speak at the July 1st, 2008 Commissioners Meeting. Mrs. Earnhardt will be requesting the support of the Commissioners in placing a mill levy request onto the November 2008 Election Ballot.The mill levy could then sustain the Boulder 21st Century Community Learning Center’s 5 year program after the grant ends in June 2008, as well as fund additional programs in other community centers and schools throughout the county.

The 21st CCLC offers programs to enrich children and adults academically and economically within the community. With approval and passing of the mill levy ballot by the public it would support, the additional programs and resources would be available as long term solutions to reducing poverty within the community.

This parenting support seminar was led by Eric Wahler, a licensed therapist who has worked with teens and their families for 17 years. He presented and shared information to help parents and others build confidence and self-discipline in their teens.
It was held Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 7-9PM at the Boulder Elementary School library. The seminar was free to the public and assistance with childcare and transportation was available.
The seminar was well attended by representatives from AYA, RMDC, BCDO, 21st CCLC, and Boulder Elementary staff. The diversity of the people they interact with will be an additional resource to create structural change within their work places that supports this community. They received useful new procedures to assist teens and parents in behavior modification and confidence building. The professionals received certification credits and the parents left with new coping and communication skills.

About 100 people enjoyed dancing to the tunes of the A M String Band Friday night at the Boulder Elementary School Gym. Following a satisfying array of Pot Luck dishes, and Home Grown Music, the community showed its strong support for the 21st Century Program by signing in with the silent auction. Many Thanks to all the organizers: Rochelle Hesford, Colleen, Donna and Mary Ellen Earnheart. The Home Grown Music was provided by Dusty & Lynn, Gary Craft, John Powell and Ron Smartnik

The 21st CCLC program is considered an “open site” where any child within the community can receive a free breakfast or lunch, not just children enrolled in school. The community knows the additional funds raised at the dance will go towards the 21st CCLC’s actions in reducing poverty affecting the community.

How could your Boulder Community Group use this blog? Let me count the ways…

1. Create a web page (free) and post your meeting minutes (Look to the right ==>)

2. Start a discussion here that you think will dominate an entire meeting and have the discussion online, on the blog, instead, then recap the discussion at the face-to-face meeting.

3. Publicize the wonderful work your group is doing by making your group’s affairs public.

4. Post pictures of your group having so much fun that others are compelled to join you.

5. You can use the blog in any way that benefits your community group. Your imagination is all that is limiting you.

How do you learn to blog? Contact the Connie or Daryl Grenz 225-3288.

ANIMAL SHELTER The City of Boulder will have an animal shelter. Thanks to much work by citizens who have formed a Spay & Neuter/Animal Shelter Committee headed by Charlene Hall. Preceded by three spay and neuter clinics sponsored by The Montana Spay and Neuter Task Force . The community is looking forward to the fourth clinic this fall. Pat Cansler, Horizon participant

The Spay and Neuter Clinics involved participants from many organizations. Horizons community action groups played a role in supporting the clinics, but it was the diversity of representatives from other groups that helped put it into action. To put it in the public eye, the Boulder Monitor, the sign at the Boulder Fitness Club, the Chamber of Commerce encouraged businesses to put up posters and reminded people to make appointments. The City Council was supportive each time it was addressed and helped to identify locations which were efficient and of easy access for all involved. Even the See and Save, our local thrift shop donated rags for the clinic.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION An educational task force has been developed whose purpose is to provide educational services to the people of Boulder, both adult and students. Efforts have been combined with the Heritage Center, 21st CCLC and the Horizon groups. The goal is to provide educational opportunities to all community members working towards assisting the low income population and the total Boulder community. Work on restoring the Heritage Center is ongoing, preserving our history, and providing tours of Jefferson County to educate the public. Educational workshops for adults on parenting have been provided. There is an ongoing effort to work with the 21st Century after school program to provide low income parents and students with educational opportunities.
BEAUTIFICATION programs have changed the face of Boulder. These are a few of the members of different committees who have been involved: Mary Ellen Earnhardt( 21st CCLC Education Committee), Ellen Rae Thiel (Image and event committee), Denise Grove (Image and event committee) and Nancy Alley (education, image and event committees)</font Sally Houtchins is an active community member who has worked hard to keep one stretch of the street weed free and clean.
BOULDER FARMER’S MARKET marks 3rd year! Opening on June 7th with a growing membership list and meeting new requirements in many areas.
JEFFERSON BROADBAND The City of Boulder and community members have developed Jefferson Broadband in town. This is a very good thing since we are so far way from the nearest major city that has broadband.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING The Actions of the Horizons have reached their tentacles into many different areas of the Boulder Community. We are pleased that there are many different kinds of people joining the growing number of committees taking part in stimulating our community growth. Emily Mathiason-Gail Lattin-Colleen Teeling, Horizon participants
NEW PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED There are people involved in helping to build our community that are coming from all sectors of the community. Some of them I (Jan) had never or rarely had seen at any public meetings in over 25 years of newspaper reporting in this community. There are business people, school people, professionals, retirees, shift workers, and many different types of people involved. The community says thanks more than it ever has and seems to appreciate the efforts put in, even when the results may not quite reach the lofty goals. By using community workshops, we have recruited and trained many new leaders. The community is quicker to recognize that a wide range of input produces a better result. —Gary Craft, BCDO, and Jan Anderson, publisher and BHAB
MORE PEOPLE TAKING ACTIONMore people are participating on committees and action groups. Awareness of our local art and crafts organizations that haven’t had the exposure are now coming together for discussion.
NEW NEEDS IDENTIFIED BCDO, seeing a need for Cultural/Art Events, is encouraging the development of a new committee made up of members from the artist community. The purpose of this group may be to develop and encourage art and cultural events and to develop a venue for artists and craftsmen to display.Dick Norden, BCDO, JLDC, Horizon participantSally Buckles, City Council, EMTDawn Smartnick, local bank, Horizon participant
EARLY BEGININGS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES I believe that leadership training and experience began with the initial study circles. It offered an opportunity for everyone’s voice to be heard and ideas to begin to form. I liked that what progressed from there in the horizon program contributed to everyone having an opportunity to learn and take leadership roles as they found their own personal interest. I know I have learned a lot and gained confidence as I learned through this program.Celia Wolny steering committee member
LEADERSHIP PLENTY PLANTS SEEDS25 people joined and completed Leadership plenty. More people are involved with leadership. As a matter of fact, the Boulder Community Development Org has several members that attended the Leadership training. There is more involvement of different sectors because there is more awareness to involve more groups of people. We believe that it is very difficult to always involve all the sectors because of life situations but there is definitely more thought in involving more people.Gerold Craft Pres Parks & Rec CommitteeCarmen Craft Chamber Pres, Steering Committee Member, business ownerBarb Reiter, steering committee memberCheryl Haasaker Parks & rec committee member
1. Tara Mastel Says: June 6th, 2008 at 2:48 pm edit

Just a quick comment on these entries. Boulder has done some amazing things over the past 18 months. But it was run completely by community volunteers. They wanted to be independant of the extension office to get a sense of empowerment over their future. It worked great thanks to a core group of dedicated volunteers and a large number of community members who were open minded enough to give this whole thing a try.

Blogging was a skill not learned by all. The community decided to have a “Blog-in” where everyone came to give input to what they had experienced in the 12 key objectives of the Horizon’s program.

What a fun event — 20-25 excited people arrived to give their two cents about how the community has been impacted over the past year an a half. So this is what you see on the previous posts. Thanks to the folks in Bozeman that posted it. People had so much fun, and the awareness was raised that we hope more and more folks will add their two cents to this blog from here on out.

THE BOULDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION has been developed to continue communication through out the community to help reduce the poverty in the community. Different forms of educational training has occurred such as grant writing workshop. Gerold Craft president of Parks & Area Rec Committee; Carmen Craft Boulder Area Chamber of Commerce President, Business owner, Horizons Steering Committee member.
This program has been wonderful at activating our community into being involved and communicating with one another. People are now sharing ideas, disagreements have turned into conversations and everyone is problem solving instead of just griping. Wow! Linda Norden, steering committee chair, Realtor.
A Community Development Board was established to coordinate the many activities as an information clearing house. A grant writing was provided so that more of the committees can apply for grants.Cheryl Haasakker, Skateboard Park Chair, Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter Committee, Barb Reiter, Horizon Steering Committee
The Horizon group has formed a committee to oversee all projects assuring that there is not duplication and to assist the community in their efforts of decreasing poverty in Boulder. Mary Ellen Earnhardt, Nancy Alley, Denise Grove, and Ellen Rae Thiel
The system going into place is the BCDO, a group dedicated to focus on information exchange and maintaining communications, enthusiasm, etc. Some of the groups that formed as a result or offshoot of the Horizons program secured grants from the Jefferson County Metal Mines Grant Program. —Gary Craft and Jan Anderson
BOULDER IS NOW IN A CURRENT TOURIST VISITOR GUIDE THAT WILL BRING IN MORE OUTSIDE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE AREA (SAGE AND STONE). EMILY MATHIASON-GAIL LATTIN-COLLEEN TEELING
Now people who visit the community comment on how friendly people are and how much is happening.The system in place is that the coordinating organization has officially become the Boulder Community Development Organization.There is no central funding for securing these projects. The resources are the individuals involved.Sally Buckles, Dick Norden, Dawn Smartnick

On June 9th, Community members representing the 23 dedicated Horizon Committees met at the Ranch House Bakery for several hous to provide feedback on the 18 month Horizon Project.They answered Question 11 regarding: Taking Action on Community. The answers appear below.

MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DIFFERENT PROJECTS The projects are a skateboard park, a new Parks & Rec committee, a community resource guide, and more community events are happening. This will help low income because so many of these individuals can not travel to Helena or Butte to get needed services.A new Committee has been formed to bring all the committees together so that people are working together and not repeating the same things. This will also allow people to volunteer for things they are not aware of.Gerold Craft president of Parks & Rec Committee Carmen Craft Boulder Chamber of Commerce president
MORE AWARE OF OUR NEEDS We are more aware of our needs and have had a chance to work with everybody to set goals together. It seems that we are all working together to decrease the level of poverty.More people are helping us with our 21^st CCLC program, farmers market, tour business.We are not only a community but a team!!! I see more groups working together,the animal shelter, has worked with the 21^st CCLC the Heritage Center has worked with all groups in improving the image and restoring the history of Boulder, The skate park has worked with the school and the 21^st CCLC. When applying for grants we all try to assist each otherEllen Rae Thiel, Nancy Alley, Mary Ellen Earnhardt, Denise Grove
MORE AWARE OF HAPPENINGS Boulder is more aware of what was happening in the community and has established new parameters for new programs coming into being. Some new non-profit organizations have been formed and have created partnerships with neighboring communities- SpaY and Neuter and Animal Shelter Committee works with Whitehall; Parks and Recreation works with Century 21 in grant writing for funds. Cheryl Haasakker, Skateboard Park Chair, Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter Committee, Barb Reiter, Horizon Steering Committee
MORE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED THAN EVER BEFORE with some people getting to know new folks through the Horizons effort. A woman who came to the community very much down on her luck a couple of years ago received help at that time and was thrilled to hear that the community was working to make it easier for people to find out about resources in the human services area. “Can I join that committee,” she asked, and she did join and contributed useful information. The human resources guide and the effort to inform people about human resources service opportunities has opened the eyes of many. Partnerships: BCDO, BHAB, BACC, working with Whitehall on county animal shelter. Human resources providers working in Helena have been clearly informed that we expect them to provide services in our community, since they are funded with federal and state funds to serve our community. —Gary Craft and Jan Anderson
A STRUCTURE THAT WAS CREATED TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNICATE BETTER AND TO BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS OUR BOULDER COMMUNITY PHONE BOOK. EMILY MATIASON-GAIL LATTIN-COLLEEN TEELING
MORE PEOPLE KNOW EACH OTHER THAN BEFORE There are more individuals involved. The involvement has not looked at individuals by income level but by what they want to contribute. A Boulder Community Development Organization was formed by all of the committees which organized because of the Horizons Program. One or two individuals from each committee have been elected to sit as board members of this new organization. There is a new community phone book which was organized and produced by the Boulder Chamber.One if the best things that has occurred since the Horizon’s program is that when you walk down the street, more people know each other than before.A public meeting is scheduled for June 18 to teach people how to reach out to low income and present services available and how to fill out applications to take advantage of the services. Reaching out and involving low income people is a continual process with our committees.Sally Buckles, Dick Norden, Dawn Smartnick

BOULDER IS A GROWING COMMUNITY and as new people move in they are motivated by the enthusiasm of working together as a team even if they are individually working on separate projects. The community is more hopeful and much more in tune with the poverty issues of the Boulder residents. Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter Committee Cheryl Haasakker, Chair of Skateboard Park and former City Council Member Barb Reiter, Chamber of Commerce and Steering Committee
SERVICES ARE LACKING The Horizons program has made us more aware of the services that are lacking in our community and what steps we can take to bring them here. With the right people behind the wheel, we can see that happening. Also, the number of community members attending the meetings really shows that our community is working toward change.Sally Buckles DES Coordinator, City CouncilDick NordenDawn Smartnick
PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME TO BECOME INVOLVED Many, many more people are involved in trying to improve our community. They feel welcome to become involved. Meetings are constantly going on. Long range and short range plans are being made. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and people no longer say nothing ever happens. They believe they can be part of the solution. We look at the solutions now, rather than focusing on the problems. New partnerships: BCDO, BHAB, BACC, human resources contacts with providers in Helena, working with Whitehall on an animal shelter for the county. —Gary Craft, BCDO, Jan Anderson, Monitor publisher and BHAB, Linda Norden, Steering committee chair and Realtor
COMMUNITY SHOWS HOPE Our community shows hope through numbers of community members attending meetings, showing that there are concerns in our community. There is definitely more community involvement, even if it doesn’t affect them directly. New partnerships have been developed since, such as BCDO, Boulder Horizons Parks and Recreation Playground, Animal Shelter, just to name a few. Memorandums of understanding have been developed between committees, non-profit organizations and local government.Dick Norden, Sally Buckles, Dawn Smartnick
POSITIVE CHANGE The community has changed because there is a much more positive feeling in Boulder. The community feels more hopeful because it has seen some change and it has seen more involvement by many different individuals. Different people are feeling better about saying yes to different groups.We are seeing people working together to create joint daycares, joint playgrounds. We are trying to build a healthier community. People as a whole are happier.Different Horizon groups are working together to make this happen.Carmen Craft, chamber Pres, Steering Committee member, business ownerGerold Craft, Pres of Boulder Parks & Rec committee
DIVERSITY The Horizon meetings have brought together a very diverse group of people, who all have the same goal. Since the meetings have started the attitude in our community has become more positive and hopeful. The image & events committee has formed a partnership with the Boulder Celebrations committee to enhance the 4^th of July celebration and Christmas potluck. Mary Ernhardt 21^st CCLC, Nancy Alley education, image & event committee, Ellen Rae Thiel, image & event committee, DeniseGrove, image & event committee
SEEKING SOLUTIONS Our community is very hopeful, people feel involved, people want to meet with others that do not think exactly like they do—they want to be diverse because it is easier to actually think through a problem and seek a solution. Linda Norden

On June 9th, Community members representing the 23 dedicated Horizon Committees met at the Ranch House Bakery for several hours to provide feedback on the 18 month Horizon Project.They answered Question 4 regarding: Creating Structural Change Around Poverty, the answers appear below.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING ALREADY!! The Boulder Community Development Organization has taken shape with 12 interested persons. The Horizons Program has provided the necessary structure for all the committees; these are acting as spring boards to members of the community to jump right in and get going on their choice of projects. Another organization that has taken shape is the Boulder Housing Authority. The BHA has grown out of the actions of the Federal Housing Authority and the Habitat for Humanity, which have taken a stance and are transforming a city block near the grade school. Hopes and plans for the Community Foundation Development have been created thru the ideas of Horizons in other communities (i.e Anaconda). And now the Chamber of Commerce is hiring a part time Chamber Events Coordinator. Thanks to Dawn Smartnick, Dick Norden, and Sally Buckles, this information has been organized to show how Boulder is working to make structural change around poverty.
EDUCATION AND NUTRITION!! We have provided educational programs for parents, children and adults. During the summer we offer free breakfast and lunch for children 0-18 yrs.Thanks to Thanks to Mary Ellen Earnhardt, Ellen Rae Thiel, Nancy Alley, Denise Grove,, this information has been organized to show how Boulder is working to make structural change around poverty.
EDUCATION AND A COMMUNITY CENTER To continue the education of all individuals that ask and or not. We are here for all that need us. More grant money and vocational programs will help the community rise out of the current situation. A community center that will house all of available programs and resources that we will need is one of our goals. Answers provided by : Emily Mathiason –Gail Lattin, and Colleen Teeling
ADULT EDUCATION More adult education for everyone and finding the funds to sustain the 21STCCLC program. Expanding the 21^st CCLC program to add more adult education. The school has provided us with a space. We just need funds to carry on.Our Education Committee is working on adult and early Childhood education programs. Cheryl Haasakker, Skate Park chair, Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter, Barb Reiter, Steering Committee
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT People have become more aware of ways to find support and funding, as well as information, for community projects. The formation of the BCDO will help keep the focus on the goal. The emphasis on bringing human resource services back to the community will help the community. The 21^st CCLC has expanded its focus to increase emphasis on adult education while still maintaining services to young people. The community is now much more aware of the poverty level and will pay attention when they hear statistics relating to that. Information is available about free and reduced lunch stats, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cases, housing stats and more are being given attention. Getting the human services programs that now operate out of Helena to spend more time in Boulder would help, and efforts are underway to make that happen, including getting the county commission to pledge that a space will be made available for that. We thank Gary Craft and Jan Anderson for this information.
IN THE BEGINNING It all began with the study circles and evolved. The focus of reducing poverty has remained the main goal throughout the Horizon Program. The awareness of what poverty looks like in Boulder is something we can now identify. Our hopes are that the BCDO will continue to carry on the goal of reducing poverty in the community and offer an avenue for others to continue to become involved. Celia Wolny, Steering committee member

1. LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BOULDER Residents of Boulder were identified by the Federal Housing Authority as eligible for assistance and Habitat for Humanity came hand in hand to spur enthusiasm in the community for new housing, senior housing, and encouragement for other programs i.e. 21^st Century Learning Program, Parks development, Community Services Directory. Boulder became a branch of the Butte Habitat for Humanity and that decreased concerns for being over committed to a huge project financially but having the strength to ensure that the dreams for new houses really was going to happen. The long arm of the FHA has been narrowed down to 8 eligible families who are eagerly anticipating new homes by the end of 2008.AFFORDABLE HOUSING is a reality in Boulder. We are building affordable housing in our community. We now have one house for Habitat for Humanity being built.The activities in Boulder helped to spark old attempts for new housing in other communities too. Thanks to Dawn Smartnick BCDO member, Parks and Rec Playground ChairDick Norden BCDO Chair, Chamber of Commerce, JLDCSally Buckles DES Coordinator, Map Your Neighborhood Chair, Leadership Training, City Council for supporting answers to these questions from their experiences in Horizons and living in Boulder.

BOULDER’S 21ST CENTURY LEARNING PROGRAMS are having programs to help the low income in bettering themselves, and bring up their skills to find better jobs. Every program we have are open to all. Helping all people of all ages to find more self esteem within themselves. Emily Mathiason, Gail Lattin, Colleen Teeling, BDCo

IDENTIFYING POVERTY IS THE FIRST STEP Following are examples of how we are addressing Poverty: 21^st Century Community Learning Center, Affordable Housing Project, Human Resource Committee.Cheryl Haasakker, Skatepark chair, Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter, Barb Reiter, Steering Committee We have a committee working with state agencies and county agencies on bring more services to our community. Over the years Boulder has been forgotten and we became apathetic. If it did not pertain to an individual, it was not that important. Now the majority of the population or at least a good percentage do care. They are working for those not so fortunate and are devoting a lot of time and energy. The citizens seem to realize that what affects one affects all and we want to make this a community where everyone who lives here is glad to be living here. Linda Norden, BCDO, Steering committee chair, Realtor

RESOURCE GUIDE A resource guide HAS BEEN PUBLISHED to inform people of human services programs in the region and how to get those services. Then it was summarized in the community phone book published by the Chamber. A human services “fair” to inform folks about those services has been scheduled for June 18. The 21^st Century Community Learning Center is working to address poverty issues through education. Classes in grant writing, cottage businesses and business opportunities to start or expand a business, financial planning for people in or near retirement and a separate class for younger folks, plus others have been held. —Gary Craft and Jan Anderson

PARTNERSHIP The committees that formed from Horizons initial study circles were all created based on the idea of reducing poverty. Each committee is approaching this idea in different ways. There are 26 different committees working to benefit everyone in our community. We have an education committee that is focused on reaching families and making changes through educational opportunities. We have a resource committee working on bringing social services to Boulder making it easier for everyone to access. These are only two of many committees that began from Horizons. Personally, one of the most important things that I learned from my involvement with the Horizon’s program was the power and importance of partnership. So much can be accomplished by working together and sharing information and ideas. This is a concept that I will always come back to and utilize in future projects or goals. Celia Wolny, Steering Committee Member