Elizabeth Doney Havre Daily News edoney@havredailynews.com
Making a difference in the community is often an opportunity that is overlooked as the vast broadness of civic processes may seem above one person’s involvement. But one person, one leader, one educator, one student and one parent networking ideas and resources toward a creative vision for the future is the beginning of that process. A community workshop titled “Imagine: A conversation with the future” will be offered to anyone who cares to improve opportunities for youth and adults with creative interaction that will ultimately make a difference in the Havre community. On Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p. m. Bliss Browne, a civic project leader of Image Chicago, and nationally recognized innovator in social capital development and systematic change in communities will be facilitating the workshop in the Donaldson Commons at Montana State University-Northern. Opportunity Link, a seven-region poverty reduction organization working to unite resources and fight poverty, has partnered with Hopa Mountain, a program working to create change for rural and tribal communities by improving education, ecological health and economic development, have united to bring community workshops like this one to the north-central Montana region. “From what I can see, Image Chicago is a process that places the utmost importance on bringing people of all cultural backgrounds together, building relationships and partnerships,” Leah Noel of Opportunity Link said of the workshop’s approach. “It’s a way to bring people together that traditionally or for whatever reason have not sat at the same table to look at the issues that effect everyone.” The workshop is intended to be an event to spur community innovation, increase understanding and acceptance of diversity, including cultural aspects, in north-central Montana areas. “More than anything, it is an opportunity to strengthen communication, connection and collaboration among the people who care about the community,” Brown said of Imagine, which she specifically and locally designed to emerge collective visions of the communities and cultures of Havre. Participants will learn how to create projects and civic processes that will involve everyone and “bring unique talents into creative connection.” “We have to recognize the capacity we have to foster positive change when we all work together,” Noel said of the Havre Community. “I believe there is an innate desire within each of us to do what we can to make our communities a better place. Imagine is a catalyst that can help bring those wishes and dreams into reality.” The workshops are free of charge and lunch will be provided. Participants can register in advance by calling Leah Noel at Opportunity Link at (406) 265-3699 http://www.opportunitylinkmt. org or Bonnie Satchatello- Sawyer at Hopa Mountain at (406) 586- 2455. People can also register online at http://www.hopamountain.org.
