Last August marked the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. In honor of this notable anniversary, NBC News posted a video to observe Women’s Equality Day. In 1920, all women were given the right to vote, however, voter suppression prevented black women from getting to the polls. In 1914, 6 years prior to the nationwide suffrage vote, Montanans voted 53% to 47% for extending voting rights to non-Native women. However, Indigenous women would have to wait until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act to gain voter rights. 

Jeanette Rankin was named Ranking Member of the new Suffrage Committee when it was established on September 24, 1917. The following January, Rankin and the Suffrage Committee were able to bring the amendment to the House floor. The resolution passed the house for the first time, however, it later died in the Senate. A year later, both chambers of Congress pass the same resolution with overwhelming margins. The 19th Amendment was ratified and added to the constitution in August 1920. With the help of Montana’s own, Jeannette Rankin, US women had won the right to vote.

Last year the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula (HMFM) had a Montana Woman Suffrage Exhibit on display called Montana Votes! This exhibit takes a deep dive into Montana’s election history. It shares the forces that have shaped our state’s politics, from efforts by the Anaconda Copper Company to silence voters to the decades-long fight for Indigenous suffrage and voter equality.” The exhibit closed August 15, 2021. However, HMFM created a 3-part lecture series discussing the history of Montana Politics, Women’s Suffrage, Voting 101, Native American Voting Rights, and more.  

Montana is ground zero for Native American voter suppression — and the fight against it. “With a Democrat no longer holding veto power [in Montana], state Republicans took advantage of Gianforte's election by passing two new voting law bills: House Bill 176, which eliminates same-day voter registration, and House Bill 530, which makes it illegal for people to distribute or collect mail-in ballots if they're being paid to do so.”

We will be hosting a webinar in September 2021. Stay up-to-date on our offerings as they're scheduled by liking or following our page on Facebook! To see our events page, click here.

Kelly Curtis, the new AmeriCorp VISTA for the Women's Foundation of Montana and PowerHouse Montana, is sharing her experience with the AmeriCorps program and her choice to apply for our open AmeriCorp Vista position this year.

"In 1964, as part of his domestic “Great Society” campaign, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program. This was the first federally regulated program designed to send workers all over the U.S to serve in support of Johnson’s War on Poverty. In 1992, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) was created to help communities recover from disaster, but it wasn’t until next year that AmeriCorps, known at that time as the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), was formed under President Clinton." Read more here.

One great feature of the new Powerhouse Montana website is the ability to edit your own profile. Make sure your information is up-to-date here.

There are many websites that can help you find the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Want to Give Your Time? Check These 20 Websites for Volunteer Opportunities is a great article to narrow down the website that meets your needs.

Visit MNA’s Nonprofit Job Board where nonprofit job searching is catered to meet your needs. The Nonprofit Job Board offers: the best nonprofit jobs in the region, email alerts, customized searches, resume posting.