Missoula Candidate Forum… with a spicy twist!
Thursday, August 14 // Doors open at 6 PM // Free Admission, All Are Welcome Join Forward Montana and the Candidates up for Election (there are sooooo many) in W2, W3 and W6 for a Hot Ones Styled Candidate Forum. Get answers to all your burning questions, learn more about WTF city council does and have a chaotically fun time doing it! Don’t live in W2/3/6 do not fear, you can still come and learn more about City Council!
Stories from Home
Friday, September 12 // Doors open at 6 PM // Interactive Storytelling Session at 6:30 PM // Free Admission, All Are Welcome // Light Refreshments Stories of HomePresented by Soft Landing Missoula, in Honor of Welcoming Week 2025 Join us for an inspiring evening as refugees and immigrants in the Missoula community share what home means to them!”What does home mean to you?” This simple question can spark a profound journey of reflection, especially for those who have experienced displacement or migration. Here in Missoula, the refugee and immigrant neighbors bring rich tapestries of experiences that redefine the concept of home.For the fifth consecutive year, Soft Landing Missoula’s Stories of Home project invites us to explore the diverse and nuanced meanings of home. We delve into the homes left behind and the new ones forged; the homes we aspire to build and those that live on in our memories; the homes found in physical spaces and those discovered in the embrace of community.Join us for an immersive evening featuring a collection of multimedia narratives. For the first time Stories of home will be presented through a series of documentary shorts. We’ll share the stories of individuals who have made Missoula their new home after journeying as refugees and immigrants.The highlight of our gathering will be a moderated panel session with project participants. This intimate dialogue, combined with powerful visual and written narratives, aims to amplify the voices of our new neighbors and illuminate the universal experiences that connect us all – regardless of where we call home.
Furry Meet-Up
Friday, June 20 // 3 PM // Free and Open to the Public! // *In Conference Room (upstairs) Join us for the Official Missoula PRIDE Furry Meet-Up! Come chatter and chitter with fellow Furs, learn more about the Furry fandom, and have some fun! Friday, June 20th at 3:00 p.m. in the ZACC Conference Room at the Zootown Arts Community Center (216 W Main St., Missoula).
Navigating the Genderverse
Saturday, June 21 // 10-11 AM // Free and Open to the Public! // *In Conference Room (upstairs) This presentation is facilitated by TransVisible Montana collective members with intention to create a “brave space” for folks to gain education regarding the challenges that misinformation and cis-normative systems create for transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit Montanans.
Missoula Zine Release Party: The Sun Will Rise Again
Friday, June 6 // 7:30 PM // Doors 7 PM // Free and Open to the Public //$5-$20 Suggested Donation 🌞 The 5th Edition of Transcendent Joy Zine is HERE! 🌈This year’s theme? “The Sun Will Rise Again” — a shoutout to the power, joy, and resilience of the LGBTQIA2S+ community 💖 We’re kicking off Pride Month the only way we know how:🎤 Emcee Iris Von Moxxii💃 ISCSM Drag Show🎸 DJ Sticks n’ Stones🌈 Queer joy all around Let’s party like the future is bright — because it is. Allies welcome! Please RSVP!: https://secure.everyaction.com/rjkH9NBhmU-QR99hS7Rkig2
Diversity Day
Sunday, April 13 // Door at 2 PM // Free and Open to the Public! Come join us on April 13th from 2-4pm at The ZACC for EmpowerMT’s 16th annual Diversity Day celebration! EmpowerMT’s youth leaders were instrumental in helping to extend protection against discrimination to LGBTQ+ community members under Missoula’s Non-Discrimation Ordinance. Since then, the second Saturday in April has been declared Diversity Day to commemorate that victory, honor the impact of youth engagement, and celebrate Missoula’s enriching diversity. To honor this anniversary, Youth leaders from EmpowerMT are putting on an event to elevate belonging, meaning, wellbeing and purpose through art and expression. Diversity Day festivities will include celebrating personal stories on the theme of creative resistance through speakers and communal art activities. Cecelia Spencer will be our keynote speaker. We will also honor youth leaders across Montana who inspire change in their communities with the 2025 Youth Lead Now Awards. This event will also double as a book drive! We will be uplifting a young person at this event who has created a Diverse Book Library for our office. Book donations that represent a variety of diverse life experiences are welcomed! This is a FREE event! Register here!
Inner and Outer Horizons: A Workshop On Landscapes and Philosophy
Monday, April 28 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $5-$20 Sliding Scale Moments in nature can bring about profound personal changes. Understanding how those changes take place can help us to deepen our relationships with ourselves and the natural environment. During this workshop, participants will explore how basic principles in philosophy align with our transformative experiences of nature. As a group, participants will draw upon the concept of the ‘horizon’ and discuss the ways in which philosophy can mirror our encounters with natural landscapes. Topics will include mind-body dualism, transcendentalism, and ‘reflective practice’. We will try to make sense of nature’s potential to influence personal change with the aim of developing our capacities for insight and landscape appreciation. Matthew-Jack, the workshop’s facilitator, is an environmental philosopher from the UK, currently working and studying at the University of Montana.
Nature Songwriting Workshop: an evening of sharing and learning
Monday, April 14 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $5-$20 Sliding Scale Nature is an endless source of inspiration and reflection. For musicians and creative writers, experiences in nature can improve their art, while the act of creating can bring us closer to ourselves and our environment. Musicians and creative writers are encouraged to join Matthew-Jack for a one-off ‘meeting of minds’ on the topic of nature songwriting. All levels of skill and experience are welcome. We will workshop ideas together and perform at the end, so bring your songs and instruments! Our facilitator, Matthew-Jack, is an environmental philosopher and folk musician from the UK. Join us for a fun night of sharing and learning, alongside semi-structured discussion on the philosophies of nature and songwriting. Feel free to come along for the ride, even if you don’t feel like sharing your work.
Art Ball
Tuesday, April 22 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $20 // $15 Student The University of Montana’s Artist Collective is thrilled to announce the return of Art Ball! This year, the event is even more special as it falls on Earth Day, making it a celebration of both art and the planet. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with live music, a silent art auction, and our local community of artists and art supporters. It will be a great opportunity to appreciate creativity and the impact that art has on our world. Let’s get together and enjoy a night of creativity, connection, and celebration of all things art!
Americans With No Address Film Screening
Wednesday, March 25 // Door at 6 PM // Show at 6:30 PM // Free and Open to the Public! The Housing Advocate Network (HAN) invites you to an evening of conversation, storytelling, and learning about what everyday people can do to impact houselessness in Missoula. The event will feature locally produced short films that highlight the experiences of HAN participants and volunteers navigating housing challenges. It will also include an update from local leaders on Missoula’s recently completed housing strategy and practical ways for everyday citizens to get involved. The evening will conclude with a special screening of “Americans With No Address”, a powerful documentary exploring the systemic causes, lived experiences, and solutions to houselessness across the U.S.
