By Lisa Harmon | 2024 Billings Climate Week

“If you think about [the Church’s] reach across the nation, that’s a lot of people we can bring a message around climate to.”

Climate change stories are frequently full of isolation, anxiety, fear, and anger. These emotions, though negative, can actually be vehicles for empowerment and resilience. By shifting the issue to what we are grateful for and the hopes we have, we can channel negative emotions into aspirations, fostering a sense of community and collective strength.

Included are recordings of the four speakers who presented at our University of Montana FLAT House storytelling event hosted on November 17th, 2024 at the FLAT Studio.

By Randy Hafer | 2024 Billings Climate Week

“It became more and more apparent, as we were building the [Urban Frontier] House, that, in fact, the simpler the systems get, the smaller the systems get…the easier everything is, and the less expensive it is.” ”

By Ed Gulick | 2024 Billings Climate Week

“When you are riding [your bike], there is a real connection to the people around you. And you are connected to your place. We have a wonderful place! Let’s enjoy this place. You are connected to the weather in ways that a lot of people aren’t connected. It’s a wonderful thing!"

By Boris Krizek | 2024 Billings Climate Week

“[Emissions are] fairly comparable between the CNG and the diesel [engines] particularly because [the diesel] has the regen [system].”

By Alex Hibala | Live at the 2023 Bitteroot Climate Story event

“The river, this river is special. All of them in this state are special. It's not anywhere in the West that you get to find this many freestone fish living wild. Wild fish adapting to the environment as best as they can. They deserve some protection and a little bit of forethought.”

By Cari Holst | 2024 Billings Climate Week

“Buying locally, buying from something like a food hub, building up that local ecosystem, that resiliency, allows us to fall back on the local community and local producers. Because if we try to build up those things when we need them, it’s going to be really hard.”

By Ivy Fredrickson | Live at the 2023 Montana Folk Festival

“We see it in our everyday lives. Wildfire smoke across the nation, not just every so often here in the northern Rockies region. Severe storms in places they shouldn’t be. “1000 year” floods occuring every few years. Measurable and indisputable sea level rise. These are very bad things, but these are game changers for real action. The impacts of climate change are now so obvious that they cannot be ignored. You cannot do business without considering the risks of climate change.”

By Wayne Burleson | 2023 Billings Climate Week

“All health begins in the soil” - Wayne Burleson, of Billings, MT explains how feeding our soils can heal us and help us better adapt to changing weather conditions. Wayne Burleson is a native Montanian, Master Gardener and avid volunteer. Wayne volunteers with the Montana Rescue Mission and Farmer-to-Farmer where he travels around the world teaching with his wife, Connie.

By Laura Garber - This recording is live from our Cultivating Community Resilience Through Storytelling Event

“The most important moment for a seed, is now. You are holding the seed now and you have the opportunity to let the future happen or let it die in your hands…”