Our Mission
To preserve the essence of Montana by strengthening community action to address challenging issues and drive positive change.
Our Vision
We’re committed to igniting a spirit of possibility. Let's work together to create a Montana that's stronger, more vibrant, and more connected than ever before.
Our Approach
By providing necessary tools, facilitating productive dialogue, and connecting resources to needs, we act as catalysts to unlock the potential of our communities.
Together We Will
Amplify local and diverse voices and perspectives
Catalyze creative solutions and progress
Elevate the quality of life for all Montanans
Celebrate the unique character of our communities while forging a path forward
OUR MODEL IS SIMPLE:
WE BRING THE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE. We assemble people with different backgrounds and perspectives—farmers and ranchers, landowner associations, climate scientists, sportsmen’s groups, universities, agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and others—who have a shared interest in solving a particular challenge.
WE INVEST IN THE “TABLE”. By bringing diverse perspectives together in a safe place we build trust and shared understanding of the problem, and create a foundation for potential solutions.
WE HELP TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS. Working with the community or stakeholders we help implement a strategy or specific solution to increase resiliency and sustainability.
All of One Montana’s programs are grounded in this model and driven by the vision of sustaining and bettering Montana's way of life. We listen, we learn, and in an equitable manner facilitate solutions. The model is replicable and proven. In some cases, One Montana will lead and manage the project and in others, we will identify leaders and help the project to flourish and stand on its own. And in many cases, these conversations cannot happen without One Montana.
Our History
In 2004, inspired by his passion for rural sustainability, Bill Bryan established the Cook Center for Sustainable Agriculture in the American West to be a proactive, collaborative force for agriculture. Over time, the organization’s interests expanded and in 2007 the Cook Center was renamed The Rural Landscape Institute - A Catalyst for Food and Agricultural Integrity in the American West (RLI). RLI worked on issues affecting sustainable agriculture and food security in the West. One of these projects, originally called the Rural-Urban Partnership, focused on bridging the rural-urban divide. As this project developed it became evident that, to truly support rural communities, the organization needed to build out networks among rural communities and their urban counterparts to create a resilient and vibrant state. RLI was renamed One Montana in 2008 with the knowledge that we are stronger together than we are apart. Today, One Montana brings stakeholders together to build resilience and help communities adapt to changing times and we are trusted for helping to move Montana forward.