Missoula organizers push 'packs' and Courage Collectives to mobilize support for schools

Organizers and panelists at a Missoula town hall encouraged attendees to convert discussion into action by forming small grassroots teams — called packs — and registering Courage Collectives to apply for micro-grants to fund materials, canvassing and outreach to pass school levies and influence education policy.

Lorraine, the co-lead of the 1,000,000 Rising town-hall series, said groups that register with Indivisible’s Courage Collective model may be eligible for small grants (she cited a $1,000 grant as an example) to pay for posters and outreach. Panelists described the practical use of such funds: local graphics, yard signs, student canvassing and targeted phone-banking to pass levies and recruit candidates who prioritize public education.

Erica, an organizer who said she started a local project called Public School Kids, urged campaigns that build common, nonpartisan pride in public schools — for example, shirts, podcasts and storytelling — to broaden appeal. Panelists recommended persistent engagement (attending school-board meetings, running for local office, and supporting levies outside moments of controversy) as the most sustainable approach.

Why it matters: multiple panelists argued that without local organization and continuous engagement, structural funding gaps and statewide policy changes will continue to erode services. They urged forming volunteer teams now, coordinating with neighboring districts, and using available micro-grants to recruit and mobilize supporters before the next legislative and levy cycles.

The session closed with practical next steps: sign-in sheets to continue work on the pack idea, invitations to regular organizing meetings, and announcements of upcoming town-hall topics.