Consultation on the development of the Belonging in Bozeman Plan has concluded. Thank you for helping craft this plan! 

For updates on plan implementation, visit www.bozeman.net/equityandinclusion. 

• Vision Statement Survey deadline extended to June 18

  Share Vision Statement Survey deadline extended to June 18 on Facebook Share Vision Statement Survey deadline extended to June 18 on Twitter Share Vision Statement Survey deadline extended to June 18 on Linkedin Email Vision Statement Survey deadline extended to June 18 link

  We've made some changes to ensure that the Vision Statement survey is more fully accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. The survey will be open for another week to allow for folks to share their input more completely.

  If you need to access this survey in an alternative format or need assistance with completing this survey, please get in touch with Mike Gray, the City of Bozeman's ADA Coordinator by phone at 406-582-3232 (voice), 406-582-2301 (TDD) or by email at mgray@bozeman.net.

  Provide your feedback by Sunday, June 18!

  Visit bit.ly/bib-survey-english to complete the survey in English.

  Esta encuesta también se puede tomar en español: bit.ly/bib-encuesta-espanol.

• Provide your input on the draft Vision Statements

  Share Provide your input on the draft Vision Statements on Facebook Share Provide your input on the draft Vision Statements on Twitter Share Provide your input on the draft Vision Statements on Linkedin Email Provide your input on the draft Vision Statements link

  The Vision Statements for the Belonging in Bozeman Equity & Inclusion Plan are ready for review and feedback from the community! These eight aspirations are rooted in previous work done by the city and community partners to develop Equity Indicators & CEDAW Priorities. They aim to address disparities in each topic area and reflect the experiences of people in Bozeman who are most affected.

  [Outcomes we want to achieve] + [Populations who experience inequities] = Vision Statement

  The City of Bozeman needs your help to ensure that these aspirational vision statements reflect the experiences of the community and orient the goals and recommendations of the plan towards the Bozeman we want to become! Help us create the vision for each of the eight topics areas in the plan.

  Provide your feedback by June 11.

  Visit bit.ly/bib-survey-english to complete the survey now!

  Esta encuesta también se puede tomar en español: bit.ly/bib-encuesta-espanol.

  
  

• Thanks for joining us at Bozeman Pride!

  Share Thanks for joining us at Bozeman Pride! on Facebook Share Thanks for joining us at Bozeman Pride! on Twitter Share Thanks for joining us at Bozeman Pride! on Linkedin Email Thanks for joining us at Bozeman Pride! link

  Chace and Sarah from the Belonging in Bozeman team were at the Pride Stroll on Saturday 5/20 talking to folks about the Equity & Inclusion Plan and gathering input on two key questions for the LGBTQ+ community to weigh in on:

  1. Do you feel safe living in Bozeman as a member of the LGBTQ+ community?

  2. Do you feel there are spaces in Bozeman where you can easily connect with others in the LGBTQ+ community?

  We know that a big part of feeling like you belong in a community relies on safety and community support. We are digging in to these themes as a part of the Equity & Inclusion plan and want to hear more from you about how we can develop recommendations and actions in the plan that contribute to safety and community support.

  Two of the draft Vision Statements touch on these themes - take the survey and offer your feedback on these statements that will guide the goals and recommendations in the plan!
  

  • Community Safety and Civic Health – Residents and visitors of all identities, abilities, and life circumstances feel safe, heard, and represented within local government and major institutions.
  • Community Resiliency - All residents will enjoy equitable access to community spaces and resources that promote social connection, health, and resiliency in a changing climate.

• Welcome Community Liaisons!

  Share Welcome Community Liaisons! on Facebook Share Welcome Community Liaisons! on Twitter Share Welcome Community Liaisons! on Linkedin Email Welcome Community Liaisons! link

  The City of Bozeman is proud to welcome on board three Community Liaisons who will help engage the community for the development of the Belonging in Bozeman Equity & Inclusion Plan! These individuals have been hired on as part time city staff to put their skills, experience, and local connections to use to bring more voices into the conversation on what we need to do to address disparities in the Disability, Latinx, LGBTQ+ communities. They are currently in the process of onboarding and working with the project team to develop action plans to engage with the community on issues around equity and belonging.

• Progress updates at City Commission and Economic Vitality Board this week

  Share Progress updates at City Commission and Economic Vitality Board this week on Facebook Share Progress updates at City Commission and Economic Vitality Board this week on Twitter Share Progress updates at City Commission and Economic Vitality Board this week on Linkedin Email Progress updates at City Commission and Economic Vitality Board this week link

  Staff will provide a quarterly update on the development of the plan tonight at the City Commission meeting. City Commission meets every week on Tuesday nights to make important decisions on city policy and development. Occasionally they hear "Special Presentations" from staff and community partners on initiatives like the City's Equal Pay Report and the Belonging in Bozeman Equity & Inclusion Plan.

  Tonight's meeting also commemorates one year since the City adopted it's CEDAW Resolution establishing actions to make Bozeman a participating member of the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

  Find the meeting materials on the city website! These updates will continue throughout the duration of the project.

  Economic Vitality Board will hear this update on Wednesday, April 5th at their meeting. This board meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 6pm. Meeting materials are on the city website. Economic Vitality Board will hear project updates every month throughout the duration of the project.

• Thanks for joining us at the Kick-off Event!

  Share Thanks for joining us at the Kick-off Event! on Facebook Share Thanks for joining us at the Kick-off Event! on Twitter Share Thanks for joining us at the Kick-off Event! on Linkedin Email Thanks for joining us at the Kick-off Event! link
  

  About 100 community members gathered to celebrate the launch of the effort to develop of the Equity & Inclusion Plan on March 7th. Thanks to all who joined to learn about this work and mark this milestone with us! This project brings together nearly 3 years of work to establish a guiding document for the City of Bozeman and broader community to address disparities in health, housing, education, and economic opportunity. The project team is now beginning to develop the vision statements that will guide the goals, recommendations, and actions that will go in the plan.

  Next steps are to gather feedback on the vision statements via survey this spring and invite you and your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to host and participate in Community Chats this summer.

• City looks to hire Community Liaisons

  Share City looks to hire Community Liaisons on Facebook Share City looks to hire Community Liaisons on Twitter Share City looks to hire Community Liaisons on Linkedin Email City looks to hire Community Liaisons link

  Community Liaisons are well-connected, trusted leaders and relationship builders in their own neighborhoods or communities. The City of Bozeman is looking to hire three Community Liaisons is to elevate voices and increase participation among underrepresented groups in the development of a city-wide Equity & Inclusion Plan.

  These individuals will help reach different underrepresented groups including but not limited to the Spanish-speaking community, low-income households, BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) households, LGBTQ+, and/or people with disabilities. They'll receive regular support, training, compensation, and resources to engage their communities and gather input from residents where they live, eat, play, work, and/or worship.

  This is a temporary, short-term position with the City of Bozeman. Community Liaisons are employees of the City of Bozeman and will be paid an hourly rate of $24. Community Liaisons may not work more than 90 days total. It is expected that Community Liaisons work an average of 10 hours a month.

  Interested? Apply today on the city jobs page and reach out to Dani Hess with any questions dhess@bozeman.net.

• Join us for the Project Launch Event on 3/7!

  Share Join us for the Project Launch Event on 3/7! on Facebook Share Join us for the Project Launch Event on 3/7! on Twitter Share Join us for the Project Launch Event on 3/7! on Linkedin Email Join us for the Project Launch Event on 3/7! link

  What does an equitable and inclusive Bozeman feel like to you?

  That’s just one of the questions we’ll ask folks to engage with on Tuesday, March 7 at 11 am at our Belonging in Bozeman Equity & Inclusion planning launch event!

  What is it? A celebratory event – think part info session, part social gathering – to collectively launch this year’s upcoming Equity and Inclusion planning process with the city's Belonging in Bozeman team and Steering Committee, Tuesday, March 7, at 11 am MST at The Bozeman Public Safety Center –Community Room, 901 North Rouse, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Zoom attendance option also available.)

  What’s the planning process? The plan will tell the story of what equity and belonging mean in Bozeman; engage and involve city staff, partner organizations, and community members; establish goals, actions, and accountability based on equity indicators and data; and create a framework for implementation and measuring equity and inclusion in our work moving forward. The City has already begun this work and needs community participation to make it happen!

  Why should you come to the kick-off? You’ll learn about the process, hear from our key players, find out how you and your community can be a part of making Bozeman a place where everyone feels like they belong.

  What else will we do at the kick-off? We’ll have time to socialize, enjoy refreshments, and be in community together. This process is about co-creating a more equitable and inclusive City of Bozeman, so it won’t be just a meeting – it’ll be an opportunity to gather together and enjoy each other’s company.

  Okay, I’m in! How do I register? Fill out the form at bit.ly/BiBLaunch

  How can I help spread the word? Forward this email! Call and text people to invite them. Share our social media posts about the process and tag us. Reply YES to this email, and we’ll keep you on our list of folks who can help pass along emails and info to your community!

  I have some questions before I decide. Who do I ask? Send an email to dhess@bozeman.net!

  Thank you and we hope to see you on March 7!

  
  

• First Quarterly Update to City Commission

  Share First Quarterly Update to City Commission on Facebook Share First Quarterly Update to City Commission on Twitter Share First Quarterly Update to City Commission on Linkedin Email First Quarterly Update to City Commission link

  On Tuesday, Dec. 20th, staff will present the first quarterly update for the development of the city's first Equity & Inclusion Plan. The update will cover progress so far, a sneak peek at engagement efforts, and next steps. This item is a "special presentation" meaning the City Commission does not ask questions, have discussion, or vote on this issue. It's purely informational.

  You can attend virtually by visiting the city's website, or join in person at 6pm at City Hall. A recording of the meeting will also be shared here and on the city's website afterwards.

• Belonging in Bozeman team at the CommUNITY Fair - 8/27

  Share Belonging in Bozeman team at the CommUNITY Fair - 8/27 on Facebook Share Belonging in Bozeman team at the CommUNITY Fair - 8/27 on Twitter Share Belonging in Bozeman team at the CommUNITY Fair - 8/27 on Linkedin Email Belonging in Bozeman team at the CommUNITY Fair - 8/27 link

  Hello Bozeman!

  Join us to meet some of our Belonging in Bozeman team members and learn about the Equity & Inclusion Plan!

  BOZEMAN COMMUNITY FAIR

  AUGUST 27 @ 11:00AM-3:00PM - Emerson Lawn

  The CommUNITY Fair is proud to showcase, spotlight, and support the vast array of non-profits, minority-owned businesses, Bozeman-based organizations, and the remarkable talent and people that make up the Bozeman community!

  * Entertainment (dance troupes, singers, musicians, circus performers and more)
  * Food Trucks
  * Vendor & Crafts Market
  * Non-Profit Meet & Greet
  * Locally-Owned Business Spotlight