Our Mission
Action Statement
Current Campaigns
Passenger Rail
SGCC has been supportive of the Passenger Train’s return to southern Montana since the creation of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) in 2020. Over the past four years, members have tabled, written letters, provided public comment at County Commission meetings, and coordinated with the BSPRA to help advocate for Passenger Rail in Helena and Lewis and Clark County.
Issues We Work On
Local Food
Sleeping Giant has supported local food systems through participation in the Longest Table Community Dinners and events surrounding Soil Health Week in early April. In 2025, Sleeping Giant hosted a film screening of Common Ground, the sequel to the soil movie Kiss The Ground, and also partnered with Helena Food Share for a soil health workshop and site visit of the Sixth Ward Community Gardens.
Clean Energy
Our past clean energy efforts have included bringing more solar to our communities through a Solarize campaign, and efforts to install more energy efficient lighting in local buildings. We are currently pursuing a C-PACE outreach campaign, and taking an interest in holding Northwestern Energy accountable for refusing to pursue more clean energy infrastructure.
Community Design
City and County design planning: SGCC members have been carefully studying the city of Helena and the county of Lewis and Clark’s proposed growth plans to submit comments and attend meetings throughout 2024 and 2025. Members are using the framework of Strong Towns and Jeff Speck’s 101 Rules for a Walkable City to assess opportunities for nonmotorized transportation expansion and encouragement.
History and Accomplishments
- Seven years hosting the Annual Sun Run in partnership with the Vigilante Runners, raising money to solarize local community buildings.
- Ten residential homes outfitted with solar panels in 2021 through the Solarize campaign.
- Hosted multiple Wild and Scenic Film Festivals.
- Hosted forums opposing the Tongue River Railroad and supporting Passenger Rail.
- Hosted a Helena Chef’s Expo to showcase local food during the Montana Local Food Challenge.
Leadership
Chair
Susan DeBree
Vice-Chair
Diane Hammer
Secretary
Ellie Paker and Frank Kromkowski
Treasurer
Ken McLean
Northern Plains Board Representatives
Katherine Appling-Freistadt
Marianne Shomaker
Community Organizer
Bryce Johnston
bryce@northernplains.org