Senators announce more than $75,000 for civic education programs

Baucus, Tester Say Dollars Will Help Facilitate Communication

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Montanans looking to help improve their problem solving skills will have more education options, thanks to a $76,637 grant that will keep civic education programs in Missoula going strong, Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today.

The Montana Committee for the Humanities will use the grant to fund community lecture, reading and discussion programs as well as other civic educational programming aimed at helping people work together to find solutions to local, state, national and global problems.

“Folks in Montana are always looking to the future, towards finding solutions for tomorrow’s problems.” Baucus said. “This grant is such good news for folks who want to make sure they are communicating effectively and getting the most out of their jobs, their communities and their lives.”

“Learning is a life long process,” Tester said. “The programs that the Montana Committee for the Humanities is offering are a great chance for folks to learn better ways to communicate.  Civic education strengthens our communities to keep our country moving forward.”

In addition to the funding for community discussion programs, the grant includes dollars for a series of three conferences intended to encourage civil discussion and engagement across the state. The grant will also fund a two day institute to train facilitators and a week long residential summer institute for teachers in civic education.

The money was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Directed Grants program.