By Lucy Hicks | April 14, 2025 As an AmeriCorps member, you may be worried about your future after service. I know I am! It’s overwhelming to look at all the opportunities, or even to find them while you’re focused on service. My position at the University of Montana has allowed me to learn more about what they offer, as well as insight into what’s out there in the community. I’m hoping by sharing these resources, you will feel more confident lining up personal and professional development opportunities.
Statewide/Missoula Resources:
1. Policy Leadership Institute, Catalyst Montana
· A multi-day training and community building event for anyone interested in realizing a future where there is justice, safety, and dignity for all. PLI is held annually and builds the skill and community necessary to create meaningful change in our lives as low-income and marginalized Montanans.
· Full and partial scholarships including food and lodging are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, carpools for folks needing a ride to Helena, and childcare offered.
2. Missoula Nonprofit Center
· The training, networking, and information sharing hub for Missoula area nonprofits.
· They host a calendar of all training and events offered by member nonprofits, host Volunteer Missoula, and have a job board with listings from Missoula nonprofits.
3. Montana Nonprofit Association
· Promote awareness of nonprofit work in Montana, provide resources and training for nonprofits and board members, and build a network of organizations working to make Montana a better place. · Have various learning events and resources and host a job board for the state.
4. Lifelong Learning Center (Missoula)
· LLC hosts numerous classes on topics of Educational Advancement and Professional Development & Career Skills.
· Upcoming classes include: Benefits of Creating a Recovery Friendly Workplace (free), Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (free), Email Marketing: Strategies that Turn Campaigns into Customers ($21), Leading Multi-generational Teams: Perception vs. Reality ($28)
5. Missoula Public Library
· Can reserve study rooms for up to 2 hours a day (free), can reserve conference rooms for events up to ~25 people (free), passport services, can reserve tabling spots (free).
· Upcoming: Project Community Connect, April 11th, 10am-3pm. Serves to bring together a wide range of community providers and organizations, offering participants a welcoming, stigma-free environment to access food, housing assistance, healthcare, employment opportunities, and many other resources. You can sign up to volunteer here! · Many other programs available on the Program Calendar. Missoula Community Access Television is in the library and provides education and equipment so Missoula folks can create, distribute and archive media productions for school, organizations, political or religious ambitions, or just for fun!
University of Montana Resources:
1. Experiential Learning and Career Success
· Free professional headshots, Mon.-Fri., 9am-4:30pm in Aber Hall Room 226 – No reservation needed!
· Career fairs in various sectors, such as business, nonprofit, healthcare, and more. Great for networking and seeing what’s out there! · Online job search resources and strategies – find here!
2. GrizHub
· As an AmeriCorps member through MCNCE, you should have a NetID and password. You can use this to login to GrizHub and attend various campus events and trainings – such as the upcoming Diffusing Workplace Tension for Busy People and EMPOWER: Connect with Trailblazing Female Leaders.
3. UMT Democracy Summit
· You can attend this Summit on April 24, 2025, which includes student-led activities, faculty insights, creative participatory dialogues, and performances across multiple locations. You can find the full schedule here.
· UMT hosts various summits, such as the UM Outcomes Summit that was in October, all which AmeriCorps members can attend.
4. Mansfield Library
· If you have a 790#, you can reserve study rooms, podcast/video recording studios, and editing spaces. You can also check out equipment, such as PA systems for events. · You also have access to the various research guides available through the library with a 790#.
5. UMT Writing Center
· Administrative offices are on the third floor of Aber Hall but in-person tutoring takes place primarily at tutoring center in the Mansfield Library (room 322).
· In-person or online appointments with a writing consultant six days a week
· Reader feedback on any communication task, including research proposals and papers, response papers, reports, literature reviews, speeches, scholarship applications, graduate school applications, thesis projects, etc.
· Help developing strategies for revision at any stage of a writing or presentation planning process.