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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmma BodeFrom:webadmin@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Citizen Advisory Board Application Date:Thursday, September 30, 2021 4:11:33 PM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Citizen Advisory Board Application Date & Time:09/30/2021 4:11 PM Response #:89 Submitter ID:44237 IP address:209.200.215.30 Time to complete:7 min. , 41 sec. Survey Details Page 1 WELCOME Thank you for your interest in joining a Citizen Advisory Board. The City of Bozeman elected officials and staff believe in the value of public participation and local governance in the decision-making process and encourage all interested members of our community to apply. As set forth in Resolution 5323, the City is committed to building Advisory Boards that advance the City’s goals of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Because of this goal, the City is actively working to achieve membership that reflects, at the least, the demographics of our community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. CONTACT INFORMATION The City will need to communicate with all board members via email for a number of annual communications, so a valid email address is required for all applicants. Please notify the City Clerk's Office if your email address changes for any reason. The City will need to communicate with all board members via email for a number of annual communications, so a valid email address is required for all applicants. Please notify the City Clerk's Office if your email address changes for any reason. Please note that your application will become public information. All required fields are marked with a red asterisk *. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT Each official and employee serving on a multimember agency is expected to devote the time and effort necessary to ensure the successful functioning of such agency (Bozeman Municipal Code, Section 2.03.490.C.). Additional standards of conduct and norms are included in Resolution 5323. Applicant Information First Name Emma Last Name Bode Physical Address 303 S 6th Ave, Apt A PO Box (if different from physical address) Not answered City Bozeman State Montana Zip Code 59715 Primary Phone (307) 413-8886 Additional Phone Not answered Current Occupation Bozeman Field Manager Employer Forward Montana Email emma.t.bode@gmail.com Which position are you applying for? (○) Sustainability Board Do You Live in the City Limits? (Some positions do require you live within Bozeman city limits while others do not.) (○) Yes How long have you lived in the Bozeman Area? (○) 6-10 years Have you ever served on a City or County Board or Commission? (○) No Please describe your professional and personal experiences, interest, and qualifications that make you a good fit for this board. While living in Bozeman, I have organized with students, earned two degrees, and worked professionally in environmental and sustainability fields. These experiences and my passion for local community-driven change make me qualified to serve on this board. I have experience developing and advising Bozeman community leadership on climate initiatives. As an undergraduate student at MSU, I co-founded Sustainability Now (SNow), a student club that advocates for a broad range of sustainability efforts on campus. I am most proud of my work with SNow to advocate for composting of post-consumer food waste at MSU. As an organization, we demonstrated to campus administration both the student will and a straightforward method to sort waste at the dish drop-off in dining halls. With the support of MSU Staff, our work resulted in MSU’s two largest dining halls implementing post-consumer compost programs. The ongoing campaign to divest MSU’s Alumni Foundation from socially and environmentally harmful companies is an effort I started in SNow. While club president, I worked with my peers to write and pass a resolution supporting divestment through ASMSU, advised University President Cruzado and the Alumni Foundation President Chris Murray, and organized a student action to raise awareness for responsible investments. I continue to be engaged with this effort as part of the Campus Climate Coalition. I also have experience advising the City of Bozeman directly on climate policies. I was a Climate Team member and helped to develop the Bozeman Climate Plan. I am familiar with not only the goals and content of the Plan but also the limitations and regulations the City must work within to implement climate goals and am ready to hit the ground running if selected. My Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Science provide me with the tools to consider human and environmental impacts of development on Bozeman’s natural resources. For my Master’s degree, I used satellite imagery to map beetle-killed trees as part of a larger project to turn dead trees into biochar or biofuels. The goal of this project was to create both an economic and climate benefit from a climate- driven disaster. This project gave me experience thinking about mitigation of climate impacts in the intermountain west. Throughout my program, I took classes in soils, landscape ecology, hydrology, geology, and climate. I became adept at reviewing and collecting data and gained a high level of scientific literacy and communication. I am continuing my work as a climate advocate by leading Forward Montana’s environmental justice work in my role as the Bozeman Field Manager. I am proud of my strong relationships with Sunrise Movement organizers, current SNow leadership, and Campus Climate Coalition members. In addition to these Bozeman organizations, I work with staff from the Montana Environmental Information Center, the Northern Plains Resource Council, Montana Renewable Energy Association, and the Sierra Club on statewide climate policy. I not only advocate for the environment in my professional and personal capacity, but like many Bozemanites, I also enjoy spending time outside! I grew up in Jackson, Wyoming, and have experienced firsthand how becoming a world-class tourism destination puts strain on natural spaces. Over the past eight years, I have seen many of the same issues arise here in Bozeman. At the same time, the ability to recreate and feel safe in wild spaces is a privilege often only accessible to wealthier, white community members. Fulfilling the historically prominent version of “conservation” has the high potential for gatekeeping and exclusion - making positive outdoor experiences even more rare for historically marginalized communities. If selected for the advisory board, I would be excited to explore policies that both protect our natural environment and make connection with the outdoors accessible to everyone. The City of Bozeman strongly values diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Describe any efforts you have engaged in to expand your understanding of DEI. I have attended many training sessions on DEIJ, notably MTREPs Dismantling Hatred training and a training by Level Equity Consulting taught by Aja Osita three times in the past year. In addition, I teach an intern class as part of my role as Forward Montana’s Bozeman Field Manager. We discuss weekly readings on DEIJ topics in an effort to commit to regular and life-long learning and unlearning of systemic oppression. Over the past year and a half, Forward Montana has worked with several consultants to assess our current organizational structure concerning DEIJ and develop and implement an organizational DEIJ action plan. My experience going through this process and as a Forward Montana DEIJ committee member would provide helpful context and grounding if selected to serve on this board. As a middle-class white person, it is critical that I recognize my own privilege and be aware of how my culture and actions can impact people from historically marginalized groups. I cannot promise to do no harm, only that I am committed to deeply listening, making authentic apologies that take full responsibility for my actions when I mess up, and a lifetime of learning. References: Please provide name, phone, and email contact information for two references. Reference 1 Amara reese Hansell, 920-723-2203, amara@forwardmontana.org Reference 2 Kristin Blackler, 714-392-5030, kristin.blackler@montana.edu The Bozeman City Charter, voted in by the citizens of Bozeman in 2008, requires annual ethics training. If appointed, do you understand you will be expected to take online and in person ethics training? (○) Yes How did you hear about this board or vacancy? Email and Instagram Is there any other information that you feel we need to know? As a young person, a renter, and a woman, these issues have a big impact on my life. I am excited to bring these perspectives to this board. Thank you for considering my application. If you have a disability that requires assistance or need accommodations, please contact our ADA Coordinator, Mike Gray, at 582-3232 (TDD 582-2301). Please note that for most Citizen Advisory Boards, materials are distributed electronically for each meeting. Your application and all information submitted is considered a public record. All applications are included in the City Commission’s Meeting materials for consideration which are electronically archived and available to the public. Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.