Leadership Montana Program Reflection: Tim Guardipee (Billings) & Leslie Southworth (Lewistown), Class of 2022
Indigenous Immersion Initiative: John Morrison
March 31, 2022
Masters Class Session: Carson Sweeney
April 30, 2022

CLASSROOM REFLECTION

Tim Guardipee (Billings), Class of 2022

Session 4 | Lewistown, MT

Cohort 1: Tim Guardipee, Class of 2022, Billings

Our time during Lewistown reminded us of our current national situation where ideologically two different sides hold strong to their beliefs and passions. We got to see and hear from a couple of opposing forces that are speaking out and creating action for what they hold dear. What I appreciated about our own discussions, the community conversation, and land issues, we were able to have dialog in a manner that respected views, allowed discourse with no agenda.  When we as a society can respect, and I dare say love others individually even those we disagree with, it lessens the tension, fear, and hate and opens a broader ability to communicate. Not that we have to choose sides but we can view others with a different lens, one at times is hard for us to put on.

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss, learn, evaluate and understand. In Montana, we at times are insulated from the divisiveness that grips certain parts of America. We go about our daily lives putting in the efforts we care about usually in our own localities. We bustle about, we make happen, we innovate, we lead the charge and we care what we care about without regard to the national landscape.

Being in Lewistown and seeing the vibrancy the town has maintained and feeling the passion adds a sense of hope. Even when hearing about the fires, community concerns, food production issues, and land stewardship, a community can still have hope that what they do matters, especially for future generations. The value in the opportunity to learn and grow as a leader, which has the potential impact on future generations, is unquantifiable. That also gives me hope that we collectively as a group of individuals from all walks of life can be the drops of rain that bring abundant life to all that we have an influence on and care about.