Daniel Kemmis has divided his public career between democratic theory and practice. He has been an active politician, author, and thought leader on the topics of community guided governance and decision making based upon citizens’ rooted connection to place.
Kemmis grew up on a small family farm in Eastern Montana, attended Harvard University, and the University of Montana’s School of Law. Kemmis served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1974 to 1984, rising to be Speaker of the House. He went on to become the Mayor of Missoula from 1990-96. Utne Reader recognized Kemmis as one of its “100 Visionaries” in 1995, he was awarded the Charles Frankel Prize for “outstanding contribution to the field of the humanities” by President Clinton, and honored with the Wallace Stegner Prize from the Center of the American West. Kemmis has authored the books Community and the Politics of Place, The Good City and the Good Life, and This Sovereign Land. His most recent book, Citizens Uniting to Restore Our Democracy, was published in 2020. In this book, by examining the historical and current context of American society, Kemmis reminds us that when we bring our problem-solving skills to bear as engaged members of collaborative communities, we can rise above the divisive partisanship and polarization so common today, and move onto the truly democratic ground of the common good.
We speak about these topics and more, and joining Daniel and I in this conversation is Bill Milton. Bill is a cattle rancher in the community of Roundup, Montana and is engaged in a variety of entities on a local, state, and national level, as an advocate for finding symbiotic relationships between people and the landscapes they're a part of.
LINKS:
Citizens Uniting to Restore Our Democracy
This episode is part of the Life in the Land project, which is a series of films and podcasts produced by Stories for Action, which hears from folks that interact with the complexities of Montana's landscapes, speaking to the value of locally-led work and the holistic approaches needed for the health of communities and the ecosystems they're a part of. Find out more about the project and watch the films at LifeintheLand.org
Stories for Action holds a mission to use the power of storytelling to create human connection and advance a thriving planet for all. Learn more at StoriesforAction.org Instagram and Facebook: @StoriesforAction
#Montana #missoula #politics #bipartisan #nonpartisan #polarization #dividednation #collaboration #danielkemmis #mayor #howtoheal #howtoconnect #createcommunity
The Upper Yellowstone River: Part 2 - Recreation and a Call for Community Reconnection
The Upper Yellowstone River: Part 1 - The Floods & Listening to the River
Safe Passages for Wildlife and People
The Montana Legislative Session from an Indigenous Perspective
Uplifting community & connection through story: Marissa Hackett
Generations Indigenous Ways: Helene Gaddie (Life in the Land series)
Messengers for Health in Crow Nation: Alma McCormick (Life in the Land series)
Creating Community and Representation in Outdoor Recreation
Reframing Rural: Sarah Vogel, the Farmer’s Lawyer
Elk and the Devil’s Kitchen Management Team (Life in the Land series)
Gravel Pits and the Public Losing Their Voice
Old Salt Co-Op: Strengthening community and land stewardship through food (Life in the Land series)
Life in the Land: MT Fish, Wildlife, & Parks’ Mike Ruggles; agency partnerships in Central Montana
Life in the Land: Rancher & Community-led Conservation; Bud and Sheila Walsh
Life in the Land: Blackfeet Nation, Joe and Kathy Kipp, Stewardship as a rancher and community advocacy
Life in the Land: Bill Milton (Rancher), Collaborative Work & Resiliency, Central Montana Plains
Life in the Land: Big Hole Valley: Pedro Marques, Big Hole Watershed Committee
Life in the Land: Laura Nowlin; Rancher, Winnett ACES, Musselshell Watershed Coalition
Life in the Land: Big Hole Valley, USFWS Partners Program, Jim Magee
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Freakonomics Radio
Criminal
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World