<div dir="ltr"><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-de57bab3-7fff-9ed2-b0db-acecace9098a"><b><font size="2">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</font></b></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><b><font size="2">MONTANA CLIMATE STORIES UNVEILED<br></font></b></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><b><font size="2">New climate storytelling site amplifies our common experience</font></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size="2"><br></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size="2"><b>Missoula, Montana (October 20, 2021) - <span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></b><a href="https://livableclimate.org/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Families for a Livable Climate</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://www.storiesforaction.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stories for Action</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> are proud to announce their new storytelling site, </span><a href="http://mtclimatestories.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Montana Climate Stories</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, with co-sponsors </span><a href="https://www.montanahphc.org/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and </span><a href="https://www.mtnmamas.org/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mountain Mamas</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></font></p><font size="2"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Our stories are the foundation of many of our relationships. When we tell our climate stories--what we’re worried about, what we’re experiencing, what we hope our future will look like--we can connect across differences and begin to make change.” said Winona Bateman, director of Families for a Livable Climate.</span></font></p><font size="2"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Montana Climate Stories (<a href="https://www.mtclimatestories.org/">mtclimatestories.org)</a> features personal stories from Montanans about how climate change is impacting them. All Montana families need a livable climate and thriving environment to ensure a bright and secure future. We also need good jobs, healthcare, and equitable access to education and other opportunities such as healthy working landscapes. Stories posted on the site will reflect these shared needs.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“The impacts from climate change and the shifts needed for a healthy future are incredibly connected. As a society, we need to come together in interconnected ways, like any other resilient ecosystem. Sharing our stories helps create this connection.” said </span><a href="mailto:LdTomov@gmail.com" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lara Tomov</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, director, Stories for Action.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Climate change is human caused and getting worse. But, we have most of the solutions we need to address this problem. When we openly speak about the causes, concerns, and mitigation of these impacts, we can move toward a thriving future for Montana. Our hope is that by sharing stories, more Montanans can find common ground and come together to protect our climate, our communities, and ensure a livable future for all of our families and this beautiful state we call home.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-c11ce772-7fff-d85c-d6b8-4ca83881a6c8"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Any Montanan can submit a story. Submissions can be made through the website: </span><a href="http://mtclimatestories.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">mtclimatestories.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, or by tagging the project on Instagram: </span><a href="http://instagram.com/montanaclimatestories" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">@montanaclimatestories</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span></font><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">People can follow along on Instagram to see new story posts as well.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Partner organizations will be contributing to the site; some have given permission already to repost articles. Cross-posting from multiple organizations and efforts is a key goal for the project. "This is a space for all our stories," said Ms. Bateman. "We need a shared picture of what's happening to our state, and a shared space for envisioning our future."<br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Media Contacts: </span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Winona Bateman, Director, Families for a Livable Climate<br>(406) 370-6848<br></span><a href="mailto:director@livableclimate.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">director@livableclimate.org</span></a></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lara Tomov, Director, Stories for Action </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><a href="mailto:info@storiesforaction.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">info@storiesforaction.org</span></a></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">##</span></font></p><font size="2"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><a href="https://livableclimate.org/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Families for a Livable Climate</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> creates community for climate action in Montana, empowering families to advocate for a livable future.</span></font></p><font size="2"><a href="https://www.storiesforaction.org/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stories for Action</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> shares the human connection around a thriving planet for all through the power of storytelling. </span></font></div>