WAKING GIANT

Helena City Commission Meeting (SPECIAL MEETING)
2026-03-26 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
For more context on this meeting, see our page: About the Helena City Commission “ICE Resolution”
Due to pressure from Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Helena City Commission is holding a special meeting where it will consider rescinding Resolution #21062, often called the “ICE resolution” (formally, “A Resolution Memorializing City of Helena Policy when Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions are present within City Limits”).
We urge all supporters of the ICE resolution to stand up and voice our support for keeping the resolution. Amend the wording, don’t give in to partisan pressure!

NOTE: For those attending in-person, please note that this meeting will be held at the Civic Center Auditorium (see map below) rather than at the City-County Building, where Commission meetings typically take place.

Waking Giant Social Gathering CANCELED this week - please attend the Commission mtng
2026-03-26 17:30 - 20:00 | Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Our bi-monthly Waking Giant social event is canceled this week. That’s because the Helena city commission is having a special meeting this Thursday evening at the Helena Civic Center starting at 5:30. At issue is whether or not to repeal or amend the recent resolution that directed the Helena Police Department to NOT cooperate with ICE in targeting immigrants in the City of Helena unless they are presented with a judge’s warrant, and to request that ICE agents remove their face masks.
Attorney General Knutsen has threatened the City of Helena with legal action unless the resolution is repealed. Waking Giant and MT4Palestine suggest amending the resolution to make clear we are asking the HPD to follow all laws, which is not hard to add in. We DO NOT support repealing the resolution entirely.

Waking Giant Stitch & B*tch
2026-03-24 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-03-17 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-03-10 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-03-03 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-24 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-17 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-10 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-03 17:30 - 19:00 | Real Food Store, 1096 Helena Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Join us for our informal weekly crafting group. Whether you craft, want to learn, or just want to hang out, come on by 👍🏼 (and/or invite your crafty friends!)
WHEN: 5:30-7pm Tuesday nights
WHERE: Real Food Store food court (1096 Helena Ave, go left after entering the main doors)
WHAT: Stitching up some solidarity! Sewing and growing, crocheting and kvetching, knitting and nattering, embroidering and, well, you get it 🧶👥

Helena City Commission Meeting (Regular Meeting)
2026-03-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-09 18:00 - 20:00 | City County Building, Room 330, 316 N Park Ave, Helena, MT, 59623, United States
See Helena City Commission webpage for schedules and agendas: https://www.helenamt.gov/Government/City-Commission

Saturday Honk & Wave Protest: 11th & Montana Ave
2026-03-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Corner of 11th & North Montana, 1150 11th Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Make resistance an ongoing practice! Bring your own sign, or show up and borrow one from our lending library. We’re making our voices heard, showing allies that they’re not alone, and opening our neighbors’ eyes to the issues that matter most to us.

NOTE: For safety reasons, this weekly protest is canceled if the weather is 10 degrees or colder, or 0 degrees with wind chill.

Spanish for Mutual Aid: Zine-Assembly Workshop
2026-03-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Help cut and fold a new batch of some Spanish for Mutual Aid “zines” (homemade magazines) for distribution throughout the community. This zine is a phrasebook containing helpful phrases and vocabulary for communication between English- and Spanish-speakers in mutual aid and emergency situations.

Chronic Conditions | Collective Care Meeting
2026-03-15 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Mutual Aid Support Group for Helenans living with chronic illness and disability.
More than 1 in 4 adults (28.7%) in the US reports having some kind of disability (Centers for Disease Control, 2024). Folks with chronic health conditions and disabilities typically face many additional challenges in their daily lives. Chronic Conditions Collective Care (C4) is a space for everyone who lives with chronic conditions, and their care-takers. We don’t offer unsolicited advice or share personal details regarding members. Our hope is to also see what needs we can address with mutual aid.
Questions? Contact strange.garland@proton.me for more information on this project.
What: Chronic Conditions Collective Care, a support group for Helenans with disabilities or other chronic health concerns, or their caregivers
When: Sunday, October 19th, 1:00-2:00pm (repeats every 3rd Sunday of the month)
Where: Lewis & Clark County Library,
120 S Last Chance Gulch

Prickly Pear Housing Alliance - Monthly Tenants Meeting [NOTE: NOW TUESDAYS]
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Prickly Pear Housing Alliance is the city-wide tenants union for Helena, MT.
We are fighting for safe and cost effective housing for all.
Tenant unions turns isolation into empowerment. It’s a space to get organized, demand dignity, and build a future where housing is a human right.

We’re organizing tenants to address materials conditions in their homes or their buildings, and working to create structural change, we invite you join us in the growing national tenant movement!

See ppha.house or contact pricklypearha@gmail.com for more information.

Constitutional Rights & Liberties: How to Use Them, and How to Keep Them (by MT 4 Palestine and ACLU MT)
2026-03-10 17:45 - 19:00 | Ten Mile Creek Brewery, 48 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT, 59601
In March at How the Helena?!: come hear about our constitutional rights and what can be done to protect them! Julia Cotter and Ashley Fischer (MT 4 Palestine) will discuss their successful campaign to pass the Helena ICE resolution, lessons learned and tips for future local campaigns and what’s next. Molly Danahy (Upper 7 Law) will discuss leveraging right to know in getting information from local government and other constitutional rights. Moderated by Cari Kimball (ACLU), who will also discuss right to record, First Amendment issues, and other hot topics at the ACLU. Questions and dialogue welcome and appreciated!

Ping Pong Paddles Blazing with Love: A Community Ping Pong Party Fundraiser for Food for Helena’s 400 Homeless Students
2026-03-07 09:00 - 13:00 | Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 South Oakes Street, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Join us on Saturday, February 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a very special fundraiser to help feed Helena’s ~400 homeless students.
If you can’t be there in person, you can donate at: https://www.givelify.com/donate/first-christian-church-helena-mt-2j7wy5MjAzMTM=/donation/amount (Make a note on the donation: “Homeless Students Fund”).
OR send a check to First Christian Church/Disciples of Christ in Helena (311 Power Street, Helena, Montana 59601).

You can find more details at the Helena Table Tennis Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064492822277
OR contact Frank Kromkowski at 406-422-6303 or fkromkowski@gmail.com.

Protecting Montana from Data Centers Impacts: Panel Discussion by MEIC
2026-03-04 17:30 - 19:00 | Holter Museum of Art, 12 E Lawrence St, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Montana is becoming a target for massive new AI and cryptocurrency data centers. These projects bring enormous new demands for electricity and water, with long-term consequences for our local energy grid, our water, our land, and our communities.
Fortunately, we still have the opportunity to be proactive. Montana can learn from the mistakes of other states that moved too fast and let data center companies secretly write the rules, while residents are left with higher utility bills, depleted water supplies, and more pollution.
Join MEIC, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, and Helena Interfaith Climate Advocates in Helena on March 4 for a panel discussion to learn about the data centers being proposed, what is at stake, and how we can organize to protect our communities and our future.

Piroshkis for Palestine
2026-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Dear Potato Bakery, 105 E 6th Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Join Montana 4 Palestine as we show solidarity, help support Palestinians in need, and learn something new. Every first Tuesday of the month from 6-8pm at Dear Potato!

March 3rd: Crafts & Postcards for Palestine
April 7th: Elia Sleiman (comedy)
May 7th: The Battle of Algiers

Waking Giant Social Gathering @ Mt. Ascension Brewing
2026-02-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Mt. Ascension Brewing & Gastropub, 317 Cruse Avenue, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Join us for an informal gathering at Mt. Ascension Brewing & Gastropub. Get to know new friends, or catch up with old comrades — we’d love to see you!

"Stand United: Calling Out Our Congressmen" Protest
2026-02-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Corner of Custer & N Montana, 1212 Custer Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
It’s time they answer to us, not the billionaires!

Protest on Custer Ave between Montana Ave and Sanders
Please park in the old Shopko parking lot on the north side of Custer, away from local businesses such as Applebee’s.

Piroshkis for Palestine
2026-02-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Dear Potato Bakery, 105 E 6th Ave, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Join Montana 4 Palestine as we show solidarity, help support Palestinians in need, and learn something new. Every first Tuesday of the month from 6-8pm at Dear Potato!

January 6th: BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) Teach-In
February 3rd: Roadmap to Apartheid
March 3rd: Crafts & Postcards for Palestine
April 7th: Elia Sleiman (comedy)
May 7th: The Battle of Algiers

Prickly Pear Housing Alliance - Monthly Tenants Meeting
2026-02-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
