ABOUT US
The Western Montana Community Center serves as the hub for many in the LGBTQ+ community throughout Western Montana and will be the center point for Missoula Pride.
We could not do this without the collaboration of those from a wide array of local organizations and community groups including, but not limited to: Gay Health Task Force, Open Aid Alliance, Missoula Paddleheads, Lambda Alliance, All Nations Health Center, Montana Two-Spirit Society, and EmpowerMT.
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Missoula Pride is an independent grassroots celebration, operating as a fiscally sponsored program of the Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center 501(c)(3).
The Center's Mission
The Western Montana Community Center is an open affirming environment for people of all sexual orientations and gender identity expressions. We empower our community through education, advocacy, and collaborative networking. We strive to be Western Montana’s voice for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. We are proud to be a volunteer-based, community-funded organization where we strive to make our little corner of Montana a better place to live!
Missoula Pride's Vision
Missoula Pride's vision is to once again bring a large-scale LGBTQ+ Pride celebration to the Missoula and greater Western Montana region. Much like the Clark Fork, Missoula's LBGTQ+ community is the center stream that runs through the heart of everything. Our vision is to create spaces where people from all walks of life, with all gender and sexual identities under the rainbow, can come together to feel seen, be heard, and be in community with one another.
Meet the Missoula Pride Team
Devin, Cali-Rado-Tanan grew up on Vandenberg AFB with his parents, grandparents, and two younger brothers. He calls Missoula home and has been deeply involved in building communities through grassroots activism and civil disobedience since he first arrived here to start college at UM in 2008. After coordinating the first large-scale pride block party in Missoula during (then) Big Sky Pride in 2015, he left to pursue a Master’s Degree in Higher Education at Penn State. The call of the mountains was heard, and he found his way right back two years later to take on his current role as the Director of New Student Success at UM.
Devin has served as a co-director of Missoula Pride since its founding in 2022, and has spent 10+ years focused on designing events and environments centered in belonging, community engagement, and social change - both on campus and in the broader community.
Outside of work, Devin is likely listening to his record collection and cooking in his Frank-N-Furter apron, drinking a Shady at the “Myrtle Office”, or dancing in the dark to music that is far too loud.
Devin Carpenter (he/him)
Co-Director, Missoula Pride
Logan Foret aka the "Straight White Shield" is an entrepreneur based in Missoula, Montana. As a Co-Director for Missoula Pride, Logan plays a crucial role in organizing and promoting events that celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, Logan serves as an ally, advocating for inclusivity and equality.
Beyond their involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, Logan is a local entrepreneur and the CEO of BFK Presents. Through this role, they demonstrate their passion for business and innovation, striving to create opportunities and contribute to the local economy.
Logan's commitment to their community extends beyond their professional endeavors. They deeply care about grassroots movements and actively participate in initiatives that aim to bring positive change to Missoula. With a genuine dedication to making a difference, Logan is a valuable asset to their community.
Logan Foret (he/him)
Co-Director, Missoula Pride
BFKbookings@gmail.com
Kera is the Operations Administrator for The Center and Site Ops Manager for Missoula Pride. They are passionate about creating a comfortable and safe space for their community while focusing on accessibility, safety, and inclusivity. Kera has been a part of the Missoula community for over 10 years, moving to Missoula from Chicago in 2012. Kera came out in their mid-20s and has worked hard to create a fulfilling life with a chosen family and amazing friends while wishing the same for everyone in this community.
Kera is on the IDEA committee for MCT, Inc. Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusivity are major focuses that they try to include in everything they do at The Center as well as throughout Missoula. In their free time, they can be found napping on water vessels, training their cat to walk on a leash, or doing theater in the local scene from MCT to Rocky at The Wilma. Kera loves Missoula and can't imagine a better place to let their freak flag fly.
Kera Rivera (they/them)
Site Operations, Missoula Pride
Kateena B grew up in Brady, Montana and moved to Missoula in 2003 to study psychology at the University of Montana. She spends her free time with her amazing family and friends. She also takes part in the local music scene and has recently started performing in local theater. As the newest member of the Center staff, she hopes to support and assist the community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
Kateena Bell (she/her)
Missoula Pride Team
Kera is the Operations Administrator for The Center and Site Ops Manager for Missoula Pride. They are passionate about creating a comfortable and safe space for their community while focusing on accessibility, safety, and inclusivity. Kera has been a part of the Missoula community for over 10 years, moving to Missoula from Chicago in 2012. Kera came out in their mid-20s and has worked hard to create a fulfilling life with a chosen family and amazing friends while wishing the same for everyone in this community.
Kera is on the IDEA committee for MCT, Inc. Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusivity are major focuses that they try to include in everything they do at The Center as well as throughout Missoula. In their free time, they can be found napping on water vessels, training their cat to walk on a leash, or doing theater in the local scene from MCT to Rocky at The Wilma. Kera loves Missoula and can't imagine a better place to let their freak flag fly.
Ryan Schmitz (he/him)
Media Director, Missoula Pride
Born and raised in Missoula, Aspen has always been drawn to the city’s arts and music scene. She is currently studying Business Management and Media Arts at the University of Montana while balancing roles as Outreach Coordinator for KBGA College Radio and Lead Producer at KPCN Multimedia Company.
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This is their first year working with the Pride team, and they are excited to bring their love of organization—spreadsheets, lists, and all—to event planning. As the Events Intern, Aspen is excited to learn about queer history and culture while exploring their own identity and working alongside an incredible community.
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Outside of work, she is the President of Pillowfight, UofM’s Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. You can catch them dancing literally anywhere—the car, the kitchen, the grocery store. And if you're ever at Cranky Sam’s, there’s a good chance Aspen is there too, enjoying a kid’s burger.
Aspen Nord (she/they)
Events Intern, Missoula Pride
Hannah (she/her) is a PhD student at the University of Montana, specializing in forensic and molecular anthropology. Originally from East Lansing, Michigan, she first came to Missoula in 2021 to pursue a master’s degree and decided to stay after falling in love with the community.
In addition to her studies, she works on campus as an Accounting Associate at the University Center. Through this role, she has had numerous opportunities to engage and assist with a variety of events on campus and within the community.
This is her first year actively working with the Pride team beyond volunteering, and she is excited to contribute to such an amazing event.
You can usually catch her on campus— between work and school, she’s there a lot, often running back and forth between her two offices or helping with various events.
Hannah Carson (she/her)
Volunteer Coordinator, Missoula Pride
