Grassroots action at Montana State University has created a campus culture that not only embraces change but catalyzes it. Students especially have led the charge for environmental action at MSU, setting new precedents for what students are capable of. Listed below are several student-driven organization working on or with the campus on issues related to sustainability.
ASMSU Sustainability Center
The ASMSU Sustainability Center is the student government voice on sustainability at Montana State University - Bozeman. The Sustainability Center runs the recycling program at MSU and develops other initiatives and events that move sustainability forward on campus. The ASMSU Sustainability Center was created by the Associated Students of Montana State University (ASMSU) in 2009 and employs a professional director and several student staff members.
Friends of Local Foods
Friends of Local Foods was formed to bring concerned students, faculty, and community members together to raise awareness, create academic opportunities and conduct research related to local food systems and food quality. Out of this effort, with the support of several members of the MSU community, grew the Towne's Harvest Garden project, a 3-acre diversified vegetable farm Towne's Harvest Page | Email Friends of Local Foods
Network of Environmentally Conscious Organizations
NECO, the Network of Environmentally Conscious Organizations, is a student-driven grassroots organization at Montana State University dedicated to connecting resources between MSU and the greater Montana community, emphasizing environmental, social, and economic sustainability. NECO activities including recycling and composting, classroom visits to local elementary schools, curriculum development, and legislative action. NECO meets weekly and there are always ways for students to get involved. Email NECO
Montana Environmental Students Alliance
Montana Environmental Students Alliance (MESA) is an organization of student organizations from across Montana’s university system. Through MESA groups like NECO partner with their counterparts at the University of Montana-Missoula, Carroll College in Helena and others in order to ensure organizational perpetuity, funding, advocacy and networking opportunities are available for student groups across Montana.
1,000 New Gardens
1000 New Gardens(1000NG) is an organization that originated in Missoula but has since expanded to Bozeman and its surrounding communities. “Reminding you to get off the grass” is the slogan of 1000NG, which brings community members and students together to convert lawns to vegetable gardens and provide resources to beginner gardeners including compost, seeds, tools and expertise.
Bozeman Youth Initiative
The Bozeman Youth Initiative (BYI) is a Montana 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of BYI is to connect the youth of Bozeman to their community by providing opportunities through mentoring youth-driven, adult-supported programs that help youth work towards their vision of community and reach their full potential. MSU students have worked with BYI staff and local high-school students on a wide range of projects ranging from concerts to gardens to the Bozone Ozone Bus, a school-bus that is was converted into a mobile green-house and sustainability laboratory for local schools.
