Special Programs
Community Philosophy Programs
Philosophers love their categories…but some things just don’t fit into a box. From community endeavors like our Reeder’s Alley Summer Series to focus projects like our “Toward a Better Understanding of Homelessness” and “Thinking About Place” programs, our special programs refuse to be labeled anything other than special.
Community Endeavors
2024 Reeder’s Alley Summer Series
Nestled in the grounds of historic Reeder’s Alley, this fun, grassroots-inspired Summer series hosted by community philosophy non-profit Merlin CCC features live local music, a beer & wine garden, food trucks, historic Pioneer Cabin & alley walking tours, living history demonstrations, lawn games, and more. It’s all about celebrating community, baby!
Reeders Alley Summer Series Tuesday Nights 4-8 pm July – September
- Live Local Music
- Chill Vibes & Free
- Food Trucks, Brews & Wine
- Pioneer Cabin Tours & Living History
2025 Gold Rush Days
Held in conjunction with Downtown’ Helena’s Spring ArtWalk and the Prickly Pear Land Trust’s Don’t Fence Me in 5K Race, this 2-day family-friendly event put on by numerous community organizations (including us!), celebrates Helena’s history and invites people to step back in time. Activities include gold & sapphire panning, pioneer crafts & living history Pioneer cabin tours, roaming Pioneer musicians, walking history tours, art making & auctions, Stories from Our Elders, Cancan dancing, live music & food, comedy, and more.
2024-2025 Toward a Better Understanding of Homelessness
Our “Toward a Better Understanding of Homelessness” public philosophy project is a response to growing unhoused populations at home & abroad, and a more general and important call to adequately understand the multi-faceted nature & complexity of homelessness. At its core, the project is an invitation to carefully reflect on these complexities and an opportunity for improved ways of thinking and responding together.
While inquiries into homelessness are not new, making philosophy central (both in terms of approach and questions asked/explored) can be a helpful lens and bring to the fore important considerations for both those experiencing homelessness and those responding to it.
Consisting of three-parts this project involves interviews and recordings (which will be turned into a vignette documentary), a vignette documentary screening, and a community discussion.
Thinking About Place
Urban design and architecture are often called “place-making.” Save a bit of wildland or a fragile habitat and we’re saving a “special place.” Montana is the “last best place.”
But what’s “place”? What meaning does the word carry through all those roles? Is there a clue in that old term “sense of place”? What senses are in play & when they kick in, what’s going on?
These questions deserve our shared thought and that’s precisely what this on-going special project inspired & led by Dennis McCahon invites us to do.
Community Hubs
Inspired by the unique role of human connection and community as central to critical thinking—places where living and learning together go hand in hand—our Community Hubs project re-envisions the academy by re-centering the community as a place of learning.
The project involves four distinct phases, each of which we will campaign for prior to its launch:
• Phase 1: Community Hubs – Pilot
• Phase 2: Rural Hub Pilot Program
• Phase 3: Urban Hub Pilot Program
• Phase 4: Statewide (Montana) & other Mountain West Community Hubs
Special Projects Gallery
We love looking back & reminiscing about our special projects.
Check out some photos of the fun & magic below!
Gold Rush Days 2024
May 2024
Big Ideas by Little Philosophers
2019-2020
Hayrides and Cemeteries
October 2020
Science on Tap
February 2019
Flamenco Night
April 2018
Life Enrichment & Wellness
Spring 2017
First Friday
July 2016
Beat the Heat
August 2016
Earth Day Expo
June 2016