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“We can't solve complex problems by putting ourselves in silos.”
- Dr. Michelle Montgomery, CURE Board Vice Chair

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Building Community Power Across the Midwest
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The Future Belongs to All of Us.

CURE is a rurally based organization rooted in democracy and committed to protecting the people and places we love. CURE believes that we, ordinary Minnesotans from across the state, have the right and the power to shape the future we desire. Together, we have the power and the tools to solve the complex challenges we all face every day. Everyone has a voice. Together, we can imagine and build a shared prosperous future where no one is left behind.

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Land & Water
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People & Communities
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Dr. Michelle Montgomery

Dr. Michelle Montgomery

Vice Chair

Michelle is enrolled as a Haliwa Saponi/descendant Eastern Band Cherokee. At the University of Washington, Tacoma she is Associate Professor of American Indian Studies and Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. She is also the Assistant Director for the Office of Undergraduate Education, and the Cohort Director for Muckleshoot Programs in the School of Education. Her community engaged scholarship through the Indigenous Speaker Series focuses on Indigenizing and decolonizing the climate justice narrative, environmental ethics connected to Indigenous Peoples’ identities, and eco-critical race theory to eliminate racial and environmental oppression.

Michelle Montgomery was elected to the CURE Board of Directors in 2023.

Kelsey Olson

Kelsey Olson

Director of Environmental Stewardship

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Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.

Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!