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56 Counties: Missoula County

Missoula County is known as the most progressive county in Montana, but it also has a very complicated history with race relations and environmental issues. For this episode of 56 Counties, Russell Rowland interviews five diverse people who have been long-time residents of Missoula. 

Brenda Solorzano left her beloved San Francisco to move to Montana to re-invent philanthropic practices at Headwaters and live in Big Sky Country with its slower pace of life and stunning beauty. Brenda holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, a juris doctorate, is a member of the California state bar association and is a Terrance Keenan Emerging Leader in Philanthropy Fellow. Living in Montana, Brenda is learning to be an avid lover of nature and the great outdoors, along with her husband and two children.

Judy Clucas was raised in Billings, Montana by a Chinese mother and an Irish father.  She went to a Utah college on a dance scholarship, but got involved in law enforcement and thus began her life in many law enforcement related careers.  After working many jobs for the County and State, such as the Missoula County Attorney's Office, Montana Driver Services, The State Crime Lab and most recently Child Support Enforcement, She is happily retired from the State of Montana after 30 years of service and is currently focusing on my new career as a level II Reiki and Animal Reiki practitioner and continuing education through the University of Montana MOLLI program.

Since stepping onstage with Missoula’s HomeGrown Comedy, Charley Macorn has criss-crossed the country, performing their distinct and fiery stand-up to sellout crowds. When not on the road, Charley lives in Missoula, Montana where they work as a senior trainer at the University of Montana’s Equine Pugilism Center. 

Erika Peterman received her J.D. from the University of Montana and her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College, with studies in Galway, Ireland. She is a member of the Montana State Bar, and she has also been paid to sing in one. When not providing legal counsel to clients throughout Montana, Erika can be found taking photos of people, places and events across the globe. She co-founded Sova Partners as a means to merge her creative, legal and business expertise under one roof and offer comprehensive consulting services.

Gaaby Rappaport is a Jewish Montanan by way of Detroit. She's a professional screenwriter, journalist and student, whose graduate research involves looking at the founding of Hollywood as a reaction to severe generational trauma. She currently lives with her two teenagers in a magic yellow house in Missoula, on the traditional territory of the Salish and Kootenai tribes.