Guest Bio:

Maria Emmer-Aanes is the Executive Director of The Village Playspace and the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, where she works alongside parents, partners, and neighbors to build strong, connected communities for kids and families in rural Montana. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: when families feel supported and connected, everyone does better.

Maria is the co-founder of the Beaverhead Brigade, a grassroots nonprofit created to restore after-school transportation for students, and the founder of the Good Food Network, a community-led effort focused on improving access to clean, nutritious food and food education across Beaverhead County. She also serves as a Rural Ambassador for the Montana Nonprofit Association, helping elevate rural voices and strengthen nonprofit leadership across the state.

A mom of two boys and married to a fly fishing guide, Maria brings both lived experience and professional insight to her work—balancing family life, community building, and a deep love for the place she calls home.

Episode Description:

In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman talks with Maria Emmer-Aanes, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County and the Village Play Space in Dillon.

Maria shares how her coalition works to build resilience and strengthen families in one of Montana’s most rural regions — from innovative transportation solutions and intergenerational community programs to creative ways of addressing food insecurity and childcare gaps. Together, they explore what it means to raise kids, connect families, and grow community in a county where distances are vast but relationships run deep.

Highlights include:

• How Early Childhood Coalitions collaborate statewide to share ideas and support families
• The power of parent advisory councils and listening to families’ lived experiences
• Innovative rural models like pay-what-you-can thrift stores, diaper banks, and local food networks
• Building intergenerational community through shared meals, gardening, and life-skills education

Maria’s message:
“It really does take a village — and sometimes that village starts with just one conversation, one meal, or one connection.”

Resources:

• Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County: https://www.earlychildhood406.org/
• LIFTS Online Resource Guide Category Family Support & Education: https://hmhb-lifts.org/services?service_type=Family%20Support%20and%20Education

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/