About

mission

to empower, inspire and prepare Montana’s next generation for future success through professional media arts instruction, engaging community service and compassionate mentoring

vision

a world which values the voice and work of all youth and supports them in creating successful futures

As a student-centered educator since 2004, Arielle Rhodz (M.Ed) is skilled in building strong relationships based on mutual respect. Her candid counsel encourages students to optimize self-reflection and ignite their potential for personal empowerment. Arielle has always championed MAPS and has connected students with the opportunities it provides for many years. After serving on the Board of Directors (2018 – 2023), Arielle joined the MAPS Team to share her skills and support instructors as Lead Teacher.

Superpower: Ignition Specialist

Hailing from Michigan, Hunter moved to Hamilton, Montana, in 2018 and, with the help of some locals, learned about MAPS. Originally, he only planned to become a MAPS student, but with a heap of techno-experience, he was offered the position of teaching assistant on the crew. Nowadays, he helps MAPS in various ways, including assisting with facility maintenance, designing digital and print media for MAPS, and being the local IT wizard.

Superpower: Turn electricity into art

Amilia has wanted to be a filmmaker since childhood when she wore down VHS tapes of her favorite movies! She participated in numerous MAPS workshops from 2018 to 2022 when she attended Harlem High School near the Fort Belknap Indian Community in North Central Montana. Several of the films she co-directed won regional awards. Two were nominated for the National High Student Production Awards from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Emmys). The films are powerful and intimate stories exploring the struggle to preserve the Aaniiih and Nakoda ways of life, cultural identification, and blood quantum. In the summer of 2023, Amilia served with MAPS as a Summer AmeriCorps. She continues to co-design and develop workshop ideas to make sure MAPS programming is relevant and connects with all youth.

Superpower: Compassionate and BOLD storyteller

Born and raised in Montana, Cove has played music for most of his life. While Cove is a drummer by trade, he sings and plays other instruments, including piano, bass, and guitar. In his lessons, he helps students practice the fundamentals while keeping the importance of rhythm and “feel” the core of his teaching methodology. He plays with the traveling bands Shakewell and Shark Buffalo and has been deeply involved in the Missoula music scene for many years, playing with groups such as Kung Fu Kongress, Three Eared Dog, and Joan Zen and sitting in with many more. Cove believes that music has a unique power to bring people of all backgrounds together and enrich communities worldwide, and it’s his passion to help others find their own joy through creative expression.

Superpower: Sometimes mistaken for a sheltered bay area

A citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, John is neck-deep in technology, video-making, and all things science. In addition to being featured on the Discovery and Science TV channels, John has a B.S. in Science Education from Montana State University and directs the Bitterroot College Fabrication Lab. He holds a B.A. in Science Education from Montana State University, and teaching high school across the state has honed his ability to motivate students to be capable and curious creators. John wants to help people transform the best of their imagination into real-world solutions.

Superpower: Copying and giving people’s powers to myself and others

Jules is an artist from Helena, MT, whose earliest memories include painting and drawing. She has her BFA in Media Arts and Animation, and her current digital art path includes everything from game and character design to posters. Jules is the Events Coordinator and Online Marketing Director for the Holter Museum of Art.

Superpower: Herding Catz

Alex Small learned to play drums at eight, taught himself piano at twenty, and began recording music at twenty-one. He settled down, stopped playing in bands, and began creating podcasts eleven years later.  Alex started a podcasting network in 2014 and turned it into a company seven years later. He joined the Last Chance Public Radio Board shortly after. He has helped create twenty-five different shows produced over 1200 episodes, with three shows playing on the radio in multiple markets.

Superpower: Inspiring “ah ha” moments!