Top speakers on tap today at summit

The Daily Inter Lake

The Montana Faith Community Impact Summit sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., concludes today.

All sessions are in the new Arts and Technology Building at Flathead Valley Community College.

The summit is free and open to the public.

Baucus began the summits last year as a way to bring together people of all faiths to share ideas on improving Montana communities and to address specific problems.

The keynote speaker today at 12:30 p.m. is world-renowned philanthropist, high-altitude mountaineer and New York Times bestselling author Greg Mortenson.

After a failed attempt at climbing the Himalayan peak K2, Mortenson dedicated his life to building schools and promoting education and literacy in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He has since started the Central Asia Institute, based in Bozeman, which has helped construct 61 schools and educate more than 25,000 children. Mortenson also co-authored the bestselling memoir "Three Cups of Tea."

In addition to Mortenson, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black will return this year as a key speaker for the 8:30 a.m. session today. Baucus and Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., also will speak at the morning session.

Today's schedule also features breakout sessions on topics such as methamphetamine use, foster care and adoption, homelessness, Montana's work in the developing world, environmental stewardship and community collaboration.