Garrick Harmel | Missoula, MT
As a 2001-2002 MCC alum, Garrick is excited to continue serving the organization that gave him so much and to help chart new paths forward.
Garrick earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from Georgia State University and a Masters in Community Development and Planning from Clark University in Worcester, MA. This was followed by an internship at the Yestermorrow Design Build School in Vermont. Garrick credits his service with MCC for helping him access Graduate School, "it was because of MCC that I was able to leverage my education awards and go to graduate school while continuing my journey in community development. Put another way, my graduate degree may have helped open doors in my field, but I strongly feel that MCC more than anything else got me to where I am today."
After his Master's Program, he worked as a Housing Assistant and Project Manager for a Community Development Corporation before moving to Oregon to work for Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services. At WNHS, Garrick created a housing Community land Trust and developed multiple affordable projects in two Oregon counties. Garrick then worked for CASA of Oregon, where he helped to improve access to affordable housing by converting manufactured home parks into resident-owned communities. In his spare time, he returned to his MCC roots and volunteered to build trail for the Salem Area Trail Alliance (SATA). He also raised funds and served as a board member for SATA, and sat on the board for Housing Oregon. In 2022 he moved back to Montana, where he became the Housing Specialist for Missoula County.
Garrick is passionate about keeping people in their homes, providing new housing options for Missoula County residents, and expanding access to existing affordable housing. As an MCC board member, Garrick is excited to work to improve housing options for our crew leaders and members.
Member since 2024