Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Stories”
By: Dustin Jansen, Utah Division of Indian Affairs & Multicultural Advisory Committee – State of Utah COVID-19 Response Native Americans are facing the same challenges as the rest of the U.S. population during this COVID-19 pandemic. But for many reasons, the pandemic has taken a greater toll on our Native communities. Native American communities suffer from disproportionate rates of asthma, …
By: Emma E. Houston, Multicultural Advisory Committee – State of Utah COVID-19 Response Let’s keep it simple as I compare COVID-19 to a cousin who keeps showing up at the family gatherings uninvited. We may all have a family member who regardless of our intent to keep them away from family gatherings, always manages to find out where they are …
COVID-19 has stretched us, caused us to reconsider the way we operate, and has aggravated inequities that underrepresented communities have faced for decades. The Multicultural Advisory Committee to the State of Utah COVID-19 Response, in collaboration with the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, invites you to join us for a series of letters from community voices that shed light on …
As you may have read, Utah’s Division of Multicultural Affairs has launched its very own social media campaign. Our focus is uplifting businesses, and gaining insight on the adjustments diverse owners have had to face during these times. The division is ecstatic to be connecting with various communities across the state. As we continue this campaign we also want to …
The Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs is honored to receive the Governor’s Award for Excellence from Governor Gary Herbert and Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox. This award recognizes our team’s commitment to elevate voices of multicultural communities and strive to build equitable opportunities for all those who call Utah home. This year has created new challenges for our division and …
By: Maegan Castleton, Student Fellow Flexibility and adaptation. Many Utah businesses have had to learn these lessons the hard way. Some proprietors struggle to keep businesses open and safe during times where common practices must change. This is why the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs is proud to launch a new social media campaign showcasing Utah’s diverse businesses. We encourage …
By: Ephraim Kum, Community Engagement Fellow – Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs Summary In 2020 we have witnessed, and are continuing to witness, a mass resurgence of protests, organizing, and dialogue surrounding issues of racial injustice and police reform unlike any other we have previously seen. The mass movements we are seeing in the news, on social media, and often …
By: Ramy Ahmed & Taysha Tiatia On July 16th, community leaders from the Multicultural Commission and the Utah Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission (MLK Commission) met in a formal public body with state leadership, Governor Gary R. Herbert and Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox, to follow up from the June 3 Joint Commission meeting to discuss action steps …
Story by: Claudia Loayza, Photos by: Nicole Tyana Dossous Leaders can be found anywhere, and according to Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner of the S.J. Quinney College of Law and a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians , anyone can find leadership traits within themselves and, through education, you can empower others. Over 300 high schoolers from across …
How a mural project led youth-in-custody to express new hope By Ellen Fagg Weist | Photography by Todd Anderson South Salt Lake — “Stay Motivated” is the bold, inspiring message anchoring a new mural decorating the basketball gym at Salt Lake Valley Youth Center, formerly known as the Salt Lake Valley Detention Center. It’s also a personal motto for graffiti artist …
From participating in civil rights campaigns with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to serving as a passionate and involved preacher of Salt Lake City’s Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend France A. Davis’ legacy has been centered on promoting unity through tireless advocacy. In December of 2019, Reverend Davis retired as a preacher after 46 years of service, causing many to reflect …
At a special film screening of “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School,” educators and superintendents from school districts across Utah explored the intergenerational and systemic barriers that has led to a pattern of black girls being pushed out of school. Black girls are often mischaracterized because of their appearance, dress, or speech that funnels them out of safe …