The Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Utah Multicultural Commission & the Utah Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission, have prepared a report that provides insight into the unique impact COVID-19 has had on Utah's underserved and underrepresented communities.

Our hope is that we can work together to ensure that this crisis does not exacerbate existing inequities by reducing risks and burdens often borne disproportionately by marginalized groups.

The groups most affected by COVID-19 and its devastating economic implications include low-wage workers, immigrants, refugees, non-English speakers, people who are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, people who are food insecure, and people who are incarcerated. This was determined through findings from a report released by the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, entitled “Local Needs Among Utah’s Multicultural Communities”. To address disproportionate case counts and identify ways to center equity in crisis-response, Governor Gary R. Herbert convened a Multicultural Advisory Committee, a main recommendation from the said report.

This six-month overview summarizes the Multicultural Advisory Committee’s approach to addressing the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities that have also suffered from historic disinvestment and structural inequity. We believe that the state can move forward creating model practices, particularly during times of emergencies, that are culturally inclusive and considerate of all people in Utah.