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Utah’s Thriving Black Community

Utah’s Black, African American, and African communities have made countless contributions to our state’s history and future. The community’s history includes Utah’s first Black members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who came to the area with the first pioneer companies. More recent history spotlights the leaders, business owners, educators, and changemakers who are forging contemporary connections across the state.
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Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Black Chamber

Black Utah: Stories from a Thriving Community

“Black Utah: Stories from a Thriving Community” offers a collection of interviews with entrepreneurs, artists, and business owners. The book spotlights people such as Ballet West Principal Artist Katlyn Addison, the Rev. France A. Davis, and Utah’s first Black female state legislator, Rep. Sandra Hollins. Together, through dozens of interviews, the book unfolds an expansive story about the experience of Utah’s Black community.
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Utah Black Chamber

Supporting Businesses: Utah Black Chamber

The Utah Black Chamber works to ensure access to educational opportunities, funding, and immersive events for Black entrepreneurs and other professionals. This group serves as a cultural bridge to foster economic growth across the state.

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Project Success Coalition, Juneteenth Ceremonial Bill Signing

Celebrating Freedom: Utah Juneteenth Festival

For more than 150 years, Juneteenth has been celebrated to commemorate the day enslaved Black Americans in Texas first learned of their emancipation through a proclamation made by United States President Abraham Lincoln. Through the years, Juneteenth has become a time to celebrate the pursuit of freedom and unity. In 2022, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox signed a law marking Juneteenth National Freedom Day as a state holiday. This was made possible through the support of Rep. Sandra Hollins, Utah’s first Black female legislator, and key leaders such as Betty Sawyer, director of Ogden’s Project Success Coalition, who has overseen the state’s largest annual Juneteenth Festival for more than 30 years.
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Afro Utah Festival

Vibrancy of Stories: Afro Utah Festival

The Afro Utah Festival is an annual event, hosted by the GK Folks Foundation, celebrating the arts and traditions of the African diaspora. The festival offers Utahns an opportunity to learn about and experience African music, dance, and food, as well as the connections between our state’s African American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, Afro-European, and Afro-Asian communities.

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Additional Resources

For more organizations and resources, see our in depth list.

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Keep Making Connections: News and Stories

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Learn, Ask, Explore, and Practice: MLK Day Youth Jazz Event 2024 (Multicultural Affairs)

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Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission: MLK Youth Event (Multicultural Affairs)

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Magnify Utah’s Community Pages capture organizations that support communities through resources, connections, and opportunity-building. The information does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement (CCE), Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, or divisions associated with CCE. The intent of this resource is to centralize information, not to endorse. The Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs reserves the right to accept or reject any submission or suggestion that does not align with the mission of Magnify Utah.