MULTICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF THE STATE OF UTAH'S COVID-19 RESPONSE
The State of Utah, by order of Gov. Gary Herbert, has convened the Multicultural Advisory Committee of the State of Utah's COVID-19 Response to address disparities, increase customized service delivery and respond with inclusion to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Multicultural Advisory Committee is to work in collaboration with existing frameworks to amplify efforts and alleviate the growing disparities faced by underrepresented communities.
The advisory committee aims to work towards long and short-term goals that will begin to address the existing challenges the pandemic has compounded through both practical efforts and policy initiatives. Immediate and urgent needs will be addressed through priority working subgroups.
Read Our 6 Month Report!
The Multicultural Advisory Committee seeks to:
- ELEVATE best practices inspired by individual and collective achievements.
- COORDINATE an infrastructure for individuals and groups to work together statewide.
- CONNECT state and private resources to the community.
- ACCELERATE existing resources to programs for greatest impact.
STRATEGY WORKGROUPS
Several dedicated strategy workgroups met frequently to develop efforts that address immediate needs within the areas of communications, digital equity, economic sustainability, food security, housing and social services, health equity, and language access.
OUR PRIORITIES INCLUDE:
Increase language accessible information
Through translation, interpretation, and literacy skills considerations.
Assist in the coordination of disseminating information
Through non-traditional channels for mass access.
Increase service engagement in underserved communities
To address essential needs (food and social services).
Increase efforts for economic stability amongst diverse business leaders
Through training and capacity development.
Elevate and raise awareness to the strategic community testing sites in neighborhoods with high-risk populations
Partnering with trusted community organizations including state agencies, nonprofits, faith based organizations, city and county governments, and community health workers.
Amplify and elevate the efforts community advocates are already engaged in
Including our Community Health Workers and grassroots initiatives.
Collaborate with health care organizations
To ensure immigrants and refugees have safe access to testing sites.
Encourage the collection and report of data
Including race, ethnicity and disability status.
Assist in the creation of an opportunity and inclusion fund
Work together with philanthropic community to address pre-existing disparities in high-risk populations.
Establish a practice of transparency in subcommittee efforts
To increase trust within underrepresented communities.
We recognize that the priorities we hope to immediately address are not comprehensive and do not address all populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. As we continue to develop initiatives, we will seek to lift up, collaborate with, and support the leadership of other coalitions, subcommittees, state, city, and county governments, and community partners leading the way on related and intersectional issues.
LONG TERM GOALS
- Create a language access plan for the state of Utah, especially for emergency response strategies.
- Guide state and local efforts that address the pre-existing disparities caused by the social determinants of health.
- Propose policy initiatives that prioritize a fair distribution of state and local resources.
- Build capacity in Utah’s workforce to work with diverse communities through diversity, opportunity, and inclusion training.
Who We Are
Nubia Peña
Director
Byron Russell
Co-Chair
Ze Min Xiao
Co-Chair
Jess Anderson
Utah Department of Public Safety
Utah Department of Health
Aden Batar
Catholic Community Services
Juan Becerra
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Silvia Castro
Suazo Business Center
Mayra Cedano
Comunidades Unidas
Neelam Chand
Zions Bank
Rebecca Chavez-Houck
Utah Multicultural Commission
Dulce Díez
Utah Office of Health Disparities
Jake Fitisemanu Jr.
Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition
Mike Haddon
Utah Department of Corrections
Emma E. Houston
MLK Jr. Human Rights Commission
Dustin Jansen
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Deneiva Knight
Comcast
Celina Milner
Salt Lake City Mayor's Office
Mikelle Moore
Intermountain Healthcare
Dr. Len Novilla
Brigham Young University
Yehemy Zavala Orozco
Comunidades Unidas
Asha Parekh
Utah Refugee Services Office
Tami Pyfer
Utah Governor's Office
Ming Wang
Utah Department of Human Services
Marti Woolford
Salt Lake County Mayor's Office
Professional Staff
Jenny Hor
Multicultural Subcommittee Professional Staffer
Rozanna Benally-Sagg
Strategy Workgroup
Professional Staffer
Claudia Loayza
Strategy Workgoup
Professional Staffer
Joel Arvizo-Zavala
Strategy Workgroup
Professional Staffer
Mayra Cardozo
Strategy Workgroup
Professional Staffer
Ramy Ahmed
Strategy Workgroup
Professional Staffer
SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
Want to know more about the Multicultural Advisory Committee's work, ongoing resources, and other efforts to address COVID-19 impacts? Sign up for our regular email updates!
Email cloayza@utah.gov to get added to the email list.
Our Partners
Alliance Community Services
Christian Center Park City
Domo
Encircle
Encircle LGBTQ Family & Youth Center
Institute for Diversity & Health Equity
NAACP Ogden Branch
NAACP Salt Lake Branch
Ogden City Corp
Project Success Coalition
Salt Lake City Public Library
Salt Lake Education Foundation
Same Day Translations, LLC
SelectHealth
The International Rescue Committee, Inc.
University of Utah Health
University of Utah Health Plans
Utah Black Chamber
Utah Black Roundtable
Utah Film Center
Utah Pride Center
Utah State Library
Utah State University
Westminster College
World Trade Center Utah
The Multicultural Advisory Committee will rely on the guidance and support of frontline advocates and community partners.