Midvale Journal | August 2023

A BOLDER WAY FORWARD IS THE START OF A REVOLUTION

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

While traveling to and from Costa Rica, Professor Susan Madsen, founding director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, read “How Change Happens: Why Some Social Movements Succeed While Others Don’t.” The book by Leslie Crutchfield inspired Madsen to create an innovative system to help women and girls in Utah.

In June, UWLP launched A Bolder Way Forward, not just a new initiative, but a movement that Madsen hopes will implement positive change, create opportunities and offer support for women and girls in a revolutionary way.

“National and statewide studies continue to show that women and girls in Utah are not thriving in critical areas,” Madsen said. “Year after year, Utah continues to have high levels of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse and gender based discrimination, while also ranking us the worst state for women’s equality and having low levels of women’s leadership representation in nearly all domains including in business and politics.”

BWF is designed to be a vehicle of change for Utah women and is represented by a wheel with 18 spokes, a rim and a hub. The center of the wheel is the goal to help more women and girls thrive. The rim includes five impact teams to address sexism, identity (such as gender, race and neurodiversity), culture (including art, music and women’s history) and male allyship.

The 18 spokes correspond to five key focal points that

The framework for A Bolder Way Forward is represented by a wheel with 18 spokes, a rim and a hub. Each spoke corresponds to five key focal points that highlight where change needs to occur to create better opportunities for women and girls. (Image courtesy of UWLP)

Rep. Spackman Moss breaks record with 23 years of service as a female legislator

Spackman Moss has made history as Utah’s longest-serving female state legislator. Moss, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives for over 23 years, was first elected in 2000 and has been re-elected every two years since then.

Moss represents District 34, which covers East Murray, Holladay and Millcreek.

“I ran for office because I had a call from my cousin, then a legislator, who said I should run for office because my current representative was not a good advocate for public education,” Moss said. “At that time, I was in my 32nd year of teaching English at Olympus High, and I loved my job. I was, however, getting burned out from grading essays at night, on weekends, and on holidays, and I thought being a legislator might be something I would enjoy if I retired from teaching.

“Note that I started teaching at age 23 but couldn’t afford to retire in my 50s and give up my health insurance. I thought about it for a few days, talked with my family, had a few more legislators call to persuade me to run, and I decided that with all the students I had taught in my neighborhood and community, I had name recognition and thought I would have a pretty good shot at winning.”

In retrospect, Moss might agree that the more things change, the more they stay the same when she characterizes how the legislature has changed since she started.

“The changes I have seen over the years is that the work is more intense, more bills, more meetings, more special sessions. The session is the same 45 days, but the budget has more than doubled to this year’s 29-billion-dollar budget. More bills than ever are written, over a 1,000, this year, but we have the same amount of time to complete the budget. That means more speed, less scrutiny, longer hours, and more competition for funding,” Moss said.

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However, one change this year concerns her more over past years.

“The biggest change, especially noticeable this year, is the partisan divide is much greater. When I first was elected, and for many years, the two parties competed, of course, and had some different political views, but this year, it is much more partisan with bills that come from outside organizations, far-right groups that want to restrict what and how teachers can teach, what books students can read, what parents can do in terms of medications for their children who have gender dysphoria, and what rights women have in regards to their reproductive healthcare to name a few.

“This session also saw bills combined that forced legislators to choose between something they dislike, like school vouchers, coupled with pay raises for teachers, HB 215, which started the session on an adversarial note,” Moss said.

For a Democrat in a super-majority Republican legislature, Moss has passed quite a bit of legislation. However, the one she most fondly remembers is paving the way for using Naloxone.

“It has also been gratifying to meet people who have benefitted from laws I have passed, whose lives were saved by Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug,” Moss said. “That has saved countless lives after I passed bills to allow police to carry it, local health clinics to dispense it, and now it can be purchased without a prescription from a pharmacy, usually covered by insurance.”

Her last few years in the legislature have been challenging, not due to partisan fights but because she lost her beloved husband, Bob.

“Sadly, my life has changed considerably in the past 18 months because of the death of my husband in July 2021,” Moss said. “I am fortunate that all three of my daughters, their

husbands, and my grandchildren now live close by in Holladay, Millcreek and Murray. My daughters attend plays, book clubs, and political functions with me, events that my late husband Bob Moss always attended.”

Does she have any plans on retiring?

“Yes, of course, I plan on retiring. I will announce it when the time is right. Currently, I have another year and a half of my 12th term, and then I will decide. The filing deadline for the 2024 election is next year, the first week in January,” Moss said.

Moving into year 24 of her legislative service, there are things that drive her personally.

“My favorite part of being a legislator

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has been meeting many people from different backgrounds and professions. I have gained enormous respect for state employees in all the capacities that make our state run effectively, from the folks at the DMV to UDOT, to employees at the state and local health departments, Refugee Services, Consumer Services Division, the State Board of Education, and more.

“I have also met constituents, thousands of them at their doors when I am campaigning, and at town halls, and other events I attend, from parades to arts festivals in the cities I represent,” Moss said. l

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Rep. Carol Spackman Moss speaks at the Utah State Capitol about her Suicide Prevention in Correctional Facilities bill that passed this session. (Photo courtesy of Carol Spackman Moss)

Sweet satisfaction: Student-scientists score several state successes

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

The team didn’t win gold, but there was still a silver lining for Hillcrest High’s Science Olympiad team.

In its second year rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic, the team increased in numbers to about 40 students and secured three silver medals at the state competition.

Science club student president and senior Priyanka Mathews earned a silver medal with sophomore teammate Anika Mukherjee; junior Vivaan Rejesh also was a second-place finisher. State Science Olympiad was held at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.

“This year was pretty exciting because we had a lot of freshmen, which meant we had a lot of new faces and a lot of interest, and it gave our veterans a chance to mentor them for the competitions,” she said. “We had two teams at every competition except state, so it was rewarding to help them with their first experiences.”

Leading up to the state competition, veteran team members created and shared their “library” of notes and research for the Science Olympiad competitions and helped prepare the younger students.

The team competed in two regional tournaments — one in Davis County, where students earned a second and a third place, and another at Snow College, where the team earned two first places, one second, and five third-place finishes.

Club adviser Zahra Barkley said that it was freshman and sophomores who made a name for themselves this year.

“A lot of the underclassmen performed at really high levels; they were dedicating time and effort to studying and learning these new events so I'm excited to see their successes going forward,” said the second-year adviser.

Science Olympiad is part of the school’s science club, which in addition to other activities, hosted guest speakers, including researcher David Kluger who spoke about brain-computer interface, a new technology that connects the human brain to a computer, and another, Julia McGonigle, who talked about genetic testing of the microbial genomes from hydrothermal vents in animals’ mouths.

“The kids were really intrigued about that and engaged in that so going forward I would love to see more speakers and even pairing with topics in their science classes,” Barkley said.

It also includes science fair, which had several Hillcrest students earn top finishes and special recognitions.

In computer science and applied computational methods, junior Vishwa Muru -

gappan placed third; and in medicine, biology and microbiology, senior Jayashabari Shankar and freshman Narayani Shankar earned fourth; and in health sciences and biomedical engineering junior Aarav Parikh placed fourth.

The Shankar sisters received the University of Utah’s ACCESS Scholarship Program Director’s Initiation and College of Science Nomination as well as an award from the U of U Health Division of Infection Diseases; junior Sang Hyun Chun received an award from the Office of Naval Research and Mukherjee received an honor from the U.S. Air Force.

“I was really impressed with the students and just their initiation with doing their science or project; it was really impressive and there was a lot of really great feedback on those from the judges,” Barkley said.

She said that the club already has a leadership team in place for the next year and a promise from the school’s robotics teacher to help advise on some building contests.

“We’re wanting to build our resources into this and get help with more of the events so students can have various people and sources that can help them learn, point them toward research so they’re even more prepared in the future,” she said. “I’ve really noticed an emphasis on students’ dedication and the importance they put on this.”

Mathews, who was awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholar soon after the state competition — one of three from the state, became interested in science as a first grader.

“My first experience with science was definitely what convinced me to go into scientific research as a career. I was very taken by the process of research, and the idea of creating new knowledge and being the first person to figure some -

thing out that nobody in the world has ever known before,” said the Columbia University-bound student. “I like the fact that everything is meticulously controlled, and that it requires some level of creativity to achieve that control. That dichotomy between creativity and technicality I learned in elementary school in my early scientific experiments was instrumental in pushing me into a scientific career. In high school, more than that, it was learning how to allow myself to make mistakes in certain ways, but then, still being proud of what I've accomplished. The biggest thing I learned from science was that even if you don't achieve what you set out to do, you still achieved something.”

Mathews said her first science experiment was testing the living viability of brine shrimp in different types of salts.

“I put different types of salts in their waters to see which ones survived the most, but I didn't know enough to realize that whether it's kosher salt, granulated sea salt or table salt, salt is the same,” she said.

Last year Mathews competed at Genius Olympiad geared toward environmental projects. She also was a Clark Scholar and performed research at Texas Tech. This summer, she was selected to

attend the 2023 National Youth Science Camp as one of two Utah representatives to that event that also invites international delegates.

“I like Science Olympiad though because I get to learn and research expanded from class topics,” said the state silver medalist in cell biology. “But I like to research more because I put a lot of pressure on myself to win competitions and sometimes that takes away from the experience itself. I’ve learned there has already been discovered and I have to learn that before I can go and make my own impact.”

Mathews’ career goal is to become a biochemical engineer in pharmaceutical research and development.

She said her opportunities through science club in high school provided insight into her future as well as gave her leadership experience and polished her communication skills.

“It gave me a lot of drive, and I hope it did for others,” Mathews said. “As the year went on, we saw more and more people place during Science Olympiad. I hope the younger students saw what's possible and hopefully, that will continue on, not only in competitions, but in their future.” l

Hillcrest High students expanded their interests in science through competing, including at the state Science Olympiad. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

I was really impressed with the students and just their initiation with doing their science or project; it was really impressive and there was a lot of really great feedback on those from the judges.

Zahra Barkley

100 Companies Championing Women recognizes equitable policies and practices

In April, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity announced it had reached its goal of designating 100 Companies Championing Women, recognizing businesses in Utah with women-specific policies and practices that allow women to advance as leaders in their fields.

“These individuals and businesses represent the very best Utah has to offer,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, in a media release announcing the 100 companies. “They work tirelessly and continually step up to meet new challenges, and the results make our state a thriving place for women to do business.”

Whether it’s providing flexible schedules, part-time benefits, pay equity, leadership programs, child care support or family leave, these companies have forged a new direction in how women are hired, trained and supported in the workplace.

Salsa Queen in West Valley City (2550 Decker Lake Blvd.) was one business selected in the 100 Companies Championing Women. Maharba Zapata, who has legally changed her name to SalsaQueen, was a single mother, a talented chef and the mother of

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

seven children when she decided to turn her hobby into a career.

Her boyfriend, and now husband, Jim Birch, encouraged her to sell her delicious salsa as a way to bring in some extra income. It turned into a career Zapata never expected and her salsa can be found in grocery stores across the country. Now, she’s made it her mission to help women step into their roles as leaders.

“In our company, we want to promote the same way that Jim did for me. He believed in me, he gave me some wings to fly,” Zapata said. “Unfortunately, we don’t all have the same opportunity to have somebody that believes in us and because somebody believed in me, I want to give back to everybody else. They have that power within themselves, they just don’t know.”

Salsa Queen’s female employees are encouraged to take leadership positions, even when it’s uncomfortable. Zapata hopes to change the mindset that women are less important or less valuable than men in the workplace, and she has that discussion with the women themselves.

“I don’t know what it has to do with

being a woman but it’s almost in our genes to be doubtful and self conscious and put ourselves down and think we’re not good enough,” Zapata said. “I didn’t have a career, I didn’t have job experience, I didn’t even finish high school and I was able to become successful. I want to empower a woman to feel that same way and to be able to shine.”

Clearfield City was one of only two municipalities listed in the 100 Companies Championing Women. Along with St. George City, Clearfield was recognized for its flexible leave benefits, family-friendly schedules and women’s pay equality.

More than 170 women are employed at the city with two dozen in supervisory or management positions. Several women in the city have been invited by their supervisors to attend Clearfield’s leadership academy and tuition reimbursement is available to help women cover education costs.

After the city conducted a compensation study to ensure equitable pay based on position, not gender, city leaders implemented policies that were more family-friendly and flexible.

“We wanted to make sure women in the

workplace were taken care of and earning what they should,” said Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd. “Our council’s goal is to have a highly trained and motivated workforce, and that means all of them. It means doing what we can do to ensure that happens.”

Other businesses recognized as one of the 100 Companies Championing Women include Instructure (Cottonwood Heights), Booksmarts (Kaysville), CHG Healthcare (Midvale) and AVIVA (Millcreek).

With on-site child care, female representation in leadership positions, flexible schedules and generous family leave, the 100 Companies Championing Women set the stage for growth and equity. For a complete list of businesses, visit inutah.org/100-companies.

“Times are changing where women are becoming more powerful and more independent,” Zapata said. “For me, it’s about giving women a voice to create their own happiness, their own ending story, their own success.”l

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity recognized 100 Utah businesses that provide flexible schedules, pay equity and leadership opportunities to help advance women. A list of the 100 Companies Championing Women can be found at inutah.org/100-companies. (Stock photo)

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Utah Women Run helps women occupy positions of leadership

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Gettingengaged in the political process can feel daunting. The idea of fundraising, staging a political campaign, marketing, canvassing and doing all the steps it takes to run for office often stops people from running before they even start. But Utah Women Run is a powerful advocate.

Hosted by the Hinckley Institute of Politics, Utah Women Run is a nonpartisan initiative designed to encourage, empower and train women so they can bring their voices to the political issues of the day. Whether that’s running for city council or serving on a board or commission, UWR offers programs to get women involved.

“One of the things that holds women back, and this is not anecdotal, this is research, is that women feel like they have to be overqualified before they run for office,” said Morgan Lyon Cotti, associate director at the Hinckley Institute and UWR board member. “We connect them through our alumni, we connect them with those women who have run for office so they can see what it looks like. They can see what other people have done and hopefully gain that confidence to run themselves.”

Founded in 2011 as Real Women Run, the organizers committed to help women engage in political and public life. More than 1,000 women have gone through the program, getting elected to school boards or government roles and creating a stronger voice for women at the political table.

One of those women is Sophia DiCaro,

who now serves as executive director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and works as a senior advisor to Gov. Spencer Cox. In 2014, DiCaro ran a successful campaign that earned her a seat in the Utah House of Representatives, serving West Valley City. She said going through the UWR training was beneficial to her, not just as a representative, but in her future roles, as

well.

“Groups like Utah Women Run…are a great way to learn more about what a campaign entails or learn more about what the commitment might be. [A way] to get over that intimidation of the unknown would be to attend some of these trainings,” DiCaro said.

UWR amplifies women’s voices and

Huskies bring spirit back into school

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

helps them build platforms that allow those voices to be heard. Cotti has seen an increase in women running for local office, whether that’s a mayoral position or on the city council, and she sees them winning.

Many women start their political careers at the hyperlocal level before moving onto state or even national leadership positions. She said it’s gratifying to have a woman attend a UWR training, win an election and come back to teach other women how to do it.

“The research is absolutely solid that when we have more than one woman in a room, we have more thoughtful conversations which leads to better policy outcomes,” Cotti said. “It is in the benefit of everyone in our state to have more parity and more equity when it comes to women in political office.”

DiCaro emphasized that women can attend UWR training and never run for office. Using the skills taught in the program can help women serve in many capacities and roles that help bring enlightened conversations and policy decisions. For more information, visit Utahwomenrun.org.

“It is such a rewarding opportunity to serve whether it be an elected office or an interest group or whatever that might be. It is so important to participate in the process,” she said. “It’s so easy to get involved to whatever degree people are willing and able. There are opportunities out there and groups out there that would love to help.”l

Oneof the common post-COVID comments high school administrators say is a lack of school involvement and spirit.

Hillcrest High student body officers heard that this past year and through a year-long spirit challenge, changed the feeling of the school.

Senior Vivia Wahlquist, who served as student body secretary, said she liked putting up “hundreds of posters/decorations up to make the school feel like a school” not just a building.

Through various fun races and games and attending school events, each class grade challenged itself to bring in the most points to win the first Spirit Bowl title.

“The Spirit Bowl was a huge success and really brought the school together after three really rough years,” Wahlquist said. “We worked so hard the whole year to actually keep it going and it truly paid off in the end.”

While the entire student body won in the end with increased spirit schoolwide, it was the junior class who pulled out the official victory on the last day of competition, to win a catered lunch and a “gold toilet” trophy. l After

Utah Women Run hosts socials, trainings and other events to encourage women to run for political office, serve on boards or help guide public policy. (Photo courtesy of UWR)

a year-long competition, Hillcrest’s junior class reacts to being named Spirit Bowl champs. (Photo courtesy of Hillcrest High)

More than 15 Hillcrest grads playing college sports this year

More than 15 Hillcrest High school graduates who played varsity sports are planning to play post-secondary collegiate sports. Huskies excelling in golf, volleyball, soccer, basketball, football and other sports will play for two-year colleges, Division I and III schools as well as the military academies coast to coast. One of the last to sign a letter of commitment was senior CJ Poulsen, who after playing

goalkeeper for the Huskies’ first region soccer title in 36 years, committed to play golf at Southwest Oregon Community College in Coos Bay. He was congratulated by both sports’ coaches. l

Do You Have a Chronic Wound?

If you have a wound that has been open for more than 4 weeks, then something in your body is not allowing that wound to heal properly. Chronic wounds are defined as wounds that fail to proceed through the normal phases of wound healing in an orderly and timely manner. Often, chronic wounds stall in the inflammatory phase of healing.

How do you heal a wound that will not heal?

Debridement (removal of dead tissue) is the most common treatment for stubborn wounds, and involves the removal of unhealthy tissue within a chronic wound to promote the growth of healthy tissue, reduce complications of infection, and speed up the healing process.

Your care team may also suggest the following treatments:

• Antibiotics

• Skin substitute grafts

• Laser Treatments

• X-rays to assess for bone infection

• Scans to ensure proper blood flow is getting to the wound to promote healing

Visit Innovation Medical Group today to get a wound care specialist to help guide your care plan and to get your life back without a chronic wound present. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 801-758-2091. We are located at 4624 Holladay Blvd on the second floor in Suite 201 right above Olympus Family Medicine. We accept all major insurances and look forward to being able to enhance your quality of life.

Photo by Julie Slama

Mind the Gap Festival celebrates women’s voices

What better way to celebrate the power of women’s voices than a music festival featuring female musicians? Salt Lake’s inaugural Mind the Gap Fest will be held at The Gateway (18 Rio Grande St.) on Saturday, Aug. 26, with gates open at 11 a.m.

Presented by Salt Lake Community College, Women’s Leadership Institute, Utah Women & Leadership Project, Girls on the Run and more, the festival celebrates women who are pursuing careers in music and entertainment.

The festival features headliners like Beach Bunny, Yaeji, Sales, Orion Sun, Destroy Boys and Jadu Heart in a celebration of Women’s Equality Day. Mind the Gap will help attendees understand gender gaps in equality including income, executive positions, education and political representation.

“We have a really educated workforce of women [in Utah] but they choose to stay home. They get their degree and then don’t do anything with it,” said WLI Director of Communication and Community Patti Cook. “They don't have the opportunity to have remote work. In Utah, 95% of the CEOs in Utah companies are male and so there’s a lot of bias around women and where their place is.”

However, once women step outside the traditional corporate structure, they demonstrate robust entrepreneurial success. With the corporate structure built to support male leadership, women find running their own companies gives them the freedom, opportunity and flexibility to grow as a leader and business owner.

Although this is the first time Mind the Gap has been

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

held in Utah, it’s a national franchise that’s been proven successful for many years. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit a scholarship fund for individuals interested in pursuing a degree in an entertainment related industry.

Tickets can be purchased at MindTheGapFest.com. Use the code WOMENLEAD20 for 20% off.

In conjunction with Mind the Gap Fest, WLI will host an event Wednesday, Aug. 23 from 4-6 p.m. at Kiln (26 S. Rio Grande St. #2072). The event will be an open discussion, moderated by WLI CEO Pat Jones, to identify cultural norms and how they impact women in Utah.

“When we talk to women, they think that they’re the only one having this problem and we want them to know that they’re seen and heard,” Cook said. “It’s not them who needs to be fixed. They’re in spaces that could be more friendly.”

Cook said enhancing women’s voices and giving them a place at the table lifts all aspects of society. Having a diverse selection of voices on boards, commissions, corporate and political leadership and education leads to more inclusive social and economic outcomes.

“We have to prepare women to be able to stand up and negotiate that salary that is on par with their male counterparts, and to not be afraid to do that, and to have the confidence to speak up in meetings,” Cook said. “Confidence is huge. Because so many women have worked in toxic environments, they think if they put their head down and work hard enough, they’ll be promoted, but that is not statistically true.” l

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Treatment for COVID-19 for non-hospitalized people who have tested positive for and have symptoms of COVID. This is a 90-day study for ages 18-65. There are 10 visits total, 7 in person and 3 over the phone. You must also be willing to fill out a questionnaire from day 1 to day 29, and then for day 60 and 90.

CODAGENIX - CHILD RSV STUDY

This is a live vaccine for children ages 2-5 years old. This study is 8 months long, and there are 15 visits total. 10 of these are in-person visits and 5 are over the phone. 2 doses of nose drops are to be administered on day 1 and day 29. Only one child per household can participate, they must not be around children less than 6 months old, pregnant women or be in daycare. Must have been a fullterm birth of 36-42 weeks.

KAN-101-02 - CELIAC DISEASE

This study is for adults 18 - 70 years old who have a Celiac Disease diagnosis either by a positive Celiac serology or biopsy, and you must follow a gluten-free diet for 12 months. There are two parts to this study: Part A and Part B. What part you are assigned to will determine how long the study will be. Part A is 8 weeks with 4 weeks of screening, 7 days for treatment, 3 weeks of follow-up, and 3 IV doses. Part B is 58 weeks, 6 weeks of screening, 7 days for treatment, and 51 weeks of follow-up, also done in 3 IV doses.

A

Female musicians headline Salt Lake’s inaugural Mind the Gap fest on Saturday, Aug. 26, a music festival that addresses gender gaps in equality. (Image courtesy of the Women’s Leadership Institute)

UTWNG is about building relationships and collaboration

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

KarinPalle can name each of the 10 women who got together in 2011 for their first networking meeting. Most of the women worked from home and were starting businesses in fields like real estate, consulting and photography. Their goal was to encourage each other and provide insight into building a successful company.

Now, the Utah Women’s Networking Group, founded by Donna Rudzik, has more than 750 members across the state. It has grown to become one of the most successful networking groups for entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in Utah. With a focus on collaboration instead of competition, group members are mentors, cheerleaders, counselors and friends to help build women in business.

Palle took over UTWNG after Rudzik stepped away from the group. The mission of building relationships has stayed the top priority over the last 12 years.

“We want to connect people to build valuable relationships that will last beyond business,” she said. “We’ve helped people through deaths, we’ve helped people through births, we've helped people through businesses falling apart or starting businesses. A lot of these women have fought depression and anxiety and all types of mental health issues because they needed to belong somewhere. They know they belong with us.”

The organization’s Facebook page is run by UTWNG ambassadors who engage members on a daily basis, encouraging them to share lessons learned, best practices, hard-won advice and their sense of humor. That daily connection is valuable, especially for women (and men) who run small businesses out of their home.

Facebook page administrators are quick to enforce the no bullying, no politics, no selling and no religion rules to keep the social media platform a safe place for everyone.

“You can go on other groups and everybody's selling, selling, selling and trying to be better,” Palle said. “I don't see our people like that. They’re not trying to be better than some-

one else, they're just trying to be the best they can be. And there's a huge difference in that.”

Besides building relationships, UTWNG’s second goal is to educate. Whether it’s online training seminars or the annual women’s conference where the organization has awarded more than $125,000 in grant money to female entrepreneurs, members can be involved at any level.

UTWNG members can learn business skills like creating a resume, marketing or understanding best hiring practices. By partnering with other groups like the Women’s Business Center of Utah, the Utah Microloan Fund and local chambers, there is access to a wealth of knowledge.

The popular Coffee Connections that went away during COVID is getting restarted. People gather at a local coffee shop to have a relaxed conversation in an informal setting. It’s a chance for people to connect and share their wisdom.

Angie Gallegos is a UTWNG member and ambassador. She and her husband, Pete, own Utah Scale Center, an independent dealer of industrial weighing equipment. Gallegos joined the group five years ago as a way to create friendships.

“I think at my age, and just kind of being isolated at this small business, my world has gotten small, as far as friendships go,” Gallegos said. “So really, for me, the biggest benefit has been meeting other women that I’ve been able to connect with, on a personal level.”

Although many members are entrepreneurs and owners of cottage industries, there are also members who are part of larger companies looking for support and networking opportunities. And while it’s called a women’s networking group, membership is open to any gender.

For more information, visit utwng.com.

“[UTWNG] brings a level of support and camaraderie,” Gallegos said. “We gain things from one another like our ability to succeed, especially if it’s in a male-dominated field or company. That is a real benefit to networking with other women.” l

The Utah Women’s Networking Group provides opportunities for women in business to support each other, learn about entrepreneurship and create long-lasting relationships. (Photo courtesy of Rick Hepner)

Serving Local Families Since 1885

COMPASSIONATE FUNERAL PLANNERS

During one of life’s most difficult moments, you deserve the utmost respect, kindness, care, and guidance. Six generations of Larkins have been devoted to serving Utah families in their time of need, and that unique experience enables us to guide you in preparing services for your loved one with consideration and respect.

In November 2022, East Midvale Elementary’s newsletter congratulated Riley Howell for being awarded the Canyons Foundation’s innovation grant.

With the $7,176 grant, students were able to raise trout during the school year.

It began with getting the equipment, which at first, was hidden behind a butcher-paper sign, “Trout Life Cycle.”

Principal Matt Nelson said that all the fourth graders participated.

“She got enough equipment for every fourth-grade class to have an aquarium filtration system,” Nelson said.

On a dedicated East Midvale trout Instagram account, Howell wrote, “This grant means everything to me; prepping for this moment was not easy, but so worth it.”

Then, on Jan. 11, 600 trout eggs arrived at the school, with a post that said, “Excitement is an understatement.”

Assistant Principal Elenoa Pua said students journaled the size, color and shape and everything they saw.

“They followed it from eggs to releasing the fish,” she said.

Photos and videos also were added to the Instagram account leading up to the release of the 2-inch fish shortly before the end of the school year.

Students mesmerized by classroom trout

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

“It truly was a memorable learning experience,” Nelson said. l

D D WHEN YOU BUNDLE Shop Pre-season Rates When You Buy Before: 9/6

A grant allowed East Midvale Elementary to purchase trout eggs; fourth graders gathered around the unpacking of the shipment. (Photo courtesy of East Midvale Elementary)

East Midvale Elementary students released the 2-inch trout they raised from eggs. (Photo courtesy of East Midvale Elementary)

East Midvale Elementary puts on own version of ‘The Masked Singer’

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

There was singing, laughter and cheering — and there were sharks, a panda, a gnome, a bunny, a pig and the Mandalorian.

Welcome to East Midvale Elementary’s version of “The Masked Singer.”

Shortly before the end of the school year, seven different staff members dressed in costumes to sing before the student body, much like the reality singing television competition. Some of the songs fit the costumes, such as “Baby Shark,” which was performed by the two sharks, and “Shake it Off,” performed by the pig in reminiscence of the movie, “Sing.”

“This was a way to celebrate the students following the schoolwide expectations,” said Principal Matt Nelson, who despite being dressed as a bunny who sang “Happy” in a high pitch, the student body immediately guessed it was him.

The students earned more than 1 million positive behavior points to have the assembly.

“The students are awarded points for meeting our SOAR (skills for self-management, ownership, acceptance to build resilience) expectations,” Nelson said. “They like when we’re doing something silly, and we felt that it’s a fun memory for the kids. We want this to be a positive place where they come home with stories about how cool their school is.” l

East Midvale community schools facilitator Shelley McCall gets a cheer after students guessed it was her inside a pig costume in the school’s version of “The Masked Singer.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Canyons School District’s APEX nominations open; top administrator shares her story

Nicole Svee Magann first taught as a high school English teacher and debate coach. Now she is a tenured elementary principal, recently assigned to Willow Canyon Elementary after administrating for 10 years at Altara Elementary.

She also was honored last year with the Apex Award, Canyons School District’s highest award.

“I was really surprised because there are so many good principals in this district,” she said. “I was just shocked; it’s certainly not something you do alone. I’m an Apex principal because I have phenomenal teachers and awesome support staff. Everybody in this building works hard for kids, they should get the credit, not me.”

Nominations for the top honors in Canyons School District are open through Aug. 7.

Selected teachers, administrators, support staff, volunteers, business partners and others are honored for their contributions, hard work and dedication to advancing the mission and vision of Canyons District. Categories include school administrator of the year, business partner for the year, volunteer of the year, elected official of the year, student support services professional of the year, education support professional of the year and legacy award.

The Apex Award also is given to the Canyons’ teacher of the year, Max Eddington, Midvale Middle’s mathematics teacher. He was selected from a field of 47 teachers representing every school in the district last spring.

The 2023 Apex Awards honorees are celebrated at an awards ceremony in the fall.

For Svee Magann, it was a chance to share her story.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

“I look at public education as one of the greatest gifts that America has because it’s one of the great equalizers having the opportunity to be in the classroom to shape the minds of our youth and to go into administration to support the staff is a great honor,” she said, adding that her family line includes teachers and a superintendent. “My grandmother, who was probably one of my biggest influences, taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Montana. She had married a rancher that had a 2,000acre cattle ranch, and in a bunk house, she stored all her old primers. I’d go in there and memorize poems and pretend to be teaching. I have old-fashioned handwriting; for hours, my grandmother would make me do loops, and circles and O’s to practice my penmanship.”

Svee Magann used her grandmother’s guiding approach in her career.

“When I taught, I influenced kids. As an administrator, I can impact more kids because I can influence their teachers. I’ve taught high school (at her alma mater, Taylorsville) and middle school, but elementary is a natural fit. I’ve been in every classroom here doing less,” she said. “Teaching is the best job.”

At the end of her decade at Altara, Svee Magann directed 670 students, up from 400; she oversaw the introduction of the school’s preschool and Spanish dual immersion program.

While she advocated for Spanish dual immersion, as neighborhood parents sought it, Svee Magann believes part of elementary school extends beyond the curriculum.

“Elementary is about learning how to be kind and learning to be friends,” she said. “It about learning how school systems work, and for students, feeling confident in their ability to persevere and achieve. It’s also about relationships. When kids have trust in an adult, the adults can teach and guide them and the students are going to achieve more. They’re key to what makes the kids successful all the way through high school. Schools need to be a place where you feel safe and loved. Teachers are good at differentiating the needs in their class — those kids who are still learning to read, those kids who are reading Harry Potter. They can give extra to kids who need to be challenged or extra attention to the kids that need to be helped. I do my best not to let kids fall through the cracks. We have our student support teams, and as principals, we’re tracking data on kids, making sure teachers, parents, interventionists, and everyone is giving opportunities for them to be successful,” she said.

knows the rigor in kindergarten. It’s no longer just a place where you get your graham cracker and milk and take a nap. These kids are reading and writing stories, and with the amount of work that kids do, I wonder if we’re not a little bit task oriented, especially at the end of the year with test scores. The legislature expects us to have certain growth goals. There’s a lot of pressure on our teachers to meet these academic goals, but when you look at the amount of time they have in a day, they’re just teaching nonstop. A lot of the soft things have gone, and sometimes they need that. At the same time, we need to keep the bar high for kids. Even if they’re down here, you keep that bar high, because they’re going to try to reach the it. You may need to have a lot of scaffolds of support, but you keep that bar high,” she said.

One opportunity that Svee Magann has included at Altara is the opportunity to explore at Camp Tracy for a day each school year. The partnership came about through her former student, who oversees programming.

everybody. We know trauma shapes the brain. People changed, families changed, our country changed as we had political unrest and kids are perceptive. Even if you don’t use language, they feel things. The last couple years, we’ve seen an increase in anxiety. Kids are used to iPads, phones, and screens so they aren’t interacting with each other as much as they have in the past and that contributes,” Svee Magann said.

Many schools, like Altara, have a wellness room, a place for students to take a moment to regulate their emotions.

“We have a place for them to feel safe and be able to calm down, to be able to breathe and focus and continue with school,” she said. “Social emotional health is important for our kiddos.”

Nominations are open for Canyons School District’s APEX awards; last year Principal Nicole Svee Magann, seen here with the announcement of Altara Elementary’s updated mascot in 2019, was one of the Administrator of the Year Award winners. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Through her years in education, Svee Magann has seen more focus emphasized on student learning.

“Today I was observing my kindergarten teacher leading singing and dancing, but these kids are also doing mathematics. Not everyone

“Camp Tracy is a day where they’re still learning, having fun and just having a chance to be kids in the outdoors. They’re bonding, creating friendships and learning those soft skills. They also have the opportunity to be expressive so through our Beverley Taylor Sorenson program, our kids are doing that in dance. Playworks and recess gives kids time just to be kids and that’s important too,” she said.

That is especially important to her after online learning during COVID-19.

“COVID was a huge, traumatic event for

Svee Magann just completed her 30th year in education. She’s been in schools during 9-11, a school shooting and the pandemic, she’s had students give her hugs and cards and she’s had students lash out and swear in classrooms.

“Sometimes, they’re the ones that need to be loved the most. I learned to judge less and love more,” she said. “The most important thing in our world is to be kind and to love people where they’re at. We don’t know the battles people are fighting so it’s an important lesson to not judge. We need to show forgiveness. We all have moments when we’re not our best selves, so we just need to love them anyway. We want everyone to feel safe, be loved and accepted and have the same opportunity to learn.” l

An Altara Elemetnary student gets a high-five from Principal Nicole Svee Magann, who was one of Canyons School District’s APEX award-winners last year. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY

City Hall

In The Middle of Everything

City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047

Marcus’ Message

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

CITY NEWSLETTER

By Mayor Marcus Stevenson

801-567-7200

Finance/Utilities 801-567-7200

Court 801-567-7265

City Attorney’s O ce 801-567-7250

City Recorder/Human Resources 801-567-7228

Community Development 801-567-7211

Public Works 801-567-7235

Ace Disposal/Recycling 801-363-9995

Midvale Historical Museum 801-567-7285

Midvale Senior Center 385-468-3350

SL County Animal Services 385-468-7387

Communications 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Marcus Stevenson 801-567-7204

Email: mstevenson@midvale.com

CITY COUNCIL

District 1 - Quinn Sperry

Email: qsperry@midvale.com

District 2 - Paul Glover

Email: pglover@midvale.com

District 3 - Heidi Robinson

Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com

District 4 - Bryant Brown

Email: bbrown@midvale.com

District 5 - Dustin Gettel

Email: dgettel@midvale.com

WHO TO CALL FOR…

Water Bills 801-567-7200

Ordering A New Trash Can 801-567-7202

Permits 801-567-7213

Court 801-567-7265

Paying For Tra c School 801-567-7202

Business Licensing 801-567-7214 Cemetery 801-567-7235

Planning and Zoning 801-567-7231

Code Enforcement 801-567-7208

Building inspections 801-567-7213

Graffiti 385-468-9769

PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS

EMERGENCY 911

UFA Fire/UPD Police

> Non-emergency 801-840-4000

Uni ed Police Department

> Midvale Precinct 385-468-9350

Public Works 801-567-7235

Rocky Mountain Power 877-508-5088

While the term “a ordable housing” gets thrown around a lot, there is often misinformation and confusion about what a ordable housing is, and what it isn’t. I intend to give a quick overview about what is de ned as affordable housing, how a ordable housing gets developed, and what other programs Midvale City o ers to those who may be struggling to a ord housing or maintain their home.

What is A ordable Housing

“A ordable housing” most often means housing where the household income is 80% or less of the area median income (AMI), and the household does not spend more than 30% of their income on housing, including utilities. This de nition is based on research that shows when families spend more than 30% of their income on housing, it becomes challenging for them to meet other essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education.

The “area” within AMI, is Salt Lake County, as Federal law requires municipalities to use the county’s median household income when calculating eligibility for various housing programs. In short, with the household AMI in Salt Lake County being $82,200 per year, a housing unit that costs $19,680 per year would be a ordable for a household making 80% AMI ($65,600).

Midvale’s median household income is only around $66,000 per year, which is signi cantly lower than the county’s, meaning a larger portion of our residents are eligible for housing programs, and are more likely to need them. This is important to note because sometimes “a ordable housing” can create negative assumptions about what type of people live in these units, but according to this, the average Midvale resident could need this assistance. Midvale City recognizes that 80% AMI doesn’t meet the needs of many in our community, so we often focus on incentivizing projects that are reserved for households that earn 60% AMI or below.

How does A ordable Housing get Developed

While there is a signi cant need for more a ordable housing, cities are constrained by state and federal laws in how we can directly a ect housing prices. In short, cities can reduce housing costs by reducing fees or building more densely to meet the demand – we are not allowed to implement rent control or mandate a ordable housing through zoning. Because we cannot mandate a ordability, this means to bring in a ordable housing units, it often happens by incentivizing developers.

While these incentives are an important piece of the a ordable housing puzzle, cities must negotiate with developers on both a monetary amount and the length of time that units remain a ordable. In the simplest terms, the more money that a city invests, the longer the units will remain a ordable. This balance means that many a ordable housing units that are privately built only remain a ordable for 5-20 years.

Last year, Midvale City invested about $1.7 million to bring in new a ordable housing units, and this year we plan to invest at least $1.9 million. These two investments will add 81 new a ordable units, bringing our total number of a ordable units up to almost 1,800. These investments will further help ensure that we meet the needs of all our residents.

Midvale City’s funding for a ordable housing primarily comes from the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and its project areas throughout the city: Bingham Junction, Jordan Blu s, and Main Street. I explained RDAs and how they are funded in my December 2022 article,

where I described how our RDA must contribute 20% of its revenue to support a ordable housing projects and initiatives. Our nancial contributions, combined with Salt Lake County, the State of Utah, the Federal government, and private investments combine to fund needed a ordable units in our community.

What Else is the City Doing

In addition to incentivizing a ordable housing through monetary contributions to housing projects, Midvale is in the process of starting new programs for rst-time homebuyers and current homeowners, also funded through our RDA. These new programs should be up and running by the end of 2023.

Down Payment Assistance Program – this program will provide a ordable or forgivable loans for low to moderate income rst-time home buyers in Midvale City. The program seeks to provide equitable access to home buying, provide education to Midvale residents on home ownership, and increase home ownership in Midvale City. The program will provide up to $20,000 per loan for non-Midvale residents and up to $25,000 for Midvale residents or employees of a public entity within Midvale. To qualify, the resident or employee must have lived in Midvale or worked for a public entity located within Midvale for at least one year.

Home Repair Loan Program - is designed to provide funding for improvements to address emergency repairs, eliminate blight, conserve energy, and preserve the housing community within the city limits of Midvale City. Funds are available on a rst-come, rst-served basis for those who are low to moderate income.

The Big Picture

Whether it be our kids looking to stay in the area they’ve grown up, our adults who may be struggling to keep up with the rising housing costs, or our seniors who may be on a xed income, Midvale should be a community, where regardless of your income level, you can nd housing you can a ord. We’ve historically been a welcoming community, and we’ve played our role in providing a ordable housing, and it’s important that we continue to play this role while ensuring that our community is given the support that we deserve.

In The Middle of Everything

E-Waste & Shredding Event for Midvale Residents

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, August 5 Midvale City Park 425 6th Ave.

Schedule

Fun Run

Harvest Days Parade

Sumo Wrestling Tournament

Calle Futbito Court (Soccer)

Kids Activities

FREE Bingo

Carnival Games

Scales & Tails

Laughing Stock Improv

Salsa Dancing with Salsation

One Sound Events

Concert featuring Shuffle

Fireworks

LOADS OF FREE KIDS ACTIVITIES

Carnival Games

Nerf Wars

Mini Golf Bounce Houses

Scales and Tails

Doodle Art Caricatures

Balloon Twisting Futbito Court (Soccer)

ageMidvale.com/harvest-days EngageMidvale.com/harvest-days

Midvale City Hall (7505 S Holden Street)

In an e ort to promote environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, Midvale City is gearing up to host an E-Waste and Shredding Event exclusively for its residents. This event, scheduled for Saturday, September 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Midvale City Hall, aims to provide a safe and convenient way for locals to dispose of their electronic waste and sensitive documents.

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the accumulation of electronic waste (e-waste) becomes a pressing concern for the environment. Often, electronic items are discarded improperly, leading to hazardous substances leaching into the soil and contaminating water sources. To combat this issue, Midvale City has taken a proactive step by organizing this event to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly.

The E-Waste and Shredding Event is exclusive to Midvale residents and will only accept residential items. Participants are encouraged to bring items such as documents, cell phones, computers and laptops, keyboards, hard drives, and DVD players. These items will be collected and sent for proper recycling and disposal by authorized e-waste recycling facilities.

However, to maintain e ciency and safety during the event, there are certain items that will not be accepted. Residents should avoid bringing televisions, CRT monitors, cracked LCD screens, and printers. These items are not suitable for the recycling process at this speci c event but can be appropriately disposed of through alternative means or future events designated for their safe disposal.

One of the main highlights of the event is the secure shredding of sensitive documents. Identity theft and data breaches are becoming increasingly common in today’s digital age, making secure document disposal crucial. By o ering free shredding services, Midvale City aims to empower its residents to safeguard their personal information and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

Residents who have any questions or need further information regarding the event can contact Midvale City Public Works at 801-567-7235. Sta will be available to provide assistance and address any concerns related to the types of acceptable items, the recycling process, or any other inquiries about the event.

By participating in the E-Waste and Shredding Event, Midvale residents have the opportunity to play an active role in reducing their environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices. Proper recycling of electronic waste ensures that valuable resources are recovered and reused while minimizing the potential harm caused to the environment.

A Community Forum for Dialogue and Engagement

Are you curious about the inner workings of your city’s governance? Then mark your calendars for an exciting monthly event that o ers an opportunity for Midvale residents to connect with their mayor and discuss matters that a ect the community. “Coffee with the Mayor” is an initiative introduced by Mayor Marcus Stevenson to foster an open dialogue and strengthen ties between the city’s leadership and its residents.

When and where? — On the third Friday of every month, Mayor Stevenson welcomes all residents to join him at Tres Gatos Co ee, located at 7567 Main Street, Midvale. The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., providing a casual and relaxed atmosphere for participants to share their thoughts, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations with the mayor.

August 18 - Reorganization of the Uni ed Police Depart— For this month’s “Co ee with the Mayor” event on August 18, the focus will be on the reorganization of the Uni ed Police Department (UPD). Mayor Stevenson recognizes the signi cance of law enforcement in ensuring community safety and is committed to providing clarity on the ongoing reorganization e orts. This is an excellent chance for residents to gain insights

2023 Municipal Elections Overview

General Municipal Elections are held in odd numbered years. The elective officers of Midvale City consist of a city council made up of five council members representing Districts 1 through 5 and a mayor, who are elected in a non-partisan election. The mayor and city council are elected to fouryear overlapping terms.

District 1 - Council Member

District 2 - Council Member

District 3 - Council Member (All four-year terms)

Citizens desiring to run for office must file a "Declaration of Candidacy" with the City Recorder between August 8 and 15, 2023, at Midvale City Hall, 7505 S Holden Street, Midvale, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Interested candidates must be a registered voter; resident of Midvale City for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of the election; and a resident of the district candidate is running for 60 days prior to the date of the election.

2023 Election Dates

N No

Primary

2023 Municipal General Election: November 21, 2023

The Midvale City Council recently voted to use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) again for the upcoming municipal election. RCV is a voting system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than just selecting one candidate. This system has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to promote fairness and diversity in elections, and it is seen as a more democratic alternative to traditional voting systems. By using RCV, Midvale City hopes to ensure that the winning candidate has the support of the majority of voters, while also providing voters with more choices and a greater sense of empowerment in the electoral process. Learn more about RCV at www.MidvaleCity.org/RCV.

For more information, visit MidvaleCity.org or email randreason@midvale.com

into the changes being made, voice their opinions, and understand how the restructured UPD will better serve the city.

Engage in Q&A After the UPD Discussion — Following the UPD discussion, Mayor Stevenson will open the oor to questions and answers. This interactive Q&A session will be an excellent opportunity for residents to seek clari cations, express concerns, and share their perspectives on any city-related matters.

Join the Community Gathering — “Co ee with the Mayor” is more than just a gathering; it’s a celebration of community engagement and participation in local governance. It’s a platform where residents can voice their opinions, contribute to discussions, and forge stronger bonds with their neighbors and city o cials.

Mayor Stevenson’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity makes “Co ee with the Mayor” an essential event for residents

Curbside Bulky Waste

2023 Fall

The curbside bulky waste program is available to all Midvale City residents who currently receive City garbage service

Curbside pick up will be provided for approved items that are boxed, bundled or bagged. The intent of this program is to reduce pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes and to keep our City clean. When utilizing curbside collection, residents are reminded that hazardous materials such as oil, batteries, paint, tires and other pollutants will not be collected.

Please follow your regularly scheduled garbage pick up day listed below to determine when your Curbside Bulky Waste pick up day is scheduled. Comply with the Bulky Waste Pick Up Guidelines (listed on back). If you don't comply with these important guidelines your items will not be picked up.

If your regular garbage pick up day is: Your Curbside Bulky Waste pick up day is scheduled for:

Monday Monday, October 2

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Wednesday, October 4

Monday, October 9 Wednesday, October 11

Properly prepared items may be placed curbside up to one week prior to the scheduled pick up dates, no later than 6:30 a.m. on the scheduled Curbside Bulky Waste pick up day. Items placed at the curb must not obstruct sidewalks, gutters, storm drain inlets, water meters, or the free movement of traffic.

Help prevent stormwater pollution. Do not obstruct sidewalks, gutters, or storm drain inlets.

For more information, visit www.MidvaleCity.org/BulkyWaste or call 801-567-7235

Mayor Marcus Stevenson

SLCC exercise science student Erin Jackson aiming to repeat speedskating gold medal at 2026 Olympics

Erin Jackson is the first Black American woman to win a winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport. She claimed the 500-meter speed skating gold at Beijing in 2022.

“It was a lot of shock, disbelief,” she remembered one year later. “It was surreal. I felt a lot of pride; I saw my dad’s face, then my coach, my teammates, those who supported me along the way. This was a group win, for sure.”

Jackson hopes to add another medal at the 2026 Olympics in Italy. Recently, she took one month off to recover from surgery.

“I get that itch to get out and do something. I’m being active by going for long walks and spending time on the bike. I’m taking it step by step,” she said. “I always tell people to take that first step right because if you think about your goals as these big long-term things like wanting to go to the Olympics that seems like an insurmountable goal. But when you just take that first step to what you’re trying to accomplish, then the next step comes a little easier. Then the next thing you’re snowballing into your goals.”

Jackson is an exercise science student at Salt Lake Community College.

At 30, she already has graduated with honors from the University of Florida’s materials science and engineering program and earned an associate degree from SLCC in computer science.

“I’m a naturally very lazy person. If I don’t have enough things to fill my day, I’ll just sit down and watch TV. I feel like keeping a few things on my plate helps me with time management,” she said. “My career goal is biomechanics; I want to work with prosthetics. I know a lot of Paralympians and I’m always asking questions, trying to figure out the ins and outs of their prosthetics and devices.”

Jackson, who was named United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year for Roller Sports in 2012 and 2013, followed a lot of skaters who transition to ice to pursue the Olympics. However, she needed some persuasion.

“I didn’t see that in my future. I always thought I’m happy on my skates, my inlines. I hate being cold. Why would I switch over to the ice? I was focused on getting my degree,” she said, remembering she shifted to ice when she was convinced she “could possibly go to the Olympics.”

With four months of speedskating experience on ice, Jackson qualified for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. In 2021, she became the first Black American woman to win the World Cup in the 500 meters. Her Olympic speed skating gold medal is the first since Chris Witty in 1000 meters in 2002 and the first American woman to win the women’s

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

500 meters since Bonnie Blair in 1994.

The student-athlete was part of a keynote panel for the post-COVID-19 return of SLCC’s exercise science conference, sharing her insights with fitness instructors, personal trainers, students and other exercise enthusiasts.

“I don’t really like to eat my vegetables, but if I do, I just douse them in ranch,” Jackson told them. “Dr. Jen told me it doesn’t hurt to do that, just because you’re dousing them doesn’t negate the fact that you’re still getting your nutrients.”

Her diet and exercise are monitored by the U.S. speedskating team. Two members SLCC Assistant Professor “Dr. Jen” Day, a certified specialist in sports dietetics, and SLCC Associate Professor Carrie Needham, a doctorate who has worked in exercise science for more than 25 years — joined Jackson, describing how they support Olympic excellence.

Day traveled with the speedskating team and watched Jackson win her gold medal.

“It was a really cool moment,” she said. “I was crying and screaming. It felt Erin just brought the whole world together, and everyone celebrated with her. I’m very grateful to be a part of it. It’s probably one of the top 10 experiences of my whole life.”

Day said her role is to pair sports nutrition with the science of exercise physiology and science of nutrition for the 20- to 30-member speed skating team, ages 15 to 36, who not only practice on the ice, but often cross train, biking up Big Cottonwood Canyon in the summer.

“It’s a big difference in fueling needs if they’re out on the bike on a hot day in July compared to doing intervals in a cold, dry environment on ice. There’s a lot of education that goes into teaching them depending on their environment, what kind of training they’re doing, what phase of training there and what their nutrition needs are going to be,” she said.

Day provides healthy diet counseling individually as well as team talks.

“I’m teaching these athletes how to eat a baseline healthy diet,” she said, adding that the team also undergoes regular body composition testing, including girth measurements.

Jackson supports a healthy diet and proper training.

“I wasn’t the best athlete before I joined the skating team,” she said. “I relied mostly on talent so when I came out to Salt Lake City, the coach had all these different ideas about training such as warming up and cooling down. I said that I never warmed up and cooled down. My thoughts around exercise and training changed completely. Now, I’m one of those athletes who always asks a lot of questions. I learn why we’re doing certain things. That’s also why I’m pursuing this degree in exercise science; I feel as a top-level athlete, it’s important to know the science behind what I’m doing every day. I’ve learned fueling can be one thing that people kind of overlook. When it comes to training and being a top-level athlete, people think that you win in the gym, but refueling

is one of the most important things. Your muscles are still working and breaking down after training until you refuel them to repair the muscle fibers.”

Day shops and packs food for the athletes and monitors their supplements.

“It is important for them to have access to food that’s going to support their training and I don’t just willy-nilly get everyone on supplements. We supplement based on need,” she said. “I focus on food first. I’d rather them get their vitamin C from a whole orange because it contains carbohydrates, healthy fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants, right? All of these are perfectly packaged in a little health snack. Where if they take a vitamin C supplement, they’re only getting vitamin C. So, I have a food first approach always.”

By monitoring athletes, she has a better understanding of what is needed.

During the Olympic year, Day noticed Jackson was “getting tired all the time. She needed multiple naps a day. We did some blood work, and it wasn’t surprising to see that her iron levels had tanked.”

With a change of diet and supplements, she was able to increase her level and along with it, Jackson had improved energy.

“We have comprehensive labs so we can see all angles of what’s going on and we have a doctor that provides guidance for us,” Day said. “We work a lot with the physiology of exercise, so we understand what the body is going through when it’s stressed with exercise.”

Salt Lake Community College student and 2022 Olympic 500-meter speed skating gold medalist Erin Jackson shared her story with attendees at the school’s annual exercise science program conference. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Salt Lake Community College student Erin Jackson earned her Olympic gold medal following the nutrition and care of the school’s exercise science program. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Husky Robotics teaches engineering, creativity and community

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Inlate spring, Hillcrest High robotics students were ready to pack their bags, their robot, their tools if they got the call.

It would be a chance to return to the world championships, something the inaugural 15-member team did as Rookies of the Year in 2013. The only other year the team qualified to compete was in 2021 when they won the Chairman’s Award at regionals, but worlds weren’t held because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an alliance captain, the first time ever, as the number six team, the Huskies was in second place after the first of the two-day Utah regional FIRST Robotics Competition. After some “intense” matches in the Charge Up game, they finished 10th and were a bubble team, waiting to see if they’d receive an invitation for worlds, said Clief Castleton, the team’s adviser.

“We’re already starting on the paperwork because it’s easier to cancel paperwork than it is to get it going. One of our new sponsors, Motorola Solutions, will supplement their sponsorship amount if we get the invite to go,” he said.

It was a call that the 49-member team, and their robot Sparky, never got.

Still, it was a strong season for Hillcrest’s FRC team, who had hosted the state’s kickoff.

Freshman David Zank, who was part of the drive team, said there was mechanical issues at regional qualifier, which was held at the Maverick Center.

“Our pneumatic claw kept on breaking and leaking, then the arm itself kept restarting when the robot hit something hard,” he said. “Once we got it working, we started doing really well.”

Freshman Prajeet Verma said their fix was innovative.

“We took four pool noodles and stuffed them on the claw and the part of the chassis where the claw was smacking and used zip ties to hold the noodles on; it worked,” he said.

It also was a successful season for Hillcrest’s FIRST Tech Challenge teams — 13 members on “Die Toaster Die” team, 16 on the

“Toaster Medics” and 16 on “Toaster Strudel,” which was the newly added team this year, Castleton said.

In the FTC game, Power Up, all three Husky teams qualified at area tournaments for state, which was held at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. As an alliance captain, Toaster Medics finished third and earned the design award.

Verma was part of the Die Toaster Die team along with Zank.

“I created the first render the scratch for our robot design. Then, we built it for the next three weeks before I coded it. I finished coding it on the way to Freedom Prep using a hotspot so it would drive smoothly, and the slides would go up and down properly,” he said, adding that he drove the robot that day as well. “I took a couple of mechanically and electronically related classes in middle school (Channing Hall) and found them interesting and helpful.”

Zank, who was on the FTC drive team, joined Husky robotics because “building ro-

bots seems like a lot of fun. It turns out it is. The challenges in both FTC and FRC really challenged our teams. It gave us an opportunity to think of how do we do this without making it too complicated? We wanted to keep it simple and have something that worked as well.”

Sophomore Hajoon Park was the team’s chief executive officer.

“I’ve always been interested in engineering, but that passion has really grown because of robotics,” he said. “I’ve built the closest friendships here, and it really feels like a family. I’ve learned a lot. When I first joined, I could build a LEGO piece. Now I’ve learned how to build an entire robot and run a team as a business. One of our mottos is that we’re not just a team or a club, we’re also a business. I’ve learned a lot of business skills and honed my leadership skills with my position. Another thing that really has stuck with me is learning that you’re never going to get anything you don’t ask for.”

This year, Husky Robotics hosted a FIRST LEGO League state qualifier, which

traditionally has been held at Albion Middle School.

“We could have three fields set up instead of just two,” Castleton said, adding that nearby Quail Hollow and Silver Mesa elementary teams participated. “We broadcasted the matches onto the screens in the commons area and showed the rankings and the results.”

The Huskies mentor three LEGO League teams: Palmer Court, Rocket Launchers and Team Go. They also reach out to area middle and elementary schools to show them what is possible through FIRST robotics.

In addition to having a summer robotics camp, the team is helping a film production create interactive robots so patrons can intermingle with them.

“We’re going to have them be controlled by hand gestures or maybe make it so they can play a game of chess,” Castleton said. “A third, smaller robot, we’re going to put a cell phone on it and once it recognizes the most dominant face in the frame, it will follow them around for a bit.”

The robotics team also has helped with other school groups such as creating light-up costumes for the Dance Company and programming their spirit robot, Harv-e 2.0, to launch T-shirts at football games.

“After we successfully did the T-shirt launcher, we dismantled it. That’s the beauty of Harv-e, we work on it in the offseason to reinvent it,” Park said.

Beyond robotics, the team is giving back. The robotics students launched a fundraiser with the school’s Key Club to help a Costa Rican orphanage replace appliances and kitchenware that are in disrepair. Donations to reach the goal of $25,000 are being taken at www. successfund.com/huskyfunds4cr.

Castleton said that Hillcrest’s program isn’t just a bunch of students working on a robot in a lab after school.

“Husky Robotics is the whole organization. It’s the Lego League teams we mentor. It’s all three FTC teams and our FRC team,” he said. “It’s who we are, what we do and how we help our community.” l

Needham said that exercise science can support Olympians as well as any population since the concepts are the same.

“I look at how can we take that research and apply it in a real-world setting,” she said, saying it is the same whether it’s for somebody who has a chronic disease and needs to improve their lifestyle through an exercise program or if it’s “training for athletes so that they can improve their time by 1% to make it onto the podium. The job of the exercise or sports scientist is to answer questions from the coach or from the athlete. We can look at research and find answers. We can do testing and find those answers. But

when we can answer the questions for the coach and the athletes, then we are giving them valuable information that they can use in their performance.”

Her programs are individualized, matching the physiological profile to the athlete.

“We have to know what that physiological profile looks like and the type of athlete they are. Do they have more fast twitch muscle fiber or slow twitch muscle fiber? What are the demands of the sport? Is it more of an aerobic sport and they need to be able to do that for long periods of time? Or is it a more explosive sport and they need to have

that quick, powerful movement,” she said, adding they run tests, including oxidavitve systems, lactate threshold and aerobic capacity. “That’s valuable information for coaches, for athletes, for a personal trainer, for an exercise therapist, to know what we’re doing is making a difference in that training.”

Jackson said she gives “a solid effort” when it comes to testing.

“Testing is really important because our sports scientists, they use this data to help me achieve my goals,” she said, adding that she also makes sure she gets plenty of rest, stretches and massages her muscles for the next training session. “I used to sleep five to

six hours a night because of being a student and staying up late doing homework. I had to work on getting eight hours of sleep a night.”

As Jackson looks ahead to her skating career and the possibility of the Olympics returning to Utah, she’s pumped.

“I’m currently 30 years old and I want to skate forever, but that’s not feasible. I would love to have the Salt Lake Olympics in 2030 and be able to compete on home ice,” she said. “If it’s 2034, I’ll likely be on the sidelines, but I’ll be supporting Salt Lake’s Olympics 100%.” l

Hillcrest’s 49-member FIRST robotics team was an alliance captain for the first time in the program’s history. (Photo courtesy of Husky Robotics)

Utah’s first, only boxing woman referee ‘knows the ropes’

She’s Utah’s first and only woman boxing referee — and she’s about to step out of the ring.

Becky Suazo jumped into the ring 29 years ago, joining her brother, Pete, to officiate. She has officiated more than 4,000 bouts of amateur boxing ages 8 and older, locally to nationally. She served as a judge and timekeeper for the Olympic trials as well.

Suazo has refereed some of the big names of boxers in the state, watching them grow up in the ring. She also has refereed stars in the boxing world, such as Belinda Montoya, Darlene Chavez, Whitney Gomez and Ernie Flores, and judged two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion Claressa Shields and world champion Andre Ward.

Her love of boxing began early.

As two of the oldest children in a family of eight kids, her eldest brother — the former state senator — and she would watch boxing bouts locally and on television. Her brother also boxed as did other relatives.

“My dad only lost one bout,” Suazo remembered her father telling her. “He only was in one, too. He was much more into watching boxing than being in the ring.”

While Suazo never took to the ring, she, too, was a fighter — leaving an abusive first husband and fighting to gain custody of her six children and supporting them — in a time where it was uncommon to speak of domestic abuse.

“My dad and Pete were there to support me when I was ready. I was scared because when I tried leaving before, my ex-husband would find me, drag me back and then he would just beat the hell out of me. It was frightening, but when I did it, I didn’t look back,” she said. “I picked up my life and moved on. It made me a strong woman.”

That included returning to school to get her high school diploma — “when I turned 30, I cried and cried because I hadn’t accomplished anything.” She continued to earn her associate degree in minority human services from Salt Lake Community College and her bachelor’s in sociology with a minor in women’s studies from the University of Utah.

Through every step, her brother was there to support her and her kids.

“He was a father figure to my kids, my nieces and nephews, all the kids. He would take them trick-or-treating, camping, be at their games,” she said. “He helped me find jobs and cheered me on in school.”

As a working professional, she started a preventative intervention for Hispanic youth and their families, advocated for mental health with minorities, coordinated volunteers at a family support center, and has managed a multicultural center.

She also has volunteered for the Utah AIDS Foundation, Planned Parenthood,

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Centro de la Familia, a peer court adviser, and has been a speaker for a rape crisis center and against domestic abuse.

“I’ve tried to be involved in the community as much as I can,” said the recipient of the 2009 Midvale Exchange Club’s Appreciation Award of Service to the Community. “Everything I did was for a reason, but I never knew why. I used to go into the welfare office when my kids were little to see what resources there were. Then, when I worked in the field, I could tell the parents to utilize the resources that I knew about firsthand.”

When her kids got older, she added boxing official to her volunteer list. Volunteering was a lesson she shared with her kids.

“I had them volunteer. I wanted them to give back, to be involved in the community,” she said. “I also passed along something my parents taught me — voting. I told them, ‘You don’t vote, you don’t have a say.’ I didn’t tell them how to vote, just to take the opportunity to vote.”

In fact, the first thing she did when she returned to the community after leaving her husband was to go to an event for Democratic leader Scott Matheson with her brother.

“Pete got me back involved,” she said, adding that when they were growing up, her parents had pictures of the Kennedys hung in their home. “I loved going to the election party headquarters and being there after the election, waiting for results.”

The two both registered voters and attended events; she has twice attended the National Democratic Convention. He entered the state legislature; she became a poll worker.

Pete Suazo served in that position, and

as state chief of officials in boxing, until he died about 20 years ago when his ATV flipped.

“He was my mentor my whole life. I always looked up to him. He went to state wrestling (for West High School), and he was a jockey, racing horses. But our family always would go to boxing matches at the coliseum at the fairgrounds, so he got into it. (Longtime boxing trainer and coach) Tony Montoya got him into officiating in 1989,” she said. “When Pete died, he had just become an international official representing the United States.”

After his death, his sister, who had been officiating for about a decade, took over as chief of officials for the next six months.

“Pete got me into officiating, and I did it because it was fun, but I didn’t like being the chief,” she said. “I officiated the pros for about a year; It was a different atmosphere, and I didn’t feel the connection with the boxers like I did with the kids growing up.”

Suazo started as an official for two years before she entered the ring. She would check the boxers’ gloves, be a timekeeper or a judge, or she would score the bout — at first, scoring was done on her fingers, then with a clicker before it became computerized.

“I had to learn it all when I started. Before that, I could pick the winner, just from watching it all the years with my family and

listening to it on the radio with my dad and grandfather, but I didn’t know all the rules. It was just a sport I loved,” she said.

In the gyms, she would watch referees in the rings and learn from them.

“I wanted to start referring, but I was nervous. When Ray Silva, who then was the chief of officials for the country, came to do a clinic, Pete introduced me to him and told me, ‘This is your time,’” she said.

She got into the ring and the approval from Silva.

“He taught me to stand on my toes so it’s easier and faster to turn,” she said.

Her brother’s friends — Silva with USA Boxing and the National Olympic Committee, Angel Villarreal with USA Boxing, and professional referees Russell Mora and Mike Rosario — became her friends too.

“We’re a boxing family and it truly is a family. The women I’ve met in boxing are amazing; we’re so close,” she said, adding that many of them not only supported her through the funeral of her brother and her daughter — even though she wasn’t a fan of the sport. “We officiate for the kids. You see them win and you see him lose and you see that they don’t give up. When they win, they have that glow. I want to see that excitement. When they’re older, many of them stay in the sport to coach or officiate.”

Her first bout she refereed was a local

As the only female and Latina boxing referee, Becky Suazo, who has served as a role model for others, indicates the winner of the bout. (Photo courtesy of Becky Suazo)

Becky Suazo has been an official in more than 4,000 bouts from local “smokers” to national championships and Olympic trials. (Photo courtesy of Becky Suazo)

Returners expected to make girls’ cross country one of Hillcrest’s best, boys’ team solid

Withmost varsity runners returning on the girls’ cross country team, it has Hillcrest High head cross country coach Scott Stucki cautiously excited.

“I think our girls are going to be pretty good,” he said. “This should be the best girls’ team we’ve had in a long time — 15 years — as long as everyone stays healthy.”

Stucki is looking forward to the season.

“Last year we were thrilled to get a girl under 20 (minutes, Edith Neslen) and I think this year, we’re going to get three, four — maybe we’ll get five if things go well,” he said.

The team is expected to be led by seniors Anna Ames and Neslen along with junior Kimiya Mavaddat. Returning from several years of injury is former top runner, senior Claire Hastings. Joining them will be sophomore Claire McCann and other student-runners.

“We have some freshmen who will help them out,” he said. “They’re all putting in some good miles this summer.”

As are the boys, as the entire team gathers almost daily at 6 a.m. to hit the streets surrounding the school or the trails in the mountains.

“The boys are going to be solid; we’ll get to state,” Stucki said.

Juniors Josh Martin and Matt Keller are expected to be joined by senior Zack Glover to lead the team.

“It will be Zack’s first year running cross country, but he’s going to have a good

“smoker” in 1993.

“When I first started — for years and years and years — they always gave me the little kids, because ‘this is a man’s sport.’ I was OK with it because I loved the kids. I loved doing refereeing from the first time I ever stepped in the ring,” she said.

She also learned a lesson from her brother that first bout.

“I had their hands ready to announce the winner when I looked over at the other one who got hurt pretty bad and I said, ‘Are you OK, mi hijo (my son)?’ When I got out of the ring, Pete said ‘Don’t you ever call him that. He’s not your son. He’s a boxer,’” she said.

Suazo has seen officiating as well as the sport itself grow. Currently in the state, there are about 733 boxers and 26 officials in USA Boxing.

“When I started nationally, there were three other women referring. Now, there are hundreds nationwide,” she said.

Women’s boxing also began to grow while she’s been officiating. Her first national tournament refereeing was the first women’s tournament in Atlanta in 1997.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

season,” Stucki said about the former basketball player. “I’ve also got two other seniors, Wesley Ellsworth and Andrew Tuttle, who will probably be up there, running varsity. They’re looking good this summer.”

Stucki will get a look at the team’s competitiveness at their time trials and alumni race, Run with the Huskies, on Aug. 5 before the first meet, Premier Invitational at Cottonwood Complex on Aug. 12.

The team will travel to compete at Fremont High in Plain City, to Quinn’s Junction in Park City before racing in the regional championships Sept. 29. Divisionals is Oct. 10 and state, Oct. 24.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the kids do and how they develop and how competitive they want to be,” Stucki said.

He’s especially looking forward to watching Neslen, who last fall, ran a 19:52.6 at region before also running under 20 minutes at state.

“Watch for Edith to really pop off. I really think she’s going to get down in the 18:00s and on a good day, maybe down into the low 18:00s. It should get her in the top 20 at state,” he said.

Stucki has been proud of the dedication and determination of his top female runner.

“Edith was at her grandparents’ house and was putting in mileage on her own. She’s going to have a really good season, assuming we keep her healthy,” he said. “She’s worked hard for years and has come a long way since she was running 30 as a freshman.” l

“Two women from Utah became champions there,” she said. “I like refereeing women. They’re more disciplined, easier to read. You don’t have to stop them to pull them apart. They’re good boxers.”

Through the years of being in the ring — and only being grazed once by a fist there has only been one call that had seemed controversial.

“I had a boxer who was a Florida state champion and he kept picking up the boxer and wrestling with him,” she said. “I kept giving him caution after caution. I told him, ‘You’re holding him; that’s why you’re getting the call.’ He didn’t stop. I gave him warning after warning and you can only give three warnings for disqualification. I disqualified him; he didn’t give me a choice. The coach jumped upon the ring and called me all kinds of names. I received an escort out of the ring and venue. When I checked out of my hotel and the person behind the desk said, ‘Oh, you’re the one who disqualified the boxer.’ There was even a news article about it because it was a qualifier and since he was disqualified, he couldn’t go to

the Olympic trials. My supervisor said that I did the right call and that I had a ringside seat, the best seat in the house to see those boxers. I learned you just have to use your best judgment.”

Officiating didn’t come with compensation.

“I spent thousands. We pay our own way to officiate or judge. If you are amongst the best and were asked to officiate, you’d get some compensation — either travel or room and board. People give up their vacation to do this. That’s how committed people are to the sport,” she said. “My dad loved to travel with me. The last time he went to the U.S. championships with me, we gave an award in Pete’s name. I’ve done it every year since he died,” she said, adding that now there is a boxing gym, the state boxing commission, a business center, a U of U social work scholarship and street (a section of Redwood Road from North Temple to 2400 South) named after her brother.

Suazo, who is a master national official and once designed the USA boxing patch worn on the officials’ white uniform, now

teaches state clinics on how to officiate. She referees about five tournaments per year. After that, she will continue to officiate.

“I love timekeeping. I get to see the whole bout instead of just seeing the punches as a referee. Refereeing is my favorite job, but that’s just seeing not watching,” she said.

Before she steps out of the ring, she plans to work the National Junior & Youth Golden Gloves in August in Florida and the USA Boxing National Championships in December in Louisana.

“I’m the only woman referee in Utah, period. I’m the first. I’m the first Latina. When I leave there, we don’t have a woman who will step in and that’s the saddest part. There’s no one to pass the baton to, but I don’t want somebody just say what the hell is that old lady doing in there? I don’t want to be the one to get knocked down and have somebody give me an eight count,” she said. “When I think about it, I’ve held on to this longer than I have any other job and never got paid a dime. There’s something to be said about that. You do this because you love it.” l

Hillcrest High cross country runners Edith Neslen and Anna Ames jumped out at the start of the 2022 Freber Invitational meet in Fremont, Utah. They’re expected to lead the girls’ team to one of the best seasons in school history. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Returning from the state theater competition, two school buses of Hillcrest High thespians exited the interstate.

Then sirens filled the air and lights flashed.

“I was in shock; I didn’t know what we were doing to have the police put on their sirens all of a sudden,” said senior Cameron Kelly, a member of Hillcrest’s theater team.

It wasn’t what they were doing, but rather what they had done that warranted a police escort to the school.

Not only were they returning victorious from the 5A Utah High School Activities Association state drama competition, but they had won it with the highest score on record. It is their seventh state drama title.

The team earned 1,465 points out of a possible 1,500, said theater director Josh Long.

“It was cool,” he said. “They hit all their goals they wanted to; we wanted to improve upon what we did last year regardless of how other schools did. We scored 65 more points than last year. It was a big, lofty goal we had. Another of our big goals was to use the feedback from the region competition and use it to improve our scores. I was most proud because we had 25 different pieces, and everyone worked hard after region and got better. That was neat to see.”

Hillcrest High wins state 5A theater title, best ensemble at high school musical awards

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Long also was grateful for the warm community reception as parents, friends and supporters waved signs and clapped when they arrived back at the school escorted by police cars and firetrucks.

“What makes it so memorable was being welcomed by the school board, the mayor, their parents, the student body officers, the school administration,” Long said.

Kelly said the team wasn’t certain of the outcome prior to the announcement.

“We all had a lot of nervous feelings and we saw a lot of other great pieces at state. I think we all felt good about what we had done, but we didn’t expect that big win. We were on the edge of our seats until it was announced, then we jumped up uncontrollably out of our chairs and we were cheering and crying,” he said.

At state, they performed the one-act play, “Tea & Sympathy,” a piece the students picked.

“I’ve had that in my back pocket for over a decade and I wasn’t even planning on doing it this year. But after explaining the plot of it to the kids, they all were very excited and intrigued. I was concerned about having such an old script and the whole plot revolves around all these adults, talking about how terrible it would be to be gay. I worried that might be harmful to some of our students. But after talking to a couple members of our LGBTQ community, they said, ‘Not only would this be helpful, we think you should do it. We think it’s an important thing for our community to experience,’” Long said, adding that he got the nod from the administration to direct the piece.

At state, Hillcrest won best one-act, with outstanding performance by junior Munashe Tanjani. The thespians also won first place in a classical scene and in a contemporary scene. They placed second in a dramatic monologue and in costume design.

For the 11th straight year, Hillcrest won the overall sweepstakes at region and at the Utah High School Musical Theater Awards, Hillcrest was invited to perform a selection from “Catch Me If You Can.” They won best ensemble for "Oliver!"

Two seniors, Ruth Woodland and Cameron Jessop, were named to the UHSAA Academic All-State Team, and last fall, the thespians won the Oxford division of the 46th annual National High School Shakespeare Competition, taking first in tech Olympics, lighting, props, ensemble scene and in the duo/trio scene.

Despite all the accolades, Long said he’s most proud of the attitude of his students.

“They continue to set goals to become better at their craft. They’re motivated to get better and provide better experiences for their audiences. My favorite part about all this is seeing the kids try hard and care about what they do; they’re really passionate,” he said.

Kelly said it’s the passion and fun that bond the student actors.

“Our production of ‘Robin Hood’ was a fun experience,” he said. “There were people focused on creating characters in the village of Nottingham and others worked together to create an army or the Merry Men, but we all worked together to put on the show. For me, as a Merry Man, I had to push my body to the limit. It was a cool experience of self-discovery and growth to realize how much stronger I am than I thought I was and how I’m capable of growing towards. Every one of our shows has been memorable. ‘Catch Me If You Can’ was fun for the ensemble. We got to go out there, sing, dance and have fun. ‘Frankenstein’ may be one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in creating a show. The audience walks around the different scenes we’ve created, and they become immersed in the story they follow. We wrote the script in class from the novel, and it’s just been an exciting experience.”

“Oliver!” has been one of his all-time favorites he’s performed on Hillcrest’s stage.

“It had its own little beating heart in the world we created. We were able to

pull from Charles Dickens’ world to create these characters and develop them from his words, so it made it feel more real,” he said.

Kelly and his twin sister, Courtney, got involved in theater in middle school at the urging of their mother, Christine, who works at Union Middle School.

“Their musical is a miniature version of what we do at Hillcrest and she wanted us to try it to experience it,” Kelly said. “We weren’t stoked about it, but I ended up thinking, ‘this is fun’ and it turned out to be a special thing when I was at Hillcrest.”

So much, the National Honors Society member juggled it around his responsibilities as a student body officer this past school year.

“It’s been something I put a lot of work into, especially at the beginning, getting all the lines down and the blocking. As I’ve gotten older, that has been easier, but we still put in a lot of hours to get a show up and running. We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into a show, but it’s all worth it by the end.”

Now, the Hillcrest graduate plans to pursue engineering at Brigham Young University. He hopes to continue to perform.

“I’ve been lucky to do this all four years in high school,” he said. “I like getting to embody a person who is separate from yourself and getting to understand their emotions. It’s valuable in life.” l

Hillcrest High theater students are all smiles having a hero’s welcome with administration, school board members and families after winning the state theater title. (Susan Edwards/Canyons School District)

Hillcrest Principal Greg Leavitt joined theatre president and senior Serena Rogers to celebrate the state 5A theater championship. (Susan Edwards/ Canyons School District)

Hillcrest track and field athletes’ regional performances surprise coach before state meet

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Ittakes a lot to surprise Hillcrest High track and field head coach Scott Stucki.

For him to admit it, that says something.

“We knew Isaiah was going to do well, probably win, but by the amount he did…he had a monster throw,” Stucki said

Senior Isaiah Cooper threw his best, 144 feet 7 inches, to not only win region, but to outthrow his nearest competitor by 15 feet.

It beat his best throw of 138 feet 9 inches during the season at the Taylorsville Invitational and a sizeable improvement from last year’s 114 feet 11 inches at region.

“I remember last yar I got beat out of state by one place,” Cooper said. “I was so upset about junior year not going to state, so I just tried to make sure that I won this time. I wanted to take it off. I just unleashed it. I threw 144-7, which was my PR (personal record). I wanted to be sure to seal it.”

Another senior, Malakai Batimana “went from seventh to third on his last jump of region. It was that magical jump,” Stucki said about his long jumper.

Stucki also was pleased with performances from his distance runner, junior Edith Neslen’s fourth place; pole vaulters junior Anna Ames’ and senior Naoto Robinson’s first-place wins, and several girls and boys relays. He said that senior Sam Martin and senior Keira Sweet were one place out of qualifying for state in the 800 and 400,

respectively.

At state, his boys 4x400 relay team — junior Josiah Gonzales, sophomore Hunter Hanson, junior Mateo Paul and Martin — “ran either equal or their best splits of the year by quite a bit.”

The same group of boys ran it last year, shaving nearly five seconds off their time. With a time of 3:27.73, the team took sixth place.

“It’s the first time since the early ’90s that we’ve had a team go under 3:30. It was fun to watch,” Stucki said, adding he attributes the boys’ improvement “had more training under their belt and more maturity and growth spurts.”

Ames pole vaulted 11 feet, but loss the tie breaker with more misses, to take the second-place medal. Senior Shawn Spencer and Robinson also medaled; Spencer took fourth at 13-11.75 feet and Robinson, eighth, at 12-02.75.

Neslen ran 11:56.4.

“Edith is the first girl we’ve had under 12 minutes in the 3200 since we had our school records being set,” Stucki said. “Assuming she stays healthy, she’s going to break the school record next year.”

Almost every relay team qualified for state.

For the girls, the 4x100 team of junior Jessi Johnson, sophomore Anna Moyes, sophomore Tess Silcox and Sweet placed 22nd at state with a time of 52.7.

At state, the girls 4x200, freshman Sophie Peterson, Silcox, Moyes and Sweet finished 16th with a time of 1:50.43.

The team of sophomore Claire McCann, Johnson, Peterson and Sweet teamed up to run 4:16.55 for 17th place in the 4x400.

The girls 4x800 team sophomore Annie Feinauer, sophomore Kimiya Mavaddat, McCann and Neslen finished 12th with a time of 10:47.72, off their third-place region time of 10:34.06.

“I’m pretty pleased with how well our girls’ relays did, some of them ran their best by quite a bit,” Stucki said.

The boys 4x200 relay team of senior Braedon Broyles, Hanson, Paul and Gonzales bettered their own school record with a time of 1:32.87 and placed 12th.

Sophomore Matt Keller, sophomore Josh Martin, senior Sam Timmerman and Martin competed in the boys 4x800 to run 8:32.74 for a 12th-place finish.

“We lose one senior on the 4x100, one senior on the 4x200, one on the 4x400 and two on the 4x800, so we’ve got a lot of guys coming back,” Stucki said.

Batimana placed 17th with a jump of 19 feet 5 inches.

“He had a nice consistent series. He didn’t pop one that I was hoping he would like he did at region,” Stucki said.

He also was glad his discus thrower medaled. Cooper threw 136 feet 7 inches for seventh place out of 21 competitors.

Cooper said he felt the nerves of competing for his first time at state and fouled his first two tosses.

“I released it a little bit too early. I kind

of rushed it,” he said. “I was trying to get all my bad throws out during the warm-ups, but I was super nervous in that big, massive arena with a two-story net. It’s about timing. You have to take your time with it. Go slow at first then really rip it towards the end. I get to the point where I rush my throws when I’m nervous or I want to throw super far, so I try to rush though it and then I mess up my steps.”

Cooper started throwing his junior year.

“I was just doing a standard throw, a power throw, and I was throwing 95 feet just standing. Then toward the end of last season, I started to spin so was able to throw 114 feet 11 inches. I practice the entire offseason to get my spin down,” he said, adding that he prefers discus to shot and javelin. “When I came out, I was going to be a runner. I’m fast enough to keep up with the kids who are 50 pounds lighter than me. I’m 220 pounds and I’m decent at running, but being good was difficult. So, my coaches switched me to throwing and I love it. I love to throw heavy objects super far. It shows how strong you are.”

This summer, Cooper is working out, watching videos of great throwers and readying himself up for a heavier, collegiate discus.

He plans to continue throwing at St. Mary’s College in Kansas along with playing outside linebacker on their football team.

At Hillcrest, Cooper was the captain and defensive player of the year. He got several sacks and two touchdowns his senior night. l

Senior Isaiah Cooper, seen here competing April 15 in Logan, won the region title with a throw of 144 feet 7 inches. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Seniors Sam Timmerman and Sam Martin, seen here April 22 at Juab High’s Invitational, ran for the Huskies four for years. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Did you get your property tax statement and feel overwhelmed trying to understand it? Every year we get calls from residents who need help making sense of their tax statement, so here is some info that might be useful.

The county treasurer is responsible for collecting taxes for over 70 different entities, not just Salt Lake County. That means that your city/township, school district, water districts, and other entities show up on your property tax statement. Once we get the money, we distribute it to the different taxing entities.

One great thing about our state is that Truth-in-Taxation is required. That means you will be notified if a government entity is trying to raise your taxes. This concept is all about transparency and making sure the government is open and honest about how your tax dollars are being used. Taxation is necessary for funding various public services, such as schools, parks, roads and public safety. But as taxpayers, it’s crucial for you to know where your hard-earned money is going.

Just because a tax rate stays the same, doesn’t mean your taxes won’t increase. After your property is assessed, the county adds in additional growth and then divides all the property values by the proposed budget amount. That is how we get the tax rate. Government cannot collect more than what they

Understanding your property tax statement

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

did the previous year without a Truth-in-Taxation hearing.

If property values and growth are going up, your tax rate would go down if there was no additional tax increase. When taxing entities tell you the rate hasn’t changed, that still could mean a tax increase from that entity. Don’t worry, though… it should be crystal clear on your property tax statement if it’s an increase. If there is a public meeting, that entity is raising your taxes this year.

As part of this process, governmental agencies are required to hold public hearings to discuss tax-related matters. These hearings are an excellent opportunity for you to voice your opinions and concerns regarding how tax dollars should be allocated. But how do you find out when these hearings are taking place? That’s where your notice of valuation comes in.

Notice of valuation is a document sent to

COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION: WHERE WORK IS ALSO PLAY (AND PAY)

homeowners that provides information about the assessed value of their property. It’s an important notice because it includes details about upcoming hearings related to property taxes. These hearings give you the chance to speak up and let your elected officials know what you think about the tax rates and how they affect you.

So, why is it important for you to notice when public hearings are available and take the opportunity to comment? Well, simply put, it’s your chance to be heard. By attend-

ing these hearings or submitting comments, you can influence the decisions that impact your community and your wallet. Your voice matters, and by actively participating, you can help shape the future of taxation in Salt Lake County.

Remember, your voice matters, and by participating in the process, you can help shape a fair and transparent system that benefits everyone in Salt Lake County. Together, we can create positive change and ensure our tax dollars are used wisely.

Pearls With Purpose breaks generational poverty in developing countries

WhenWendy Bird’s husband suggested she make jewelry to sell at farmers markets, she had no idea it would turn into a global foundation that provides training, mentorship and income for hundreds of women.

Back in 2001, Bird was a stay-at-home mom with five children, looking for a project that would help rediscover her identity which had gotten lost in all the laundry and daily chores. Jewelry making seemed the perfect fit. As a certified gemologist, Bird loves pearls for the way they mimic humanity.

“I love that they’re formed because of an irritant within the lining tissue of the oyster,” she said. “The oyster can’t spew it out, it can’t do anything but secrete a soothing nacre. It can only hug the irritant and that transforms it into this lustrous gemstone. To me, that’s a perfect example of what humanity needs.”

Bird sent out a request looking to import quality pearls for jewelry making and got a response from a woman in the Philippines. The woman said if Bird imported jewelry pieces, instead of loose pearls, she would change lives.

Bird jumped on the idea and created information to make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. She emailed the docs to the Philippines and a group of women began making jewelry. Bird would import it back to the States and sell it, giving the women 64% of the profits.

Pearls With Purpose had begun. The social impact organization provides microenterprise training for women in poverty, or women rescued from sex trafficking or abuse, in the Philippines, Kenya, Peru, Dominican Republic, India and Cambodia.

For four years, everything was done through long-distance correspondence; she had never traveled internationally. But then a representative from another nonprofit invited Bird overseas to meet the women working with her.

“I landed and saw for the first time ever, these humble circumstances that the individuals live in and the struggle it was to get to the internet cafe and the cost associated with being able to print out the documents,” she said. “Everything was 10 times worse than what they’d conveyed because I put this American spin on it.”

The obstacles her jewelry makers faced hadn’t registered, even though she had trained more than 70 women at that point. Invited to stay in the home of one of the women, she was shocked at the level of poverty.

“In my head I thought I’m going to stay in a bedroom with my own toilet. No. They showed me this piece of plywood they put on the dirt floor they’d covered with a sheet that had been shipped over in a shipment that I had sent, and it happened to be one of my kid’s sheets,” Bird said. “There was no electricity. I was told to shower under this tree, and it’s mostly private. I realized these people needed more from me than I had been giving.”

That trip changed her mindset. She applied for 501(c) (3) status and started doing in-person trainings to adapt her program to their needs. She trained women in an abandoned school, she helped women living in the jungle and in villages ruled by a king. She adapted to cultural differences and language barriers and learned each woman dealt with their own difficulties.

In a leper colony in India, Bird trained 183 women on a dirt floor in a community center. As untouchables, the women couldn’t sit on chairs because their low caste status meant they couldn't sit higher than anyone else in the village. After months, Bird got permission for the women to sit on mats.

“We’re dealing with individuals who for their entire life had been told you will never go to school, you will never be

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

counted as human, you will never have a job. You will just sit on the sidelines of life and watch it unfold,” she said. “If you’re a woman and you’ve been told a very specific stigma your entire life and all of a sudden you hear that it could be different from what you’ve always known, wouldn’t you show up?”

An orphanage in Cambodia reached out to Bird, asking her to bring Pearls With Purpose to their location, training teens from 15-17 in jewelry making so they would have a skill when they left the orphanage at age 18. Often, those 18-yearolds turned to sex work or drugs, but with a skill to fall back on, they could create a different life.

“A year after that training, we got the first email that [a young man] was going to a university in Australia and because of this program he has the $5,500 to attend this university,” Bird said. “So all of a sudden you can see that it’s working.”

In the Dominican Republic and Kenya, Bird worked with children rescued from sex trafficking through Operation Underground Railroad. She taught them to polish, design and wire-wrap gemstones to allow them to create an income.

Along with jewelry tools, Pearls With Purpose also purchases sewing machines, computers and other items women can use to better their lives. Bird teaches them to meet with

wholesalers and negotiate prices.

Right before COVID hit, Bird met with some women in the Philippines. They were talking with her but she couldn’t remember their names. She asked what training session they’d completed.

“One of them said, ‘You didn’t train me. You trained my mom. Because of you, I went to college. My mom put me in school. She had enough money.’ Another said, ‘Hi, I’m Janet’s daughter and this is my baby and I married a good man because I went to this university because you trained my mom.’

“It was this generational break in poverty,” Bird said. “I just started bawling. It was so unexpected. You sit there and listen to these younger adults and you know because you landed on that plane in 2005, they were the ones running around barefoot in their little tank tops and shorts…and here they are dressed so properly you don’t even recognize them and they’re saying, you trained my mom and my life is different now.”

Pearls With Purpose endured through COVID on fumes and held a fundraiser in February to rebuild its accounts. The community can help by purchasing jewelry and books at Pearlswithpurpose.org, donating cash or frequent flier miles, and by spreading awareness on Facebook and Instagram.

Bird’s husband, David, is her biggest cheerleader. As travel opens back up in developing countries, he wants her to get back to doing what she does best: teaching women to build self-reliance and self-worth.

“For years, she has given keynote speeches and had the opportunity to sell the jewelry that these women make,” he said. “My wife is amazing and has dedicated her life to helping hundreds of women in several different developing countries.”l

Wendy Bird (left) created the Pearls With Purpose Foundation to provide jewelry-making training for women in developing countries. The women can create an income while building self-reliance. (Photo courtesy of Pearls With Purpose)

Pearls With Purpose works with women in the Philippines, Kenya, Peru, Dominican Republic, India and Cambodia. The nonprofit, started by Wendy Bird (bottom left corner), offers women a way to create income through jewelry making. (Photo courtesy of Pearls With Purpose)

One smart cookie—founder of RubySnap Cookies, Tami Steggell, is committed to her customers and to her community

She may cook sweet, but the gal’s got grit. Tami Steggell is the founder of RubySnap Bakery where daily she bakes and serves up cookies. It is her dream job and may sound like the sweetest gig in the world, but Steggell worked hard, and continues to work hard, to make it so.

Necessary ingredients

Steggell’s father was a Marine, and as such, she grew up all over the world. She calculated that she’d moved 21 times by the time she was 18 years old. At about age 15, her family was living in Saudi Arabia, and she decided to move back to the States for educational opportunities.

She finished high school and went on to get her degree in Architectural Design from BYU. After that, she spent 15 years in the industry. At that time she was an avid cyclist, training all week, and on her one day off she wanted nothing more than something wonderful to eat. She’d think about it all week, because “every edible moment meant something to me,” but invariably the sweets she found would taste like nothing but sugar.

That’s when she started baking for herself, experimenting with seasonal ingredients like beets, rhubarb, cherries, mint and vanilla beans sourced directly from Bali. Her own cookies were “worth her time and calories,” sweettalking her architectural clients with a batch of fresh-baked was a success, and she thought maybe she had created something special.

In 2008, she quit her job, cashed out her IRA and opened the flagship store at 770 S. 300 West, in an area that is becoming the redeveloped and cool Granary District, but back then it was surrounded by industry and empty store fronts. Still, she liked the vibe of the place and it was rent she could afford. With sweat equity, she gutted the building and opened the doors. And the customers came.

Thankfully, the cookie didn’t crumble

That’s not where the story ends, and things haven’t always been sweet.

At conception, the company was named Dough Girl, a name Steggell had copyrighted, but Pillsbury sued anyway, as the name was a little too close to Dough Boy for their liking. Steggell decided she could be stuck in the courtroom proving she was right, or she could continue her dream journey, baking great cookies. She opted out of a lengthy legal battle and it took her $50,000 to rebrand to RubySnap, but her customers and the community responded and rallied behind her.

By 2018, RubySnap had expanded to five stores, a couple out of state, but Steggell realized with all the expansion, she and her crew had been working harder, not smarter. Her life was unbalanced. It was a hard decision, but RubySnap closed all but their flagship store and pulled out of 165 retail outlets, getting back to their core priorities.

By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com

And now we have the Salt Lake “Cookie Wars.” There is fresh cookie competition and it’s getting heated, as Crumbl, Dirty Dough and Crave battle it out in the bakery and in court. RubySnap is out of the legal fray, but when asked about the pop-up cookie shop competition on the South Valley Chamber Podcast, Steggell wasn’t worried, “Competition forces ingenuity, an evaluation of your product and priorities, and the people who win are the consumers.”

Change and innovation keep it fresh for this smart cookie

Steggell has a passion for fresh produce in season. She builds the flavor of her cookies through real ingredients and no preservatives: strawberries in the spring, peaches during harvest, citrus in the winter. She is always experimenting with new flavor palates and wants the seasonal options to taste “pulled from the garden.”

Each day visitors to the store are able to choose from 22 different types of cookie, and the choice isn’t easy. Eighteen are menu/customer staples, two are seasonal specialties, and two are show-off cookies, made with a variety of unusual ingredient combinations. Each cookie is named after one of the “We Can Do It” women of World War II, who Steggell so admires and who are a part of the RubySnap brand.

There’s the Ellie, a gluten-free (you’d never know it) topped with seasonal peaches, created in honor of a former employee with significant dietary restrictions. There’s the Sophia made with passion fruit and hibiscus, the Margo with chocolate cinnamon dough and a

milk chocolate mint center, and the Trudy, an old-fashioned chocolate chip girl. All in all, Steggell says they have developed and baked over 90 different recipes.

For those who don’t live close to the flagship store, frozen dough can be found at Harmons, Lee’s Marketplace and Whole Foods across the state. And for this next holiday season, RubySnap is creating a dry cookie mix for baking and gifting with flavors like eggnog and chocolate peppermint.

Something else to chew on

Steggell is the mom of seven and a new empty-nester. This left her with a tiny crumb of extra time, and because one cannot live on cookies alone, Steggell started Bite Me Industries @bitemeindustries, an Instagram account where she creates one-minute tutorials of what she is cooking in her own kitchen. She films an actual dinner-in-the-making, edits the footage to a bite-sized portion and posts the segment with an ingredient list and instructions.

Her goal is to demystify a meal. Recipes include favorite salad dressings, mains, greens and grains salads, desserts (of course), and other recipes using all things seasonal.

Bite Me Industries started as a hobby and morphed quickly into a monthly cooking segment on KSL Studio 5, and a teaching gig at Orson Gygi.

A cookie to share with the community

Since RubySnap cookies are made fresh with no preservatives, at the end of each day unpurchased product is boxed and frozen for donation. Anyone can request cookies, but the company rule is that a donation must go toward a good cause. Recipients are places like the Ronald McDonald House, Primary Children’s

Hospital, unhoused family shelters, nonprofit preschools and various adult rehab sites. Steggell was told that attendance at several of the rehab sites is higher on the days they deliver, as the cookies provide a sweet reason to show up.

And new this year at Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, kids can try their hand at working at a pretend RubySnap Bakery in a play kitchen complete with ovens, cookie sheets, and plastic cookies and frosting. RubySnap provided ideas and branding for the kitchen, and dollars toward the project. Annually, Steggell and RubySnap donate more than $165,000 to the community, a big bite for a small company. l

All sorts of deliciousness in one box. (Ella Joy Olsen/City Journals)

Tami Steggell founder of RubySnap Cookies stands in front of the flagship location in the Granary District on Third West. (Ella Joy Olsen/City Journals)

The flagship RubySnap location in the historic Granary District on Third West. (Ella Joy Olsen/ City Journals)

“ Robert and Mark were great! We had pipes burst at night and they were right there to help us get the water shut off and to help us get all the water out and dried. They were both professional, communication was great and they were thorough.I would recommend them to anyone!

—Anna D

801-754-6315

9500 S 500 West, Suite 104 Sandy, Utah 84070

TAP INTO A NEW

Continued from front page

highlight where change needs to occur. The five key points are education, community engagement, safety and security, health and well-being and the workplace. Spokes include higher education, political representation, sexual abuse and domestic violence, lifelong health, childcare, the gender pay gap and leadership development.

“The UWLP will work with all spoke leaders to craft 2026 and 2030 goals for each of their areas, with all being linked to measurable outcomes,” Madsen said. “To do this, my team will upscale our work in locating and tracking national and state data that can be regularly updated and visual dashboards and various reports to show progress toward the goal categories.”

Madsen said the BWF movement isn’t intended to succeed at the expense of men and boys. Instead, she believes through collaboration and cooperation there is room for everyone to be strengthened by the program.

After studying change for several decades, Madsen hopes people understand that lifting women brings about positive societal change. BWF utilizes systems-thinking where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

She challenges leaders, employers, business owners and community partners

to wake up to new ideas, remain vigilant and embrace change, even if it’s uncomfortable.

“There are so many ways to be engaged and it’s going to take public policy, it’s going to take on-the-ground training and development and it’s going to take shifts in messaging,” she said. “I welcome you to do the work that needs to be done in terms of strengthening your top girls and women and helping to make sure everyone thrives.”

Madsen knows it will be an uphill road as leaders build programs and initiatives but said past efforts have not worked. It will take a concerted focus to make the road smoother and to fill in the societal potholes so the wheel of change can move forward.

“Although the needle has moved slightly, ever so slightly…with its current trajectory, it will take us two, three to four decades to make notable progress” Madsen said. “I say that’s just too long. It’s time for Utah to embrace A Bolder Way Forward because when we lift Utah girls and women we do lift all Utahns, including families.”

For more information, visit ABolderWayForward.org. l

NeuroStar is like physical therapy for the brain. It uses magnetic pulses, similar in strength to MRI, to reignite dormant connections in the brain and give you control of your depression. With NeuroStar, you can live on your terms.

“I had taken 11 different medications without any relief… NeuroStar treatment has helped me bring my life back with a happiness that I’ve never experienced before” ~TODD

Women who work outside the home are supernatural shapeshifters. One minute they’re closing the deal on a $5-million property and the next minute they’re on the phone with their 5-year-old daughter who’s upset because the parakeet won’t talk to her.

I think we can agree women are in the workplace. I think we can agree most households need two incomes to afford the basics like food, shelter and Netflix. I think we can also agree that mothers take on the biggest load when it comes to child care. Well, our country’s child care system is failing women in a spectacular SpaceX explosion kind of way.

This disparity was highlighted during COVID, an infuriating pandemic where millions of women lost their jobs. As child care centers closed, women were usually the ones to step away from their careers to become full-time school teachers, nurses, referees, short-order cooks, video game experts and day drinkers.

Single mothers always draw the short straw when it comes to child care choices. If you’ve never been a single mom who has to decide between using a vacation day or leaving her sick 11 year old at home alone, consider yourself lucky.

Care.com reported on child care costs in the U.S., showing the average family

It Takes a Village

Peri Kinder

spends 27% of their income on child care with the majority spending around $18,000 each year. Utah’s costs are a bit lower than the national average but we make up for that by having one bajillion children.

There are always people who say, “Women should be home raising their children. Problem solved.” Guess what? Problem not solved because most families need two incomes to get by, even adding in the cost of child care. When women choose to stay home, it takes a big bite out of the household income.

To combat this, parents work multiple jobs, alternate work schedules with a spouse or partner, rely on family members to babysit and hope their toddler becomes a child star to cover living expenses.

Employers, do you know how often moms worry about asking for time off to take kids to dentist appointments, doctor visits, parent-teacher conferences, lobot-

omies, etc.? It’s constant. There’ve been times when I was shamed by my boss because I needed to deal with a situation at home. That should never happen.

Women and families need child care support and it’s about damn time to get

creative.

Let’s start with free (or low-cost) onsite child care. Let’s throw in flexible and remote schedules that allow parents to be home after school. Let’s address the stupid 40-hour work week that’s not only a waste of time, but a drain on families.

Kim Kardashian pays each of her nannies (she has at least four on call 24/7) nearly $100,000 per year. She got it right. That’s what women should be paid for watching children because it’s mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting. But the average family can’t afford ONE nanny for even half that price.

And, yes, sometimes it’s the father who stays home with the kids (and they struggle, too) but the majority of child care responsibility is placed on mothers.

Mothers are expected to work competently at a full-time job and turn into Mary Poppins/Mrs. Doubtfire/Amelia Bedelia the minute they get home. We’re tired of shapeshifting. It’s making us cranky.

If employers want to hire shapeshifters, they’d better be prepared to offer flexibility, creativity and full value for that skill or we’ll take our talents and go home. And then nobody wins.

“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do to expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not tie my shoe or hold my new daughter. I did physical therapy and pain killers for years, but nothing worked. Finally, I went to Dr. Smith and I improved exactly as he told me I would. I couldn’t believe it! My wife cried, “I have my husband back.”

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

CSCS Chiropractic Physician