Fall 2015
Partnership News
Front Feature
Partners in the Park Grows
By Alma Yanagui
Partners in the Park first began in 2003 to inform the community of the presence and intent of the University of Utah in the west side. The idea was to open communication between university departments and the community, in an informal setting, and build relationships. Participants informed University Neighborhood Partners that the event was a success and should happen every year. With that positive response, UNP agreed it should continue, and it has for twelve years.
What started as a communication effort is now a space where university departments, non-profits, and residents come together in reciprocal action and benefit. Partners in the Park continues to grow and has become a well-known event that creates awareness and access to higher education. In 2003, attendance ranged from 30 to 100 people at each event. During the five events this summer, it ranged from 264 to 496! We enjoy this event and value the continued enthusiasm from the community.
Westside Leadership Institute Celebrates 10 Years!
Written by Jessica Bahena
The Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) was begun in 2004 to offer affordable semester-long leadership workshops to residents of Salt Lake City's west side neighborhoods. The course, which is offered in both English and Spanish, is taught by University faculty and community leaders and supports residents as they become catalysts for positive change in their communities.
After ten years, the WLI has resulted in over 50 projects, and has graduated more than 350 students from diverse back grounds. To commemorate this achievement, NeighborWorks Salt Lake and University Neighborhood Partners hosted the Westside Leadership Institute's 10th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, September 25th, 2015 to showcase the outstanding efforts that bring about specific change in the community. Community residents, University of Utah faculty and staff, city council reps, and leaders from various organizations attended the uplifting celebration, which featured dynamic performances and moving presentations by WLI graduates.
UNP Welcomes New Director
Sarah Munro is the new Special Assistant to the President for Campus Community Partnerships
and Director of University Neighborhood Partners. Sarah has been with UNP for more
than a decade. During that time she has served as Director of Outreach, Associate
Director, and Research Director and Partnership Manager. She is deeply committed to
the mission of UNP.
Sarah has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in History from Harvard University. She has been a research assistant professor in the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning at the U since 2007, and has taught in the Honors College. Sarah brings her academic foundation, her history with UNP, and her existing relationships in the west side community with her to this position. She has a solid understanding of partnership work and a deep commitment to its value.
As Sarah stepped into this role, former UNP Director Rosey Hunter stepped down from her position at UNP's helm. The staff and partners of UNP wish Rosey the best on her new path.
A Basketball Court for the Youth Center
By Bruce Neumann
The participants of the youth program at the UNP Hartland Partnership Center have
long wished for a basketball court. Back in 2008 the center was located within what
was the Hartland Apartment complex. At that time, their management closed their basketball
court due to safety concerns associated with evening gang activity.
When University Neighborhood Partners purchased a building next to the housing complex it created a larger space for the UNP Hartland Partnership Center. Residents were asked what improvements or programs they would like to see, with an overwhelming response for a basketball court, but it wasn't possible within our budget.
In the spring of 2013, a walkathon was held as part of the University of Utah's first
ever Community Engagement Day. Through that event, faculty and staff raised a little
over $8,000 dollars toward а basketball court for Hartland.
While that wasn't enough to completely fund a basketball court, discussions began about how and where to construct one. Some University of Utah College of Architecture students even weighed in by creating several designs, which engaged their skills and illustrates the collaborative work UNP does by aligning university and community resources.
Finally, through additional fundraising in partnership with Ugurt Salt Lake and the
U's College of Social and Behavioral Science during the 2015 Community Engagement
Day (plus a lengthy bidding process), SnapSports of Utah was able to offer a 20' x
36' half-court that worked within our budget and addressed concerns about liability
and loose balls. Earlier this summer they were able to install a lockable, fully-fenced
court with a softer surface material, to make it reality.
Currently, in the afternoons, kids can be found playing on the basketball court. This was made possible by generous donors and many hours of thoughtful consideration.
The Path to a New Space
By Jewel Morgan
UNP partner Latino Behavioral Health Services (LBHS) has moved into a new office space
at 3471 S West Temple. LBHS grew from a Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) project.
That project, which resulted in the NAMI Latino Task Force, originated from a concern
about mental health issues and a lack of information and resources among Latinos.
Now a 501c3 non-profit, having this new space gives more opportunity for LBHS to provide a variety of services to people. This community based, peer run organization has had regular meetings and trainings here at the UNP "house," where their original mission and vision were dreamed up.
While it is not in the Glendale area as originally imagined, the new location is accessible to people across the valley, and positions LBHS near Salt Lake County's Youth Services, where they hope to develop a partnership.
The new two-level space provides areas for intimate visits and larger trainings, has office areas, and space for child-care. Set-up is still a work in progress, but a good deal of furniture has been donated by Habit at for Humanity, Empowerment Services, and individuals, including Executive Director, Jacqueline Gomez-Arias herself.
LBHS offers a number of services including a support group, Familia a Familia, Bases y Fundamentos, and Progression courses in partnership with NAMI. They recently offered a Mental Health First Aid training with Optum Health, and are hosting the Utah State Peer Summit with the Utah State Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which will be in English with simultaneous translation with headphones in Spanish
Of LBHS, Jacqueline said, "We all have had struggles or been affected by mental illness, substance use disorder, and immigration. We've found a way to recover, to have a better quality of life, and help others. Today, we live with mental illness; we don't suffer from it."
Staff Spotlight
Sarah Morton
Sarah became the Development Officer for UNP in June 2014. She had just moved back
to Utah from Chicago, where she had gotten a Master's Degree in Urban Planning and
Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While in the Windy City, Sarah
worked for many community organizations but also tried her hand in the for-profit
world at a little company called Groupon.
Sarah grew up in Utah and graduated from the University of Utah in 2005 with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Sociology. During her time at the U, she was very involved in campus activities, which included serving as a student host at the residence halls, volunteering for the Bennion Center, and working as the photo editor for the Daily Utah Chronicle.
Sarah is probably best known for her diverse range of hobbies and interests. She plays a variety of instruments in a rock band, draws comic books, knits everything from socks to toys to dresses, and always prefers riding her bike to driving a car.
Community Corner
Noor Restaurant
"That food was so good! Where was it from?" is a common exclamation after any event
where Noor's food is served. Tucked away in an industrial park-strip mall at 1151
S Redwood Road, Noor serves up African and Middle Eastern favorites like lamb with
rice, veggie soor with maraq (a soft cornmeal dish popular in Somalia, filled with
a stew), and their delicious rice with chicken drums. People consistently rave about
their sambusas, which are a deep fried pastry triangle, filled with either a meat
or vegetable mixture. They also offer dishes not commonly found in American kitchens
like goat meat. All food prepared at Noor is halal.
Next time you're hungry, keep this west side treasure in mind for a unique and delicious meal.
