Spring 2019

Front Feature

Healthy Schools Healthy Families

By Teresa Molina

In 2015, UNP and Latino Behavioral Health Services (LBHS) piloted the Emotional Intelligence (El) program at Rose Park Elementary. It was developed by a U of U Honors College Culture and Mental Health class. The first classes were held with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Compartiendo Esperanza/Sharing Hope Awareness Presentations, and the Basics and Progression signature education programs with great success. During the next three years, with support from Sorenson Legacy Foundation, LBHS delivered them at several west side schools. Now Salt Lake School District is on board to offer them regularly at Horizonte Training Center, in Spanish and English.

The next Sharing Hope/Compartiendo Esperanza presentation will be at Horizonte at 1234 S Main St on April 4 at 6 pm. Emotional Intelligence (ages 6 - 11), Progression (ages 12- 17), Bases y Fundamentos (Parents and caregivers) will follow on Thursdays starting April 11, 6 - 8:30 pm for 6 weeks at the same location. Register at the presentation or call LBHS at 801-935-4447.

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Thoughts Before Parting; Sandwiches and Accordions

Written by Sarah Munro, UNP Director

I've been thinking a lot about sandwiches lately. And accordions. The 17 years I've been at UNP have been like that huge intake of breath of an accordion, filled with possibility, energy and excitement. It's been such fun, and such an honor, to be part of the creation and growth of UNP, to be part of all the relationships and deep and challenging learning. I wish there were more spaces like this in the world.

But change is constant, and I now find myself part of the 'sandwich generation' balancing the demands in my own life and my family at both ends of the lifespan-my children at home and my Michigan parents who now need my support and involvement. It's clear to me that it is time for me to step down from my work at UNP and look forward to a new director to bring that next breath of energy.

I'm grateful for the support and friendship of so many people over the years, and hope that I have been able to do some justice to the energy and trust you've invested in me and in UNP. I know that I'll find a way to stay connected with UNP in its work of weaving the U and west side neighborhoods closer together as partners in a shared future. Thank you so much for your support and trust over the years.

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New Westside Leadership Institute Pathways

By Saolo Manumaleuga-Utu

As the Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) celebrates 15 years of success building leadership skills among residents on Salt Lake City's west side, the collaborating organizations behind it seek to increase the institute's impact by expanding the institute's length and breadth into a year-long leadership pathway. The new design will better guide and support leaders and their fledgling projects as they launch, grow, and thrive.

The original 12-week program, a collaboration among NeighborWooks Salt Lake, the University of Utah, and University Neighborhood PArtners, cultivates leadership abilities so graduates have the knowledge, skills, and resources to work on community programs or issues affecting Salt Lake City's west side. The course is geared toward individuals and groups who have community-based projects tat they want to materalize with expert advice and guidance while earing 3 University of Utah CE credit hours. Course graduates become eligible for $1,000 grants. Notable projects developed during the WLI include the West View Media, the Tapu Podcast, the Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources, and the Westside Coalition. 

The Westside Leadership Institute is currently offering two concurrent classes in English and in Spanish during the spring semester, will host a series of summer workshops, and a brand new "Westside Leadership Institute Startup" course during the fall semester. The summer workshops will provide continuing education for students on how to organize, manage, and sustain their projects, while the WLI startup course offering will connect UNP's current startup incubator partnership to WLI graduate groups in strategic planning, organization, resource development, scale, and measuring impact.

This new structure combined with additional education and support increases the sustainability of projects from the course and within the community. Students will become a cohort of community leaders on the same trajectory, coordinated with the annual cycle of outreach and grand seeking, guided and supported by experts.

Learn more about Westside Leadership Institute.

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Karen Higher Ed Program

By Sayro Paw and Hser Eh Dah

The Karen Higher Education program is starting this Spring and is taking place at the UNP Harland Partnership Center Last summer, Sayro Paw and Hser En Dah conducted research in the Karen community about how and why the participants seek higher education, what has been helpful, and reasons behind why they sometimes fail. The results showed that the participants of our focus group shared a common understanding of how important it is to receive a higher education, because "education is a weapon", and receiving a higher education will help them thrive in their lives by becoming successful people and professionals.

"To me, I think no one can steal my education/intelligence; but, they can steal my money."

We also learned about some of the barriers. We found out that many couldn't afford to go to college due to financial struggles and needing to help out their parents. We learned that language barriers were a real issue and that many hight school students were unsure about the culture and difficulty of the classes in college. Further, many of our participants, usually the oldest siblings, go right into the workforce after high school (often where their parents work), which creates a new cultural norm for the younger kids.

The purpose of developing this program, which is created from the research, is to build connections in and out of the community, share and learn about resources, and support one another. We are building community and confidence to step up and be able to realize our value of higher education. We hope to help Karen youth step out of their comfort zone and see the big picture of life. This program is not only about going to college or university but it can be anything such as getting a professional license, attending Job Corps, etc.

UNP has been a partner with the Karen community since 2008 and this year the Karen community involvement has increased more than the past 10 years. The Karen Community of Utah (KCU) has its own space in the incubator, two citizenship classes, the Karenwomen weaving group, and the Karen Higher Ed program. The Kare Higher Education program is a part of Bridging Borders, an interdisciplinary partnership through the University of Utah.

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Staff Spotlight

Jewel Morgan

Jewel has worked with UNP for the past 5 years as an Administrative Program Coordinator. She is tireless in her efforts to ensure the series of Partners in the Park events successfully carry on through methodical planning, navigation of multiple permits, and seamless implementation. Jewel is also the liaison for UNP's Advisory Board, communicating with and convening them in their efforts to guide and direct our mission through multiple constituency representation. Jewel is an essential support for community partners, such as Hartland Community 4 Youth & Families, helping to create flyers for events and managing UNP's social media efforts. Finally, she helps support all of UNP's partnership work with her extensive skill-base and authentic style. Jewel's passion for UNP's mission is evident in this biannual newsletter you are currently reading, which she edits and designs, sans this spotlight article of course. In her free time, Jewel is a movie aficionado, comedy seeker, traveler, lover of learning, and supportive mother of a wonderful musician who is currently studying at Bard College. 

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Community Corner

Square Kitchen

Getting started as a new restaurant is notoriously challenging and expensive. Enter Square Kitchen, a culinary incubator which a couple of local residents with strong connections to the west side opened in 2015 after receiving a sustainability grant. In addition to having access to space and equipment, participants also receive mentorship and connections, plus help with resources like graphic design, legal assistance, and other vital expertise. They currently have 45 groups utilizing the incubator, many who operate local food trucks or who have booths at local farmer's markets. Square Kitchen is also hosting Spice Kitchen now. Square Kitchen is located at 751 W 800 S. Check out their website to learn more or to contact them and find out how to support participating vendors.

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Upcoming Events

UNP Alumni Association Scholarship

• Applications Due April 12th, 5pm.

UNP Wolf/Meritus Scholarship

• Applications Due April 28th, 5 pm

Hartland Spring Festival

• April 27 - Noon - 3 p.m

Partners in the Park

Join UNP staff partners, and west side residents in local parks for food, fun, and resources

Tuesdays from 6 to 8 pm

• June 11 - Jordan Park
• June 25 - Westpointe Park
• July 9 - Sherwood Park
• July 18 - Riverside Park
• July 30 - Northwest Rec Center