TCI Celebrates Local Champions at Utah Conference on Community Engagement

PRICE, Utah — The 2025 Utah Conference on Community Engagement, hosted at USU Eastern by the Transforming Communities Institute, took place from May 12 to 14, and featured two and a half days of dynamic work to address social, environmental, and economic challenges across the state through meaningful community partnerships and engagement.

With over 60 presentations, the conference was regarded as an energizing hub of innovation and collaboration, aimed at improving and maintaining the well-being and quality of life for Utah communities. Representing a rich cross-section from Utah’s public benefit landscape, there were 178 attendees, including 79 staff and faculty from higher education, 52 students and 47 community partners from nonprofits, government agencies and coalitions. The event was planned by a diverse steering committee comprising members from Utah universities, nonprofits and the community.

Attendees explored topics such as equity-centered program design, community-based participatory research, trauma-informed care, strategies for rural engagement, youth empowerment, housing and food security, and cross-sector collaboration. Sessions ranged from interactive workshops and panel discussions to research presentations and storytelling circles.

Erin Jensen, chair of the conference steering committee, remarked on the variety of sessions offered.

“I was amazed by the range of topics spotlighted at the conference,” Jensen said. “From the physical sciences to the social sciences and everything in between, attendees were able to see how the principles of community engagement can be applied across a wide variety of sectors and professions. There truly was something for everyone.”

Honoring Community Changemakers

The USU Transforming Communities Institute and conference steering committee recognized two individuals at the event whose leadership and advocacy exemplify community engagement at its best. These included the Local Change Maker and Community Advocate of the Year awards.

The Local Change Maker of the Year award honors an individual from the conference host community — this year Carbon County — who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of community members. A resident of Price, recipient Paula Vigil’s advocacy began after her daughter Ashley passed away in 2024 following trauma and complications from a horrific sexual assault. Ashley had a neurodevelopmental disorder called Rett Syndrome that affects language and motor skills, and this prevented her from reporting the abuse. At the time, Utah law lacked mandatory minimum sentences for sexual crimes against adults with disabilities, and Vigil took action to ensure others would not face similar injustices, leading to the passage of “Ashley’s Law,” which now mandates a minimum 10-year sentence for such crimes in Utah.

“I was so honored to be surrounded by people with so much heart. I’ve seen so much horror that it’s easy to think the world is mostly bad. But that conference was absolutely filled to the brim with inspiration, kindness, and hard work — the kind that reminds me the world is mostly good,” said Vigil, who is continuing her social work education while developing training for first responders and taking Ashley’s Law to the national stage.

The Community Advocate of the Year award is a statewide recognition that highlights an individual who has elevated community voices and co-developed initiatives that positively impact communities across Utah. As the director of Community Praxis at University Neighborhood Partners at the University of Utah, Kimberly Schmit’s work has redefined what it means to partner with the community. Schmit developed a curriculum dedicated to teaching residents, businesses, nonprofits, and others how to build equitable, reciprocal partnerships grounded in community priorities.

“Community advocacy is about people, relationships, and the determination to build a more equitable future. I am grateful to be part of this movement and look forward to continuing the work alongside incredible colleagues and allies,” Schmit said.

Looking Ahead

The annual Utah Conference on Community Engagement brings together changemakers from nonprofit, government, grassroots, faith-based and higher education communities to learn, connect and grow. For organizers and participants, the 2025 event was a reminder that when diverse voices come together with purpose, transformative change is possible.

Those interested in serving on the conference steering committee or supporting the 2026 conference should contact Erin Jensen, TCI Program Coordinator, at erin.jensen@usu.edu.