Belonging Teams

50+ Thriving

The 50+ Thriving Belonging Team works to support the BWF by ensuring that age is considered in all aspects of the movement. They also ensure that women 50 and older know about the research, resources, tools, and opportunities available so they can learn, grow, and thrive as they age. Women in Utah 50 and older thrive when they are free to fully contribute and express every aspect of themselves and have the necessary resources and support to live in equality, health, safety, community and well-being with physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, financial, and intellectual self-fulfillment and self-sufficiency.

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Disabilities

The Disabilities Belonging Team works to support the BWF by ensuring the women with disabilities are respected, have equity and access to their communities, are informed to make choices, can practice self-determination, and are recognized as valued members of society. The challenges Utah women and girls face disproportionally affect those with disabilities. Nationwide, an estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. According to the CDC, 27% of Utah's adults have a disability. That's nearly 1 in 4 people. It is critical when addressing the 18 areas of focus (spokes) in A Bolder Way Forward (BWF) that we don’t ignore the populations in our community who are hit hardest. It is critical that educators, employers, and all Utahns better understand and promote universally designed environments.

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Interfaith

Women and girls thrive when they are empowered to bring their faith, values, and deepest commitments to do difficult and powerful work of justice and peacebuilding in their communities.  Ensuring that every woman's beliefs (religious or otherwise) are considered is important to her identity. Faith plays a pivotal role in shaping women's identities, whether through active participation in religious communities, personal spiritual practices, or deeply held values. As Utah women navigate the complexities of issues within their families and communities, we honor the diverse wisdom they offer and welcome the hope they bring. By fostering understanding amidst various perspectives through mutual learning and dialogue, we can support women of all faiths or beliefs. This Belonging Team works to collect research and develop resources that will help Utah women thrive in their faith communities and/or within their own spiritual journeys.

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LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+ Utahns who identify as girls and women thrive when accepted for who they are and when included in conversations that impact safety, security, health, and wellbeing. Additionally, all Utahns jointly thrive when LGBTQ+ members of our communities are included and encouraged to contribute to dialogue and decisions collectively and cooperatively. This Belonging Team works to ensure that LGBTQ+ Utahns who identify as girls and women are considered, included and represented in all aspects of society. Work includes providing resources and terminology to foster unbiased understanding, using and disaggregating data to identify discrimination, and assisting with the development of inclusive initiatives to challenge disparities.

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Race & Ethnicity

In our multi-demographic world, we all thrive when we embrace the perspectives, lived experiences, and all-encompassing intersectionality of our humanity. The challenges Utah women and girls face disproportionally affect minority women and girls. For example, Utah’s minority populations are more likely to have higher poverty rates, lower educational achievement, and higher housing cost burdens. It is critical when addressing these challenges that we don’t ignore the populations in our community who are hit hardest, and we bring to the table diverse voices representing all race/ethnic groups.