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Individuals & Families

Finance (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Download the free 2026 Finance Calendar and complete an action item each month and encourage others to do the same. Access other free research-based resources on this Utah State University website too.
• Share Utah’s Finance in the Classroom website with teachers at your local school and encourage them to incorporate finance education in their curriculum. This includes resources for educators, students, and the community.
• Participate in the annual Women in the Money conference and online workshops from Empowering Financial Wellness and encourage friends to join you.

Higher Education Attainment (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Talk to the prospective students you know – and their families – about their perceptions of and plans for college. Gauge their interest, share information about college options and resources, and dispel myths you hear about higher education.
• Encourage FAFSA completion; talk to the prospective college students and families you know about FAFSA and offer to help them complete it.
• Expose the young people you know to real-world occupations by connecting them with the working professionals you know. These professionals might be able to engage in conversation, offer mentorship, or provide job shadowing opportunities aligned with the student’s academic and career interests.

K-12 Initiatives (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Talk to at least 5 people per month in your area to raise awareness that girls can and should do well in math. Dispel the myths among all stakeholders and share ways that girls are getting the message that they are not good at math.
• Make daily reading a shared habit with children in your home and community, and encourage others to join in building strong early literacy foundations.
• Encourage school administrators and other local and state organizations to implement reputable mentorship programs for high school students to increase graduation rates. 

Groups, Organizations & Communities

Finance (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Advertise USU Financial Wellness Course in your community and encourage at least 10 women to attend.
• Ask at least 5 constituents to reach out to legislators and ask them to support the Utah Retirement Plan Exchange (HB 250).

Higher Education Attainment (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Collect and highlight success stories from individuals in your community who have attained college degrees.
• Connect with at least 5 education leaders (e.g., school administrators, board members, counselors, PTA presidents) to discuss the broad benefits of higher education attainment (see The Value of Higher Education brief).
• Talk to your local high school to see when it offers FAFSA completion events and ask how you can best help spread the word and encourage attendance.

K-12 Initiatives (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Work with each of your K-12 schools to join the Utah State Board of Education’s “Every Day Counts” statewide attendance challenge.
• Identify at least 3 people in your community to become Attendance Ambassadors.

Individuals & Families

Political & Civic Representation (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Participate in trainings and workshops focused on civic engagement and advocacy. Share these opportunities with women you know, and help them discover their advocacy passions.
• Nominate qualified women to serve on municipal, county, and state boards, commissions, and committees. Review the Utah Women & Leadership Project’s Utah Boards and Commissions webpage to find links to potential opportunities.
• Encourage women within your spheres of influence to run for public elected office at the local or state levels. Share resources, including the UWLP Resource Kit and the Utah Women Run webpage, as well as the Women’s Leadership Institute’s Political Development Series.

Groups, Organizations & Communities

Political & Civic Representation (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Help raise awareness about neighborhood caucuses held in mid-March and encourage women to serve as delegates. 
• Create and share social media posts to raise awareness of upcoming civic events and efforts.
• Encourage at least 10 women to identify a Utah state or local board, commission, committee, or council that interests them, attend a meeting, and apply for a seat (if available).

Individuals & Families

Childcare & Pre-K Programs (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Share resources about childcare solutions with Utah employers and employees. See Childcare Solutions for Employers [Spanish] and Working Parent Childcare Resources [Spanish].
• Learn and share information about the importance of early childhood learning and development. See resources from the Office of Early Childhood Utah, Voices for Utah Children, and Envision Utah.
• Talk to your legislators about supporting research-based public policy related to expanding childcare and early childhood education programs.

Entrepreneurship (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Share Utah resources with women you know who are considering starting a business or interested in growing their existing business, such as Startup State, Women’s Business Center of Utah, and this resource kit.
• Get girls and young women excited about the opportunities they could have to start their own businesses. Share resources that will help them prepare.
• Encourage elementary, middle, and high school teachers to invite women business owners to speak to students about their experiences. Find women business owners here.

Gender Pay Gap (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Encourage your company or organization to conduct an annual pay equity audit. If needed, share resources that could be helpful.
• Complete a salary negotiation training (four-part series or AAUW) and encourage others to do so.
• Share a pay experience you've had in Utah. Encourage others to share their stories to help influence legislation around equal pay. 

Leadership Development (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Encourage women of all ages to participate in an interactive course titled “Exploring Your Purpose: Talents, Callings, and Influence.” Host a group of 3-5 women in a 4-part series of engaging discussions and activities.
• Talk to girls and young women in your life about what they are doing to prepare to become leaders. Help them understand what leadership is and how they can lead in various settings from home and family to business, government, and beyond.
• Encourage men of all ages to participate in an interactive course titled “Male Allyship: A New Conversation.” Host a group of 3-5 men in a 5-part series of engaging discussions and activities.

Organizational Strategies & Workplace Culture (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Get a commitment from your organization to participate in the ElevateHer challenge. Learn more about the Challenge and recommend areas your organization can focus on.
• Encourage all organizations within your sphere of influence to adopt family-friendly and flexible workplace policies, conduct pay disparity analyses, and engage in equitable recruiting, hiring, and promotion practices. See available Utah resources for ideas and examples.
• Encourage business leaders to set goals and implement strategies, as applicable, to increase or strengthen the representation of women in leadership at all levels. This can include efforts around recruiting, hiring, development, and advancement from supervisory to C-suite and board positions.

STEM Fields (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Highlight and recognize women you know working in STEM and other nontraditional female fields on social media.
• Engage girls and young women in conversations about the wide range of STEM career opportunities available to them (see the resource kit for ideas).
• Encourage Utah women currently employed in STEM fields to pursue advancement opportunities within their organizations. 

Workforce Development (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Encourage and support women around you to engage with mentorship programs that strengthen their skills, networks, and career pathways. 
• Regularly share workforce development resources with women to expand their awareness of training, education, and career advancement opportunities.
• Educate yourself on the purpose and value of returnship programs and share this knowledge with women around you.

Groups, Organizations & Communities

Childcare & Pre-K Programs (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Raise awareness about the recently expanded 45F Childcare Tax Expansion by sharing this flyer with at least 10 businesses or HR professionals in your community and this flyer with at least 5 childcare providers and encourage them to share with parents.
• Invite at least 5 individuals to read the Utah Childcare Solutions and Workplace Productivity Plan and share three things they learned with others.
• Gather stories from at least 5 families in your community related to childcare needs and challenges and share them with your state representative(s) and senator(s)(see contact list).

Entrepreneurship (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Find at least 5 business and/or government leaders to sign the Utah Proclamation for Women's Entrepreneurial Empowerment.
• Hang the Utah Proclamation for Women's Entrepreneurial Empowerment flyer in 5 local businesses.

Gender Pay Gap (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Host a 4-part series “Salary Negotiation Training” module in your organization or community, in-person or virtually (contact amy.z.anderson@usu.edu for details).
• Collect 5-6 pay inequity stories from women in your community and share on social media. Encourage them to share their pay stories here. 
• Host an Equal Pay Day event in your community and invite individuals, employers, and local leaders to learn about the economic benefits of pay equality practices and other women-friendly workplace strategies.

Leadership Development (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Find 3 organizations in your community to hold small group sessions of the “Exploring Your Purpose: Talents, Callings, and Influence” interactive course.
• Share girls’ and women’s leadership development opportunities throughout your community.
• Find 3 organizations or groups in your community to hold  small group sessions of the “Male Allyship: A New Conversation" interactive course.

Organizational Strategies & Workplace Culture (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Get businesses in your community to commit to the ElevateHer Challenge and set 1 or more goals in areas of the challenge.
• Host an event to share workplace best practices and policies that elevate women and families (see UWLP brief for resources).
• Engage in conversations with business leaders, employers, and others in your community about the importance of more women leaders in Utah (see handout and conversation guide).

STEM Fields (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Highlight and celebrate women working in STEM and other nontraditional fields through storytelling and social media campaigns.
• Meet with an administrator of every middle and high school in your community to explore opportunities for girls to attend the SheTech Explorer Day.
• Educate leaders in STEM-related organizations about the value of women in entry-level, supervisory, management, and top leadership roles.

Workforce Development (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Talk to employers in your community about the importance and benefits of offering flexible, part-time opportunities for women, families, and employers.
• Help plan and promote at least 2 women’s career development workshops in your community.
• Share the Reskilling & Retraining Resources handout with women in your community who are considering re-entering the workforce.

Individuals & Families

Child Sexual Abuse (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Explore information and resources on child sexual abuse in Utah. Share these with others and encourage them to do the same.
• Participate in the April Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing information and resources with others. Help raise awareness through social media posts.
• Reach out to a counselor at your elementary school and encourage child sexual abuse prevention education curricula in their school. 

Domestic Violence (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Participate in domestic violence awareness events throughout the year, and especially in October for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Learn more about domestic violence by reading and reviewing this resource kit. Share this information with others and encourage them to do the same.
• Discover where you can find domestic violence resources and support in your community and share this information with others.

Poverty & Homelessness (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Learn about the root causes of poverty and homelessness and share this knowledge with others. Understand and use appropriate language when discussing these challenges.
• Contact developers and community decision makers to raise awareness of the challenges around housing and ensure more attainable housing is available.
• Learn about and share nutrition education and food resources available in your community. 

Sexual Assault (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Learn more about how sexual assault is a significant social, criminal justice, and healthcare issue in Utah.
• Educate yourself about the importance of believing and supporting sexual assault survivors by checking out Utah’s Start by Believing campaign.
• Take the Start by Believing Pledge to join the movement and support survivors. Encourage others to share their commitment as well.

Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Discrimination (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Educate yourself and others about sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in Utah, including effective response techniques.
• Say something when you see or experience any form of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination. 
• Identify and share policies and practices that can be implemented to help your organization create a culture where all employees can thrive. 

Groups, Organizations & Communities

Child Sexual Abuse (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Reach out to all K-6 elementary school counselors in your communities and encourage child sexual abuse prevention education curricula in their school. Inquire if their school has provided child sexual abuse prevention to students before and share the current list of USBE approved providers that are available to provide this.
• Contact 5 local groups or organizations and introduce them to the SAFE Coalition via Kathy Vegge (KVegge@saprea.org).  Provide the What Utahns Need to Know handout and encourage leadership to participate in the April Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing about at least one resource from this webpage with their audience via social media post or newsletter.

Domestic Violence (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Advertise and market the Dear Utah campaign at events within your community using the QR code and graphics.
• Raise awareness of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC) resources available for individuals, families, and organizations.

Poverty & Homelessness(Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Reach out to 5 community leaders about the importance of identifying and listening to cost-burdened renters and homeowners so that effective solutions can be found.
• Encourage people in your community to learn more about and volunteer with the Create Better Health program.

Sexual Assault (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Get 5 individuals to take the Start By Believing Pledge and 3 organizations to sign the Start By Believing Proclamation to support survivors of sexual assault.
• Download and use the Start By Believing Toolkit to promote the campaign and Start By Believing Day within your community.
• Share your commitment to Start by Believing by posting a monthly social media graphic with #SBBUtah, #bwfutah, and #bwfsexualassault and encourage others to do the same.

Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Discrimination (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Gather stories from at least 5 women in your community about their experiences with sexual harassment and/or gender-based discrimination; share them with local decision makers.
• Organize a community event to help individuals and organizations learn about gender-based discrimination prevention.
• Encourage community members to access and utilize resources on sexual harassment in the workplace.

Individuals & Families

Health Across the Lifespan (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Educate yourself and others on the health risks of unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence. Share one resource on your social media channel weekly or with a friend or family member.
• Encourage all women you know aged 40 or older to schedule an annual mammogram. Share the following resources: What to Know if You’re Nervous about Mammograms and Breast Health.
• Initiate candid conversations with girls and young women about issues that impact their health and wellbeing. These can include topics such as maturation, physical and mental health, body image, social media, disordered eating, and substance use disorder.

Home & Family (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Encourage your local school administrators and staff to offer healthy relationship workshops for high school students. See the resource kit for ideas.
• Encourage couples and parents in your spheres of influence to participate in free research-based workshops on healthy relationships. Healthy Relationships Utah provides courses and other resources on couples/dating, stepfamilies, parents, and self improvement.
• Learn and share information about balanced distribution of domestic labor, care work, and emotional work. For example, resources on this page can be shared with family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, religious leaders, and on social media.

Groups, Organizations & Communities

Health Across the Lifespan (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Find creative ways to encourage women in your community aged 40 or older to schedule an annual mammogram.
• Host 3 or more small group discussions about Utah Women and Perimenopause/Menopause using the Living Room Conversation Guide.
• Encourage families to utilize the Family Tool Kit to empower adolescents as they transition and take on the responsibilities of becoming a healthy adult. 

Home & Family (Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Encourage couples and parents in your spheres of influence to participate in research-based workshops and webinars on healthy relationships.
• Host at least one community conversation about shared domestic labor, caregiving, and emotional work at home using the Living Room Conversation Guide.

Interfaith (Belonging Team & Resource Kit)

• Take time to get to know someone whose faith tradition or worldview differs from your own. Ask questions, listen with curiosity, and seek to understand their experiences and perspectives.
• Volunteer alongside people from different faith communities. Participate in a shared service project and work together to address local needs.
• Visit a community interfaith gathering, open house, cultural celebration, or religious service. Learning directly from others can increase understanding.

LGBTQ+ (Belonging Team & Resource Kit)

• Explore information and resources that provide insight on the experiences of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. See the Equality & Belonging Resource Kit for educational resources.
• Ensure LGBTQ+ individuals are included when decisions are being made regarding Utah's children, youth, and adults. Access resources on the Political & Civic Representation Spoke webpage.
• Share educational resources with at least two people each month to help raise awareness of terminology to use and the challenges that LGBTQ+ Utahns face. Distribute resources from the Belonging Team webpage.

Refugees & Immigrants (Race & Ethnicity Belonging Team & Resource Kit)

• Volunteer with an organization that helps immigrants and refugees. Learn about them by reading information about them on their websites.
• Learn more about the challenges that refugee and immigrant women face in Utah. Host a Living Room Conversation focused on refugees in Utah.
• Have a conversation with and get to know a woman refugee or recent immigrant and, if appropriate, ask them questions about their experiences. Refer to this list of conversation starters for guidance on asking thoughtful and respectful question.

 

Women & Aging (50+ Thriving Belonging Team & Resource Kit)

• Advocate for affordable senior housing , access to physical and mental healthcare, and wellness programs specifically for older women. Include older women in policy decisions that impact their quality of life.
• Recognize and value the contributions of older women, while raising awareness of the complex challenges that they face.
• Initiate conversations on menopause, aging, and neurodivergence to reduce stigma and promote understanding . Ask women over 50 about their experiences.

Women of Color (Race & Ethnicity Belonging Team & Resource Kit)

• Engage with and learn from the experiences of people whose backgrounds differ from your own and seek to understand their perspectives.
• Explore research and resourcces that help schools, workplaces, and communities strengthen belonging.
• Encourage policies and practices that increase representation, remove barriers, and create opportunities for everyone to participate and thrive.

Cosmetic Surgery & Body Image (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Model positive conversations about appearance. Compliment others on character, effort, and achievements more often than looks.
• Be mindful of media messages. Follow and share content that promotes realistic and diverse standards of beauty.
• Invest in confidence-building experiences. Support activities that develop leadership, creativity, athletics, service, or other talents that reinforce self-worth.

Eating Disorders (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Educate yourself about eating disorders and share trusted information with others to increase awareness and help reduce stigma.
• Pay attention to changes in eating habits, body image concerns, social withdrawal, or emotional distress in yourself and others.
• Encourage those who may be struggling to seek support and help from a healthcare provider, counselor, or eating disorder resource.

Fertility Trends (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Talk with friends, neighbors, and community leaders about the barriers to having children and advocate for solutions that give Utahns more freedom to achieve their family goals.
• Support local organizations that help young families access practical resources and build strong support networks.
• Support policies and community programs that make it easier for Utah families to afford housing, childcare, healthcare, and parental leave.

Girls, Young Women, & Physical Activity (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Be consistent and patient with your own and your family’s physical activity. Healthy habits require time, and consistency builds confidence and reduces the risk of burnout.
• Walking or other group activities provide support and a shared experience of being physically active. Consider Walk This Way! or joining a community sports team.
• Check with local parks, schools and recreation centers for girl-focused or mixed-gender programs such as Girls on the Run that align with girls’ interests.

Human Trafficking (Sexual Assault Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Connect with local organizations that help victims of trafficking and ask how you can help survivors in your community.
• Learn how to identif y victims of human trafficking and share this knowledge with others.
• Reach out to community leaders and policymakers about the importance of reducing the structural conditions that make people vulnerable to trafficking.

Male Allyship (Team & Resource Kit)

• Educate yourself and others on the importance of male allyship and identify ways you can elevate women's voices and contributions.
• Sign up for the BWF Male Allyship team newsletter, join the team's LinkedIn group, and become part of Utah's "Male Ally Army."
• Encourage men of all ages to participate in an interactive course titled "Male Allyship: A New Conversation." Host a group of 3-5 men in a 5-part series of engaging discussions and activities.

Mammography (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Encourage women ages 40+ to schedule regular mammograms. Help a friend or family member learn about screenings or make an appointment.
• Educate yourself and others about the importance of mammography and early detection.
• Raise awareness about mammography resources and screening programs in Utah by sharing information with others and on social media.

Maternal Mental Health (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Understand symptoms, advocate for mothers, and offer emotional and practical support.
• Reduce stigma surrounding maternal mental health and encourage mothers to speak up and ask for help.
• Increase awareness and access to mental health resources. Share information about services and help others connect to available support in their communities.

Mental Health (Health Across the Lifespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Increase awareness and access to mental health resources. Share information about services and help others connect to available support in their communities.
• Work with organizations and communities to build supportive networks that foster connection and belonging for women and girls.
• Reduce stigma and promote open conversations about mental health. Listen without judgement and support environments where individuals feel safe seeking help.

Sexism (Resource Kit)

• Learn to recognize the many forms of everyday sexism, including unconscious bias, stereotypes, objectification, and language that undervalues women.
• Speak up respectfully when you hear sexist comments, and support individuals who experience gender bias.
• Identify and share policies and practices that can be implemented to help your organization create a culture where all employees can thrive.

Single Mothers (Home & Family Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Work with organizations and leaders in passing meaningful legislation that supports single mothers and their children.
• Share resources and scholarship opportunities with single mothers to increase educational opportunities and sustainable employment.
• Bring awareness to the issues faced by single mothers and their families through community advocacy and outreach.

Skilled Trades (Workforce Development Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Learn about skilled trades careers and share information with girls and women to increase awareness of available opportunities.
• Challenge outdated stereotypes by encouraging women and girls to explore the trades as viable and rewarding career paths.
• Encourage employers and organizations to create workplaces that foster inclusion, safety, and support for women pursuing careers in the skilled trades.

Substance Use Disorders (Health Across the LIfespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Reach out and have a conversation about opioid use and misuse with your family and friends. Education can help prevent SUDs.
• Stop the Stigma. Share the knowledge that SUDs are treatable and recovery is possible with support.
• Safely manage your pain and prescriptions. Don’t keep pills you don’t need and dispose of them at a secure drop box. This site can help you find one in your area.

Suicide (Health Across the LIfespan Spoke & Resource Kit)

• If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, call (801) 587-3000, text 988, or visit SafeUT for 24/7 crisis support.
• Attend a “QPR” training to learn how to help save a life from suicide.
• Know the warning signs of suicide. Let people know you are concerned, listen attentively and without judgement and offer to help connect them with help.

Unpaid Care Work (Home & Family Spoke & Resource Kit)

• Learn and share information about balanced domestic labor, care work, and emotional work. Resources on this page can be shared with family, friends, co-workers, religious leaders, and on social media.
• Look for opportunities to support caregivers in your family and community. Offer practical help, stay connected, and regularly check in with those providing ongoing care.
• Encourage open conversations about caregiving, work-family balance, and shared household labor to promote healthy expectations and supportive social norms.