Bolder Way Forward for Utah

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Ready to be part of the A Bolder Way Forward, initiative, to help make a difference for girls, women, and families in Utah? Whether you have 5 minutes or 500 hours, we've outlined specific actions that organizations, groups, and communities can take to help move the needle. Get started by visiting spoke webpages, and see the spoke resource kits for inspiring videos and informational handouts on "What Utahns Need to Know" about each spoke area. You can also Get Engaged with UWLP, find out How You Can Make a Difference, or participate in Movement-Wide Awareness Campaigns on specific topics. Change happens when we all show up, and there’s a place for everyone in this work!

To connect with others in your community doing this important work, fill out this interest survey, visit your county webpage, or email the UWLP Community Connector (Amy) at amy.z.anderson@usu.edu.  

Calls to Action

Expand the categories below to view the 2026 Calls to Action for each spoke.

Finance

  1. Advertise USU Financial Wellness Course in your community and encourage at least 10 women to attend.
  2. 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

  1. Collect at least 3 stories to highlight on your social media of high school seniors, parents, high school faculty/counselors, college professors, and/or women in your community that have achieved higher education. Verify if they are willing to share their story publicly.
  2. Connect with at least 5 education leaders (e.g., USBE leadership, regional education center administrators, superintendents, school board members, school PTA presidents, high school principals, high school counselors) to promote the importance of higher education attainment (see The Value of Higher Education brief).

K-12 Initiatives

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

Political and Civic Representation

  1. Help raise awareness about neighborhood caucuses in mid-March and encourage women to serve as delegates to represent their communities in the statewide caucuses.
  2. Create and share social media posts to raise awareness of upcoming civic events and efforts.
  3. Encourage 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).

Childcare/Pre-K Programs

  1. 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.
  2. Invite at least 5 individuals to read the Utah Childcare Solutions and Workplace Productivity Plan and share three things they learned with others.
  3. 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

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

Gender Pay Gap

  1. Host a 4-part series “Salary Negotiation Training” module in your organization or community, in-person or virtually (contact emily@martinprisbrey.com for details).
  2. Collect at least 3 pay inequity stories from women in your community and share on social media.
  3. Host an Equal Pay Day or organization-focused event catered to your community, and invite corporations, businesses, and other organizations to learn the economic benefits of women friendly workplaces and pay equity audits.

Leadership Development

  1. Find 3 different organizations in your community to hold small group sessions of the “Exploring Your Purpose: Talents, Callings, and Influence” interactive course.
  2. Share girls’ and women’s leadership development opportunities throughout your community.

Organizational Strategies & Workplace Culture

  1. Get 5 or more businesses in your community to commit to the ElevateHer Challenge.
  2. Host an event to share workplace best practices and policies that elevate women and families (see UWLP brief for resources).
  3. Engage in conversations with businesses using the “Why Do We Need More Women Leadership in Utah?” handout and Living Room Conversations

STEM Fields

  1. Highlight and recognize women working in STEM and other nontraditional female fields on social media.
  2. Meet with an administrator of every middle and high school in your community to explore opportunities for girls to attend the SheTech Explorer Day in 2026.

Workforce Development

  1. Help plan and promote at least 2 women’s career development workshops in your community.
  2. Share the Reskilling & Retraining Resources handout with at least 10 women in your community who are looking to re-enter the workforce.

Child Sexual Abuse

  1. 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.
  2. 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

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

Poverty & Homelessness

  1. 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.
  2. Encourage people in your community to learn more about and volunteer with the Create Better Health program.

Sexual Assault

  1. 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.
  2. Download and use the Start By Believing Toolkit to promote the campaign and Start By Believing Day within your community.

Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Discrimination

  1. 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.
  2. Organize a “Cover to Care” training (forthcoming) on gender-based discrimination in your community.
  3. Encourage community members to access and utilize resources on sexual harassment in the workplace.

Health Across the Lifespan

  1. Find creative ways to encourage women in your community aged 40 or older to schedule an annual mammogram.
  2. Host 3 or more small group discussions about Utah Women and Perimenopause/Menopause using the Living Room Conversation Guide.
  3. 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

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