BWF County Coalition Updates - May 2025

In the Bolder Way Forward Framework, grassroots is key to making long-term societal change, and that means getting the message to every community, neighborhood, and family in Utah. County Coalitions in each of the 29 counties ensure this happens. The following are bi-monthly updates for each county coalition’s progress. Please click on the individual County Coalition webpages (linked below) to learn more. 

Beaver County: Earlier in 2025, the coalition had an in-person community gathering at the Beaver City Offices, which helped grow the county coalition and educate the community about BWF, including identifying two new Spoke Representatives. Follow-up outreach is helping determine next steps. For this month there is no update from Beaver County. They are working now to identify new county co-leads and additional spoke representatives. If you are interested in supporting the BWF Beaver County Coalition, please contact deborah.lin@usu.edu for more information and to discuss opportunities. 

Box Elder County: Members of the county coalition continue to amplify their collective voices and impact alongside nonprofit organizations in this work. As the co-leads continue in their individual work to lift girls and women in Box Elder County, new leadership is sought to focus on building the coalition. Meeting with their Regional Outreach Coordinator to brainstorm a path forward, they are confident in finding the right team.  

Cache County: Focusing on awareness, the co-leaders invite local and state speakers to the monthly meetings. In March, a focus on the Leadership Development Spoke brought Jamie Andrus, representing the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Kristyn Allred, representing the statewide Leadership Development Spoke. In April, they focused on Sexual Assault Awareness month, hearing from CAPSA representatives and Julie Valentine, a lead of the statewide spoke. They learned about action being taken on both the local and statewide basis and where current needs are, mostly a result of extreme and immediate cuts in funding. A sign-up link to BWF has been added on Facebook and a social event is planned for May 21.  

Carbon County: Carbon County is the first county to identify county spoke representatives for all 18 spoke areas! Last month, the county co-leads held their first 15-minute check-in with Spoke representatives in their county, which they plan to do quarterly to connect, get updates, and find out how to support them. They designed and produced a BWF Carbon County Banner for public events using a donation from ETV News. Their Facebook following continues to grow, and they are focusing on a Male Allyship luncheon in June to raise awareness and engage male allies. They will have boxed lunches and the opportunity to visit tables to learn more about county partners and the spokes. This month they are compiling a list of resources around the Sexual Harassment and Childcare/Pre-K Spokes.  

Daggett County: Cooperating with Duchesne and Uintah as they grow, see the unified effort below under the Uintah Basin Coalition. Expanding access to healthcare services is a priority for the county through the TriCounty Health Department. Follow them on Facebook or email Teresa Larsen at teresalarsen@kodiakcounseling.com to learn more.  

Davis County: The county co-leads had an in-person co-lead meeting to get to know each other better, discuss strengths, and divide responsibilities in order to have the greatest impact. With new assignments, they are focusing on getting all their spoke representatives in place and connected with their spokes so things can move in the county. They are also looking at starting social media as a way to get the message out across the county. 

Duchesne County: Cooperating with Daggett and Uintah as they grow, see all of the combined effort below as the Uintah Basin Coalition. They launched a new combined Facebook page where they are actively sharing BWF resources and are implementing the Movement Wide Awareness Campaigns. To join their growing coalition, contact co-lead Lindsey at lgarlick@duchesne.utah.gov. 

Emery County: The Emery County Bolder Way Forward Coalition has begun hosting guest speakers to coincide with the monthly focus of A Bolder Way Forward. In March, they hosted a community dinner with guest speakers. Niki Allred from the One Direction Coalition presented on keeping students away from harmful substances, the purpose of the coalition, and their work with proven prevention formulas; the coalition will also have a youth coalition to gain more insights into what youth need to stay healthy and substance free. Lacy Hardman, a local author, spoke on preventing child abuse, including statistics on child abuse in Utah and how to keep children safe from predators. Alice Wadley, Emery County co-lead, told the group about the Bolder Way Forward movement and how to get involved. In April, Jerry and Michelle Glazier from the Child Liberation Foundation spoke to the group. They focused on identifying signs of child abuse and what to do. They outlined a program for schools which deals with child abuse; the coalition will work to bring that program into the local schools. On June 23, the focus will be male allyship, with a guest speaker to discuss the importance of male allies supporting BWF. 

Garfield County: The Garfield County Coalition has begun creating events to engage people in the county in the Spoke areas. After an in-person gathering where they identified contacts interested in participating in various spokes, they followed up with a Zoom event for those who could not travel to the in-person event. The virtual event went well, so they are now having a monthly Zoom meet-up to share information about focus areas and brainstorm ideas for implementation.  A co-lead meeting a few days before the county-wide Zoom meeting each month allows them to identify information and upcoming events to share with those who join; the two Zoom meetings have had small but engaged groups. The second Zoom meeting discussed the childcare challenges in the county, an area where they will continue to find solutions and people interested in working on this issue. To address the focus areas of sexual assault and child abuse prevention in April, they were able to publish an article in their local newspaper that included many of the startling statistics. They also shared posters from the Start By Believing website on community bulletin boards. They will host their third Zoom gathering on May 19th, have created an email address for the county coalition (garfieldbolderwayforward@gmail.com), and are working on creating a Facebook page and a LinkedIn page.   

Grand County: In April, BWF Grand County Coalition members met virtually for updates on the status of county coalition. Several members and partners, including the hospital, the Chamber, and USU Extension, are engaging to help find new county co-leads. They discussed aligning with existing coalitions and having a presence at the mental health fair as ways to spread the word about BWF. Representatives from Seekhaven and the Children’s Justice Center shared efforts around Sexual Assault and Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.  

Iron County: Confirming interest from individuals who have engaged with the coalition and finalizing spoke representatives is a priority in Iron County. The coalition plans to collaborate with local organizations, starting by having a table at the Rotary Club’s Annual July Jamboree to help raise awareness about issues facing girls and women and about the coalition. In the future, they are planning to highlight bold women in Iron County on social media, engage additional partner organizations, and engage youth. Meagan Beesley recently joined as a county coalition co-lead. 

Juab County: The Juab County Coalition continues to build on momentum following a successful Bolder Way Forward Info Night in April. With strong community turnout and renewed interest, the co-leads have taken the lead on specific spoke areas to strengthen efforts and streamline collaboration. They’re working closely with other Juab County groups, including the Prevention Coalition, to initiate new partnerships and maintain engagement. Moving forward, they’re focused on turning community interest into action and sustaining long-term impact throughout the county. They are planning on presenting to the County Commissioners and tabling at a community gathering. 

Kane County: In Kane County, the coalition has made exciting progress toward a Bolder Way Forward. They recently hosted their annual informational meeting and now have close to all 18 spoke assignments filled—a significant milestone in the county's collaborative efforts. They've also launched a new monthly meeting format featuring two presentations: the current month’s spoke leader shares updates on completed work in their initiative area, while the upcoming month’s presenter highlights what’s ahead. This structure is helping build momentum and foster greater community engagement. The primary focus is increasing awareness of the impactful local work happening across Kane County, ensuring more voices are heard and more people are involved. 

Millard County: The Millard County Coalition is working to schedule regular meetings and identify spoke representatives and additional co-leads. They have begun a county Facebook page to help communicate and spread the word about BWF, the county coalition, and the issues facing girls and women. If you are interested in supporting the BWF Millard County Coalition, please contact myjody@live.com for more information and to discuss opportunities.  

Morgan County: Christianna Hayes continues efforts to build the coalition and recruit others to help lead. Members tabled and shared information on “10 Things You Can Do to Encourage Girls in STEM” and Bolder Way Forward at Morgan Elementary’s STEM night. If you are interested, please contact amy.z.anderson@usu.edu to learn how you can help Morgan County expand.   

Piute County: There is no update from Piute County this month. They are combining efforts with Wayne and Sevier Counties where there is overlap in county services and working to add additional county co-leads and spoke representatives. If you are interested in supporting the BWF Piute County Coalition, please contact deborah.lin@usu.edu for more information and to discuss opportunities. 

Rich County: Partnering with the Bear River Association of Government’s focus on addressing unmet needs in Rich County, efforts continue to identify those willing to lead out the county coalition. Regional Outreach Coordinator, Amy Anderson, attended meetings in Randolph and Garden City to share information.  

Salt Lake County: The BWF Salt Lake County Coalition has been actively building out their leadership team and recruiting new members. They’ve made great progress on their communications strategy—their newsletter is now live, and their social media channels (LinkedIn and Facebook) are gaining momentum. They’ve been supporting local initiatives and events, including the Mind the Gap Festival, and have had a presence at community events through tabling and outreach. Each spoke is beginning to execute its 2025 goals, and they’re planning a county-wide event for the end of June—stay tuned for details! They’re currently looking for people interested in supporting and participating across all spoke areas—there’s a strong team to collaborate with interested volunteers. 

San Juan County: County co-leads Racheal Holiday and Tazbah Jackson with the Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS) hosted a Sexual Assault Prevention Conference in Blanding for April’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month where the BWF county coalition had a table to spread the word; 22 individuals signed up to join the coalition. Starting in May, the coalition will have monthly meetings to discuss upcoming events/initiatives, to identify spoke representatives, and to brainstorm ways to move the coalition forward throughout the county. These meetings will move around San Juan County so everyone has the opportunity to participate in person, with a virtual option for those from other parts of the county. Debra McKee from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity was welcomed back as a San Juan County Coalition co-lead after a break. 

Sanpete County: Momentum is growing in Sanpete County around BWF after a coalition lunch at Snow College and the addition of three new co-leads: Sam Rainsdon-Meek, Natalie Chamberlain, and Maggi Leavitt. LuAnn Greenwell with the Children’s Justice Center shared how being involved with BWF is helping her with her work. They appreciated support from a Snow College student and are looking at opportunities to engage students. The co-leads are getting organized, scheduling regular meetings, and determining strengths and how to identify spoke reps and best work together to move the coalition forward in Sanpete County.  

Sevier County: The Sevier County Coalition has made important connections with Intermountain Health and is discussing ways to work together as partners. They are discussing ways to raise awareness of BWF, including by participating as a team in the Out of Darkness Walk. Their county partner, New Horizons, did a lot to raise awareness around sexual assault for the national awareness and prevention month. They continue to look for ways to work with neighboring Piute and Wayne County Coalitions to support and strengthen each other. 

Summit County: Adding additional members to the leadership team in Summit County, Janna Young and Katherine Wilson, from the Summit County and Summit Health Department respectively, joined the efforts. A focus on Male Allyship with a direct ask to implement the UWLP curriculum is underway with key community supporters. Encourage others to contact Tana Toly at tana.toly@parkcity.org to get involved.  

Tooele County: The county coalition has continued to have monthly in-person meetings focused on the spokes to educate the community. In April, they invited a speaker from The Rape Recovery Center to present in conjunction with the national Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month. They will have a regular meeting in May, and then over the summer plan to attend a variety of community events to spread awareness about BWF and grow the coalition in the county.  

Uintah Basin Coalition: As the individual county coalitions grow, Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah Counties are combining their efforts with a focus on services that support the entire Uintah Basin. Their new Facebook page, A Bolder Way Forward – Uintah Basin Coalition,is up and sharing posts. Meetings alternate location and also include a virtual option so those a distance away can join. April brought leaders from the Children’s Justice Center and Friends Against Family Violence to USU’s Vernal campus, sharing their resources and events and included male allies around the table. They’ll be tabling at the Utah Conference on Community Engagement. An initiative to increase access to mammograms in partnership with Regence this summer is underway in collaboration with the Access sub spoke of Health Across the Lifespan.   

Utah County: The coalition has been busy, including a presentation at the Springville Senior Center about the Bolder Way Forward initiative and what it means to thrive as we age. The county co-leads touch base bi-weekly to keep things moving and held two county luncheons in April in different parts of the county, at Saprea and Rocky Mountain University, to grow their coalition. Numerous individuals are leaning in to be a part of the coalition as a result. Additional networking is planned, and the coalition is looking forward to having a breakout session at the BWF Third Annual Summit with those who attend from Utah County. Pualei Lynn and Kandice Hilton-McKay have joined the coalition as additional county co-leads to help move the work in the county. 

Wasatch County: Gathering in Midway, the coalition focused on issues related to domestic violence along with brainstorming ways to connect and grow their coalition. Leads Reggan Jastram and Celeste Johnson are organizing plans for a community event combining a health walk with booths from local service organizations tied to the BWF spokes. County spoke representatives are being identified, starting with the areas of greatest concern of Wasatch residents.  

Washington County: Over the past two months, the Washington County Bolder Way Forward coalition co-leads have actively re-engaged with key partners, expanded community outreach, and strengthened spoke connections. They've met with local organizations such as Four Points Clinic, Utah Tech, and the Interfaith Council; had virtual meetings with impact team leaders; and extended their reach through schools, business leaders, and bilingual community events. As they move forward, their focus is on reconnecting past collaborators, activating new leadership, and unifying their efforts. They're excited to build on this momentum at their upcoming County Coalition Meeting on May 29, where spoke representatives and community partners will come together to refine their shared vision and chart a clear path for impact in Southern Utah. Thank you to Tiffany Wynn who has recently joined as a new county co-lead in Washington County.   

Wayne County: There is no update from Wayne County this month. They are combining efforts where there are overlaps in services with Piute and Sevier Counties and working to schedule regular meetings and add addition spoke representatives. If you are interested in supporting the BWF Wayne County Coalition, please contact deborah.lin@usu.edu for more information and to discuss opportunities. 

Weber County: The county co-leads met in-person to make a plan for the upcoming year. They are confirming and recruiting spoke representatives and are following up with those who have engaged in the past to confirm their interest; involving those who are with the work in the county is priority. Engaging interested students from Weber State University who want to get involved, and finding a place for them, is an exciting prospect. The co-leads are planning a mixer for county residents to learn more about A Bolder Way Forward and look forward to growing the county coalition.