In the Bolder Way Forward (BWF) Framework, grassroots is key to making long-term societal change, and that means getting the message to every community, neighborhood, and family in Utah. Leaders and supporters across Utah ensure this happens. The following are quarterly updates for each BWF Region. Please click on the individual County Coalition webpages (linked below) to learn more.
A Bolder Way Forward’s East & Central areas (Daggett, Duchesne, Summit, Uintah and Wasatch Counties) continue to foster meaningful collaboration, strengthen community partnerships, and advance local efforts across the Uintah Basin, Wasatch, and Summit County regions. Through ongoing engagement with community members, organizations, businesses, and local leaders, these coalitions are working to better understand local needs, identify opportunities for impact, and build sustainable pathways for positive change. As local leadership transitions, the Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah coalition continues to hold monthly lunch and learns and support community events to maintain connections and momentum across the region. Planning is underway for a women-focused conference with tabling by the Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business. Following a review of the fall perception survey, Wasatch County identified domestic violence as a focus area and looks toward raising awareness of the issue and collaborating with the Peace House, local law enforcement, and county services to improve victim support. Summit County’s four areas of focus led to an identification of potential partners to approach and invite into the coalition. To get involved, contact Jayden Sillert, UWLP East Central Regional Coordinator.
The Five County Region, consisting of Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, and Washington Counties, has been moving the needle in a variety of ways. They are excited to share the data from the fall surveys. To help with communication, regional social media is now up on Instagram and Facebook, and an email account was started for Beaver County. The Garfield County coalition is focusing on healthy relationships, child sexual abuse prevention and resources, expanding childcare resources and solutions, and “working with anyone to get what needs to happen, to happen!” Reach Survivors is a new partner in Garfield and Kane Counties, and Kane County partnered on “Denim Days” to highlight sexual assault awareness and resources. Iron County has a new community partner, Sandstone Psychology, who is focusing on rural communities. Representatives from Washington County meet regularly with other nonprofits who connect, communicate, and collaborate and appreciate the Women’s Influence Network sharing BWF resources monthly, including a presentation from Saprea. Contact Debi Barmonde, UWLP Five County Regional Coordinator, with questions or to get involved.
With the finalization of data from the UWLP fall perception survey, the overall focus of the region (Box Elder, Cache, Rich and Tooele counties) is to analyze and establish goals supported by the data and the passion of the coalition members. A partnership with the Box Elder Interagency Council highlights community events and local resources in the community through a monthly newsletter. Social media will provide additional support with the creation of a county Facebook group. Monthly education sessions highlighting a spoke topic with statewide and local guest speakers allow members of the Cache County Coalition to discuss current issues and potential solutions. Plans are underway to hold a partnered community event raising awareness around prevention of child sexual assault. With an in-person meeting to re-energize the Tooele County Coalition, work is beginning to focus on mapping countywide connections and identifying areas where awareness is most needed. Monthly virtual meetings are underway. To get involved, contact Maya Mackinnon, UWLP North and West Regional Coordinator.
In the Six County Region (Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties), the county leaders agree that a regional coalition is ideal to strengthen the rural counties where many services are shared. Community partners such as USU Extension, Intermountain Health, New Horizons, and local prevention coalitions are key to regional efforts. A BWF 6 County Facebook account continues to grow and amplifies what is happening in the counties. Tabling at events to share information has helped raise awareness and strengthen existing efforts. Summer Community Nights Out are important locally, and BWF is using that opportunity to have a presence. Suicide prevention is a focus in many counties. Anna Gilliam with USU Extension in Sevier County and Jocie Rojas with Central Utah Counseling Center in Sanpete County have joined as new county leaders. The first BWF Six County Regional Coalition will be held virtually June 16 to look at the data from the fall survey and discuss what areas to focus on to have an impact. They will also consider when to hold a UWLP Partnered Community Event to strengthen the communities and are working to have the first BWF resolution in the region passed. Contact Stephanie Hall, UWLP Six Counties Regional Coordinator, with questions or to get involved.
The overall focus for the Southeast Region, which includes Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan Counties, is to support and add county leaders, build social media to share research and resources, and promote partner organizations that align with BWF. Carbon County is focusing on having every city pass a BWF resolution and amplifying summer resources for families. Emery County highlighted sexual harassment and maternal mental health awareness campaigns in May and will join in the Emery County Fair in July. Grand County will have a virtual meeting June 25 to go over the fall survey results and discuss what areas to prioritize. San Juan County is focusing on their year-long resolution titled “Community Circles” where they are focusing on prevention and safety efforts related to sexual violence and suicide through education and coordinated community response. Carbon and Emery Counties are looking at a combined UWLP Partnered event in the fall, and Sandstone Psychology is a new partner for both. Grand and San Juan Counties have a brand new shared Facebook page. To get involved, reach out to Riley Morera, UWLP Southeast Regional Coordinator.
Davis, Morgan, and Weber Counties comprise the Wasatch Front-North Region and are having an impact in distinct ways. In Davis County, the leaders hosted a gathering in the spring to review data from the fall survey, learn about Davis Links resources, and network. They are planning a conference in the fall that includes a session with Dr. Madsen and are partnering with UWLP, Davis Health, Resilient Life, Davis Technical College, and USU Extension. They also amplify the efforts of the local League of Women Voters. Following a coalition meeting in April, supporters in Morgan County have met regularly and are working with the Small Business Resource Center and the county commissioners to end the childcare desert in Morgan County. The county commissioners are also discussing passing the first BWF resolution in Morgan County. They have a brand new Facebook group to share research and resources and amplify aligned efforts. The Weber County coalition meets monthly at the United Way of Northern Utah and is focusing on three BWF Spokes: Finance, Health Across the Lifespan, and Community & Civic Engagement. They have work sessions and goals aligned with each. They appreciated Dr. Madsen’s Strengths Workshop and are following up on potential BWF resolutions in the county. Avery Walsh, UWLP Wasatch Front - North Regional Coordinator, can help or answer questions as needed.
The Wasatch Front-South Region consists of the two largest counties in the state – Salt Lake County and Utah County. Over the past few months, the Salt Lake County Coalition leaders have been working on building a sustainable non-profit to anchor and continue Salt Lake County Coalition efforts; more information will come in the next few weeks in the county newsletter. In addition, several county leaders attended Dr. Madsen’s Strengths Workshop; a county leader supported a SVS breakfast fundraiser; and they continue to share BWF information and partner events, resources, and key information on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. In Utah County, the Bolder Way Forward Coalition and the Utah Valley Women Leadership Collaborative, a nonprofit, have officially joined together as one organization, “A Bolder Way Forward for Utah Valley,” combining shared vision, resources, and leadership to create greater community impact. Over the next 6–12 months, they will focus on three key impact areas: Health & Wellbeing, Safety & Security, and Community Engagement, with committees formed in each focus area. Community members are invited to get involved by joining a committee or exploring administrative leadership opportunities. To get involved in either county, contact Crystal Butler, UWLP Wasatch Front - South Regional Coordinator.
The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) at Utah State University has released a groundbreaking white paper, The Roots of Sexual Violence in Utah: A Framework for Understanding Harm, offering the most comprehensive synthesis to date of why sexual violen...
This is a quarterly update from A Bolder Way Forward for June 2026.
June Newsletter for the Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University.
