BWF Regional Coalition Updates - September 2026

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.  

East Central Region

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. With direction from BWF’s Movement-Wide Awareness Campaigns, each coalition creates unique social media posts as they share UWLP and BWF posts. As local leadership transitions, the Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah coalition is seeking new community leads and working to restart the Lunch and Learn series now that the school year is underway. Wasatch County leaders are working with local public radio station KPCW to gather community perspectives for a series of pieces and online articles examining women’s experiences with domestic violence and navigating the judicial system. They are working with partners, including the Peace House, to bring an event to Wasatch County in October, recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness month. Summit County leaders attended the June workshop “Your Strengths, Utah’s Future: Building a State Where All Can Thrive” where networking opportunities arose. They continue to work to rebuild engagement amongst the coalition members, reconnecting with community partners while they identify opportunities to strengthen participation and restore momentum. To get involved, contact Jayden Sillert, UWLP East Central Regional Coordinator.

Five County Region

The Five County Region, consisting of Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, and Washington Counties, has welcomed two new county leaders and been involved in a variety of efforts. The coalitions are amplifying several existing efforts, including Get Healthy Utah, Tech Moms, Women’s Business Center Utah, and others. Connecting with the chamber in Beaver is a focus. Garfield County‘s America 250 events in Boulder included reading “We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America” by Norah O’Donnell & Kate Anderson. In Panguitch they are amplifying USU Extension’s self-defense and healthy relationships classes. Pam Singh was recently welcomed as a new county leader in Iron County to work with Colette Cox. They are looking forward to re-engaging those who have been involved in the coalition in the past, and Colette recently worked with other women to deliver hygiene kits to the Hopi and Navajo communities. Kane and Washington Counties hope to amplify the efforts of REACH Survivor Services for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Mallory Younglove is a new Washington County co-lead, and Daily Habits Nutrition joined as a new partner. Other new partners include HireReadyGrad and Wild West Jiu Jitsu. The Women’s Influence Network (WIN)’s monthly gathering supported BWF by having a panel, “Girl Dads Fuel Women’s Empowerment,” and getting to know Tech-Moms. Contact Debi Barmonde, UWLP Five County Regional Coordinator, with questions or to get involved.

North and West Region

With summer winding down and the new energy of fall, the overall focus of the region (Box Elder, Cache, Rich and Tooele counties) is to tap into the passion of the coalition members to address community needs. In Box Elder, the ongoing partnership with the Box Elder Interagency Council continues with a partnered newsletter highlighting community events and local resources. Social media provides additional support through their county Facebook group where UWLP and BWF posts are amplified. In Cache County, an in-person meeting will be held in September, with a focus on increasing participation through the creation of committees. Plans to return to monthly education sessions highlighting critical issues for women are underway, taking into consideration the Movement-Wide Awareness Campaigns. Plans are beginning for a partnered event with GenerationAll focused on understanding the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and expanded screening. The Tooele County Coalition continues to focus on mapping countywide connections and identifying areas where awareness is most needed. Monthly virtual meetings are underway to rebuild this group with new leadership. To get involved, contact JJ Alvaraz, UWLP North and West Regional Coordinator.

Six County Region

In the Six County Region (Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties), efforts to amplify and elevate local efforts are key; they have implemented a bi-monthly newsletter to share what is happening across the region. They are aligning with New Horizon’s Domestic Violence Awareness efforts in October and Intermountain Health’s community efforts as both of these organizations cover Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties. In Juab County, coalition members presented about BWF to the Nephi City Council, who passed a proclamation supporting women. Their new Children’s Justice Center will have a Ribbon Cutting September 23, which will be a great addition to the community. There will be a Sanpete County Recovery Day Celebration Friday, September 18, where BWF plans to table. There are also many activities for National Suicide Prevention Month in September involving schools, businesses, community organizers, and other local partners. Sevier County is having a Sevier Stronger Together Event September 28 including a SafeUT presentation and a Stand4Kind presentation. Contact Stephanie Hall, UWLP Six Counties Regional Coordinator, with questions or to get involved.

Southeast Region

All four counties in the southeast region (Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan) are working on community events to raise awareness. Carbon and Emery Counties plan to have an event with Dr. Madsen at the beginning of November and will include partners to increase awareness about their resources. In Carbon County, both Price City and East Carbon City recently passed Bolder Way Forward resolutions. They have two new partners – Benjamin's Hands Foundation and the League of Women Voters. In Emery County, residents were busy with the county fair and are looking forward to resuming their monthly meetings. They have focused on supporting families as children return to school and continue elevating community partners through social media. Grand County held a virtual coalition meeting to discuss the results of the fall survey. The county coalition is partnering with Seekhaven, USU, and the Moab Chamber of Commerce for an event September 30 when Dr. Madsen will present. San Juan Coalition leaders plan to have a second annual event in January around violence against women and children and will again work with community partners. To get involved, reach out to Riley Morera, UWLP Southeast Regional Coordinator.

Wasatch Front – North

Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties are as unique as their approaches to having an impact are. Davis County has two events planned in September. First, the City of North Salt Lake, which was the first to pass a BWF resolution, highlighted BWF and resources for women and girls at a weekly Monday evening community event. Second, the Davis County coalition is hosting an event on September 18^th focused on women’s well-being in partnership with Resilient Life Counseling and Wellness, Davis Tech, Davis County Health Department, and others. The main focus of Morgan County Coalition members is a formal effort focusing on ending the childcare desert. A potential provider has been identified and the coalition is helping to connect the organization with community partners in the county. This effort has also focused on researching funding, legislative support, and employer options for bringing sustainable childcare to Morgan County. Weber County coalition members have been meeting in hybrid formats and have started hosting spoke-specific workgroups to effect change and determine activities to reach spoke goals by the end of the year. These meetings are held on the first, second, and third Tuesdays of each month and are focused on Finance, Health Across the Lifespan, and Community & Civic Engagement. Avery Walsh, UWLP Wasatch Front - North Regional Coordinator, can answer questions as needed.

Wasatch Front – South

Members of the Salt Lake County Coalition officially created a non-profit after extensive work. SHEUtah will ensure their efforts to impact on girls and women are sustainable long-term. A true grassroots effort, it will be the backbone organization for the local Bolder Way Forward efforts as they continue working closely with UWLP. They are currently focusing on childcare and hosted a screening of the documentary “No Country for Mothers” featuring nine different partners and providing resources to community members. Similarly, the Utah County Coalition recently merged with the non-profit Utah Valley Women Leadership Collaborative to form the Bolder Way Forward for Utah Valley Coalition. Their working board meets weekly and is finalizing social media, a webpage, and a newsletter. They are focusing on three main areas: Health & Wellbeing, Safety & Security, and Community Engagement. They are planning a partnered event October 27 with GenerationAll and Dr. Susan Madsen. Congratulations to Mayor Judkins of Provo who passed a proclamation about Child Abuse Prevention. To get involved in either county, contact Crystal Butler, UWLP Wasatch Front - South Regional Coordinator.