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Living Color Awards: Recognizing those making Utah more diverse and inclusive

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Living Color Awards: Recognizing those making Utah more diverse and inclusive


Performers from Ballet Folklorico ECK dance throughout final 12 months’s Dwelling Colours Gala on Sept.16, 2021. This 12 months’s gala will honor over 20 people and organizations who’re working to foster range in Utah. (Utah Enterprise)

Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — Greater than 20 Utahns have been acknowledged for his or her efforts to make Utah a extra numerous and inclusive place to dwell, work and play.

This 12 months’s Dwelling Colour Awards, sponsored by Dwelling Colour Utah and Utah Enterprise journal, honored individuals throughout neighborhood involvement, firms, schooling, authorities, inspirational leaders and nonprofits. The recipients vary from cultural ensembles, neighborhood staff, native and state lawmakers, activists and the one Black CEO of a Utah tech unicorn — a time period referring to firms that attain a $1 billion valuation with out being listed on the inventory market. A full listing of award recipients is obtainable at Utah Enterprise.

Dwelling Colour Utah founder James Jackson stated the awards are supposed to spotlight individuals doing the work to make Utah extra inclusive. He hopes the Dwelling Colour Gala, which honors the award recipients, may also facilitate further conversations and partnerships round range and inclusion all through the state.

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“Utah struggles so far as attracting and retaining expertise — numerous expertise, specifically,” stated Jackson, who additionally based the Utah Black Chamber. “Simply inside the Black neighborhood alone, we have seen the inhabitants turns into stagnant so far as numbers, however we’re seeing numerous new faces. We simply have a revolving door. Utah has numerous work to do so far as changing into a extra welcoming and inclusive state.”

The Dwelling Colour Awards additionally embody the Cameron Williams Award. The award acknowledges one particular person whose work is continuous the legacy of Cameron Williams, a civic chief whose work included chairing the Utah County Black Chamber of Commerce. Williams died from a mind tumor final June. He was 33.

“Via his span right here in Utah — only a quick eight years — he positively made a mark so far as making Utah a extra welcoming place,” Jackson stated of Williams. “Everytime you talked about range and inclusion, Cameron was there. (He was) on many boards and committees, and he was very vocal about how Utah can turn out to be higher and he did the work. He did not simply discuss it; he did the work.”

This 12 months’s recipient of the Cameron Williams Award is Betty Sawyer, govt director for Mission Success Coalition. The nonprofit started as a response to drug arrests and use in Ogden’s internal metropolis. Mission Success started in 1989 with one of many first after-school packages in Ogden. At this time it provides quite a lot of providers, together with a neighborhood studying middle, tobacco prevention packages, well being entry and consciousness initiatives, a Juneteenth pageant and profession growth.

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Utah has numerous work to do so far as changing into a extra welcoming and inclusive state.

–James Jackson, Dwelling Colour Utah founder


When requested what range and inclusion efforts she’d prefer to see in Utah, Sawyer instructed Utah Enterprise that she hopes efforts are measurable cultural shifts moderately than performative and conversational.

“This stage of labor requires actual monetary investments, accountability, and transparency. With these investments, they/we will come collectively yearly to have a good time actual, measurable and sustainable change,” Sawyer stated.

Awardees will likely be honored on the fourth annual Dwelling Colour Gala on Friday from 5 to eight:30 p.m. It is accompanied by a silent public sale from Thursday to Saturday. The proceeds go to Dwelling Colour Utah, which is a collation of numerous enterprise organizations, specifically: Utah Black Chamber, Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, Utah Asian Chamber of Commerce, Utah Muslim Civic League, the Suazo Enterprise Middle and Younger Professionals of Salt Lake Metropolis.

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Associated tales

Most up-to-date Multicultural Utah tales

Sydnee Gonzalez is a multicultural reporter for KSL.com overlaying the variety of Utah’s individuals and communities. Se habla español. Yow will discover Sydnee at @sydnee_gonzalez on Twitter.

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Utah

Crash between semi truck, RV, and boat leaves 1 in critical condition

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Crash between semi truck, RV, and boat leaves 1 in critical condition


WASATCH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — Three people were injured in a crash on US-40 on Sunday afternoon, with one person being flown to the hospital, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Officials with UHP told ABC4.com that a semi truck with an empty tanker was traveling eastbound on US-40 when it got hit by an RV that was turning to go westbound on the same road.

UHP officials said the RV was towing a boat at the time of the crash.

The incident happened near Strawberry Reservoir in Wasatch County, and officials said both the driver of the semi truck and the driver of the RV suffered minor injuries, but neither was taken to the hospital.

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The passenger in the RV was flown to the hospital in critical condition, according to UHP.

According to the Utah Department of Transportation, the crash occurred near milepost 40, about 19 miles south of Heber City.

UDOT said the crash happened just before 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes while the roads were closed. UDOT said motorists should expect major delays in the area.

The incident was expected to be cleared by 4:30 p.m., according to UDOT. However, UHP told ABC4.com that traffic in the area was alternating and that the road was not closed.

There is no further information at this time.

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Gordon Monson: Utah State AD Jerry Bovee shares his side of football firings story

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Gordon Monson: Utah State AD Jerry Bovee shares his side of football firings story


There are multiple sides to most stories and Jerry Bovee wants his side told after Utah State dismissed him as the school’s deputy athletic director.

Here is that telling.

First, the setup: USU president Elizabeth Cantwell and athletic director Diana Sabau this past week gave Bovee notice that he and Utah State football coach Blake Anderson were being fired. The reason, according to a statement from the school’s top administrators, was that there had been an unacceptable rupture in a required reporting process for sexual misconduct, including domestic violence, inside Anderson’s football program.

In Bovee’s case, USU said in a news release, there had been “violations of university policies related to the reporting of sexual and domestic violence” and “failures of professional responsibilities.”

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Au contraire, said Bovee.

I wrote a column criticizing Anderson for his shortcomings in this regard, past and present, and congratulated Cantwell and Sabau for knocking down walls that often are put up by coaches and administrators to protect their programs and themselves.

Bovee subsequently told me he did report information he received from Anderson within 24 hours of hearing about it, as is required according to school policy, to an appropriate USU official.

“I reported it through the vice president of student affairs to the Equity Office,” he said. “That’s ingrained in our heads … we take that seriously.”

Two other individuals at the school reported alongside Bovee, he said. “All three of our names are on the report.”

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Bovee said he couldn’t speak to Anderson’s actions in this case or others.

For the university’s part, it said it would have no additional comment until further notice.

The incident at hand centered on a football player at Utah State who Bovee said was involved in an “incident” with a woman in April, 2023. Said athlete shortly thereafter transferred to another school. Because Bovee is filing a grievance against Utah State for his termination, he did not share specifics of what precisely took place, other than to say there were no charges filed in the case.

The deputy AD, who at the time of that incident and report was the school’s interim athletic director, said he is confused by the decision reached by Cantwell and Sabau to fire him on these grounds. Asked why Cantwell and Sabau would fire him if he had followed proper channels in the case, he said he could only guess. And he preferred not to. Again, Bovee wouldn’t speak to or for Anderson or the coach’s situation, but he reiterated that he reported what he knew when he knew it, promptly and properly.

“My reputation and my name, I’m going to fight for that,” he said. “… It’s hurtful that my name is associated with this. I’ve been doing [sports leadership] for 32 years, this is at the top of my list, the importance of getting [such issues] right regarding women.”

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Bovee said he’s gone to great lengths to educate personnel and players at Utah State regarding issues of sexual misconduct, how to report it, how to eradicate it, how to — due to past history — make Utah State a “safe school.”

He added that it’s not his intention to do harm to USU, the school that is his alma mater: “I have a great love for Utah State. I have confidence in the grievance process,” and that the school upon further review “will get this right.”

Bovee and his attorney issued this statement to The Salt Lake Tribune:

“Jerry Bovee, recently terminated by Utah State University, is vigorously defending his reputation as a loyal Aggies alum and stellar Associate Vice President and Deputy Athletics Director. With decades of athletic leadership under his belt, Bovee is a firm supporter and defender of Title IX civil rights law. In his tenured career, he has never incurred disciplinary action or accusations of misconduct of any kind.

“Bovee, who was blind-sighted by this decision, understands he was terminated based on an inconclusive and untimely review of an incident that took place more than a year ago in April of 2023, while he was Interim Athletic Director. Contrary to what has been represented, Bovee and two other USU employees did in fact report the incident to the USU Office of Equity. Even so, the external review did not commence until the fall of 2023. And not until July 2, 2024, some eight months later, was Bovee summarily terminated, without an opportunity to respond to the results of the review.

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“He fully intends to file a grievance pursuant to USU policy within 30 days of termination. Bovee has no ill will against USU, an institution that he loves. He trusts the University will consider in good faith all the circumstances specific to actions taken by Bovee in considering his grievance and will also refrain from further comment while his grievance is pending.”

Bovee’s side of the story includes this comment, though: “This is the most painful week I’ve had in my career. I’m hopeful I’ll get fair treatment. To say there’s been a lot of tears shed in the Bovee home this week is understating it.”



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Former Utah Gymnastics All-American loses home in Fourth of July fire

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Former Utah Gymnastics All-American loses home in Fourth of July fire


Former Red Rocks star Kari Lee and her family are grappling with the devastating loss of their family home during the fourth of July holiday. The tragic event unfolded early Thursday morning in Peoria, Arizona, when a barbeque fire spiraled out of control, ultimately destroying their suburban home.

A GoFundMe account has been established to support the Lee family as they work to rebuild their lives. Despite the severity of the fire, it is a relief that everyone managed to escape with only minor injuries being reported. However, the family faced a heartbreaking loss as they were unable to save their five dogs and lost all their belongings in the blaze.

Kari’s athletic achievements as a gymnast for the University of Utah from 2015 to 2019 are a testament to her resilience and determination. During her illustrious career, she earned the distinction of being a three-time All-American and a six-time All-Pac-12 honoree. Kari’s leadership skills were evident as she served as a co-captain in her senior year, demonstrating a high level of consistency by hitting 96% of her routines and securing 20 career victories.

Lee’s contributions were instrumental in Utah’s success, helping the team clinch two Pac-12 Titles in 2015 and 2017. Her efforts also propelled the team to a near-victory at the National Championships in 2015, where they finished as runners-up .

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The loss of their home and beloved pets is an unimaginable hardship for Kari and her family. As they navigate this difficult period, the support from the community through the GoFundMe campaign is crucial. The outpouring of generosity and compassion serves as a beacon of hope, helping them to begin the process of healing and rebuilding.



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