Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective offers Community Bike Shop programs to west-side youth

Posted on November 1, 2011 by comm5775

Story and photo by CECELIA FENNELL

The University of Utah Community Bike Shop has a bike on the roof.

The Community Bike shop, located at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education, offers tools and know-how for people to fix their bikes. In addition to providing basic bike repairs, The Community Bike Shop offers youth programs.

Middle-school aged students residing on the west side of Salt Lake City volunteer at this community bike shop and teach other children from that community how to fix and repair bikes. Students learn how to teach the children by taking classes taught by bicycle instructors from the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective, a nonprofit organization located at 2312 S. West Temple.

Thanks to University Neighborhood Partners of the University of Utah, the Community Bike Shop and the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective — two organizations with similar missions — were able to partner.

“Through this partnership, volunteer instructors from the collective teach student volunteers how to fix bikes,” said Sarah Munro, associate director of UNP.

According to its website, UNP’s mission  is to “redress historical inequity by understanding systematic barriers that have prevented access to higher education and to rewrite that history so residents of the west side see themselves as holders and creators of knowledge.” UNP serves as a bridge between organizations with similar goals and interests, Munro said.

The Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective was founded in April 2002 by five bicycle enthusiasts: Jonathan Morrison, Edward Whitney, Brenton Chu, Brian Price and Jesse Ratzkin. Its mission “is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier and safer society.” According to the website, the “Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.”

The Collective offers seven programs and services, two of which are youth programs for children living on Salt Lake City’s west side. One, Earn-A-Bike, helps kids learn bicycle mechanics and confidence.

“Kids get to come in, pick out a bike and they get to keep it. The catch is they have to take it all apart and put it back together themselves,” said Jonathan Morrison, executive director of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective.

Bike mechanical skills aren’t the only skills learned through Earn-A-Bike. According to the Collective’s 2009 annual report, “In addition to learning bike mechanics, the children are mentored in time and resource management and many students become valuable mentors to their classmates.”

Morrison sees the impact his instruction has on his students, how it affects not only them, but also the kids they will teach.

“The best part was when they used their extra time and knowledge to become a peer-mentor,” Morrison said. “As an Earn-a-Bike instructor, those moments where the student becomes the teacher make it all worth it,” he said.

Another youth program, Trips for Kids, reconnects city youth with Utah’s mountains through mountain biking. Participants are able to take trips to Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the Mormon Pioneer Trail and Liberty Park with the help of adult and youth volunteers. According to the annual report, “Trips for Kids opens up the world of cycling to at-risk youth through mountain bike trips, which include lessons in personal responsibility, achievement, environmental awareness, practical skills and the simple act of having fun.”

Locations of the Bicycle Collective have extended to the Day-Riverside Library, the Ogden Bicycle Collective and the University of Utah community bike shop, located near the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Each location shares its volunteers and other nonfinancial resources. While services are limited to low-income youth and families on the west side, everyone is invited to volunteer. Students at the U may wish to volunteer at the campus bike shop.

For more information, call 801-FAT-BIKE (328-2453).

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Derek Siddoway

Posted on October 27, 2011 by comm5775

MY STORIES:

MY BLOG:

Looking back over the semester it’s safe for me to say that beat writing for nonprofits on the west side has been one of the most challenging assignments I’ve ever undertaken. Not only was I forced to stay on a strict schedule to keep up with the workload, but I was required to up my journalism game as well. I learned first and foremost the importance of editing, editing, editing. And more editing. In the news-gathering stage I quickly discovered that good interviewing and note-taking can make or break a journalist when it’s time to sit down and write. More than a talent for writing, it takes dedication and an almost obsession-like pursuit toward excellence to be a great writer.

I admit, if we had been presented with a list of topics to cover at the beginning of the semester, nonprofits on the west side would have been my last choice. However, through my experiences interacting with some of the people and organizations on the west side, my eyes were opened. My writing led me to a variety of locations and characters, each with their own unique stories. The west side has received a bad reputation over the years that it doesn’t deserve. Its communities are industrious and resourceful. They are a rich and diverse part of Salt Lake that the general public might not be aware of. More than learning to be a better journalist, I feel I have become more compassionate and understanding as a person.

Although the west-side beat was challenging, it was not without its rewards. In the end the stress, the scheduling and the editing were all opportunities for me to gain an educational experience unlike any other. I know that my professional career will be aided by the habits and skills I have developed.

ABOUT ME:

I don’t have a long, heartwarming story about how I woke up one morning and realized my life calling was that of a journalist. In fact I don’t see myself as a journalist at all. I’m a writer. As a writer I devote myself to a wide array of topics. Football, fiction, lyrics, news article, you name it I’ve probably attempted a page or two in that genre at one point or another. I find that writing builds upon itself, regardless of the subject matter. Stripped down to the essentials almost all writing is about telling a story and entertaining an audience.

The path that led me here started just a year ago when, on a whim, I decided I was going to change my major to Communication. Figuring my degree would support me as I pursued my passion to be a novelist, I jumped in head first. Hemingway succeeded so I might as well give it a shot, right? It’s been a crazy ride over the past year. I’ve been challenged to rethink the way I look at the English language and the written word.

I’m a people person and I believe in putting people first. You take care of people and they will take care of you. I believe that hard work is still the path to success. I believe in making my existence worthwhile and meaningful.

“The first time you quit, it’s hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don’t even have to think about it.” – Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant

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Sorenson Unity Center a product of collaborations

Posted on October 27, 2011 by comm5775

Story and photo by DEREK SIDDOWAY

Community gardens, dental services, recreation center and art gallery; the Sorenson Unity Center offers a plethora of activities for residents of the Glendale and Poplar Grave neighborhoods, all rolled into one convenient package.

Built in 2008, the Sorenson Unity Center (formerly the Sorenson Multicultural Center) is the result of combined labors between Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County and various nonprofit organizations. Located at 900 W. 1383 South, the center houses a combination of services — computer labs, fitness facilities and child care, to name a few — that community members can take advantage of.

“The great thing about the unity center is we have so many diverse programs and services,” said Director Nichol Bourdeaux, 36. “It really is a one-stop show for the community members of the Glendale area.” Past examples of the center’s “diverse programs and services” include Planned Parenthood, computer literacy classes, food preservation and canning, relationship and substance abuse workshops and film screenings.

This gallery, located at the southern entrance of the Sorenson Unity Center, features "Reflections" by Alyssa Chamber. It showcases a wide array of human emotion.

Bourdeaux says the community has “embraced” the center and uses it for various public and private functions. However, this “one-stop show” serves more than a stage for community activities. Numerous venues are available for long and short-term rent as well, including conference rooms, theatres and classrooms. The Sorenson Unity Center also allows community members to exhibit their art in two galleries positioned at the south and east entrances. Past exhibits include “Reflections,” an exhibit by community member Alyssa Chamber that explores the spectrum of emotion people experience throughout life’s trials.

“We are really working as a collaboration: nonprofit, community agencies and government agencies providing services to the community. It’s not one entity providing something,” Bourdeaux said. “Because of the variety of programming and services it’s a natural collaboration between all the different cultures; this is their community center.”

Examples include Horizonte, an alternative school that teaches adults English as a second language and basic education classes. KUED’s Ready To Learn Workshop spans a six-month period and covers a variety of parenting classes on topics ranging from child development to anti-bullying and nutrition. Salt Lake Donated Dental operates in the southeastern corner of the center and provides discounted or free dental hygiene services.

Patrons who take advantage of the center’s offerings don’t need to make special arrangements if they have children. Parents can place their children in the drop-off Child Care Center while exercising or attending classes. Children ages 8 weeks through 8 years can be placed in childcare Monday through Friday for as low as $1.50 per hour.

The Computer Clubhouse, a computer lab specifically for children ages 10 and up, allows neighborhood youth to “use technology creatively to acquire the tools, problem solving skills and confidence to lead successful lives,” according to the Sorenson Unity Center’s website. In addition to open access, children can attend scheduled classes such as Lego robotics, engineering, graphic design and film design.

The Sorenson Unity Center houses a variety of nonprofit organizations selected through its Programming Partnership.

Not just any program is admitted, however. In order to ensure the quality of nonprofit organizations, the Sorenson Unity Center developed a Programming Partnership in 2011. Programs must follow the stipulated guidelines in order to use the center. Requirements include proper food and business permits, identifying the Sorenson Unity Center as a partner and adherence to scheduled meeting times. Programs wishing to continue their service at the end of the year-long agreement must be re-approved by the center.

“We are working with 25 local nonprofit organizations that want to provide services to the community for free,” Angela Romero said. Romero is the program coordinator at the Sorenson Unity Center and is responsible for selecting partner organizations.

“Through the programming partnership we have specific guidelines to match what we do here,” she said.

While Romero admits fine tuning may be necessary, she sees the partnership as a vital part in the collaboration between the Sorenson Unity Center and outside organizations.

“Our biggest goal is to make sure everyone in the Salt Lake community is aware of the services we provide,” Romero said. “This place is for them.”

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Nathaniel Bingaman

Posted on October 27, 2011 by comm5775

MY STORIES:

MY BLOG:

The beat covered this semester was nonprofit organizations on the west side of Salt Lake City. While covering this beat I learned that there is a lot of help needed on the west side. Many people live with a very limited income; for many different reasons, people are struggling to get by.

Nonprofit organizations offer these people and their families help. There are nonprofits that provide education to adults on how to get a job. There are nonprofits that are for children whose parents don’t have the funds to put them in preschool. Nonprofits help with giving food and clothing to people in need and helping people in a community get a fresh start at a better life.

I have learned that there are many people in this world and a lot of them need a little bit of help at some point in their life. Nonprofits offer that help.

By covering a specific beat this semester I realized that reporting is hard work. You have to make good connections with people in the community. By developing good relationships you are able to make connections and obtain leads for future stories.

Beat reporting has taught me that you have to be good at multitasking. You have to be able to write multiple stories at once. You have to be good at implementing multimedia assets into your story and beat writers always have to be looking for a good story wherever they go.

Overall I learned that beat reporting is something that is constantly changing. Every story is different; you have to be willing to adapt to your surroundings and work hard.

ABOUT ME:

My name is Nathaniel Bingaman, I am currently a senior at the University of Utah. I have always had an intrest in the news and current events. I would like to find a job that will help keep me updated on all of the happenings of the world around me.

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Refugees learn at The English Skills Learning Center

Posted on October 27, 2011 by comm5775

Story and photo by NATHANIEL BINGAMAN

Imagine moving to a new country where you do not know the language and you do not have any formal educational experience. Even holding a pencil is new to some. This is the case for thousands of refugees every year. But, with the help of the English Skills Learning Center in Salt Lake City, these individuals are able to learn basic skills such as reading and writing in English.

Beth Garstka, the volunteer coordinator for the ESLC, said more than 16 million refugees live around the world and more than 1,100 come to Utah per year. These individuals come from countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt and Sudan. They are people suffering from war, natural disasters and famines. They come to America with the hope of freedom and improving their lives, but many of the refugees do not have a formal education.

The ESLC offices are located at 631 W. North Temple. It was originally called Literacy Volunteers of America-Wasatch Front (LVA-WF). Its founding member, Mary Hausen, formed LVA-WF in 1988. She was previously involved with an affiliate in Connecticut.

The organization’s first mission was to help improve literacy in adults and those learning English as a second language. In 2001, due to the rapid growth of refugees in the world and non-English speakers in the community, the organization focused solely on English as a Second Language.

The nonprofit organization is unique because it works with a student’s availability. “If they do not have transportation we will meet them at a library or church, anywhere that is convenient for them,” Garstka said.

Multiple class options are available to the students, including one-on-one classes and small group classes that have four to 10 students at a time. Many students participate in classes that prepare individuals to become United Sates citizens. There are even classes to help parents better communicate with teachers and enable them to read their child’s report card. Best of all, the classes are free.

Students have a good reason to come to class. “We teach the people what they want to learn, not what they don’t have interest in,” Garstka said.

The ESLC focuses on where the students are in their life. For example, if students want to drive so they can get to work, they will be taught to read the necessary books and learn writing skills so they can obtain a driver’s license. If they want to obtain United States citizenship, the ESLC will teach lessons pertaining to obtaining that goal.

Jose Amezcua participated in a program offered by the ESLC while in grade school.

“We teach people simple things like the alphabet or even the proper way to hold a pencil,” Garstka said.

The tutors are volunteers 18 years of age or older. These volunteers go through a 14-hour training session where they learn how to teach reading, writing, listening skills and speaking activities. No previous teaching or tutoring experience is required and individuals do not need to know another language because all classes are taught only in English. For those wanting to volunteer, the ESLC offers information on various volunteering opportunities.

“We have amazing volunteers who love being here,” Garstka said.

When the ESLC first began it had a program called “I Can Read” aimed at elementary students who were reading below grade level. The program was eventually adopted by the Utah State Office of Education and used in schools throughout the state.

“The ESL program helped me a lot,” said Jose Amezcua 29, who took ESL classes while he was in grade school. “Without it I would have had no friends and it would be hard for me to get an education in this country.”

Now a college graduate and an electronics salesman at a local Sears store. Amezcua is grateful for the ESL program and the help he received. “Without the classes it would have been hard for me to go to college and get a job,” he said. “Without a job it would be hard for me to take care of my wife and family,”

Learning a new language is difficult for almost everyone, but The ESLC helps make that transition a little easier.

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Tom Betar

Posted on October 25, 2011 by comm5775

MY STORIES:

MY BLOG:

These past few months have been times of great change in my life. I decided to pack up and leave the comfortable and familiar surroundings of sunny and quiet St. George, Utah, and head to the cold and sprawling Salt Lake City area, not knowing whom I would meet or what I would find. It is amazing to me that in a few short months I seem to have unearthed years and years of stereotypical notions and ideas that seem to have taken hold of an entire population.

Upon first moving here I really had no idea what the west side of Salt Lake City meant, or what it meant to live in that area. There was never any west- or east-side division in St. George, to my knowledge, and I never suspected there to be such a prominent division here.

One of the most inspiring things I have learned over the course of the semester is that people are genuinely willing to help. Sure, they may get paid and be compensated for their efforts, but I think many of the people I spoke with genuinely want to help needy children and families better their lives. I think they really want to make a difference in a marginalized community. I learned that no matter how grim or desperate a situation may be, there is almost always an organization or person out there to provide hope in some form or another. I met someone whose life was literally saved by the Salvation Army and another woman who took a pay cut to pursue a job helping others.

I feel I learned a lot about myself in realizing just how lucky I am to be where I am today.

Covering this beat really gave me more of an appreciation for my family, because without their love and support, I could be exactly where some of these needy west-side children are. It is in large part a credit to my family that I am able to pursue higher education and do not have to worry about where my next meal is coming from.

This beat was challenging, inspirational, educational and eye-opening for me. After hearing about all the struggles that families and residents go through, I realize that many of them might be dead if not for the work of these nonprofit organizations. I really have new respect for the human spirit and the capacity to help others.

ABOUT ME:

As far back as I can remember I have had a passion for writing. During elementary school I would write as many stories as the teacher would permit and I would always find time to write more. As I moved through school I kept wondering how exactly I could translate my passion for writing into a stable career path. After coming to the conclusion that writing books or novels was not the most promising career choice, I discovered that journalism and the media might be my best options to pursue my passion and make a decent living. More recently, I have become interested in being a sports reporter or broadcaster, which would essentially combine my two most intense passions in life.

After being a member of the first graduating class of Desert Hills High School in St. George, Utah, I continued my education at Dixie State College, where I completed four semesters. During my time at DSC I gained much valuable work experience and met a variety of interesting and knowledge people. I was the news editor for the college newspaper, The Dixie Sun, where I was exposed to a newsroom setting and faced with deadline pressure and editing responsibilities. I was also an RA, or resident assistant, for the on-campus housing department where I worked with students and staff to ensure a productive and enjoyable living environment.

I have now transferred to the University of Utah, where I am working to complete my degree with communication as my major. I hope to one day become a noted sports reporter or broadcaster, such as Bob Costas, and to be able to see my work being enjoyed by thousands of sports fans.

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The Salt Lake Film Society shines the silver screen across community barriers

Posted on October 20, 2011 by comm5775

Dagny Horton of the Salt Lake Film Society changes the Tower Theatre marquee for a showing of the film "Call + Response" for the YWCA

Story and photo by ZACK RENNER

As he sits in front of the Coffee Garden at 9th and 9th in Salt Lake, 24-year-old film student at the University of Utah, Jordan Connelly looks paler than anyone should in early September.  It could be his natural complexion or just as well his passion.

Connelly, as well as a film student, has been a member of the Salt Lake Film Society (SLFS) for three years. He spends more than his fair share of time in a cool dark theater expressing his love the best way he knows.

“The quality of life in a community is reflected in how that community nurtures artistic expression within it,” Connelly said when asked what role art holds in a community.  As a community nonprofit organization and art house for the showcase of independent film, the SLFS reflects the culture and diversity present in Salt Lake’s communities.

What began with Kris Liacopoulos’s fight for preservation of the local Tower Theatre in 2001, has 10 years later has grown into what the SLFS mission statement calls, “the premiere film establishment of our community.”

Since its inception, SLFS has endeavored to keep independent film a part of the lives of Salt Lake City community members like Connelly. It currently owns and operates the Tower Theatre in the 9th and 9th neighborhood as well as the multiplex Broadway Centre Cinemas on 111 East and Broadway in Salt Lake City.

“We bring the art form of cinema in its most culturally diverse form on a daily basis. Without the Salt Lake Film Society and our community here in Utah in particular, we wouldn’t have access to these films and the thoughts and ideas behind these films,” said 39-year-old SLFS Executive Director Tori Baker in a phone interview, “It’s so important to bring that to any individual community in whatever form you can.”

The society coordinates educational programs about and through film. Its website boasts that over 950 local filmmakers have been able showcase their work on the Broadway and Tower theater screens during designated open screen nights and festivals.

Through programs like the ongoing Utah Screenwriters Project, the Society provides workshops to those who make it through the application process. The 30 that are accepted receive mentoring from Hollywood professionals in producing their own screen productions.

For those who simply want to enjoy film, SLFS theaters are also the only place to see independent and foreign films that otherwise would have no chance to shine on mainstream theater screens in Salt Lake.

One important tradition of community involvement for the SLFS is its youth outreach program: Big Pictures Little People. Each year for the last seven years, the SLFS has paid for and facilitated 900 to 1,000 low-income children, ages 5 to 12, to see family friendly cinema yearly. During the summer months, volunteers for the program organize buses, free concessions, commemorative toys and a comfortable seat in a cool theater with their friends and families.

Collaborating with nonprofits such as the YWCA, the Road Home and the Utah Health and Human Rights Project, the SLFS presents children an opportunity to see appropriate movies and shorts as its website describes. Of those movies was Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” a critically acclaimed Japanese animation film about a girl wandering into a mystic realm of gods and monsters.

“It was an enhancement of our program,” said Jacob Brace, Neighborhood Partners executive director. “It helped make opportunities that are culturally relevant and child friendly available to all children regardless of socio-economic background.”

However, it is not always as easy to drum up a bus full of enthusiastic patrons. When it comes to bringing in members of specific communities to the silver screen, it can be difficult to appeal to the right audience for each film.

“We are humble in terms of our capacity, and in terms of our number of staff for work on the marketing as well as fund raising components,” Baker said. The challenge in selecting films from current and past productions is making decisions on what is topical and what patrons want to see.

A part of being an advocate and art house for independent and foreign film is the ability to give diverse and often marginalized voices a platform for articulation.  These “crossover films,” as Baker calls them, help communicate to an audience that otherwise would not go out for a film.

For instance, the Tower Theatre hosts an LGBT movie night on the first Monday of the month. Through the event, members of the LGBT community have an occasion to gather and enjoy films and discuss narratives relevant to their community. While programs such as this one can pertain to a specific group of people, there are programs of interest that appeal to a wide audience, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity.

However, the complexity in promoting niche films raises as notice to the society of a film’s arrival is commonly as short as two weeks. In the past, advertisements in Spanish language newspapers proved a valuable avenue for promoting Latino cinema, but some communities are harder to target.  A flier or handbill is sometimes not enough to spread word and, as a result, a film often fails to reach the full breadth of its demographic.

While SLFS is a community nonprofit relying on grants from the government, it is also an art house meaning it sells venue to film as art. And unlike other nonprofits, it is able to generate revenue through tickets as well as membership and donations.

Looking to appeal to a variety of demographics, the Society has created assorted types of membership. It has tiers in different price ranges to suit varying levels of interest in film. The basic “Super 8” level membership costs $4.99 monthly or $50 annually and includes $1 off admission, two Tower Video rentals as well as Society news updates via newsletters and email. On the other hand, the higher echelon “Chronik” level membership costs $29.99 monthly or $300 annual and includes free admission to regular-run movies, limitless free rentals, and admission to two members only Sundance Festival screenings.

The Salt Lake Film Society is always looking for ways to expand its membership and donations. As the technology of film grows beyond its ability to keep up, pressure comes down on modernizing the aging theaters.

“We are going to see more challenges in keeping the facility presentable. People know that it’s different than a Larry Miller theater… Our challenge ahead of us now is to keep up with any of those things that are moving faster than we can raise money for [them],” said Baker.

Filed under: Arts, Entertainment, Culture, Media, Organizations | Leave a comment »

Physical, emotional hope provided to west-side residents by The Salvation Army

Posted on October 20, 2011 by comm5775

Story and photos by TOM BETAR

In more than 37 years working for The Salvation Army, a small girl hugging and loving a simple doll at Christmas is still one of the most memorable images for Major Richard Greene.

The Salvation Army, 438 S. 900 West, provides west-side residents with food, clothing, toys and perhaps most importantly, hope.

With the holidays fast approaching and the temperature taking a nosedive, service and charity of all kinds begin to be in higher demand. The Salvation Army Salt Lake City Corps, or simply The Salvation Army, is a religious-oriented nonprofit organization that aims to help needy families and children with everything from food and clothing to toys and spiritual support. The organization, located at 438 S. 900 West, does substantial work for neighborhoods on the west side of Salt Lake City, such as Rose Park and Glendale.

The west side roughly extends from 21st South up to the Davis County line and from Interstate 15 west to the railroad tracks near Redwood road before the industrial section begins. This area historically harbors much diversity and has accrued some negative stereotypes over the years, such as being a poor or undereducated, working-class area. These factors make the west side a focal point for many nonprofit and other charitable organizations that want to help these families and their children lead happier and more productive lives.

Even small items such as Christmas dolls can make a big difference for children of needy families.

Greene, the Salt Lake Basin coordinator, facilitates all the work of The Salvation Army north of Provo up to the northern Utah and Idaho border by handling much of the business aspects of the organization and coordinating finances and programs. He is looking at retirement in a few years, but his long tenure with the organization has left him with some lasting memories. In addition to seeing a small child become so elated over a Christmas doll, Greene mentioned a few other noteworthy experiences in his career in an email interview: “Seeing a grown man go back to school and receive his GED (certificate) in part because of our encouragement and seeing individuals come to a new joy and peace in their lives as they accept Jesus and start to live a new free life with Him.”

In terms of service to west-side residents specifically in the Glendale and Rose Park areas, Greene said his organization provides many options. He said there is a food bank where families can get dry food and perishables once a month and also vouchers are provided so that the families can receive clothing from thrift stores. There is even a community garden that residents can weed, plant and harvest, with The Salvation Army providing the water.

The Salvation Army is a nonprofit organization, which means that it must exist for the public benefit and it is constrained in that earnings cannot be distributed to owners. All profit must be put back in circulation within the organization. Funds come mainly through donations, government grants, private donors and charitable programs such as the Red Kettle and the bell ringers. There are also programs such as Angel Tree and Toys 4 Tots that provide gifts and toys to children at Christmastime. Greene said thousands of children throughout Salt Lake City receive toys through these similar programs.

Although there may be preconceived notions about what the Salvation Army is all about, Greene said these are not always accurate.

“Most people think of the Salvation Army as a thrift store or the Christmas bell ringers,” Greene said. “We are in fact a church that preaches Jesus Christ as the savior of the world. We serve the public because we know that is what Jesus would have us do, (but) we provide service to anyone without a need for a commitment or lifestyle change.”

Matthew Nish, 32, is the family services manager for The Salvation Army  and has been working there since 2008.

Nish said The Salvation Army is more than 120 years old and was originated in England by a Methodist preacher who started a church called the Christian Mission that was later renamed The Salvation Army. He said the organization then moved to Canada and eventually the United States.

“One of their first mottoes was soup, soap, and salvation,” Nish said. “They would walk down the street singing songs and playing music and they received a lot of persecution at first, but from then to now the Salvation Army has become a worldwide organization and our mission statement is to preach the gospel in the name of Jesus.”

The Salvation Army receives boxes of food and other necessities that are delivered to and collected by struggling residents.

The family services branch works to provide services such as emergency food boxes, clothing vouchers, spiritual support, counseling and referrals to residents. Nish said there have been some changes due to the economy. Most aspects of the drug treatment program, as well as space for the community dining hall, have been dropped due to lack of funding. However, The Salvation Army is now working on a mobile operation to take food to low-income housing units.

In order to be eligible for all these services, certain criteria must be met. The resident must have photo identification for all adults in the household, as well as identification for children. The resident must also have proof of address and income.

Nish said there are some unique aspects to working on the west side, but the goal is to try to help any and all residents.

“This is a tougher part of town and it’s largely Hispanic,” Nish said. “There are some different variables here. But it’s cool to see that since we’ve been over here the past two years we’ve been able to see God move and more people coming to our church. There is a lot of versatility here but all individuals and their families need help so we’re here to do that.”

Nish knows firsthand the powerful changes that The Salvation Army can create.  His first association with the organization was through the drug treatment program in 2007.

“I came empty handed and I didn’t have anything really,” Nish said. “They gave me hope, they gave me food, they gave me somewhere to stay, they gave me some friends and they also introduced me to my savior, Jesus. It’s through that venue of the drug treatment program that I got my life back.”

Nish is now more than four years sober and since becoming employed by The Salvation Army, he works to help others in the way he was helped years ago.

“It’s been a life-changing experience,” Nish said. “I used to wander around aimlessly in life and now I have direction. I have love for my fellow man and I have love for God and I have love for myself. Call me a rehabilitated man.”

Call The Salvation Army the catalyst.

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Salt Lake City organizations take wide approach to solving community challenges

Posted on October 20, 2011 by comm5775

Story and photo by RYAN McDONALD

Nearing the end of a stay in Palermo, Italy, while completing her doctoral dissertation, Sarah Munro was asked by some townspeople what knowledge she had to offer them after researching their way of living.

Members of the community wait to hear from Communidades Unidas Development Director Rose Maizner at The Pink Dress, an annual event held by the organization that took place on Oct. 14, 2011, at Pierpont Place in Salt Lake City.

She realized she had focused so much time and attention on her studies that she had missed a great opportunity to use her knowledge to help others.

Vowing to change that, Munro joined University Neighborhood Partners (UNP), which works as a sort of “bridge” between different groups of people and organizations that are in existence to promote positive changes. UNP focuses its efforts in  the neighborhoods of Rose Park, Glendale, Westpointe, Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove, State Fairpark and People’s Freeway on the west side of Salt Lake City. One of UNP’s goals is that more students from these neighborhoods will one day attend the University of Utah.

“People don’t know how to talk to each other,” said Munro, UNP’s associate director, about why it exists.

One of the main premises behind UNP is that in order to help solve one problem, other issues need resolution, too. For example, in order to help kids have an opportunity for advanced education, not only do they need to be educated, but their parents also need to be taught how to help their children succeed.

UNP is not the only organization that uses multiple areas of focus to help solve one problem. Created in Midvale about 12 years ago by the city mayor, Comunidades Unidas (Communities United) was originally a neighborhood initiative to help reduce the high infant mortality rate and other prenatal problems in the Latino community. CU quickly realized, however, that more issues needed to be addressed to help curb these problems than a “Band-Aid solution,” said Rose Maizner, CU’s interim director.

“Women put their health very last,” Maizner said in describing how Latinas prioritize responsibilities over themselves.

Because so many things are affected when women get sick, such as their ability to work and the well-being of their children, CU not only helps people with the prevention of health problems, but also with the management of good health. For example, CU holds weekly Zumba classes at Salt Lake Community College.

CU, located at 1341 S. State St. in Salt Lake City, also serves immigrants and refugees from around the world.

Depending on which country immigrants or refugees are from, many are aware of the importance of staying healthy. But many women say, “We know what the risks (causes of illness) are, we just don’t know how to find help.”

Helping to provide access to women’s health care — such as offering mammography clinics and prenatal education — is still a mainstay of what the nonprofit organization does. Maizner said CU also involves itself in other facets of the lives of immigrants and refugees. CU strives to prevent a minor problem, such as an illness, from becoming a colossal list of challenges for a family.

“The ideal story is someone who comes to prenatal clinic, then we can show them other things,” said Maizner, who majored in multicultural psychology and Hispanic studies.

She likened “other things” such as community involvement to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. She said one of the biggest challenges the organization faces is helping people move beyond survival mode and “getting to that next level of society,” such as being involved in school PTAs.

While CU is not in place to force immigrants and refugees to “become American,” Maizner said the organization feels it is crucial for the people with whom they work to gain the skills they’ll need to function from day to day, such as learning English.

“We stress the importance of being part of the larger society,” she said.

In addition, Maizner said it is just as important that those already here assimilate to these new members of their communities. In that vein, Maizner said CU is always looking for community volunteers to help with things like giving people rides to medical appointments.

Filed under: Health & Fitness, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Immigrants & Refugees, Organizations | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Shelly Guillory

Posted on October 20, 2011 by comm5775

MY STORIES:

MY BLOG:

I enrolled in this class to determine whether or not I wanted to be a reporter. On the first day of class, I didn’t know what to expect. I had no idea I would cover real issues out in the community. When I learned my class would cover nonprofits on the west side, I felt my heart speed up a little. I hyperventilated. I knew no one and no organizations on the west side. I realized I needed to put aside my insecurities about interviewing sources I didn’t know and strap on some confidence to get the scoop and accurately represent the west side through my writing. It wasn’t easy.

I chose to cover a health beat, so I looked for nonprofits on the west side that provided healthcare services. I found many unique organizations I never knew existed, including the UNP-Hartland Partnership Center and Donated Dental. As a nurse at a substance abuse treatment facility with more than 300 clients, many of whom do not have health insurance, writing about these organizations proved invaluable. Not only do I now have community resources for my clients, I’ve made other uninsured Salt Lake County residents aware that opportunities for healthcare exist.

Driving to and from locations, I have a new appreciation for the west side. I’ve also established contacts in the community and am privileged to have met residents who live on the west side.

Though the workload of the class was difficult, I found the experience crucial in the decision-making process regarding my career. At first, interviews with sources were intimidating, which made me question whether or not journalism would work as a career I wanted to pursue. I worried I wasted people’s time or asked too much from sources when I needed a second (or third) interview to make my story work. But Stephanie Jensen from Donated Dental eased my fears when she sent an email response stating, “No problem! We love the attention,” to a request for a second interview.

I graduate in three weeks, and I’ve made no plans to become a full-time journalist. I’ll probably stick to freelance gigs. But the experience reporting on the west side as well as classroom instruction gave me everything I needed to become a better writer and a better reporter.

ABOUT ME:

I graduated from the University of Utah in 2003 with a degree in nursing and in 2011 with a degree in mass communication-journalism.

I am currently the director of nursing at a substance abuse treatment center in Salt Lake City. When I am not working, I spend my free time writing, taking photographs and looking around for long-term freelance projects. I have a special interest in writing health-related stories and just finished writing seven medical sections in “The Encyclopedia of Eating Disorders.” While in school, I interned at Salt Lake City Weekly for twelve weeks, where I wrote music profiles, news blogs and other stories for online and print. I still do some freelance work for City Weekly.

My work has appeared in Salt Lake City Weekly, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Daily Utah Chronicle and Voices of Utah.

Filed under: Blogs & Bios, Student-Journalists | Leave a comment »

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