SLCo announces new CODA members and action plan for community input
Salt Lake County— 2020 has been a challenging year on so many fronts and in addition to the challenge of COVID-19 in our community, we have seen instances of deep racial inequity resulting in a national move towards addressing these injustices.
“Although it has been nearly six months since George Floyd lost his life in a deliberate act of violence, our hearts still burn with rage over injustice,” said Mayor Jenny Wilson. After that horrific day last May, the Mayor spent the following weeks meeting one-on-one with more than sixty community leaders and invited other County officials to join her for three town hall listening sessions. “During each meeting and session, I made a commitment to the community that I would listen and use the power of my office to act. I further committed that Salt Lake County’s Council on Diversity Affairs (CODA) would be a forum for discussion and action,” the Mayor said.
For the past five months, seven CODA subcommittees, including dozens of community volunteers, with support from Salt Lake County staff, have been building an Action Plan. This draft Action Plan based on the community’s input, including measurable action steps, will guide the County’s work in eradicating systemic bias and institutional racism.
Between now and December 30, 2020, the draft Action Plan is in its final public comment phase. The proposed Action Plan can be found on the Mayor’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion website or through the link below.
CODA will be holding virtual town hall meetings on December 3 and 15.
On January 27, CODA is scheduled to adopt the plan as final and the Action Plan will guide the County’s work in the coming years.
Mayor Wilson said, “I am inspired by the leadership in the community that brought us to this point. Together, I know we can act and make measurable progress towards creating a Salt Lake County that welcomes all.” The new members of CODA include:
- Brieanne Witte – Senior Project Coordinator, Center for Clinical Translational Science, University of Utah
- Ciriac Alvarez-Valle – Policy Analyst, Voices for Utah Children
- Clare Lemke – Director, LGBT Resource Center, University of Utah
- Pastor Corey Hodges – The Point Church
- Ephraim Kum – Student Body President, University of Utah
- Joey Hanna – Executive Director, Utah Parent Center
- Kevin Nguyen – Community Health Worker Specialist, Utah Department of Health
- Luna Banuri – Executive Director, Utah Muslim Civic League
- Mackey Smith – Sr. Strategy Consultant, Tanner LLC
- Melanie Hooton – Administrative Program Coordinator, University of Utah School of Medicine
- Michael Andrews – Manager, Operation Warm
- Mike Zuhl – Community Advocate
- Natalie El-Diery – Executive Director, International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City
- Verona Sagato Mauga – Executive Director/ Co-owner, Renew Wellness & Recovery and Co-owner, Sagato Bakery & Café
- Yolanda Francisco Nez – Executive Director, Restoring Ancestral Winds
