History
Resident input has always been foundational to the community partnership work that comes out of the UNP network. In its early days Irene Fisher, UNP’s founding director, conducted over 200 conversations with west side residents to develop UNP. A group of 8, calling themselves the Community Ambassadors, led the process with Irene. In 2004, an additional west side resident leadership group helped to start the Hartland Partnership Center, laying the foundation for campus-community partnership work that is sustained today. Since 2022, UNP’s capacity has grown to create 3 distinct resident committees and a resident coalition.
These groups include:
- Hartland Coming Together (Hartland Resident Committee)
- Together Rising Coalition (Historical Resident Coalition)
- Westside Community United (West Valley Resident Committee)
- Environmental Resident Committee
Comprehensive Climate Action Plan
The Environmental Resident Committee (ERC) was first introduced in 2023 through an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant awarded to Salt Lake City Sustainability Office. The work led to 2 years of partnership meetings both with residents and local non-profit and government entities to engage in learning and support the creation of the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. Together with the SLC Sustainability Office, residents identified 2 major priorities.
Priority 1 – Focus on preliminary greenhouse gas emissions.
Priority 2 – Focus on comprehension.
Due to the model of these committees, residents were able to provide ample amount of input that researchers and policy makers tend to overlook. Creating more electrification efforts is great in theory, however, it is not a priority when the upfront cost is too high to part with as resident living with low-income levels. Even with tax credits there are more pressing matters at hand like clean water and affordable housing. They gave honest feedback and provided their expertise as residents living on the west side of Salt Lake County. Carpooling was another priority that is easier said than done because of the many family-child relationships without support. These and countless other actions that can make a real difference, however, they are not feasible in an action plan without knowledge and financial support to overcome these types of challenges.
During this process, it was often institutional partners sharing knowledge and data with the resident committee who in turn would share this information back to their communities. Many committee members shared the desire to implement nature-based solutions to reduce the impacts of rising temperatures and air pollution. Noting that varying ethnic groups from west side neighborhoods have cultural practices that take care of the land. Yes, the community was able to learn new approaches to support environmental enrichment, and the relationship with Salt Lake City was mutually beneficial, where institutional partners were also able to learn from residents.
Partnership with Bridge West
Bridge West Environmental Health Coalition, also known as Bridge West, is a collaborative group of environmental institutions, non-profit organizations, and west side residents working on solutions for west side communities. Partners come together to protect and nurture environmental and human health by building relationships that recognize and strengthen the agency of the community. This type of multi-collaborative partnership is deeply rooted in the vision, values and how we work in partnership at the UNP. Previously Bridge West partners met quarterly. Now, due to the recent partnership with the University of Utah’s CAP project, partners will meet every two months to support this work.
Community Stories
Members of the ERC are not new to the practice of community engagement work and supporting their communities. More often it is residents who provide solutions for one another. There are countless stories that illustrate the impact of west side residents. Thanks to Salt Lake Clean Energy & Air these stories now live online! Visit the west side best side stories web page to learn more about what these residents are working on and how they make a positive change.
Members of the Environmental Resident Committee include:
- Amina Muktar
- Osaiasi Tuifua
- Zubaidah Sadeq
- Alamá Uluave
- Jay (Jordan) Rock
- Noreida Acosta
- Sinia Maile
- Trinh Mai
- Stephanie Mahina
- Afā Aikona
- Abdirizak Ibrahim
- Nancy Drozdek
With support from Co-Facilitators Ofa Matagi, UNP Environmental Justice Partnership Manager, and Carolina Gomez-Navarro, SLC Management Analyst for Climate.
Moving Forward
After concluding a successful partnership in March 2026 with Salt Lake City’s Sustainability Department’s Greater Salt Lake Area Clean Energy and Air Roadmap (SL-CLEAR), the Environmental Resident Committee (ERC) paused their hours spent consulting with institutional offices.
As of May the ERC has received an opportunity to continue providing insight, feedback and co-creating solutions for a healthier west side with the University of Utah’s Sustainability and Energy Facilities Department and U Health on the university’s CAP (Climate Action Plan) project. This pilot partnership will be funded for one year as the University of Utah incorporates community voices into the U’s CORE pillar areas of focus (research, education, mitigation and resilience). With the possibility for extension of this work in the subsequent four years to follow.