All Along the Wasatch

Mike chats with Downtown Food Pantry Assistant Director & Community Involvement Coordinator Erika Gee. Crossroads Urban Center is a Salt Lake City nonprofit that has spent over 50 years supporting Utahns with low incomes, people of color, and individuals with disabilities. They operate two emergency food pantries, a low-cost thrift store, and offer essential assistance like bus and prescription vouchers. In addition to direct services, Crossroads leads advocacy efforts through groups such as FACE Hunger & Homelessness and Powerful Moms Who Care, pushing for policies that address poverty, homelessness, and hunger.

www.CrossroadsUrbanCenter.org

Mike chats with Kyle Doubrava, Tobacco Prevention Media Coordinator and Marci Nelson, Tobacco Prevention Cessation Coordinator. Tobacco-Free Utah is the state’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, dedicated to reducing tobacco use, nicotine addiction, and related health harms across Utah. The program provides quit services, promotes smoke-free policies in homes, workplaces, and public spaces, and supports community and school prevention efforts. Serving all Utahns — with special attention to groups facing higher health risks — the organization works to prevent addiction, reduce disease, and create a healthier, tobacco-free future for the state

www.WayToQuit.org

Mike chats with Founder and Executive Director Jacob Crane. Cultural Fire Events Inc. is an Indigenous-led nonprofit in Utah that creates spaces for Native culture to thrive. They put on powwows and other community events, and they also organize support efforts like firewood drives for families on the Navajo Nation. Everything they do centers on strengthening Indigenous communities, celebrating tradition, and making sure Native voices lead the way.

www.CulturalFireEvents.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Alex Yrungaray. Building Up Youth promotes dignity, equity, and community through the principles of Restorative Justice. Our team of like-minded professionals provides curriculum and support to schools and community programs, helping foster stronger, more connected communities. We empower youth to embrace their authentic selves today so they can become caring parents, partners, coworkers, and community members tomorrow.

www.BuildingUpYouth.org 

Mike chats with Executive Director Celeste Edmunds. The Christmas Box International is a Salt Lake City–based nonprofit that protects children who are abused, neglected, trafficked, or facing homelessness. Through its three “Christmas Box Houses,” youth programs, and community partnerships, it provides shelter, essentials, and support to children and young adults in crisis. For Christmas 2025, the organization is hosting “Project Elf,” “Kids Helping Kids,” and other holiday drives to collect gifts and raise funds for the children they serve.

www.TheChristmasBox.org

Mike chats with Founder & Artistic Director Derryl Yeager. Odyssey Dance Theatre is a vibrant non-profit dance company dedicated to making professional dance performances accessible to the community through outreach, workshops, and a diverse full-season of shows that reflect cultural creativity and excellence. Their signature holiday production, the “Christmas Spectacular: SPECTACULAR!”, is a fast-paced festive showcase of beloved holiday stories and dances—running December 17-23, 2025 at the Grand Theatre in SLC — offering everything from ballet-inspired classics to hip-hop Santas in one 90-minute experience.

www.OdysseyDance.com

Mike chats with Community Development Program Coordinator Camille Morgenstern. Women of the World (based in Salt Lake City) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting refugee, asylum-seeking and immigrant women and girls — regardless of immigration status — by providing tailored case-management, English classes, job-skills training and community support so they can achieve self-reliance, economic empowerment and a meaningful voice in their new community. On December 6th, Women of the World will hold its annual “Celebration of Success” event to honor the achievements of the women they serve and raise support for their work.

www.WomenOfWorld.org

Mike chats with Education Director Liz Anderson, and Plants Stewardship Director Ella Abelli-Amen. Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, and Mill Creek Canyons form a vital ecosystem within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Visited by over five million people a year, they offer hiking, biking, climbing, and world-class skiing while supplying 60% of Salt Lake City’s drinking water. The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation educates the public about this unique environment and provides opportunities for stewardship and volunteerism—helping ensure the Canyons remain healthy and beautiful for generations to come.

www.CottonwoodCanyons.org

Mike chats with VP of Therapy Services Janel Wangsvick-Lane & VP of Community Outreach Kimberly Dansie. For nearly 100 years, Community Nursing Services (CNS), Utah’s oldest nonprofit home health care agency, has created exceptional, healing experiences through compassionate care. With nine offices serving 93% of Utahns, CNS provides home health, hospice and palliative care, immunizations, infusion therapy, oxygen and respiratory services, telehealth, and physical therapy—regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Its Charitable Care Program donates vital services to thousands of low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Utahns each year, upholding its mission to put health, dignity, comfort, and well-being first.

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Mike chats with Executive Director Gina Cornia. Utahns Against Hunger is a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that everyone in Utah has access to the food they need. Through advocacy, outreach, and education, UAH connects people to programs like SNAP, supports local farmers markets, and raises awareness about hunger and its causes. Their work helps low-income families, seniors, students, and underserved communities by expanding access to nutrition programs and shaping better food policy. The discussion also addresses how the current government shutdown is affecting SNAP recipients.

www.UAH.org

Mike chats with Development Director Joni Clark. The Children’s Center Utah is a nonprofit mental health organization providing trauma-informed care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. Founded in 1962, it offers therapy, a therapeutic preschool, and early-childhood consultation while ensuring financial barriers don’t limit access to care. The Hope & Healing Online Fundraiser is a 90-hour campaign to raise $90,000—providing 90 children with four sessions of family therapy—running from 6 a.m. Monday, November 3rd, to midnight Thursday, November 6th.

www.ChildrensCenterUtah.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Stacie Kulp. Seven 2025 Walks to End Alzheimer's are coming up in Utah in Spetember & October. More than 38,300 people in Utah are living with Alzheimer’s. 115,000 caregivers dedicate 137 million hours of unpaid care. From Logan to St. George and every town in between, your local Utah chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is here to help. Whether it’s offering support to anyone facing Alzheimer’s, advocating for the needs and rights of those facing dementia, or advancing critical research, we work toward methods of treatment, prevention, and ultimately, a cure.  

www.Alz.org/Utah<

Mike chats with Executive Director Encarni Gallardo & Development Director Francesca Perkins. Since 1884, we've stood as Utah's trusted guardian of child welfare. Through our core programs - Adoption, Building Blocks, Care About Childcare, GRANDfamilies, and Home Visitation - we empower families and transform lives. As Utah's oldest non-profit dedicated to child welfare, we provide comprehensive, coordinated care that meets each family's unique needs. One child, one family, one future at a time. This year’s Perennial Hope Gala & Auction is September 19th at The Garden Place at Heritage Park.

www.CSSUtah.org 

Mike chats with Director of Operations Shirlee Draper. Cherish Families was founded by individuals with a wide range of life experiences and a shared commitment to community well-being. Our team brings meaningful insight and understanding to the unique challenges people face in navigating systems, building stability, and finding resources that meet their needs.

www.CherishFamilies.org

Mike chats with Senior Project Manager and Director of Marketing Bailey Rivera-Wymes.The Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (CEOB) envisions a Utah in which all of our residents experience a sense of belonging and access to opportunity so they can contribute their whole selves to the growth and enhancement of the economic, social, and political life of our state. When we have opportunity for all, we can create the kind of state in which everyone can and should thrive.

www.BelongInUtah.org  

Mike chats with Executive Director Rachel Garrett. At Common Thread, we believe every teen deserves a place where they belong. We exist to fill the gaps left by traditional systems, creating safe spaces for Utah’s youth impacted by foster care and other vulnerable experiences. Through joy-filled events, mental health resources, and mentorship, we build resilience and empower teens to chart new paths forward. More than a nonprofit, we are a movement—led by teens, for teens—committed to breaking cycles and transforming futures.

www.CommonThreadUt.com

Mike chats with Music Director and Conductor Michael Palumbo. At Chamber Orchestra Ogden, we believe in providing the community with a series of state-of-the-art shows and performances that truly make an impact. In truth, Chamber Orchestra Ogden has been dazzling audiences with magical productions since 2011. We’ve produced and hosted a wide range of performances and have an outstanding group of performers that bring each of our productions to life.

www.ChamberOrchestraOgden.org

Mike chats with Director of Operations Stephen Cook & Deputy Director Gunnar Bjorklund. Our organization is dedicated to the rescue of starved, abused and slaughter-bound horses to help heal and rehabilitate those that can be adopted out to loving homes and to  provide a permanent home for those that are disabled. In support of these efforts, the organization seeks to increase beneficial human and equine relationships through animal/human interaction.

www.lazybequine.org

Mike chats with Clinical Director for Utah County Lisa Hansen & Certified Social Worker Stephanie Stevers . At Flourish Therapy, we are committed to expanding access to affordable, culturally competent, evidence-based behavioral and mental health services for LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families. Flourish Therapy is a clinical care program that provides individual, couples, family and group counseling for all age groups, including short- and long-term counseling, crisis intervention, parent intervention, and support services with a focus on quality care for LGBTQIA+ clients and their families.

www.FlourishTherapy.org

Mike chats with Education & Outreach Director Katie Newburn and Membership & Programs Director Holly Simonsen. FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake was founded in 1994. The mission of FRIENDS is to preserve and protect the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and to increase public awareness and appreciation of the Lake through education, research, advocacy and the arts. The long-term vision of FRIENDS is to achieve comprehensive watershed-based restoration and protection for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

www.fogsl.org

Mike chats with Community Relations Supervisor Deb Jordan. ARUP Blood Services is a nonprofit collection center that is proud to be the sole blood provider to The Huntsman Cancer Institute and The University of Utah Health. ARUP Blood Services is a component of ARUP Laboratories, an enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology. Children and adults undergoing bone marrow transplants or suffering from cancer, burns, trauma, surgery, or illness count on ARUP to have an ongoing supply of blood for their treatment.

www.UtahBlood.org

Mike chats with Chief Operating Officer Ryan Erickson. Kids On The Move provides a comprehensive range of services to families who have children with development delays, lifelong disabilities, and other special needs that impact families. Our core mission is to support the positive development of young children through empowering parents, and immersing them as partners in improving their own lives and the lives of their children. Programs include an Autism Center, Early Head Start, Early Intervention, Respite Care, Preschool & Child Care, and Family Support Services.

www.KOTM.org

Mike chats with Chief Executive Officer Karen McCandless & Chief Operating Officer (and CEO starting July 1st) Tom Hogan. Since 1967, our agency has stabilized people’s lives by meeting their basic critical needs during crises and offering long-term solutions to rebuild financial and social self-sufficiency. We proudly serve Utah, Wasatch, and Summit County in Utah. We are not only a food bank – we provide FOOD+MORE to our community, including housing, food, nutrition, education, and support services.

www.CommunityActionProvo.org 

Mike chats with Executive Director Elizabeth Rasmussen. We work to impact our election system, elevate the voice of Utah voters, and ensure that lawmakers represent the interests of the people above all. As a group of voters we Utahns are generally moderate/conservative, but some elements of our system favor extremism and result in leadership and legislation that don’t reflect who we are.  This is why voters need to continually refine our election system and remind elected leaders that ours is a government of the people and that their purpose is to represent our opinions and interests.

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Mike chats with Executive Director Paige Huff & Board Member Damon Talbot. Adults with serious mental illness in Salt Lake City deserve every opportunity to build self-confidence and self-esteem, reintegrate into their community, become independent and productive members of society and live happy, healthy lives. That’s why Alliance House exists to provide a supportive environment where adults with serious mental illness can rebuild their self-respect, dignity, and abilities through education, productive work, and meaningful relationships. We do this by helping Members complete educational goals, develop necessary work skills in order to return to productive employment in the community, and wh...

Mike chats with Education & Outreach Director Katie Newburn and Membership & Programs Director Holly Simonsen. FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake was founded in 1994. The mission of FRIENDS is to preserve and protect the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and to increase public awareness and appreciation of the Lake through education, research, advocacy and the arts. The long-term vision of FRIENDS is to achieve comprehensive watershed-based restoration and protection for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

www.fogsl.org

Mike chats with President & Founding Director Rich Csenge and Secretary Cindy Von Halle. Amazing Earthfest is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Kanab, Utah, established in 2007 to produce an annual public festival celebrating National and State Parks, National Forests, Monuments and Public Lands of the Colorado Plateau. This year's festival is May 8th-11th in Kanab, UT. Our educational festival brings enjoyment and learning opportunities to residents and visitors while enhancing community and economic resilience in Kane County, Utah.

www.AmazingEarthfest.org

Mike chats with Jets Members Rudy Wolfgramm, Haini Wolfgramm, and Vanessa Naeata,Opening Act Analea Brown, and Gary Robison with Integrity Music management. The 10th Annual 100 Mile Walk to Wendover, to benefit the Life's Worth Living Foundation, starts Friday April 25th. The Jets will performa benefit concert at the afterparty on April 26th at The Peppermill Concert Hall. Buy tickets: www.WendoverFun.com

Founded in 2014, Life's Worth Living Foundation is a  created to raise awareness of, educate on, and prevent suicide. We are a registered 501c3 charity primarily focused on the Tooele County area, but our support o...

Mike chats with Executive Director Staci Duke, Director of Litigation at Utah Legal Services Jacob Kent, and Public Affairs Supervising Attorney at the Disability Law Center Nate Crippes. The mission of “and Justice for all” is to increase access to civil legal services for the disadvantaged and for individuals with disabilities in Utah by creating and sustaining resources to ensure that Utahns across the state have access to the legal system, regardless of income level, disability, age or minority status.

www.AndJusticeForAll.org

Mike chats with Founder & Executive Director Richelle Gruber, Veterinary Technician Paige Ludwig, and Volunteer Cat Adoption Advisor Nickolas Rodesch. Angel Paws Veterinary Services is Utah’s only veterinary clinic that focuses on providing medical care to homeless pets being cared for by shelters and nonprofit rescue groups.  This includes preventative services such as spaying and neutering, vaccinations and wellness visits, as well as treatment for illness or injuries.

www.AngelPawsUtah.org

Mike chats with Founder & Director Derryl Yeager. Shut Up and Dance is being performed April 2nd through the 5th at The Grand Theatre, 1575 South State in SLC. Odyssey Dance Theatre’s mission is to provide quality entertainment and artistic excellence in theatrical dance as a professional dance company; to provide employment for Utah’s talented dancers; to exercise and maintain fiscal responsibility and be debt free; and to make theatrical dance more accessible to a wide audience by utilizing current social themes and music, as well as creating and re-creating classical and full-length works that are exciting to all demo...

Mike chats with Executive Director Brandon Harding & Co-Creator and Veteran Anthony Droz. At Veterans in the Wild, our mission is empowering veterans through nature by providing transformative wilderness expeditions that promote healing, resilience, and community. Through veterans wilderness trips, we aim to support veterans in their transition to civilian life, fostering physical and mental well-being, personal growth, and a sense of belonging. Our commitment is to honor their service by offering a sanctuary in nature where they can reconnect with themselves, build lasting camaraderie, and embrace new challenges in a supportive and restorative environment.  

www.VeteransInTheWild.org 

Mike chats with Executive Director Annie Bommer. The idea of a ski museum originated in 1989 when a group of enthusiasts led by Alan Engen recognized the need to honor the pioneers and athletes who had significantly contributed to winter sports in the Intermountain Region. Its location was chosen for its proximity to Ecker Hill and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games venues. The groundbreaking for the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center took place in 2000, and the building served as a media center during the 2002 Winter Games. The museum then moved into the Sports Center and opened to the public in 2002. The...

Mike chats with President and CEO Ginette Bott. The Feed Utah Food Drive is March 15th. Residents across the state will receive door hangers during the week leading up to the food drive, and Utah Food Bank asks those able to support the effort to place nonperishable food donations outside their door by 9:00 am on Saturday, March 15. Founded in 1904, Utah Food Bank has operated under various names but has always remained true to our mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide. 415,000 Utahns, which equates to 1 in 8 individuals, are at risk of missing a meal today.

www.UtahFoodBank.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Paige Huff & Board Member Damon Talbot. Adults with serious mental illness in Salt Lake City deserve every opportunity to build self-confidence and self-esteem, reintegrate into their community, become independent and productive members of society and live happy, healthy lives. That’s why Alliance House exists to provide a supportive environment where adults with serious mental illness can rebuild their self-respect, dignity, and abilities through education, productive work, and meaningful relationships. We do this by helping Members complete educational goals, develop necessary work skills in order to return to productive employment in the community, and wh...

Mike chats with Festival Owner & Co-Director Marhsall Moore. The Zions Indie Film Fest is February 24th through March 1st at the SCERA Center in Orem. Zions Indie Film Fest (ZIFF) is a premiere presenter of cinematic stories from independent filmmakers around the world. Set alongside Utah’s spectacular Wasatch Mountains, ZIFF brings together a sophisticated and diverse audience of movie-goers, film industry leaders, movie critics, film students, government leadership and sponsors. Selected films will cover a wide range of trending topics that uplift and inspire, as well as simply entertain and provide a much-needed laugh.

www.ZionsIndieFilmFest.co...

Mike chats with Executive Director Chauma Kee-Jensen & AIS Prep Director Kevin Sekaquaptewa. Established in 1981, we are one of the nation's longest-running American Indian scholarship non-profit organizations. We're dedicated to helping Native Americans have access to a quality education, while still preserving their culture and honoring their heritage. Our mission is to provide preparatory programs for youth and financial assistance for those in pursuit of a college degree. Join American Indian Services for our 21st Annual Scholarship Gala, Saturday, March 1st at The Grand America Hotel.  

www.AmericanIndianServices.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Carie Fanning & Program Director Keith Burns. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit aiming to end local hunger. We partner with food pantries across the Wasatch Front to provide free home delivery of food pantry items. This is especially beneficial for feeding low income families, immigrants, the disabled, the elderly, and those who lack reliable transportation. There are also many individuals who live far away from food pantries or work while food pantries are open. It is our mission to make sure these communities and each individual has sustainable access to high quality food. UCFR's Big...

Mike chats with Program Development Director Abby Warr & KeyBank Utah Market President Drew Yergensen. People Helping People, Inc is a local grassroots 501c3 non-profit Employment Program dedicated to reducing the number of children living in poverty be helping low-income women, primarily single moms, reach an adequate income through successful employment. PHP helps families break the cycle of poverty by teaching low-income women how to reach their full potential in the workplace. People Helping People has officially expanded our reach to serve women in Tooele, Box Elder, & Cache counties thanks to a $75,000 expansion grant from Key Bank.

www...

  Mike chats with cross country cycling event participant Kai Shapiro. The Ability Experience is the philanthropic initiative of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Each year, approximately 50 men embark on a cross-country trip to test their limits, spread awareness, and celebrate the abilities of all people. With two routes kicking off on the West Coast, teams spend the summer crossing the country over a combined 8,000 miles with an arrival at the Capitol Lawn in Washington DC to mark the end of a life-changing event. Along the way, the team spreads the message of disability awareness through local media and makes stops a...

Mike chats with Executive Director Kristen Floyd. Ability Inclusion Services enriches the lives of people with disabilities by actively providing community opportunities for independence and individual growth. We are enthusiastically committed to helping adults with disabilities create meaningful lives through personalized services that focus on individual enrichment and community inclusion. We continually focus on what ability is—a beautiful, affordable, inclusive, and accessible life!

www.AbilityIS.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Brandon Harding & Co-Creator and Veteran Anthony Droz. At Veterans in the Wild, our mission is empowering veterans through nature by providing transformative wilderness expeditions that promote healing, resilience, and community. Through veterans wilderness trips, we aim to support veterans in their transition to civilian life, fostering physical and mental well-being, personal growth, and a sense of belonging. Our commitment is to honor their service by offering a sanctuary in nature where they can reconnect with themselves, build lasting camaraderie, and embrace new challenges in a supportive and restorative environment.  

www.VeteransInTheWild.org 

Mike chats with Co-Owner Lindsey Armstrong. In September of 2020 the idea of Clementine Ranch started becoming a reality. Rob and Lindsey's goal was the ranch would be a place of compassion, life, and creativity—one that combines their love of animals, a vegan lifestyle, and music. The future of the ranch would not only include the animal sanctuary, but also an organic greenhouse and a state-of-the-art recording studio for bands to create their art in. Things starting moving much sooner than expected and on October 2, 2020 Lindsey and Rob made it public that they had taken over an existing animal sa...

Mike chats with Co-Founder and Director of Community Outreach Jennifer Simonic. Loose Ends aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with projects people have left undone due to death or disability. Loose Ends welcomes textile handwork crafters of all sorts, from anywhere in the world.

www.LooseEnds.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Shauna K. Brown and Tutor Vickie Venne. Project Read changes lives through literacy and empowers individuals, strengthens families, builds communities, and creates new cycles of intergenerational literacy. We believe that every person has the right to the options and opportunities that literacy provides. When literacy is achieved, doors are opened, opportunities gained, and lives are changed. We provide individual tutoring and small group instruction to help individuals improve their ability to read, write, compute, and use technology sufficiently to meet personal goals, function well in society, and become more productive citizens.

www...

Mike chats with Executive Director Michelle Flynn & Communications Specialist Alicia Gleed. The all-day Mediathon, an annual tradition to raise money and other essential items for the Road Home, is happening on Friday, December 20th. The broadcast is a friendly competition among the radio stations to see who can bring in the most money by asking listeners and businesses to make donations. The broadcasts are the largest fundraiser for the shelter each year. The mission of The Road Home is to help people step out of homelessness and back into our community. The Road Home is a private nonprofit social...

Mike chats with Board Members Jessica White & Marty Bodell. The WARD foundation was recently organized as a 501(c)(3) charity. Our purpose is to continue retired educator Don Ward’s years of dedication to providing Welcome, Aid, Relief and Development opportunities to refugees living in the Wasatch front area. The WARD Foundation is a welcoming organization seeking to fill current and future needs (and hopes) of the many refugees who now make Utah home.

www.DonWardFoundation.org

Mike chats with Founder and Artistic Director Derryl Yeager. Why go to endless Christmas productions when you can get your complete Holiday Fix at Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Christmas Spectacular, SPECTACULAR? Where you will be treated to every Christmas Season event in ONE production. December 19-23 at The Grand Theatre. Odyssey Dance Theatre’s mission is to provide quality entertainment and artistic excellence in theatrical dance as a professional dance company; to provide employment for Utah’s talented dancers; to exercise and maintain fiscal responsibility and be debt free; and to make theatrical dance more accessible to a wide audien...

Mike chats with Chief Impact & Strategy Officer Janell Cerva. Utah Community Action was founded in 1965 to meet the needs of the community, especially individuals experiencing poverty. The mission of Utah Community Action is to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build communities through education and self-reliance programs. We do this through six core programs: Workforce Development, Head Start preschool, HEAT Utility Assistance, Housing & Case Management, Home Weatherization and Nutrition. Each year, Utah Community Action provides these services to approximately 50,000 children and families in our community, giving them the tools needed to attain and sustain self-reliance.

www.UtahCA.org<...

Mike chats with Artistic Director Adam Sklute. Ballet West has one of the world’s largest ballet-based Education and Outreach programs, reaching over 100,000 children and adults throughout Utah and the Intermountain Region every year. America's 1st Nutcracker Celebrates 80 Years! Ballet West's holiday classic by founder Willam Christensen remains just as fresh and effervescent as its premiere in 1944. Enjoy the rare opportunity to witness an iconic masterpiece that has defined generations. December 6th through the 28th at The Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.

www.BalletWest.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Chris Croswhite. The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake is a faith-based nonprofit organization established in 1972 to help the homeless and Restore Broken Lives. Today, we have grown to five locations along the Wasatch Front  from Ogden to the Salt Lake Valley. We are a safe place where those who are homeless can experience the love of Christ and discover a pathway off the streets. Our desire is to see lives changed as people find faith in Christ and strive to reach goals of sobriety, employment, and housing.

www.RescueSaltLake.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Brandon Harding & Co-Creator and Veteran Anthony Droz. At Veterans in the Wild, our mission is empowering veterans through nature by providing transformative wilderness expeditions that promote healing, resilience, and community. Through veterans wilderness trips, we aim to support veterans in their transition to civilian life, fostering physical and mental well-being, personal growth, and a sense of belonging. Our commitment is to honor their service by offering a sanctuary in nature where they can reconnect with themselves, build lasting camaraderie, and embrace new challenges in a supportive and restorative environment.  

www.VeteransInTheWild.org 

Mike chats with Executive Director Shauna K. Brown and Tutor Vickie Venne. Project Read changes lives through literacy and empowers individuals, strengthens families, builds communities, and creates new cycles of intergenerational literacy. We believe that every person has the right to the options and opportunities that literacy provides. When literacy is achieved, doors are opened, opportunities gained, and lives are changed. We provide individual tutoring and small group instruction to help individuals improve their ability to read, write, compute, and use technology sufficiently to meet personal goals, function well in society, and become more productive citizens.

www...

Mike chats with Founder & President Kseniya Kniazeva. A 501(c)3 registered nonprofit, the Nomad Alliance is a group of concerned citizens working together with private and public partners to end homelessness and proffer hope, by providing warmth, nourishment, shelter, employment, healing, legal aid, connection and advocacy to the chronically unsheltered (nomad) population. We are a one-stop mobile resource for the chronically unsheltered in Salt Lake County. Our bi-monthly and monthly supply drives offer everything from clothing, blankets, tents, hygiene items and hot, home-cooked meals to haircuts, hot showers, legal and online support.  

www.NomadAlliance.org

Mike chats with Volunteer Kate Hancock. The 2024 Halloween Spook-tacular fundraiser is Saturday October 19th at Sweet Hazel Restaurant in Midvale. Ritzy Rescue Ranch is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Tooele, Utah. We are dedicated to our mission of providing animals with a second chance for a quality life and inspiring compassion for all beings. We do this by providing a safe, loving home to abused, neglected, and unwanted animals.  

www.RitzyRescueRanch.org

Mike chats with Program Development Director Abby Warr & Community Outreach Coordinator Kaylee Hepburn. The People Helping People Fall Single Mothers Seminar & Job Fair is Tuesday, October 8th at the South Salt Lake Community Center. People Helping People, Inc (PHP) is a local grassroots 501c3 non-profit Employment Program dedicated to reducing the number of children living in poverty be helping low-income women, primarily single moms, reach an adequate income through successful employment. PHP helps families break the cycle of poverty by teaching low-income women how to reach their full potential in the workplace.

www.phputah.org

Mike chats with Founder & Director Derryl Yeager. Crowd favorite TRILLER is being performed at The Egyptian Theatre in Park City from 10/2-10/13, at The Grand Theatre in SLC 10/14-10/26, and at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins 10/29-11/2. Odyssey Dance Theatre’s mission is to provide quality entertainment and artistic excellence in theatrical dance as a professional dance company; to provide employment for Utah’s talented dancers; to exercise and maintain fiscal responsibility and be debt free; and to make theatrical dance more accessible to a wide audience by utilizing current social themes and music, as well as creating and re-creating clas...

Mike chats with Executive Director Stacie Kulp & Co-Founder of Pip Pop Post Sydney Bledsoe. There are Walks to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, September 28th at America First Field in Sandy and the Weber State University campus in Ogden. The Alzheimer's Association of Utah is the premier source of information and support for Utahns living with dementia and their families and caregivers. Our statewide offices help us to provide a broad range of free programs and services, funding for Alzheimer's and dementia research, and advocacy efforts on behalf of Utahns.

www.ALZ.org/Utah

Mike chats with Founder & President Kseniya Kniazeva. A 501(c)3 registered nonprofit, the Nomad Alliance is a group of concerned citizens working together with private and public partners to end homelessness and proffer hope, by providing warmth, nourishment, shelter, employment, healing, legal aid, connection and advocacy to the chronically unsheltered (nomad) population. We are a one-stop mobile resource for the chronically unsheltered in Salt Lake County. Our bi-monthly and monthly supply drives offer everything from clothing, blankets, tents, hygiene items and hot, home-cooked meals to haircuts, hot showers, legal and online support.  

www.NomadAlliance.org

My Hometown Initiative (MHI) is a program in West Valley City that brings together city services, local churches, partner organizations and residents to work together for three main purposes: To bring new life and energy to City neighborhoods by improving the housing and the appearance of the neighborhood. To offer opportunities for the community’s families to advance and prosper. And to make the community a place where people will want to invest their time, money, and efforts. There are several Fall Festival events throughout the month of September. 

www.MyHometownWVC.org 

Mike chats with Founder and President Brandy Vega. The 3rd Annual Global Promise2Live Livestream event is September 10th at The Avalon Theater in Los Angeles. Join us for a night of music, performers, and celebrities. We are committed to delivering HOPE, HELP, HEALING & RESOURCES to people through the devices and platforms they use, through the people and companies they know, trust & follow! Every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide. In roughly that same amount of time, you take the Promise2Live right now! Studies show you are more likely to keep promises, commitments, and pledges made ahead of time...

Mike chats with CEO Preston Cochrane, Senior Coach Tiffany Blair, and Coach Jackie Tress. The Other Side Village is a master-planned community of healing and purposeful living for people from chronic homelessness. The Village is founded on the conviction that housing alone will never solve homelessness, but the community will. The combination of high-quality, permanent, and deeply affordable housing, and a strong culture of personal growth, support, and social connection is the heart of our model. 

www.TheOtherSideVillage.com

Mike chats with Poets Sammi Walker and RJ Walker. The 30th anniversary of the Salt City Slam is August 26th at 7 pm at The Beehive, 666 South State in Salt Lake. There will be 11 hand-picked poets performing including LeChell “ The Shootah” Rush who is a Brooklyn- born Black queer multidisciplinary artist who creates socially engaging works exploring the complexities and taboos of intersectionality through the lens of queerness, femininity, and mothering in black womanhood. Her Mediums include poetry, photography, film, and collage. Salt City Slam is Utah's longest-running poetry reading. Anyone can sign up and compete with their original poems for...

Mike chats with Co-Founder Lauren Lockey. Sage Mountain is celebrating its 4th annual Plant-Based Palooza on August 24th. It's an evening of live music and catered food in the presence of rescued farm animals! Plus, there will be a silent auction for portraits of our rescued animal residents, products, gift cards, and services from many local businesses and artists. This year, their goal is to raise $50,000, to help construct a much-needed barn. Sage Mountain is a 501(c3) non-profit organization that provides a sanctuary for farmed animals and advocates for their well-being. These animals include pigs, cows, chickens, goats, and...

Mike chats with Executive Director Angela Brown. The 16th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival Presented by Harmons is Utah’s largest local-centric art, music, science, and technology festival. The DIY Fest features hundreds of local artisans, vintage vendors, foodies, youth entrepreneurs, performers & STEM exhibitors over three days the second weekend of August. About Craft Lake City: Founded in 2009, Craft Lake City® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission to educate, promote, and inspire local artisans while elevating the creative culture of the Utah arts community through science, technology, and art. Craft Lake City strives to further define “Craft...

Mike chats with Executive Director Destiny Garcia, Case Manager Charlotte Waterbury, and Case Manager Efrén Corado Garcia. Criminal records—even very old and minor ones—can create huge barriers for people trying to find safe housing, good employment, and move forward with their lives. Although Utah has a legal expungement process, that process is so costly, time-consuming, and complicated, that more than 90% of people eligible to clear their records haven’t made it through the process. Utah’s Clean Slate law is estimated to clear over 400,000 historical criminal records automatically and is projected to affect hundreds of thousands of crimin...

Mike chats with Volunteer Deb Willes.  The Utah Animal Advocacy Foundation (UAAF) believes that every animal deserves a home, regardless of age or disability. We often take on challenging animals including orphaned newborns, senior animals, injured animals, and animals with ongoing health problems. Since our founding in September 2002, we have successfully placed hundreds of these deserving animals into loving homes. UAAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of homeless animals. UAAF is an active participant in the No Kill Utah (NKUT) coalition and is working closely with other coalition members to help end t...

Mike chats with Co-Founder and Director of Community Outreach Jennifer Simonic.Loose Ends aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with projects people have left undone due to death or disability. Loose Ends welcomes textile handwork crafters of all sorts, from anywhere in the world.

www.LooseEnds.org

Mike chats with Executive Marketing Director and Box Office Manager Lindsay Simons. The Draper Historic Theatre (DHT) creates opportunities for community members to develop and share their theatrical talents with friends and family. Participants of all ages have the opportunity to act, sing, dance or learn the technical aspects of theatre including lighting, sound design, costuming, and set construction. Four of the six shows are musicals, which allow whole families to participate in the performance. Each year, a special DHT Kidz performance is slated creating the opportunity for as many as 120 children under the age of 18 to perform on...

Mike chats with Managing Director Dennis Wynn, Alema Harrington, & Aaron Rosen. At NewPath Foundation, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. We provide a wide range of resources and tools to help individuals set and achieve their goals, overcome obstacles, and build a brighter future for themselves and those around them. Our programs are designed to be accessible, engaging, and impactful, with a focus on practical skills and knowledge that can be applied in real-world settings.

www.NewPathFoundation.com

Mike chats with Executive Director Bonnie O'Brian and Development Director Roberto Lopez. SLC Pride Festival is June 29th & 30th at The Gateway. SLC Pride's mission is to foster a vibrant and inclusive celebration of Queer community and its diversity, where visibility, belonging, support, and equity are at the heart. Showcase the rich and complicated tapestry of what it means to be Queer, here. Amplify the voices and experiences of our community, through an intentionally created atmosphere of acceptance, understanding, and celebration.

www.SLC-Pride.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Andrew Earley & Internationally Ranked Poet Sammi Walker. AAMP Utah exists to create, cultivate, and celebrate art and community engagement through activism, education, and empowerment in the Salt Lake Valley. AAMP Utah's primary goal is to make creating and celebrating art accessible to everyone.

www.AampUtah.org

Mike chats with Founder Katie Fry, and Combat Veterans Bryant & Zach Jacobs. The 1st Annual Warrior Revival Golf Tournament is Friday, June 14th at Glenmoor Golf Club in South Jordan. It's a 4-person shotgun start at 8am. $600 per team. Call 801-699-1887 for more info. Warrior Revival is committed to providing resources, guidance, and opportunities that help Veterans connect with one another through recreation and mentorship. We strive to create a supportive network that fosters camaraderie, a sense of purpose, and to raise awareness of the unique challenges Veterans face in the transition to civilian life. 

www.W...

Mike chats with Executive Director of the Utah chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association Stacie Kulp, Director of the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services Nels Holmgren, and Program Administrator for the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services Traci Lee. June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. The Alzheimer's Association of Utah is the premier source of information and support for Utahns living with dementia and their families and caregivers. Our statewide offices help us to provide a broad range of free programs and services, funding for Alzheimer's and dementia research, and advocacy efforts on behalf of Utahns.

Mike chats with Pride Center Executive Director Chad Call and Pride Festival Marketing Director Lissette Aliaga. The Utah PRIDE Festival and Parade are back and more inclusive than ever. Join us as we bring the community together for the Utah Pride Festival and Parade on June 1-2. The festival will include accessible ticket pricing, inclusive activities, local entertainment, and a safe space to celebrate who we are. The mission of the Utah Pride Center is to unite, empower and celebrate Utah’s diverse LGBTQ+ community with safe, accessible, and inclusive programs, events, and services. The Utah Pride Center envisions an...

Mike chats with Executive Director Michael Haws. The 3rd annual Red Barn 5K Recovery Run is on June 1st. Every dollar this event raises supports basic needs and educational opportunities for the 70+ students at Red Barn Academy. Whether you run, sponsor, or donate, every little bit helps us bridge the gap and support the over $53,000 average cost of recovery per student. Red Barn Farms is a licensed, two-year minimum residential life-skills academy that reinvents lives broken from addiction and crime by teaching honesty, accountability, and integrity in a farm setting. We are not a ‘drug rehab’ and we do not...

Mike chats with Chris Schneider, Director of Communications. AFA will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference on March 15th from 10 to 1 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in West Valley. It’s a part of the 2024 national Educating America Tour. The free conference is open to everyone. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.

The mission of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide, and fund research for better treatment and a cure. 

www...

Mike chats with Executive Director Georgina Griffith-Yates. The mission of Wasatch Community Gardens is to empower people to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. Since 1989, we have provided children, adults, and families in Salt Lake County with access to land and education for growing and eating fresh produce, while building and nurturing community connections through gardening and healthy food. Wasatch Community Gardens’ annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11! The sale will take place from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm at Rowland Hall (720 Guardsman Way, SLC).

www.WasatchGardens.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Chris Mortensen. Ritzy Rescue Ranch is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Tooele, Utah. We are dedicated to our mission of providing animals with a second chance for a quality life and inspiring compassion for all beings. We do this by providing a safe, loving home to abused, neglected, and unwanted animals. We envision a world where compassion supersedes exploitation, and animals are treated with respect and kindness.

www.RitzyRscueRanch.org

Mike chats with President and Co-founder Adison Smith & Vice President and Co-founder Kade Tyler. Wasatch Wanderers Animal Rescue is a nonprofit focusing on the welfare of domestic farm animals and exotics. We rescue abandoned, neglected, and unwanted animals and educate the public while we do! Wasatch Wanderers has rescued over 1,000 animals since its founding in September 2021. With your help, we can continue to save more lives and find them loving forever homes.

www.WasatchWanderers.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Tara Rollins. Through Education, Advocacy, and Community Partnerships, the Utah Housing Coalition promotes equitable and sustainable communities to ensure all Utahns have a safe and affordable place to call home. We seek to accomplish our Mission through the following activities: Advocate at the local, state, and federal levels. Provide outreach and partnership-building among diverse groups. Organize training and capacity building for housing professionals. Disseminate data and information. Engage in community education and outreach. Conduct research and policy analysis. www.UtahHousing.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Kendra Penry. The Allen & Alice Stokes Nature Center is Cache Valley’s local nature center and outdoor exploration hub for people of all ages. We are proud to be the official educational permittee of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Logan Canyon Children’s Forest. Whether you’re a local family, a college student, or just passing through on the National Scenic Byway, join us to learn more about Logan Canyon and our National Forest today. www.LoganNature.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Sara Gibbs. Ace’s mission: Our mission is to create opportunities in arts, culture, and education for the enhancement and well-being of the Little Cottonwood Canyon community. Ace's vision: Our vision is to create a welcoming and safe space where the community is empowered through arts, culture, & education. Ace goals: ACE will bring opportunities in the arts, culture, and education to the community for free or very little cost. ACE will support local arts and artists. ACE will increase awareness of the variety of activities that take place in our community. ACE will have a...

Mike chats with President & CEO Ginette Bott. THe Feed Utah statewide food drive will help provide food to the estimated 317,000 Utahns who face hunger—many of whom are still struggling to feed their families due to inflation and high housing costs. Even more alarming is that 1 in 10 Utah kids are unsure where their next meal will come from. Residents across the state will receive door hangers during the week leading up to the food drive. Utah Food Bank asks those able to support the effort to place nonperishable food donations outside their door by 9:00 am on Saturday, March 16. www.UtahFoodBank.or...

Mike chats with Executive Director Jeff Merchant. Our Mission: To drive a public narrative that empowers Utah’s electorate and holds public officials accountable. Our Vision: A better Utah, where everyone can live happy, healthy, and productive lives; where public officials act with integrity, transparency, and for the common good; where informed and engaged Utahns seek progressive change of and through the political process. www.BetterUtah.org

Mike chats with Co-Owner Lindsey Armstrong. In September of 2020 the idea of Clementine Ranch started becoming a reality. Rob and Lindsey's goal was the ranch would be a place of compassion, life, and creativity—one that combines their love of animals, a vegan lifestyle, and music. The future of the ranch would not only include the animal sanctuary, but also an organic greenhouse and a state-of-the-art recording studio for bands to create their art in. Things starting moving much sooner than expected and on October 2, 2020 Lindsey and Rob made it public that they had taken over an existing animal sanc...

Mike chats with Executive Director Brad Bishop & Housing Specialist Halie Berger. Self-Help Homes was initially created as a non-profit arm for the Housing Authority of Utah County (HAUC) to address affordable housing issues in rural Summit, Utah, and Wasatch Counties. Self-Help Homes was incorporated with the state of Utah in November 1998, and soon thereafter went out on its own as it was designated by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). Self-Help Homes is a United Way organization and has partnered with multiple non-profit and local, state, and federal government organizations. 

www.S...

Mike chats with the Founder and Chair of Community Partners Against Hate Jay Jacobson & State Representative and Community Partner Doug Owens. Established in 2019 and sponsored by the Utah Federation, Community Partners Against Hate unites diverse community leaders, Salt Lake officials, and representatives to collectively advocate for increased reporting of hate crimes. The group offers support during incidents of hate and collaborates on awareness initiatives. In 2023, they raised awareness about antisemitism and other hatred through a Hate Crimes Booklet and PSA, working with school districts to address incidents. In 2024, the Community Partners plan films, a youth summit against hate, and...

Mike chats with CEO & Executive Director Jillian Olmsted and Community Engagement Manager Kellie Mieremet. The mission of The INN Between is to end the tragedy of vulnerable people dying on the streets of our community by providing medical respite and end-of-life care to those experiencing homelessness. Prior to The INN Between, no adequate solution existed for housing terminally ill and medically frail homeless people, resulting in an average of 50 deaths on Salt Lake area streets annually. Today, those numbers are higher. The need for this work is critical. We adhere to the hospice philosophy of providing care for the...

Mike chats with Executive Director Michelle Flynn & Communications Specialist Alicia Gleed. The Road Home provides emergency shelter, supportive services, and housing assistance that help individuals and families step out of homelessness. The Road Home team works with individuals and families, each step of the way, to help them overcome their homelessness and move back into a home of their own. The Holiday Mediathon is The Road Home’s largest fundraiser. DJs from FM100, 103.5 The Arrow, The KSL Sports Zone, and KSL News Radio will broadcast live onsite at our Midvale Family Resource Center for 14 hours each day on December 20th...

Mike chats with Executive Director Tara Rollins. Through Education, Advocacy, and Community Partnerships, the Utah Housing Coalition is dedicated to promoting equitable and sustainable communities to ensure all Utahns have a safe and affordable place to call home. We seek to accomplish our Mission through the following activities: Advocate at the local, state, and federal levels. Provide outreach and partnership-building among diverse groups. Organize training and capacity building for housing professionals. Disseminate data and information. Engage in community education and outreach. Conduct research and policy analysis. 

www.UtahHousing.org

Mike chats with Director of Operations Arin Meade and Development Manager Josh Stasinos. We’re Nuzzles & Co., a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) no-kill organization located in Summit County, Utah. In 1990, a group of volunteers founded our organization, originally known as Friends of Animals Utah, so we could come together to find homes for animals in need. Since then, we have found homes for over 25,000 pets. Our mission is to protect animals, to provide a loving and nurturing place where they can get healthy and learn positive behaviors, and then to find loving homes for each one of them. We also wo...

Mike chats with Utah Alzheimer's Association Executive Director Stacie Kulp & Maddie Saunders with Christmas in Color. The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. www.ALZ.org/Utah

Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. When purchasing tickets for November 27th through December 2nd, enter code ALZ2023 to have 20% of your purchase donated to the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. www.ChristmasInColor.net

Mike chats with Chief Impact and Strategy Officer Janell Cerva & Development Associate Chrisanthi Hatzantonis.. Founded in 1965, Utah Community Action is a nationally recognized provider of comprehensive services for income-eligible families. Their six core programs—Head Start, Adult Education, Case Management & Housing, Nutrition, HEAT, and Weatherization—address barriers to self-reliance to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build communities. Utah Community Action hosts A Season of Giving during the holidays, ensuring individuals, children, families, and home-bound seniors receive a hot meal during Thanksgiving and gifts for the holidays.

www.UtahCA.org

Mike chats with Founder and Clinical Psychologist Katie Fry & co-founder and US Air Force Veteran Zach Jacobs. Our mission is to support and empower current and former Veterans and their families transitioning from the military to civilian life. Through recreation, wellness, and therapeutic retreats, Warrior Revival is committed to providing resources, guidance, and opportunities that help Veterans connect with one another, and to civilians. We strive to create a supportive network that fosters camaraderie, and a sense of purpose, and to raise awareness of the unique challenges Veterans face in the transition to civilian life.

www.Warrior-Revival...

Mike chats with Communications Director Eli Davis. O2 Utah is an environmental nonprofit whose mission is to clean our state’s air and eliminate our contributions to climate change through elections and policy. Our legislative framework, Prosperity 2030 aims to reduce emissions by 50% along the Wasatch Front by 2030. Prosperity 2030 is a series of bills targeting pollution from transportation, buildings, point sources, and more.

www.O2Utah.org

Mike chats with Public Relations Coordinator Brandi Bosworth. Located in the heart of Ogden, you'll find a 152-acre nature preserve and education center open to the public year-round. The Ogden Nature Center offers a wide variety of activities from walking trails to educational programs for all ages. Our mission is to unite people with nature and nurture appreciation and stewardship of the environment. Since it was founded in 1975 as Utah's first nature center, the Ogden Nature Center has provided a place where people can go to enjoy and learn about the natural world.

www.OgdenNatureCenter.org

Mike chats with Executive Director Cathy King. We are a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization that rescues predominantly shelter dogs and places them with disabled military veterans to then become psychiatric service or assistance dogs. CWAC provides training classes for veterans, enabling them to develop the skills needed to train their own dogs and become an experienced handler. The dog can provide the veteran with many benefits: simple companionship, motivation to get out of bed in the morning, and unconditional and non-judgmental love. www.CaninesWithACause.org

Mike chats with Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. Ballet West is presenting the return of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, back by popular demand and just in time for Halloween! The New York Times hailed the production as “a Dracula beyond Stoker’s darkest dreams.” The blockbuster show features exciting pyrotechnics, flying vampires, and a ghostly carriage that careens on and off stage. Dracula runs Oct. 20 – 28 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Tickets start at $29. Visit balletwest.org for ticket information.

www.BalletWest.org

Mike chats with retired MLS Goalie Nick Rimando. Inspired by the experiences playing soccer in the streets of Spain, Brazil, Bolivia, and Mexico, a group of college soccer friends founded Calle in 2006. Calle started selling tees to camp kids and local soccer shops. In 2012, after six years of grind, the brand had to hang up its boots. In 2022 after a decade hiatus, founder Travis Winn and Nick Rimando relaunched Calle with some original designs. The brand's mission remains the same: to promote community-based street courts where players can play for free. By donating 10% of its sales to the non-profit...