Cedar City Holiday Lighting Ceremony, 2025.
|
Communities Sparkle this Holiday Season |
Happy Holidays! From all of us, we hope you’ll make time to connect in your community this holiday season. Whether it’s attending the high school band and orchestra concert, serving or donating with a local shelter or food pantry, enjoying a theatre or dance performance with a local performing arts organization, or just catching the lights in your historic downtown, connecting with family, friends, and neighbors may bring you extra seasonal joy.
|
|
|
Serving In All Seasons: How Cultural Site Stewards Save History
|
Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson recently honored Utah Cultural Site Stewards for their volunteer work during the federal shutdown. “Thank you for the countless hours you volunteer, the miles you travel, and the personal resources you invest as you watch over sites and participate in service projects,” Henderson said in a video message. “As growth and recreation continue to expand across our state, your efforts ensure that the cultural and natural treasures that draw so many people to Utah will be preserved for future generations.”
|
From Oct. 1 through Nov. 13, 165 volunteers logged 1,882 hours and 28,799 miles, to safeguard Utah’s cultural heritage. These volunteers play a critical role in identifying damage and educating the public to stop vandalism of Utah's historic treasures like this pictograph in American Fork Canyon.
|
Engineering, Coding, and a Cool STEM Gift Guide
|
|
|
The STEM Action Center was lauded for leadership in integrating STEM into real-world, career-focused learning, expanding access to technology, supporting rural schools, and fostering partnerships that empower educators and students across Utah.
|
If you need ideas for incorporating STEM in your holiday gift giving, check out the center’s STEM Gift Guide.
|
Even in Winter, Turn Every Step into a Story with Read250 and Walk250 |
The Utah State Library’s new Read250 initiative promotes literacy, civic engagement, and community exploration and invites all Utahns to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial. This year-long initiative leading up to July 4, 2026 provides a list of digital books for adults, young adults, and children. Holiday time off may provide a little extra time for reading and exploring. Through the Beehive Library Consortium, readers can access American history and historical fiction titles via the Libby app free with a local library card. Audio books are a great way to read while you roam. Participating in Walk250, encourages Utahns to explore local trails, neighborhoods, and communities.
|
Year-End Recognition: CCE’s Angela Gunderson Honored |
This month, Angela Gunderson, CCE’s deputy finance director, received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Outstanding Public Service. Since joining CCE in January 2024, she has leveraged more than 25 years of state finance experience to strengthen a small, high-impact team. Gunderson is known for her reliability, sound judgment, and steady leadership on complex fiscal matters. Congratulations to Angela for a job exceptionally well done.
|
Utah Leads: Turning Service into Careers |
Since July 2024, 1,063 One Utah Service fellows have contributed 305,207 hours of service and recruited or managed 11,775 volunteers. In its second year, the Volunteer for Good pilot program has engaged 10,638 Utah high school students, who have completed 182,265 hours of service, generating an estimated $6,285,776 in economic impact.
|
Sharing Meals Across the Nation: Preparing for America's Potluck |
Nicole Handy, director of America250 Utah, recently spoke at the National League of Cities City Summit in Salt Lake City. She shared the vision behind America’s Potluck, a nationwide initiative that brings communities together over a shared meal on July 5, 2026. Handy encouraged city leaders from across the United States to use this milestone to foster belonging, strengthen civic engagement, and celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in ways that reflect the character of their local communities. The session was titled “Planning for America250.”
|
|
|
Fox 13 –Utah students learn science and sustainability by growing crops without soil |
| USA Today – America’s 250th anniversary is coming. Big events to know about |
| National Governors Association – Service-to-Career Pathways |
| Fox 13 – State effort launched to save vandalized Fremont pictograph |
|
|
Our nine divisions work to achieve the overarching goal of building communities in all corners of the state. The Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement’s annual report explains the priorities of each division and the impact of their programs.
|
|
|
Administration
Donna Law
Executive Director
Katherine Potter
Deputy Director
|
| | |
|
The Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement connects people, resources, and ideas to strengthen communities — in communities. By supporting local programs, educational initiatives, and collaborative projects, CCE helps foster meaningful impact, build capacity, and create opportunities for residents to engage and thrive.
|
| |
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
3760 S Highland Dr None | Salt Lake City, UT 84106 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
|