Speaker: Professor Kim Martinez, U of U Dept. of Art

Professor Kim Martinez is an award-winning, internationally recognized Professor of Art at the University of Utah. She is an empathic political artist motivated by the desire to understand how power structures affect the disenfranchised. As a professor she has shared her skills in mural design not only with her students but with communities, empowering people to tell their own stories through art. https://www.art.utah.edu/faculty-list/v-kim-martinez/

At the conclusion of this presentation, representatives from the Utah Arts Festival and Bad Dog Arts will briefly present opportunities for attendees to volunteer with their agencies.

Moe Egan, Director of Neighborhood Recruitment

Dave Durocher and Moe Egan are key figures associated with The Other Side Academy and The Other Side Village, respectively. The Other Side Academy (TOSA) operates as a therapeutic community where individuals, as an alternative to incarceration or those battling addiction, can acquire vital social, vocational, and life skills. Dave Durocher serves as the Managing Director at TOSA; having spent over 15 years incarcerated, Dave's life took a pivotal turn upon his participation in the Delancey Street rehabilitation program in Los Angeles.

The Other Side Village is an initiative aimed at constructing a neighborhood of small homes to support individuals who have experienced homelessness, fostering a supportive community based on accountability and self-dignity. Maurice (Moe) Egan holds the position of Director of Recruitment for The Other Side Village. Moe is 17 years clean and sober, used drugs for over 20 years, and was homeless in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District for 10 years.

Speaker: Prof. Theresa Martinez, U of U Sociology

This talk will focus on music that has emerged in American history that has reflected on social justice themes.

Various music artists and bands have spoken to serious societal issues over the past century, including the rights of working and marginalized people, Civil Rights, the Vietnam war, structural racism, sexism, police violence, homophobia, environmental justice, and many others. Several songs will be featured in short clips and perhaps in longer ones as we embark on a journey to listen to voices of social justice then and now.

Theresa Martinez is Associate Professor of Sociology and former Assistant Vice President for Academic Outreach at the University of Utah. She is an award-winning teacher whose classes and research focus on issues of race/class/gender/sexuality as they inform and are informed by societal institutions and are reflected in cultural productions/expressions such as poetry, prose, and music lyrics.

Stephanie Duer, Conservation Manager, SLC Public Utilities

Laura Briefer will overview Salt Lake City Public Utilities’ complex water system. Who makes municipal water policy and how much does the Utah Legislature influence water policy at the municipal level. Describe changes being made to increase water flow to Great Salt Lake. Stefanie Duer will discuss steps residents can take to conserve water both inside and outside their homes.

Laura Briefer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the U of Utah. She was appointed director in 2016 and has served in that capacity since that time. Has also co-authored papers on water resources and watershed management of the central Wasatch Mountains. Stephanie Duer  is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of water conservation and efficiency research and programs for Salt Lake City and the Public Utilities Service Area. Stephanie has a Bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University and a Master’s in professional communication from Westminster University

Prof. Shannon Jones is the Executive Director of the U of U Center for Community Nutrition and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology. The Center for Community Nutrition creates innovative ways to overcome the barriers to healthful eating, working with local community members experiencing homelessness, homeless service providers, public schools, and other local organizations, such as Wasatch Community Gardens. Prof. Jones has received various awards and recognitions, specifically the Distinguished Faculty Service Award in 2023.

Jackie Rodabaugh is the Job Training Program Director at Wasatch Community Gardens, a nonprofit which empowers people to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food, through community gardens, education, and farm-based training. One program is the Green Phoenix Farm, which serves as a job training program for women facing homelessness.

Candice Hasenyager’s presentation will delve into the ecological significance of Great Salt Lake, current challenges and recent policy changes, highlighting its importance as a unique ecosystem and addressing key issues affecting its sustainability. With a blend of informative content and engaging discussion, attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of this iconic natural wonder. 

Candice Hasenyager serves as the Utah Division of Water Resources Director. Candice has worked on water resources and planning projects since 2007. She has been involved in multiple Utah Water Task Force workgroups, Great Salt Lake Strike team, water resources planning, surface water modeling, hydrology studies and municipal water demand projections. Candice feels strongly about helping find balanced solutions to ensure Utah families have a reliable water supply, that agriculture and businesses can be successful, and that the environment can prosper. She graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering.