July 2026 | Vol. 12 Iss. 7
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West Jordan
Outdoor ideas
Special section looks at forest bathing, e-bikes Page 13
Trip to future
Student field trip dove into AI
Page 18
West Jordan teacher tackles life with Utah Falconz By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
From teaching business classes to competing in tackle football, Makayla Brown takes an unconventional path and uses it to inspire her students.
M
ost students don’t expect their high school teacher to play semi-professional tackle football. Then again, Makayla “Mak” Warr Brown isn’t one to follow the expected path. By day, Warr Brown teaches business and marketing courses at West Jordan High School, helping students develop entrepreneurial ideas, build websites and prepare for the future. Outside the classroom, she is a member of the Utah Falconz, one of the Women’s National Football Conference’s established franchises. The Utah Falconz was founded in 2014 and won two Independent Women’s Football League championships before joining the Women’s National Football Conference as a founding member in 2019. Since then, the Falconz have made four playoff appearances, won a division title in 2023 and reached the IX Cup championship game multiple times. Warr Brown’s path to playing football was anything but traditional.
Growing up, she played softball, swam competitively and participated in cheerleading. After injuries ended her softball career at Southern Virginia University, she discovered women’s tackle football through former college teammate Lainie Thompson, of the Falconz. “I always played sports growing up, but never football,” Warr Brown said. “Most women don’t play football, but I like breaking the mold a bit. It sounded fun, like an adventure.” Determined to give the sport a try, she moved to Utah in 2022, joined Jordan School District, where she teaches entrepreneurship, financial literacy, sports marketing and digital marketing. Her classroom emphasizes hands-on learning where students create business prototypes or design sporting venues and marketing campaigns. At the same time, she immersed herself in a sport she had never played before. Learning football proved to be challenging. “Once I started, it was a humbling experience. I had a decent understanding of the sport itself and the rules, but playing it is a whole other ball game,” she said. Warr Brown started on the offensive line before moving to defensive end and linebacker. Coaches and teammates helped her understand
West Jordan High teacher Makayla “Mak” Warr Brown plays on the offensive line for the Utah Falconz, seen here in a game against Houston Mambas. (Photo courtesy Makayla Warr Brown)
the game, even using coffee creamers after That philosophy is being tested. practice to diagram blocking schemes. In 2024, Warr Brown suffered an ACL A quote she frequently shares with injury during a game against the Oregon students is “Life is 10% what happens to you Continued on page 9 and 90% how you react to it.”
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COMMON GROUND
The Pot Calling the Kettle a Rainbow
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. As normal for June in Utah, there was little rainfall, but that didn’t stop tears of the far left from crying throughout the month. What were they upset about this time? Gov. Cox decided June (2026) should be Fidelity Month. Did the left feel betrayed by one of their biggest supporters when he didn’t recognize their month-long orgy? His declaration reads: Whereas, a recent opinion poll of Americans showed that support for traditional values has significantly declined; Whereas, a majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement; Whereas, fidelity means dedication to faith, family and country; Whereas, it is imperative that we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of fidelity; Whereas, John Adams, a founding father of the United States, said, ‘‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’’; Whereas, the survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family and patriotism; and Whereas, it is fitting to observe one month each year to rededicate the United States to its core values; Now, therefore, I, Spencer J. Cox,
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John J. Walker Common Ground
governor of the great state of Utah, do hereby declare June, 2026 as Fidelity Month in Utah. If you imagined Gov. Cox activated his taxpayer-funded propaganda machine and waged war against the LGBTQ+ community by shoving his new declaration down everyone’s throat, it would be exactly that, your imagination. No politician has made such a lackluster declaration since Clinton used his air quotes. The Governor simply posted the declaration to his website. But that didn’t stop people from feeling butthurt about the proclamation. As if the Governor’s track record had been forgotten: 2021: The Governor declares the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. 2022: The Governor declares the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. 2023: The Governor declares the month of June, Pride Month in Utah. 2024: The Governor declares June the month of “Bridge Building”. 2025: No declaration by the Governor, but 42 miles south of the State Capitol Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, was assassinated on Sept. 10. Note: the accused assassin may have been aligned with the LGBTQ community.
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2026: The Governor declares the month of June, Fidelity Month. Now, let’s look at the track record of the LGBTQ+ community for the same time period. 2021: They mock the LDS culture and religious community by creating an all-out effort to change Pioneer Day into Pie and Beer Day. 2022: They continue to mock LDS culture and community by creating an all-out effort to change Pioneer Day into Pie and Beer Day. 2023: They continue their mocking of the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2024: Continue mocking the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2025: Continue mocking the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2026: Continue their mocking celebration of Pioneer Day. It’s probably the most consistent aspect of their culture, in a world where they add new colors to their flag and their acronym gets so large they just add a + sign. To get respect, you might have to give a little. Common Ground: The current political environment has tricked us, leaving us with two polar options. Either we have to gay bash or we have to run through the street dressed like Richard Simmons, waving a rainbow flag. However, it seems like there’s a lot of ground in the middle. That ground might be the area most of us occupy. I think most Utahns can agree the
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LGBTQ+ community should be recognized; they should be allowed to celebrate their community. But can we make it less about their sexuality and focus more on their suffrage, rights, and successes? Those things we can all celebrate. As a mutual sign of respect, can’t all members of the state come together to celebrate and balance religious aspects with the suffrage, rights and successes within the communities? Those celebrations leave room for the journey of the pioneers in the mid-1800s and the similarities to that of the LGBTQ+ community in the mid-to late 1900s. Both suffered persecution. Both fought the federal government’s overreach as to who they can marry. Should Utah celebrate Pride Month? Of course. Should the Governor have declared the month Pride Month? Maybe. He doesn’t own the month; he can declare it anything he wants and we can celebrate each day as we please. Equally important are values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement. Are they currently at risk? Of course. Let’s celebrate those values. So thank you, Gov.Cox, for supporting these key values and declaring June Fidelity Month. Let’s celebrate it and next year let’s get even louder about our celebration, maybe a drone show over the Capitol or a UFC fight in the rotunda. Thank you, Governor, for supporting Pride Month for five years. We hope you have not given up on it, and our families and community.
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July 2026 | Page 5
Students celebrate America’s 250th birthday
Learning more about their country’s founding documents and history makes this year’s Fourth of July celebration special for students. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
W
hen in the course of the school year, it becomes necessary for students to learn the history of their country, to understand the power of their freedoms, and the laws and responsibilities their citizenship bestows, the semiquincentennial of these United States of America demands a deeper and more interactive curriculum of celebration. Teachers, students, families and local leaders went above and beyond the norm to enrich the school year with patriotic events. Traditionally, fifth grade students perform a patriotic program to share the U.S. history they have learned throughout the year. Many schools expanded those programs this year. To get students excited about the nation’s 250th birthday, Antelope Canyon Elementary teachers upgraded their fifth grade program to a school-wide event and invited local political leaders and parents to attend. Columbia Elementary students at each grade level learned patriotic songs for their school-wide assembly as well. The annual Family STEM Night, held in March, had an American theme which inspired STEM activities. For example, in one activity, students learned the science of invisible ink and then wrote secret codes to be delivered without being caught by ‘the British.’ South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey and Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey joined in the fun, visiting nine South Jordan area elementary schools to quiz fifth-graders on their knowledge of U.S. history and civics. The Utah State Board of Education awarded 12 Utah students top prizes for their essay and art entries as part of the America250 celebration. Jordan School District Social Studies & World Languages Consultant Kaye Rizuto invited all JSD students to participate in the America 250 Student Challenge, which had a list of activities to learn more about U.S. history, government and to get involved in their communities. “I hope they learned to be grateful for the freedoms that we have,” Rizuto said. Bluffdale Elementary teacher Melanie Fisher noticed that six of the eight student challenge requirements for fifth graders were things she already does with her students as part of her curriculum, so she had her class complete seven activities together and one more on their own. “Teaching about U.S. history, our
Page 6 | July 2026
Some of the students who completed the America 250 Student Challenge attend an awards ceremony held May 14. (Kraig Williams/Jordan School District)
government and our rights and responsibilities as citizens is one of the things I love most about teaching fifth grade,” Fisher said. “The more we educate our students about these important things, the brighter our future becomes.” Fisher’s class performed a song and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the district-wide awards ceremony, held in May, for the 92 Jordan District students who completed the student challenge. Rachael Farley, a former teacher, said the student challenge was a great way for her children to prepare for their upcoming family trip to Washington, D.C. Ranging in age from kindergarten to ninth grade, her children completed the requirements for their specific grade level which tied into what they have been learning in school this year. “I think it’s just a great experience to have them learn more about our nation, learn more about how we became a nation, and the things that we had to do to get to where we are today to enjoy the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted,” Farley said. Some activity options focused on U.S. history and others celebrated Constitutional rights, such as ‘Make a social media post about America 250 and a freedom that you enjoy’ or ‘Take a gun or hunter safety course.’ “A common one between all of them was ‘Attend a religious service and talk about how that impacts you,’ and that’s an important part of our family, is to worship together,” Farley said. Although the kids worked on the challenge individually, Farley said there were many family discussions and in-depth conversations about what they were learning. Each child did things for the challenge they normally would not have done. Emmaline
Students receive a certificate of completion, an America 250 pin, a medal, goodie bag and congratulatory handshake from Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey. (Kraig Williams/Jordan School District)
Farley, a sixth grader, wrote a letter of gratitude to a neighbor who serves in the military. “It just helped me appreciate what they did,” she said. Ninth-grader Adelynn Farley read a book about John Adams. “It really took me out of my comfort zone to read it,” Adelynn said. “I honestly didn’t even know really what he did. I learned a lot from it.” Some of the challenge activities were things the kids were already doing. Adelynn marked off ‘Participate in a school Patriotic Program’ by performing with her school choir at her school’s 9/11 memorial event. Traci Stayner was another parent who encouraged her kids to complete the America 250 Student Challenge. “I really think they
saw that there’s a lot of sacrifice that went into the making of our country,” Stayner said. Her daughter Hannah, a junior, was one of the few high school students to finish the challenge, which had more demanding requirements for older students. While third-graders Emma and Ella Stayner wrote reports on George Washington and women’s suffrage, and memorized a few lines of The Declaration of Independence, their older sister had to memorize the entire document in addition to other time-consuming requirements. Hannah is glad she did. “I learned what the Declaration of Independence says — I never knew what it said before,” she said. l
West Jordan City Journal
Latinos que construyen sueños y fortalecen Utah Utah alberga a más de 450 mil hispanos, una comunidad que representa cerca del 14% de su población y que crece cada año. By Marisol Camacho m.camacho@mycityjournals.com
E
migrar es un acto de fe. Dejar atrás la tierra natal, los afectos y las costumbres para empezar desde cero exige una valentía que pocos logran dimensionar. Hoy, la comunidad hispana en Utah no solo crece en números, sino que se ha convertido en el motor económico y cultural que dinamiza el estado. Detrás del incansable movimiento en los servicios y el comercio, laten historias humanas de profundo sacrificio y superación. Utah alberga a más de 450 mil hispanos, una comunidad que representa cerca del 14% de su población y que crece cada año. No son solo estadísticas, son personas que cruzaron fronteras con el corazón apretado y las manos dispuestas a El karate va mucho más allá de los trofeos y las medallas, se trata de una filosofía de vida. trabajar, impulsando la economía local. (Foto cortesia Academia)
El sabor que honra a una abuela
una herramienta de transformación social. Con más de cinco décadas dedicadas a las artes marciales, llegó a Estados Unidos durante la pandemia y comenzó dando clases en una placita, hoy dirige una academia donde niños de distintas nacionalidades aprenden disciplina, respeto, confianza y han representado a Utah en campeonatos nacionales e internacionales. Lo que hace a Carlos excepcional no son los trofeos, sino los estudiantes. Niños con síndrome de Down que son incluidos. Adultos que descubren que la disciplina no tiene edad. Su trabajo va mucho más allá de la competencia deportiva. También ayuda a combatir problemas como el bullying y la inseguridad emocional que enfrentan muchos jóvenes. En 2022 fue reconocido Disciplina e inclusión a través del karate en el Capitolio de Utah por su labor social El sensey Carlos Vásquez demuestra durante el Día de la Hispanidad. que el emprendimiento también puede ser
Irwin Rodríguez llegó de Maracaibo, Venezuela, con la gastronomía zuliana guardada en la memoria y el nombre de su abuela grabado en el corazón. Hoy es dueño de un restaurante que lleva a Utah los sabores que miles de venezolanos perdieron al emigrar: las hallacas, el patacón, los platos que huelen a hogar. El inmigrante tiene que hacer el doble del sacrificio”, afirma Rodríguez al recordar los desafíos de comenzar desde cero en un país con una cultura, idioma y sistema económico diferentes. Sin embargo, su restaurante se ha convertido en un punto de encuentro donde venezolanos y personas de otras nacionalidades descubren sabores que cuentan historias de identidad y pertenencia.
Sembrando convicciones firmes
Francisco Teodoro lleva más de 40 años guiando almas. Llegó a Utah hace cinco años y se enamoró de la ciudad. Su ministerio atiende a una comunidad latina que, en tierra extraña, muchas veces enfrenta la soledad, la crisis del matrimonio, la rebeldía de los hijos, el peso del desarraigo. “Un pastor tiene que ser un padre”, dice Francisco. “Que busca que las personas crezcan como hijos espirituales.” En una época marcada por la incertidumbre y los cambios constantes, Teodoro destaca la importancia de la fe, la unidad familiar y el compromiso con la sociedad. Además, reconoce las oportunidades que Estados Unidos ha ofrecido a miles de inmigrantes que buscan estabilidad y progreso.
El Karate no tiene edad y trae muchas satisfacciones. (Foto cortesia Academia)
Lachaise representa el poder de la cultura como puente entre comunidades. Originaria de Argentina, encontró en la danza una forma de conectar personas, combatir la soledad y fortalecer la confianza de quienes llegan a un nuevo país. Gisella ve la danza como una herramienta terapéutica vital para el inmigrante. El movimiento genera bienestar y crea vínculos sociales que combaten la soledad del desarraigo. Detrás del éxito recuerda que hay que superar barreras invisibles, como su propio temor a volar, el cual venció para expandir su arte.
Un aporte colectivo que transforma
Más allá de los restaurantes y las academias, el aporte latino a Utah se mide también en cemento, madera y concreto, su contribución no solo genera crecimiento económico. También fortalece valores como la solidaridad, el trabajo duro, la resiliencia y la importancia de la familia. El llamado “sueño americano” no significa riqueza inmediata. Sino la oportunidad de trabajar dignamente, la posibilidad de transformar el miedo en esperanza y los obstáculos en oportunidades. Más que Sanando la soledad al ritmo de la salsa inmigrantes, son constructores y su historia La bailarina y maestra de salsa Gisella apenas comienza. l
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The West Jordan Jaguar baseball team celebrates a walk-off double in its first game of the Super Regional to beat Roy 4-3. the West Jordan baseball team finished the year 20-9, at one point embarking on a 17-game winning streak. After dropping seven of its first nine games to start the year, West Jordan captured a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Taylorsville to trigger the winning streak.
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continued from front page Ravens. What initially seemed like a routine recovery turned into nearly two years of surgeries, setbacks and rehab once doctors discovered additional damage and a failed reconstruction. Despite missing the past two seasons, she remains involved with the Falconz, serving on the board and helping with marketing efforts while still attending practices. The injury has reshaped her perspective and her perseverance. “I’ve learned it’s mentally harder than it is physically hard to recover; it’s hard to be on the sidelines when you want to be out on the field,” she said. “But it’s something I need to accept and I’ve found another way to help the team.” Her mindset carries into the classroom, where she encourages students to learn from
mistakes, adapt and keep moving forward. “I learned I am capable of doing hard things and they are too,” she said. Whether she’s helping students launch mock businesses, coaching a West Jordan High girls flag football club or supporting the Falconz from the sidelines, Warr Brown continues to make an impact. “The best part of teaching is clearly the students; they absolutely make my day,” she said. “They motivate me and inspire me.” The Falconz, where her wife Jessie also plays, became her second home. “It’s an awesome atmosphere with all the girls on the team, we’ve become a family and have that connection,” she said. While her recovery continues, Warr Brown hopes football is still part of her future. “I would love to get back out there,” she said. “But regardless, I’ll be involved with the team, even if I’m not playing.” l
MURRAY CITY CULTURAL ARTS
2026
FREE SPECIAL EVENTS
Picnic On The Lawn Monday, August 24, 6-8 p.m. Murray Museum, 4872 Poplar St Dine And Dance – Swing Dance Friday, August 28, 6-8 p.m. Murray Armory, 246 E Myrtle Ave Get To The River - River Fest Saturday, September 12, 12-2 p.m. Winchester Park, 1250 W Winchester St. Dine And Dance – Silent Disco Friday, September 25, 6-8 p.m. Murray Armory, 246 Myrtle Ave
MURRAY FUN DAYS
Saturday, July 4, 2026 Annual Chalk Art Contest (Pre-Register) 6 a.m.–2 p.m. Murray Armory, 246 Myrtle Ave Annual Plein Air Painting Contest 6:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Murray Armory, 246 Myrtle Ave Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. Murray Amphitheater, 495 5300 S Rotary Club Community Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Murray Park Pavilion #5 Entry Fee Required Races 5k Race, 8 a.m. Children’s Race (Ages 4-9), 9 a.m. Both Races Near Constitution Circle Parade, 8:30 a.m. Fashion Place To Murray Park Daytime Entertainment Heber Matute, 11:00 a.m. Flashback Brothers, 12:30 p.m. Murray Park Gazebo Evening Entertainment Hartley Road, 8:30 p.m. Firework Display, 10:00 p.m. Murray Park Softball Field For full list of activites and updates visit the qr code
Makayla “Mak” Warr Brown is a West Jordan High teacher by day, but once the bell rings she plays tackle football with the Utah Falconz. (Photo courtesy Makayla Warr Brown)
WestJordanJournal .com
JULY-SEPT s t n e v E
AMPHITHEATER For more show details & tickets, visit the qr code
Pirates Of Penzance August 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 8 p.m. Ronstadt Revival Saturday, September 5, 7 p.m. Always Tina: The Tribute To Tina Turner Saturday, September 12, 7 p.m. End Of The Line: Allman Brother Tribute Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m.
LUNCH CONCERTS
FREE, Murray Park Pavilion 5, 296 E Murray Park Ave Lonesome Folk July 7, 12 p.m. Rocksimile July 14, 12 p.m. Enny 1 July 21, 12 p.m. Craig Mecham July 28, 12 p.m.
THURSDAY MATINEES
FREE, Murray Park Pavilion 5, 296 E Murray Park Ave Patriotic Ensemble - Music July 2, 2 p.m. Ballet Center Inc - Dance July 9, 2 p.m. Paul Brewer - Magician July 16, 2 p.m. Angel Martinez - Music July 23, 2 p.m. Trash Panda – Drumming July 30, 2 p.m.
FAMILY NIGHT CONCERTS
FREE, Murray Senior Center, 10 E 6150 S Susie Brown July 13, 7 p.m. Pop-O-Gogo 60’S Band Aug 10, 7 p.m. The Ironport Band Sept 14, 7 p.m. Starlight Quartet Oct 12, 7 p.m.
For more information, call 801-264-2614 or visit https://www.murray.utah.gov/213/Cultural-Arts Sponsored by Murray City Cultural Arts, Murray Parks & Recreation, and Murray City Library. Murray Arts in the Park is supported with funding assistance by the residents of Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, NowPlayingUtah.com, Utah Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts.
July 2026 | Page 9
The new Museum of Utah was slated to open June 27 giving the public a look at the people and places that make up the state. (Photo courtesy of the Museum of Utah)
One of the exhibits in the Museum of Utah is the Mormon Meteor III, the 1937 speed car which set records on the Bonneville Salt Flats. (Photo courtesy of the Museum of Utah)
Utah’s story, all in one place, directed by West Jordan grad The new Museum of Utah opened June 27, offering a comprehensive look at the people, cultures and events that shaped the state.
to welcome the public. The Museum of Utah will officially opened its doors June 27, offering a free, comprehensive look at the state’s history — something Director Tim Glenn said has been By Julie Slama missing until now. j.slama@mycityjournals.com “We haven’t had a state history museum that explores the whole history of the state of Utah,” he said. “We’ve got places that long-awaited addition to Utah’s cultural tell chunks of history so this will be the first landscape is getting its finishing touches time we’ll have that place.”
A
GRIEF HAS NO TIMELINE Grief is an individual journey with a path as unique as each one of us. To offer support and hope, we provide various Grief Support Services for those who are mourning a recent or past loss.
Call or go to: Jenkins-Soffe.com and click on Resources then Grief & Healing.
Page 10 | July 2026
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Located on the Capitol complex, the museum aims to complement existing institutions in the area, such as the Natural History Museum, Utah Museum of Fine Arts and the Pioneer Memorial Museum. Rather than organizing the exhibits chronologically, the Museum of Utah is built around four themed galleries: Becoming Utah; Connecting Utah; Building Utah; and Inspiring Utah. “Within those themes, there are all sorts of stories,” Glenn said. “We’ll talk about everything from the Jarvik heart to Philo T. Farnsworth to the Browning brothers, stories which don’t relate specifically to the themes of some of the other museums.” Interactive exhibits will include experiences such as “Food is Love,” exploring Utah’s beloved traditions including fry sauce and funeral potatoes, and “Dance like a Utahn,” highlighting dance as cultural expression. Visitors also can explore labor history, outdoor recreation as an industry and creative arts across communities. The museum was born over many years, but this vision has been in progress the past four years as organizers gathered input across the state. “It truly was a team effort,” he said. “We went out into the community to talk about this museum and to hear from people.” From focus groups with educators and community members to consulting with all eight federal recognized tribes in Utah to collaborating with cultural organizations and local leaders, the goal was set: ensure every Utahn can see themselves reflected in the museum. “If you are somebody who is a fifth generation Utahn or you’re somebody who moved here last year, you can find yourself in this space,” Glenn said. However, with the museum spanning a limited 15,000 square feet, the final building of the original design Richard K.A. Kletting created for the Capitol complex, he said it’s
tricky to tell the story in the space. “When you think about the whole history of this state, the breadth and depth, and then, you try to fit that into a space about the size of a Trader Joe’s, it’s a huge challenge,” Glenn said. Despite that, visitors will be able to explore a variety of artifacts and exhibits, including Utah’s first state flag; the land speed record car, the Mormon Meteor III; a canvas canoe used by Kanab legislator Dave Rust, a “boss bike” used in the Silver King mine, a mural preserved from the Intermountain Indian School; Olympic memorabilia, a pioneer handcart and Utah trivia, including a rubber chicken representing a Utah company that produces more than any other place in the world. The museum also will contain folk art, fine art, performing art and cultural exhibits, with more than 800 objects displayed. “What we heard from kids is they want to see artifacts,” Glenn said. “Everybody’s got access to information on their phones, but they don’t have access to is the artifacts.” In addition to permanent galleries, the museum will include a temporary exhibition space which will rotate two or three times per year. The first exhibit, however, will remain for a full year and will bring together America 250 and then the peoples of Utah, a continuation of the original peoples bicentennial project. “The idea is this museum would be living and always changing,” he said. He said one of the biggest advantages of the museum is its accessibility with free admission, funded by the Utah Historical Society, and with extended hours for working families. The museum will be open on Mondays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Research access to collections can be made by appointment. l
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West Jordan City Journal
City Journals presents:
recreation A publication covering outdoor recreation around the Salt Lake Valley
Take a walk on the wild side By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com Forest bathing is an invitation to intentionally commune with nature. If you’ve ever sat on the front porch to watch a sunset, enjoyed a cup of tea in the backyard or walked through a park to look at the trees, you’ve done forest bathing. Ian Napper is a mindful outdoor guide who leads forest bathing sessions, also known as shinrin-yoku. He said communion with nature comes easily to most people and the mental health benefits are off the chart. “It literally means to bathe in the nature of the forest,” he said. “It invites you to slow down, like really deeply slow down. The more you slow down, the more you notice and the more you notice, then the more you slow down. It helps us return to a more natural pace, which is one of the many things we need in this hyper, fastpaced world.”
The Japanese practice was created in the 1980s by doctors who noticed their patients were experiencing burnout. They developed a prescription involving nature connection that research has shown to offer mental and physical benefits. Napper invites people to attend a forest bathing experience which he holds at places along the Wasatch Range, including canyons, parks and Tracy Aviary. Each event is around 90 minutes and Napper encourages participants to restore their sense of wonder, awe and community. “I’m trying to help people reconnect to nature in a personal way,” he said. “As humans, we’ve become very isolated, partly because of technology, but we experience this and there’s a connection that happens and it reduces this loneliness.” As an Army veteran and yoga instructor, Napper understands the
grounding benefits of engaging with the natural world. He said some of those benefits include reduced stress, lower blood pressure, better sleep, reduced fatigue, a sense of peace and a settled nervous system. He holds his forest bathing sessions in places with lots of big trees, preferably near running water and away from man-made noise, which can be jarring to the mind. He said listening to birds or the wind in the trees, allows the body to relax in a way we don’t usually experience. People will ask him, “Why should I pay you when I can walk in the mountains for free?” He explains it’s the difference between taking a yoga class online and immersing yourself in a live class led by a trained guide. “You get instruction. You learn things that you wouldn’t have known before, because you get guidance,” Napper said. “I have a master’s in education with
a focus on trauma, and so I bring a lot of that understanding into this. It’s one thing to talk about things that I notice, it’s another thing to guide you into a different way of being.” Napper said learning to calm the mind and pay attention in nature takes practice; it can also bring up anxiety or judgment around being still. But as the practice continues, participants find it easier to attain a level of calm, and they want to bring friends and family into the experience. Some people think having idle time to walk around in a forest is a frivolous luxury, but Napper said that’s not true, in fact it’s just the opposite. “It might feel luxurious to schedule some time to do nothing but you’re giving yourself permission to go out in nature and do nothing for a while. It’s not a luxury; it’s kind of a necessity.”
Ian Napper leads groups through forest bathing sessions in canyons and parks as a way to reduce stress and build connection. (Photos courtesy of Ian Napper)
WestJordanJournal .com
July 2026 | Page 13
Shifting gears: Utah enacts new e-bike rules By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com One new rule will see riders ages 8 to 15 needing to complete a state-approved safety course. Whether climbing mountain trails, commuting to work or cruising through neighborhood streets, e-bikes are becoming an increasingly common part of life in Utah. Their growing presence has prompted lawmakers to adopt new regulations aimed at balancing safety, access and the future of outdoor recreation. The law arrives at a time when the broader micromobility industry—which includes e-bikes, electric scooters, e-motorcycles and similar devices—has experienced explosive growth nationwide. Jeremy Begay, an e-bike enthusiast who works in the outdoor recreation industry, said advances in technology and manufacturing have fueled much of that expansion. “There are several movements nationwide in industry, retail and outdoor recreation when it comes to the world of micromobility,” Begay said.
Quick fact sheet on Utah’s new e-bike law. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)
Page 14 | July 2026
“Micromobility being battery powered vehicles, also known as scooters, e-bikes, e-moto, hoverboards and similar devices. We have seen the supply and demand grow exponentially.” According to Begay, improvements in battery technology, performance and affordability have transformed the market over the past decade. As demand increased, manufacturers responded with a growing number of brands and product offerings. However, Begay noted that rapid growth has also created new challenges. “This rapid development in the last decade has largely been unregulated and it feels a bit like the Wild West,” he said. “The list of issues we are facing ranges from batteries being a fire hazard, trail access, the speed of these devices, and the race of manufacturers to create a platform that is faster, better and cheaper than its competitor,” Begay said. Utah’s new law seeks to address some of those concerns by reinforcing the state’s existing three-class e-bike system while drawing a sharper line between electric bicycles and higher-powered electric motorcycles. Under the law, Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour. Class 2 e-bikes may include a throttle and are limited to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour and require a speedometer. Devices exceeding those limits may be classified differently under state law and could be subject to additional requirements. The legislation also establishes new age-based restrictions. Children younger than 8 years old are prohibited from operating e-bikes on public roads, sidewalks and trails. Riders younger than 14 must be supervised by a parent or guardian, while riders under 16 are prohibited from operating Class 3 e-bikes. Additionally, riders younger than 21 are now required to wear helmets while operating e-bikes or electric scooters on public roads. Beginning in 2027, Utah will also require riders ages 8 through 15 to complete a state-approved safety course or ride under direct adult supervision. For Begay, the new regulations represent a reasonable first step toward addressing safety concerns while preserving access to the benefits of micromobility. “The simple answer to this for me is yes,” he said when asked whether the law strikes the right balance between safety and accessibility. “We need to
E-bike enthusiast Jeremy Begay takes his bike for a spin. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals) start somewhere for the purpose of making people aware that micromobility devices are different, so that they can then educate themselves with how to interact with them.” Begay believes many consumers still lump all electric mobility products into a single category despite significant differences in performance and intended use. “The purist in me wants to see a difference in how e-moto and e-bike are treated,” he said. “Currently, people see these as one category.” Trail access remains one of the most debated issues within Utah’s outdoor recreation community. As electric bicycles become more common, land managers, municipalities and trail organizations continue to evaluate where different classes of e-bikes should be permitted. “This is still being debated, so there is a whole spectrum of opinions,” Begay said. He has observed changing attitudes among many outdoor recreation users. “I think people’s ideas about e-bikes are changing and more people are finding that these bikes allow for more people to ride,” he said. Begay noted that the popularity of e-bikes has expanded participation among older riders, individuals recovering from injuries and people who might otherwise be unable to enjoy cycling. “This new market of people who are riding are pushing access simply by riding,” he said. “Trails are becoming more crowded and municipalities are responding to trail demand by creating more trails and trails that are e-bike accessible.” State officials have cited increasing crash and injury reports involving younger riders as one reason for strengthening regulations. Begay believes education
remains one of the biggest challenges facing the industry. “Unfortunately, I have not seen changes in behavior with families yet,” he said. “With micromobility being somewhat new to the masses, there has not been enough education.” He said many consumers still view electric mobility devices as toys rather than transportation equipment capable of reaching significant speeds. “Most people categorize these devices as children’s toys or other light recreation devices,” Begay said. “This leads to people not enforcing rules of the road, helmet safety, product care and other best practices.” He hopes the new law will help raise awareness. “Hopefully, these laws will create more awareness to what people are purchasing,” he said. “Awareness and education lead to more responsible decisions.” Looking ahead, Begay believes Utah’s reputation as an outdoor recreation leader positions the state to influence future policy discussions nationwide. “Utah is known for its access to outdoor recreation,” he said. “Most of that comes from Utah being a model state in the way it approaches recreation.” While debate over trail access, safety standards and regulation is likely to continue, Begay remains optimistic about the future. “I think that Utah should be at the forefront of all of this because it would mean that everyone could benefit— riders, retailers and tourism,” he said. “I’m confident that we Utahns will find a place for micromobility devices to exist in all spaces.”
West Jordan City Journal
A finalist shakes West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton’s hand in the final panel interview of Hawthorn Academy’s Leadership Launch competition. (Clara Anderson/ Hawthorn Academy)
Hawthorn Academy’s Leadership Launch five finalists: Mary, Hudson, Tatum, Yasmin, Ella, Beckett. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
As the Utah state winner, Hawthorn Academy eighth-grader Elena Monroe attends the global competition of the Amazing Shake finals held in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo courtesy Keerstyn Wright)
Future leaders stand out in school competition Kindness, respect and good communication skills are the winners in this competition. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
S
tudents are learning the business, leadership and social skills to become the next leaders of our community and their first lesson is how to give a good handshake. “Making eye contact, making sure you’re not having too much of a firm grip — no dead fish or bone crusher,” is how fifth-grader Ella Jones explained a good handshake. Ella was the second place winner of Hawthorn Academy West Jordan campus’ Leadership Launch competition. First place winner was Yasmin Said and third place winner was Hudson Crookston, both fifth grade students. They were the top-scoring upper-elementary students at the end of two weeks of competitions during the last weeks of the school year, in which students were rated on qualities such as kindness, common sense, respect, helpfulness and well-roundedness. “Each day we have a different phase of competition focusing on different leadership qualities and things that we really want these kids to take with them into the real world, because we really want to focus on being global leaders and global citizens, and not just students,” fourth grade teacher Keerstyn Wright said. On the first day of competition, all 225 third, fourth and fifth grade students were tested on their handshake. “We have judges that come in, and the kids will line up, and each one gives them a handshake,” Wright said. Some students were eliminated after each challenge.
WestJordanJournal .com
“We didn’t really know what challenges were coming next until the day — actually until we were in the classroom, most of the time,” Hudson said. “Some people might have changed themselves to be more respectful when really all you have to do is just be yourself.” Often, the students didn’t know what they were being evaluated for with each test, like when they participated in a karate demonstration by Champion Martial Arts. “They wanted to see if there were students who encouraged others, showed integrity, displayed sportsmanship and empowered the people around them,” Wright said. “Every time a student demonstrated one of those skills, they earned marks from the judges. Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about being the loudest or the strongest person in the room, it’s about leading with your heart and lifting the others up along the way.” The top six finalists had a final private interview with a panel of judges, made up of adults, last year’s winner and the eighth grade state winner. Yasmin said the skills encouraged by the program aren’t just for competition. “I think it’s more for our future self and how we’re going to be when we grow up,” she said. “I’ll get paid to do that someday.” Hawthorn Academy staff members teach the business and leadership skills throughout the year and reward students for applying them, such as picking up trash, or being a good listener. “As they progress through this program, it’s cool to see how it’s just become a second nature to them,” Wright said. The Leadership Launch prepares students to compete in the Ron Clark Academy’s Amazing Handshake competition on which it is patterned. Hawthorn Academy
adopted the Ron Clark Academy house system a few years ago but this is the first year it has sent students to the competition. It was a surprise when Hawthorn Academy eighth grader Elena Monroe won first place at the state competition and placed in the top 100 at the global finals held in Georgia.
Elena said she gained new skills and more confidence through the competition. “This competition has taught me how to calm down,” she said. “I read a whole speech, and I didn’t stutter one time — like, that would have never happened a couple months ago.” l
July 2026 | Page 15
Conservation Garden Park welcomes the wet weather at Spring Garden Fair The West Jordan event highlighted water-wise resources and programs. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com
M
adeline Sueltz, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD), was anxiously checking the forecast the evening before the Conservation Garden Park’s Spring Garden Fair on May 30 and making panicked plans for inclement weather. What if the canopies blew away? She had spent months putting everything together for the event and now worried for its attendance, only to be pleasantly surprised the next morning by the turnout. Six hundred and fifty-four people (and some dogs in raincoats) showed up that Saturday, even in the rain. Built in 2000, the Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan is owned and operated by the JVWCD. For the last 26 years ago, the Garden has served to show the public how to be water-wise, “because most of our water, our culinary, treated water, is used on our outdoor landscapes, and we’re asking people to use less water by having landscapes that use less water,” said Kelly Good, director of Community Engagement at JVWCD. “In that time period, there was a lot of pushback. A
Afternoon attendees assemble native wildflower seed mixes for planting in the fall. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
lot of ‘well, I don’t want my yard to just be full of gravel and cactus,’ so we developed the garden to demonstrate that a water-wise landscape can be beautiful and shady. You can recreate in it and still save water. We see the garden as our biggest tool in helping the community save their water, because it gives them an actual visual idea of what we’re asking them to do. Families partook in the variety of activities offered that day, as well as (literally) soaking in the carefully crafted garden itself. One woman, who had happened across a sign
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that morning directing her toward the free event, was grateful she came, calling the day “Christmas for gardeners.” Elsewhere, a girl tugged on her mom’s sleeve and grinned up at her, “Hey mom, thanks for bringing me today, I had a lot of fun!” The Fair featured the chance to talk with experts about yard design, the specialist’s favorite plants and irrigation. There were creation stations for nature crafts ranging from cyanotype printmaking, to assembling seed packets full of native wildflowers, to making pinecone birdfeeders. Inside the Education Center, there were workshops where parents, children and a few pets learned how to arrange a wildflower bouquet and do it all in a water-wise way. Tours left from the garden, taking visitors to see one of the water treatment plants, where they treat tens of millions of gallons of water a day. The JVWCD serves about 775,000 residents of Salt Lake County. “Pretty much, we service the entire west and south of the county,” Good said. Good also shared that “working for Jordan Valley Water is really rewarding because we provide an essential service to our community. We get to interact with a lot of the community in Salt Lake County. To live in a desert, and to have a firsthand role in helping people conserve water, is probably my favorite part about working here.”
Sunny skies opened up as the afternoon went on. Guests that day went home carrying yard signs about lessening water usage, a branded tote bag full of their nature crafts and pamphlets from over a dozen nonprofit community partners, and the band Rat Cat’s rendition of “Fishing in the Dark” stuck in their heads for the rest of the weekend. Sueltz was thrilled by the outcome and said her favorite part of the fair was “getting to see all of our different community partners come together across different areas, and seeing what you can do with the collective impact when you partner with other organizations. The partners were all so excited. The garden is such a nice setting to be able to have an event, so I think they look forward to it every year.” The Conservation Garden Park is free and open six days a week. There are weekly events, like the yoga, qigong and tai chi classes, design workshops for “creating your ideal yard,” tours, forest bathing, sound baths, art classes and story time. These and many other events can be found on the Conservation Garden Park’s online community calendar. Sueltz said, “It’s amazing that we get to offer this for free. I know that there are a lot of families who can’t afford to go visit gardens, and so the fact that we put on, you know, Halloween events and classes and things that maybe people wouldn’t have access to where they live, I think, is really awesome.” Good shared the importance she sees in the garden’s programming. “Events are a place to learn more than they might otherwise learn by just passively walking through the garden. We try to hold events that deepen people’s understanding on water-wise landscaping, where they realize ‘Oh, this is all water-wise plants. I can do this too. What are the resources?’ And so we see value in hosting classes like that to just kind of spread awareness,” Good said. “We have family-friendly events, some that are geared a little bit more toward adults, some geared specifically to homeowners, but the idea is that we will have something for everyone, and we really invite everyone to come out and take advantage of that.” l
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Visitors to the Spring Garden Fair brave the rain to learn about water-wise practices and participate in all-ages activities. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
West Jordan City Journal
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July 2026 | Page 17
A field trip to the future The first ever field trip to SchoolAI inspires career exploration. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
W
hile other schools enjoyed the typical end-of-year field trips to This Is the Place and natural history museums, sixth graders from Majestic Elementary Arts Academy took a field trip no other students have ever taken. Their visit to SchoolAI headquarters was about better understanding AI tools but also about career exploration. “Because technology is becoming more and more relevant in their life, and they’re going to end up probably following a career that is heavily influenced by technology, and so for them to see that there were so many different routes that they could take was eye opening for them,” sixth grade teacher Angus Douglas said. During the interactive field trip students rotated to different departments to learn about the various roles. They made product decisions with an UX designer, coded an Easter egg with an engineer, created products with a brand director and problem-solved scenarios with a customer success manager. Students even created AI spaces of their own including a Spongebob math game show, a Gordon
Students design a marketing plan for an emoji with tips from SchoolAI Brand Director Megan Klein. (Doug Flagler/Jordan School District)
Ramsay cooking assistant and an AI therapist. Principal Marianne Johansen said it was a valuable and meaningful experience for the students. “We’re really trying to focus on giving our students experiences that will help them connect to the real world,” Johansen said. “I think the younger we can kind of open up their eyes to options, the more it gives them different ideas to explore.” Johansen often provides experiences for students that they might not usually get, like
taking students of the month out to lunch so they learn how to order from a menu. Douglas said most of his students have never been in a business building and are most familiar with low paying, unskilled jobs. Johansen arranged the SchoolAI field trip with Kasey Chambers, a former Jordan School District digital specialist who now works at SchoolAI. Chambers saw students’ attitudes change in the short time she spent with them. One student was so impressed with the building,
he inquired about a janitorial position. “And then that same kid, after going around the building was like, ‘No, I can actually be an engineer. I think I’m going to try and be an engineer,’” Chambers said. Another student remarked that they felt smarter just being in the building. “With any kid, representation and also seeing what is possible is the key to opening up the world to them,” Chambers said. “They have so many choices and opportunities available to them, they just have to see it. I think they just took it all in, and they really just saw another possibility for them.” Johansen said the SchoolAI employees really made the students feel a part of their company. They ate lunch with them and the CEO even took some time to share how he grew an idea into a successful business. SchoolAI, located in Lehi, has never hosted a school field trip before and Chambers said employees enjoyed it as much as the kids. “I have been bringing engineers out to our partner schools for them to see what it looks like, but to bring kids in here to talk to them and hang out with them-- it was just the most energizing,” Chambers said. “Our mission is kids and doing what’s best for them and helping them learn, and it was just the best day.”l
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West Jordan City Journal
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PUBLIC NOTICE THE UTAH ARMY NATIONAL GUARD INVITES THE PUBLIC TO LEARN ABOUT AND PROVIDE INPUT ON ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AND CLEANUP ACTIVITIES AT E.J. GARN AVIATION COMPLEX, UTAH 7563 AIRPORT ROAD, WEST JORDAN, UTAH 84084 The Utah Army National Guard is conducting an environmental investigation for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the E.J. Garn Aviation Complex in West Jordan, Utah. An Administrative Record has been initiated in support of these investigation activities. The Administrative Record is a file maintained by the Army National Guard (ARNG) which will include selected technical reports, fact sheets, general information, and other relevant documents used to make decisions throughout the response action. To ensure information about the PFAS work at E.J. Garn Aviation Complex is available to interested citizens, the ARNG will maintain these records at the following locations: National Guard Bureau, 111 S George Mason Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22204. West Jordan Branch of the Salt Lake County Public Library, 8030 S 1825 W, West Jordan, Utah 84088, 405-527-5546. Records at the Public Library can be made available upon request. Further information will be available at the Public Library. The ARNG is also soliciting public interest in establishing a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for PFAS remedial investigation activities at E.J. Garn Aviation Complex. What is a RAB? A RAB is a community group which meets to discuss and receive information on environmental restoration (cleanup of contamination) projects at a military facility. What does a RAB do? A RAB enables local community members interested in environmental cleanup to receive and exchange information with the facility and regulatory agencies managing environmental cleanup projects at E.J. Garn Aviation Complex. At meetings, RAB members and the public can receive updates and ask questions on the status of the environmental cleanup program at E.J. Garn Aviation Complex. Though RABs are not a decision-making group, RABs do give local community members the opportunity to have their voices heard and to provide valuable community insight to the facility and regulatory agencies. Are you interested in participating in a RAB for E.J. Garn Aviation Complex? If you are interested in learning more about E.J. Garn Aviation Complex environmental restoration projects and having the opportunity to give your input to ARNG and regulatory agencies on their management of cleanup projects at E.J. Garn Aviation Complex, either as a RAB member or by attending RAB meetings, please contact Colton Berube or Lt. Col. Tambra West (contact information below) by July 31, 2026.
In partnership with University of Utah, we offer concurrent enrollment options. Prepared high school students can earn both high school and college credit by taking college-level coursework.
For further information on the Administrative Record or to participate in the RAB, contact: Utah Army National Guard 12953 Minuteman Drive Draper, UT 84020 Colton Berube Cleanup Program Manager Environmental Resources Management Phone: 385-244-8516 Email: colton.m.berube.nfg@army.mil
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July 2026 | Page 19
Liderazgo y comunidad: Servicio y esperanza para los migrantes El concejal Carlos Moreno y el Centro Hispano trabajan incansablemente por la comunidad latina de Utah. By Marisol Camacho m.camacho@mycityjournals.com
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legar a un nuevo país significa empezar de cero. Es aprender otro idioma, adaptarse a nuevas costumbres, encontrar empleo, construir una red de apoyo y, muchas veces, enfrentar el miedo a lo desconocido. Sin embargo, detrás de cada historia de superación hay líderes y organizaciones que trabajan para que ese camino sea menos difícil. En el marco de los preparativos para el aniversario de los Estados Unidos, líderes locales y organizaciones comunitarias reafirman que la presencia latina no solo enriquece el tejido cultural, sino que representa el motor económico y social del estado.
América no es un sueño, es un milagro
Para Carlos Moreno, inmigrante venezolano y actual concejal del Distrito 2 del Condado de Salt Lake, Estados Unidos representa una tierra de oportunidades donde el esfuerzo continúa siendo una de las herramientas más poderosas para alcanzar el
éxito. Moreno fue una de las figuras centrales en el evento conmemorativo de los 250 años de la fundación de los Estados Unidos, donde reunió a líderes políticos, empresariales y comunitarios bajo un mismo techo. Su mensaje fue claro y directo “El inmigrante llega aquí y está obligado a salir de su zona de confort, abre un negocio, cambia de carrera. De eso se trata este país: mientras uno más trabaja, más tiene”. Durante años, Moreno ha impulsado iniciativas enfocadas en el crecimiento económico, el fortalecimiento de pequeños negocios y la creación de alianzas entre líderes empresariales, comunitarios y políticos. Su visión se centra en ayudar a que los emprendedores latinos tengan acceso a oportunidades que les permitan crecer y generar empleo. Su mensaje para quienes recién llegan al país es motivador: no permitir que el miedo los paralice. Reconoce que comenzar una nueva vida no es sencillo, pero asegura que cada desafío representa una oportunidad para descubrir fortalezas que antes parecían imposibles.
Concejal Carlos Moreno en la gala America is a Miracle. (Marisol Camacho/City Journals)
inmigrante de Utah, esa es el Centro Hispano. Desde sus inicios en 2003, la institución ha trabajado para convertirse en un puente entre las familias latinas y los recursos necesarios para construir una vida estable y próspera en Estados Unidos. Lo que comenzó como una iniciativa comunitaria en Provo para informar a las familias sobre recursos locales evolucionó hasta convertirse en una de las organizaciones Centro Hispano: más de dos décadas de apoyo más reconocidas para la población hispana del estado. tendiendo la mano a las familias Denisse Arias, nutrióloga de la instiSi existe una organización que ha dejado una huella profunda en la comunidad tución, explica que el centro se ha convertido
en el refugio idóneo para aquellas familias que recién llegan y se sienten perdidas. Durante el año 2025, el Centro Hispano atendió a 12.244 personas, impactando vidas a través de cuatro áreas fundamentales: servicios de migración, recursos comunitarios, fuerza laboral y promoción de la salud. Además, orienta a las personas hacia otras organizaciones cuando necesitan apoyo especializado. Arias también coordina una despensa de emergencia alimentaria que va más allá de dar alimentos: identifica la causa raíz de cada familia y las conecta con recursos específicos
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West Jordan City Journal
Centro Hispano de la mano con las comunidades. (Foto cortesia Centro Hispano)
que pueden transformar su situación a largo plazo. Próximamente, el Centro lanzará un programa de prevención de diabetes. Una de las mayores barreras para el recién llegado es el temor debido a la desinformación. Ante esto, Arias enfatiza con el corazón: “No tengan miedo de acercarse. Los recursos están disponibles y son accesibles, no se sientan acorralados. No están solos. Aquí siempre habrá alguien que los oriente sin importar su situación”. El Centro Hispano y sus organizaciones cuentan con personal bilingüe, está abierto
de lunes a viernes de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m., tiene participación en las redes sociales y boletines mensuales, esta organización demuestra que la historia de los latinos en Utah, es la de una comunidad unida que transforma el miedo en la fuerza necesaria para triunfar. Hoy, los latinos no solo forman parte de Utah; ayudan a construirlo y aunque el camino migratorio muchas veces está lleno de desafíos, historias como estas recuerdan que la esperanza, el trabajo y la solidaridad siguen siendo las herramientas más poderosas para transformar vidas. l
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A
A more perfect union of hearts and principles
s our nation celebrates America 250, it’s worth asking what it really means to be a citizen of the United States. The Constitution is built on a simple but powerful idea: people should be free—free to speak, believe, assemble, act and worship. It protects our ability to make choices, even when others disagree. That freedom is not accidental. The framers also separated power— legislative, executive and judicial— because they understood something deeply human: we are imperfect. Unchecked power tends to be abused. So they built guardrails, not around perfect people, but around real ones. The Constitution itself was born from compromise. Large states and small states. Different economies. Competing interests. Deep disagreements. The founders didn’t eliminate those differences—they worked through them. Today, compromise is often dismissed as weakness. But peacemaking is not weakness—it is strength. We often talk about politics as two opposing sides, but that oversimplifies reality. Within each party are a wide range of ideas and perspectives. You will never find a leader—or a neighbor—you agree with 100% of the time. And that’s OK.
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember District 3
Scholar Yuval Levin, in American Covenant, puts it this way: the Constitution answers a central question—how can we act together when we don’t think alike? His answer is not uniformity, but cooperation. The system works by requiring negotiation, bargaining and coalition-building. I see this firsthand in my role in county government. Our council includes members from both parties in nearly equal numbers. When we work together, outcomes improve. When we dig in and fight, progress stalls. The system works best when leaders work with each other—not against each other. Congress was designed with this same purpose in mind: to force opposing sides to negotiate and find common ground. The frustration many feel with today’s political climate is not because the Constitution has
failed, but because we are drifting away from how it was meant to function. Instead of persuasion, we often see performance. Cable news and social media reward outrage, not understanding. The more inflammatory the message, the more attention it gets. The more attention it gets, the more it spreads. And the more it spreads, the more it shapes our perception of reality. When we “like,” share and financially support politicians who attack, vilify or refuse to work with others, we are reinforcing the very behavior we say we dislike. We are, in effect, incentivizing division. Peacemaking, by contrast, is quieter. It requires listening, humility and a willingness to move forward together. It does not mean abandoning truth. It means recognizing that in a diverse society, progress often requires cooperation. Without compromise, we don’t get purity—we get paralysis. Yet today, there is enormous pressure to divide into “us versus them.” Instead of seeing neighbors, we see opponents. Instead of truth, we see spin. Instead of compromise, absolutism. Instead of charity, contempt. We can change that—but it starts with us. First, be principled, not tribal. Care more about what is right than who is right. Second, seek truth. Be thoughtful about
what you believe and share. If your news diet is dominated by one outlet—or your social media feed is filled with outrage—it will shape how you see the world. These platforms profit from strong emotional reactions. Don’t reward that model with your attention. Third, speak with civility. You can disagree without being disagreeable. Fourth, work with others—even those you don’t fully agree with. Relationships matter more than winning an argument. Fifth, participate. Vote, engage and serve. Too often, only the loudest and most extreme voices are heard. And finally, lead with charity. Remember that every person you disagree with is still worthy of respect. The Constitution can only do so much. It creates a framework, protects rights and structures power. But it cannot make people virtuous. That responsibility belongs to us. We live in a time of division—but also a time of opportunity. An opportunity to be better citizens. To use our agency wisely. To defend freedom with responsibility. To build unity without demanding uniformity. If we do that, we won’t just strengthen our nation—we will help create a more perfect union of hearts and principles.
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West Jordan City Journal
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had my first glass of water at the age of 27. I was at my doctor’s office for a physical and he asked how much water I was drinking. The answer was zero, but I thought it was a trick question. I hedged my bet and said, “Um, two?” “Two what?” he asked. “Two waters?” “Give me a measurement.” “Tablespoons?” He sighed and told me I was dehydrated. Looking back, that makes sense because I hadn’t had a glass of water in more than a quarter-century. Growing up, we drank four things: Kool-Aid, orange juice, milk and soda. Even our ice cubes were made from Kool-Aid. I never remember going to the faucet to get a glass of water. We used the faucet to fill up water balloons. On the weekends, I’d ride my bike 40 miles, play two games of basketball, hike Mt. Timpanogos and play at the park until it was dark, and I never, ever stopped for a glass of water. If I got thirsty, I’d swing by 7-Eleven to grab a Fresca and a pack of candy cigarettes. We didn’t carry expensive, gallonsized, bedazzled Stanley cups where we could sip cucumber-infused, artisan well
WestJordanJournal .com
A tall drink of water Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
water through a biodegradable straw. We would have mercilessly mocked anyone who did. I did have a metal Thermos that came with my Holly Hobbie lunch box, but it always smelled like sour milk, even when it was filled with Hawaiian Punch. We didn’t drink water at school except after lunch recess, when we were allowed to have one gulp from the water fountain at the back of the room. But Raymond B. always put his mouth on the faucet and then no one else wanted to drink. Raymond was Patient Zero for all diseases in our class. If we were driving with Mom around town and got thirsty, she wouldn’t throw us a bottle of Dasani. She would hand us a stick of gum and say, “Chew this until you have enough spit to swallow.” I didn’t know drinking water was an option. Well, that’s not quite true. When we
played outside, we’d drink it straight from the hose like God intended. It was cold, refreshing and full of lead and arsenic, but it quenched my thirst. I never would have poured water into a cup and just sat around like a fancy person, sipping Perrier with my pinky in the air. No hoity-toity water for me, thank you. But then, single-use plastic bottles were created and water became an industry. Why drink water from the hose for free when you can purchase tap water in a bottle? We were told to drink eight glasses of water every day. Who has time for that? Social media influencers took drinking water to a whole new level. They are responsible for making reusable water bottles a lifestyle necessity, launching brands like Yeti, Hydro Flask and Stanley into the liquid stratosphere. Do you know how many water bottles are in my home? As of yesterday, there were 4,628, most of them branded from events, including the 17 my husband has from the Sundance Film Festival. We can blame data centers for taking our water (and I do), but maybe we should share culpability for the world’s dehydration by carrying 100 cubic meters of water with us wherever we go.
My eight-year-old self is sitting on a bench at Murray Park, puffing a candy cigarette and swigging Fresca. My 27-year-old self is learning how to drink water every day. My current self just knocked my Yeti mug over for the umpteenth time, spilling water all over the desk. Progress or product placement? Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
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