By Erin Dixon | [email protected]

In 2020, West Jordan approved the organization of a diversity committee. In April 2021, the first committee members were approved by the City Council.

“This happened last year when the protests were happening downtown and across the country,” Councilmember Zach Jacob said in April.  “There’s a lot I don’t know so I want to listen, where those in power listen to those who are formally underrepresented.”

The new committee begins meeting in May 2021. 

The following individuals are the first members. Carlos Moreno, Ryan Eddins, Shelly Parkin, Luis Garcia, Joelma Yangali and Mitchell Larson. More will be added in the near future.

“What we’re doing is establishing a diversity committee, not a minority committee, Councilmember David Pack said.  “Comprehensive and varied. Race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, education, profession, socioeconomic status, religion, representation from all four districts in the city.”

Carlos Moreno, one of the first committee members is eager to build bridges between community and government.

“I see … cases in the community where they don’t trust the leaders, not because of bias or something they saw, it’s because they don’t know them,” Moreno said. “If the city did something in Spanish that would be really helpful. What I want to do is create like a civic engagement class or how the city works for everyone.

“This is not about racism. It’s building friendships, fellowships, relationships between the citizens and the city.”