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