Refugee Welcoming Program
We know what President Donald Trump thinks of refugees, but Salt Lake City and, in fact, Utah as a whole, have a different idea. Since the Vietnam War, the state has played host to more than 60,000 refugees. The city has partnered with the Utah Refugee Services Office to create an AmeriCorps program called Know Your Neighbor, teaching community volunteers to "promote empowerment, integration and the formation of strong friendships," according to the organization's website. Learn about the program's history and how you can connect with this diverse and vibrant population to build bridges to goodwill and better understanding. Salt Lake City and County Building, 451 S. State, 801-535-7697, Thursday, July 12, 6-8 p.m., free, bit.ly/2Kt5waD.
Public Safety Town Hall
Oh, those pesky students are coming back! You know, the ones who don't want to die in a school shooting. Join March for Our Lives National, including Emma Gonzales, David Hogg, Jaclyn Corin and Cameron Kasky, for a panel discussion with local gun reform leaders. It's about coming up with workable solutions to the growing gun violence in our nation. We know that some ideas revolve around arming teachers or building walls around schools. Talk to the students and survivors at March For Our Lives Student Town Hall: #RoadToChange, where you might hear of better and more effective ways forward. Megaplex Theatres, 3761 W. Parkway Plaza Drive, South Jordan, Saturday, July 14, 6-7:30 p.m., free, bit.ly/2IUiTiu.
Ballot Palooza
Citizens must be frustrated—or mad. Why else would we see three (maybe four) initiatives coming up on the November ballot? What do they mean for Utah, and what will happen if they pass? These questions and more will be answered at Capitol Club: The Inside Scoop on Utah's Ballot Initiatives by a panel of experts on each of the initiatives, as well as the director of elections for the Lieutenant Governor's Office. If you're worried that once passed, these important voter initiatives will be scrapped, you will need to come and ask. You'll hear from Rylee Curtis of Better Boundaries, Rich McKeown of Count My Vote, Connor Boyack of Utah Patients Coalition, and Jeff Wright and Blake Moore of Utah Decides Healthcare. Salt Lake Chamber, 175 E. 400 South, Ste. 600, 801-364-3631, Thursday, July 19,8-9 a.m., $20/breakfast, bit.ly/2KwJU0N.
