Some of the highlights of the conference included a keynote address about providing medical care to service-resistant populations. Breakout sessions covered subjects such as the county’s Pay for Success programs, Housing First initiatives designed to combat homelessness, and Intermountain Healthcare’s community clinics. There was also a visit from the Mobile Greenhouse, courtesy of the Green Urban Lunch Box. This former school bus has been converted into a functioning, drive-able greenhouse to draw attention to the creative ways that fresh, local, and healthy food can be provided even in urban environments.
The Director of the Office of Township Services, Patrick Leary, was also present to speak about The Kearns Initiative, an effort to unite various government, nonprofit, business, and community interests in order to increase opportunity, development, and positive health outcomes in the Kearns Township. “The place-based initiative is about combining a variety of different efforts and bringing them together to make a holistic difference in the community,” he said.
Some steps that have already been taken include efforts to increase bike accessibility in the county, as well as a partnership between the Utah Food Bank and Kearns library to provide meals for underprivileged children who spend their afternoons at the library. In addition, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and Salt Lake County are currently finding funding for the Oval Campus Project, an attempt to create a community center and expanded recreational outlets at the Olympic Oval. This project aims to spur economic development in the area, encourage healthy and active recreation opportunities, and preserve the historic Olympic Oval.
