Salt Lake City has made history as Utah’s first city to achieve Certified Welcoming status. This prestigious accolade, supported by the organization Welcoming America, is a testament to the city's dedication to inclusive community-building efforts according to SLC.
The city's mayor, Erin Mendenhall, lauded the achievement, asserting in a statement that Salt Lake City is forged by a commitment that goes beyond merely opening doors, it strives to tear down walls that separate individuals, fostering a community where narratives of different backgrounds intertwine to form a collective belonging. The mayor considers the certification a step forward in this unending pursuit. Salt Lake City’s notable efforts include programs like the Know Your Neighbor and City Connect, which alongside the contributions from the local Arts Council and Horizonte's College Access Program signify the city's diverse approach to fostering connectivity and accessibility for all its residents.
Welcoming America’s executive director, Rachel Perić, acknowledged the city's initiatives in her commendation, pinpointing the Know Your Neighbor program as a vital part of the infrastructure that bridges the gaps between citizens of different origins thus, she sees Salt Lake City’s efforts as a paradigm that other cities could look to for guidance in fostering an equally welcoming environment.
The Certified Welcoming designation comes as acknowledgment of Salt Lake City’s dedication, underscored by a rigorous evaluation based on Welcoming America’s Welcoming Standard which requires that cities not only demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity but also maintain a level of accountability and transparency in the enactment of their welcoming policies, with Salt Lake City joining a select group of 25 U.S. cities and counties that have been recognized similarly. This designation marks another notable achievement for the area following Salt Lake County's certification as the first county to be awarded by Welcoming America in 2018.
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