The University of Utah's ambitious societal impact initiative, U West Valley, is set to create waves of change in West Valley City, with a focus on improving health outcomes, education, and economic opportunity. According to ATtheU, the university has been working hand-in-hand with the community since 2021 to co-design a partnership that responds to the pressing challenges faced by residents.
Thanks to a hefty $75 million donation from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, the university is prepping to break ground on a new hospital and health campus. Alongside this development, efforts are encouraging departments across the university to create projects that support the initiative's broader goals. The initiative zeroes in on seven critical areas, including health and wellbeing, education and workforce development, and economic and community development, to name a few.
University of Utah President Taylor Randall has highlighted West Valley's entrepreneurial spirit and cultural diversity. Yet, he acknowledges the area's health and economic disparities. "What I like most about West Valley is it is a place where the American Dream happens," President Randall said, as per ATtheU. "You see many cultures... entrepreneurs... the American Dream in action."
The university's novel approach integrates health care with educational and economic initiatives, for instance, by overlapping legal and health services. President Randall detailed the comprehensive approach that includes training community health workers to also serve as legal advocates, "We’ve invested tens of thousands of hours integrating, interviewing, and working with the local community in West Valley," President Randall said, as obtained by ATtheU.
In terms of education, the University of Utah has identified key barriers preventing West Valley residents from higher education and has put forth innovative solutions like certification programs and flexible scheduling. A testament to the university's commitment to redefining career pathways, Proxima Careers, a B-corporation incubated at the university, has already placed graduates in health care roles within its systems.
With a vision to boost the local economy, the initiative projects the creation of around 2,000 new jobs and is exploring avenues for community wealth-building, like a community investment trust. In a decade, university leaders foresee notable improvements in health outcomes, educational attainment, and household income for West Valley residents.
