Advocates ask West Valley City to back 'A Bolder Way Forward' initiative supporting girls and women

At the Aug. 12 study meeting, Deborah Lynn of the Utah Women and Leadership Project presented 'A Bolder Way Forward' and asked the West Valley City Council to consider passing a supporting resolution.

Lynn described the initiative as a statewide, research-based movement led by Dr. Susan Madsen’s work that tracks multiple indicators across five focus areas — community engagement, workforce, education, health and safety — with the goal of measurable progress by 2030 and an interim checkpoint in 2026. "When we lift Utah girls and women, we lift all Utahns," Lynn said, and she outlined a framework of 18 interconnected focus areas and an emphasis on using existing systems and organizations rather than creating new programs.

Emily Rushton, a West Valley City resident and member of the Salt Lake County coalition for the initiative, spoke in support and said the movement is rooted in research and data and provides tools like dashboards and white papers for communities.

Council members indicated interest in bringing a resolution forward; one council member suggested staff add the item to the agenda for follow-up and the mayor said a resolution or report would be prepared and placed on a future meeting agenda.

Next steps: Lynn provided sample resolutions and supporting materials and indicated staff could provide copies; the council agreed to place an item on a future agenda to consider a resolution of support.