Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Salt Lake chosen for Wallace Foundation adolescent initiative; city to pilot youth development program
Summary
South Salt Lake is one of seven U.S. communities selected for the Wallace Foundation's 'Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents' program. City staff plan a 2026 design phase, a 2027 pilot and full implementation 2028–2031; partners include Granite School District and Promise South Salt Lake.
South Salt Lake officials announced July 8 that the city has been selected to join the Wallace Foundation's Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents (AOA) initiative, a multi-year effort to strengthen out-of-school youth development.
Kelly Miranda of Promise South Salt Lake told the council the city is one of seven communities chosen from a large applicant pool. The AOA program will begin with a design phase in 2026, launch a pilot in 2027 and move to full implementation between 2028 and 2031, Miranda said. "Our vision is that all adolescents in South Salt Lake and Mill Creek have a sense of belonging, hope for their future, and are empowered to dream big," she said.
Miranda outlined key partners for the work, naming Granite School District, Granite Park Junior High, Cottonwood High School, Utah After School Network, Mill Creek Promise, Promise Partnership, and Promise South Salt Lake. She said the initiative will focus on young people roughly ages 10–25 with primary programming targeted to grades 6–12.
The project will use community surveys, focus groups and partner data to identify service gaps and design local pilot programs, Miranda said. She described a Digital Youth Network survey for residents ages 10–18 to capture youth voice and said American Institutes for Research and Change Impact are helping with focus groups, research and professional learning.
Mayor Sherry Wood praised staff for pursuing the long-term work that led to the selection and said the grant reflects sustained community relationships. "This has been a multi-year effort," she said, noting that selection followed visits and reviews of local infrastructure and partnerships.
City staff said they will share details about outreach and the survey when they are available; Miranda said survey links and program information will be posted and shared with council and residents. The design phase will inform the 2027 pilot and later implementation steps.
