What does community look like?
My mom was diagnosed with severe breast cancer when I was a sophomore in high school. She experienced pain cancer patients are all too familiar with.
While I would never wish cancer on anyone, our community’s response to my mom’s suffering still moves my family and me to happy tears. To name just a few of the ways our community helped heal us: the woman down the street massaged creams into my mom’s neuropathy-ridden feet; neighbors delivered plump baskets of home-grown tomatoes; a youth group sewed scarves to cover her bald head; church members created a calendar to ensure weekly fasts on her behalf.
Community shines light in dark places. It recognizes suffering, looks for ways to alleviate pain, and empowers solutions, small and large.
My mom was stricken by cancer. Great Salt Lake with decades of overconsumption. Community enabled my mom’s recovery. The Lake’s future remains unknown.
As Great Salt Lake shrinks, how will we respond in the face of its suffering?
The passion, commitment, and faith demonstrated by community members and elected officials on behalf of Great Salt Lake is inspiring under the recognition that there is more work to do. We are invigorated by the community grassroots effort engaged in writing workshops, library panels, habitat restoration projects, and interfaith meetings. Thank you for your involvement and resolve.
Comparable to reaching the first peak on a hike, we admire the view and our progress, while remaining focused on the final summit. Restoring Great Salt Lake will necessitate public participation and belief on an unprecedented scale in Utah. We recognize the need to build capacity to cultivate cultural shifts and grassroots momentum required for accelerated progress.
The community stayed with my mom, dad, and me through chemotherapy, radiation, nine surgeries, and eventual remission. We must stay with Great Salt Lake.
I have seen first hand the power of community response. While the future of Great Salt Lake remains unclear, its healing will require us to rally around it.
As you balance life’s demands, we invite you to join our community of Great Salt Lake Ambassadors. By doing so, the Grow the Flow team will meet with you to tailor a volunteer plan specific to your interests, background, and time constraints. Among a host of personalized activities, this plan may include posting to social media pages, hosting conversation groups, tabling at events, or writing Letters to the Editor. Every little bit helps. We need you!
Thank you for staying with our Lake.