Building Community Through Stories

We have more in common with one another than the perceived labels that sometimes divide us.
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What can you learn from hearing another person's story?
We hope to share the beautiful diversity of our community through Portraits of Provo as we highlight the experiences of our neighbors. We hope their stories will inspire you to find ways to more deeply understand the experiences of others and to help create a more connected and inclusive Provo community.

Spotlight

Nisha Lyman

Looking at some of our past spotlights...

​Thanks to Channel 17 for making these videos possible!

Kheng Lim

​Kheng grew up in Malaysia but has called Provo home for several years. In addition to being a dad, he is a local artist and runs a picture framing business, Border and Square.

What do you learn from Kheng about supporting people around you? How do feelings of generosity play a role?

Magnolia Vega
Magnolia is the Junior Class Vice President at her high school and a member of the Provo Youth City Council. She learned Chinese through the Provo School District's dual immersion program and loves studying languages in general. She also enjoys playing the trombone and marched with the Timpview marching band for a couple of years.

Magnolia has some wonderful insights! What do you learn from her about working with diversity among community members? What can those in the "majority" do to build community?

Emma McAdam
Emma has lived in Provo for 7 years and loves the community feeling in her neighborhood.

She is a wife, mom to 3 girls, and licensed therapist. Emma started the Therapy in a Nutshell YouTube channel and Instagram account to fill a need she saw in helping people with mental health skills.

What do you learn from Emma about the importance of connection and relationships?

Robyn Hutchison
Robyn grew up in Provo and returned in 2013 with her family after spending 10 years in various parts of the US. Shortly after moving back to Provo, she lost her father in an auto accident and then her daughter, Liesl, to SUDC, 18 months later.

What do you learn from Robyn’s experiences with loss and healing about the importance of remembering loved ones and reaching out to those in our community who are grieving?

Dean Anderson
Dean Anderson is a therapist in private practice and also a program manager at Wasatch Mental Health, where he has created a program that aims to create lasting change for those who have been affected by domestic violence.

Dean has lost his vision, but not his determination or joy for life. What does his story teach you about compassion? How can we better build community around us?

Leonard Bagalwa
Leonard is a husband, father, refugee, and graduate student. He is the Executive Director of Utah Valley Refugees, which he founded to help families and individuals relocate to Utah County and become self-reliant in their new community.

Leonard is passionate about the importance of community. What does his story teach you about building community in your own life?

Nadia Cates
Nadia is a wife and mother of six children. The daughter of immigrant parents, she grew up in California but has lived in Provo for about 15 years.

Nadia has recently enjoyed connecting with her Mexican heritage. She is the founder of the non-profit Ella Rises, which helps Latina young women relate to their roots through art.

How can Nadia's story help you in your efforts to improve kindness?

Camlyn Giddins
Camlyn Giddins teaches theater and art at a local school, loves to entertain, and enjoys connecting with people. After doing an internship in Washington, D.C., Camlyn was drawn back to Provo and is currently the Community Engagement Coordinator at Encircle.

What do you learn from Camlyn's ideas about creating welcoming spaces, belonging, and celebrating diversity?

Brian Yazzie
Brian Yazzie is a husband, father, sports fan, and Provo resident. He currently works as the Diversity and Equity Coordinator for Provo City School District and previously worked for the Boys and Girls Club at a national level.

Get to know Brian, what he thinks makes Provo special, and his ideas on seeing one another as brothers and sisters.