Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

As a resident of the West Side, I am passionate about bring awareness and spotlight the community which lead to my research project looking how food insecurity and gentrification is affect them. Outside of schoolwork I enjoy drawing, reading, crocheting, and watching anime on the side.

Jess also serves as an Adjunct Professor in First Scholars and as an advisor for ASW and two student identity groups, Queer Compass and Disability Justice. Jess is a powerhouse in driving equity, amplifying historically marginalized voices, and fostering inclusivity wherever she goes. Jess has proven time and time again that she is a changemaker at heart and dedicated to keeping students at the center of every decision. From making history as the first openly queer student body president at the University of Utah to empowering students at Westminster, Jess turns vision into meaningful action. She is deeply committed to expanding higher education access to underrepresented students and passionate about empowering student voices. Jess is a fierce advocate and brings a rare combination of humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice, without ever seeking the spotlight.

Dr. Contreras is formally trained in public health, with specialized expertise in epidemiology. He completed his academic training at Arizona State University and the University of Utah, and received advanced, intensive training in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Contreras has conducted and contributed to numerous research studies spanning infectious and chronic diseases, environmental exposures, and mental health outcomes. His work emphasizes applied epidemiology, community-engaged research, and the translation of evidence into public health practice and policy.

In addition to his academic and research roles, Dr. Contreras has served as a consultant for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and managed the Public Health Command Center for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. He has also served on multiple community-based organization boards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for HEAL Utah.

In addition, Dr. Contreras has worked extensively with state and local health departments in Utah and Arizona, in applied public health practice, research, and community-based initiatives.

Under her leadership, the Westminster Tax Clinic has served more than 20,000 community members and has helped return over $35 million in refunds to eligible taxpayers.

Her extensive résumé includes roles as a teenage disc jockey, a business reporter, a public radio host, and the first civilian public relations director for the Salt Lake City Police Department. In 2010, she was part of a small group of communications professionals invited to help draft The Utah Compact, a document outlining universal values intended to serve as a foundation for immigration reform and discussions.

Lara is the daughter of Patricia Joe and Thomas Jones, an English teacher and an obstetrician/gynecologist, respectively. From a young age, she would educate her peers about where babies really come from and teach them the real words for their body parts. Currently, she serves as the host and executive producer of RadioACTive, a community affairs show that focuses on grassroots activists, community builders, punk rock farmers, and DIY makers and musicians. Shout out to Dr. Tamara Stevenson, who is an emeritus host of the show. Listen weeknights at 6 p.m. on 90.9 FM KRCL in Salt Lake City, Utah, or stream the show online at www.krcl.org or from the free KRCL mobile app.

In addition to her hosting duties, Lara acts as a player-coach, mentoring aspiring journalists and volunteer hosts in the art of community affairs and hyper-local storytelling. RadioACTive has been recognized as among the top community affairs shows by the Utah Society of Professional Journalists. Additionally, City Weekly readers have voted her among their favorite radio journalists, which she attributes to the collaborative work of her team, including Val MC, Connor Estes and Asha Pruitt, as well as community co-hosts Olivia Jaramillo, Risshan Leak, Nick Burns and Al Grossi.

Lastly, about that English teacher and gynecologist — both have passed on, leaving Lara and her six brothers a legacy of curiosity about the world, habits of reading widely and debating news of the day, helping others, and the need to cut a rug from time to time. Lara says one of her fondest memories of her parents was when her mother would finish rehearsal as a member of the MoTab, then meet Lara's dad at The Zephyr Club to watch her play with her honkytonk band. Saints and sinners are all in the Jones family, but that's a different story.

Emily believes the Sugar House Coffee team plays a vital role in shaping the space, nourishing inclusion, and fostering the warmth and care that the community feels the moment they walk through the door.