The Provo City Council is hosting its third annual Tu Voz Importa Spanish-language community event on Monday, Aug. 10, at the Provo Library Ballroom. The event is designed to strengthen relationships between Provo's Spanish-speaking residents and local government by providing opportunities to ask questions and connect with community resources.
The program is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., following the opening of community partner booths and food at 6 p.m. Attendees can expect welcoming remarks from Provo City Councilmember Gary Garrett and an introduction by Mayor Marsha Judkins. The evening will include a question-and-answer session with city leaders and Rep. Norm Thurston.
Councilmember Gary Garrett stated that Tu Voz Importa provides an opportunity for officials to listen, answer questions, and strengthen relationships with Provo's Spanish-speaking community, noting that every resident deserves to know their voice matters at City Hall.
The event is supported by partnerships with Preservando El Arte and Elevate Utah/Centro Hispano. Preservando El Arte is coordinating cultural performances and local food vendors, while Elevate Utah/Centro Hispano is providing interpretation services for the event.
Community resource booths will feature several organizations, including Community Action Services and Food Bank, United Way 211, Project Read, the Provo City Library, Utah State University Extension, The Refuge Utah, the Utah County Health Department, and MyHometown.
Cultural entertainment will feature performances by Dance Expression, an artistic company and dance academy founded by Colombian choreographer Diana Aponte, and Viva Chile Utah Cultural Heritage, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Chilean culture through music and dance.
According to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, approximately 19.2% of Provo residents identify as Latino, and 18.4% of households speak Spanish at home. The Tu Voz Importa event was created to help the City Council engage with this community by providing a space to discuss issues affecting Provo.
