So as many of you may know over the past year or so I have been forced selected to serve as the chair of the Family Investment Coalition.  If you don’t know, the Family Investment Coalition is a statewide nonpartisan coalition of organizations dedicated to helping all Utah families. We work to ensure that federal and state programs and services are adequate to support the needs of the community and revenues are collected fairly.  It has been a frustrating rewarding, laborious enjoyable, and makes me want to scream and pull my hair out at times wonderful experience.

All kidding aside, I really have enjoyed my time with the Family Investment Coalition. I joke that due to my relatively novice status as an advocate I am quite naïve, or better yet hopeful, of the positive impact a group of organizations like ours can have up at the Utah State Capitol, but I do believe we can and do. I really see great value in this coalition. It draws from experts in the many areas that affect poverty including, health care, taxes and budget, food insecurity, disability, and so much more. It also pulls from the vast historical expertise of seasoned advocates that have been improving services for low-to moderate-income Utahns for almost as many years as I’ve been alive (yes, let the young jokes fly). It’s so great to work alongside such amazing people and organizations that do so much for the community.

Currently the Family Investment Coalition is at such an exciting time. We are developing a website to allow us to better collaborate and raise awareness on the issues we care about. We are also drafting a new governance structure that includes bylaws and an endorsement form. I believe all these improvements really will strengthen the work we do at the capitol. As this post may suggest otherwise, I am grateful to serve as chair, and I’m so very excited to see how this coalition grows to become an even greater force for the low-to moderate-income population of Utah at the Utah State Capitol.

If your organization is interested in joining the coalition, or as an individual would like to be aware of the things we’re working on please email fic@caputah.org.