UICSL July 2026 Newsletter: We Value T.H.E. P.E.O.P.L.E

Yá’át’ééh, shí éí Honey Rhonda DuVall yinishyé.
(Hello, my name is Honey Rhonda DuVall.)

Diné nishłį́.
(I am Navajo.)

Ta’neeszahnii nishłį́, Naahiłii bashishchiin, Ma’ii Deeshgiizhinii dashicheii.
(I am born for the Tangle Clan, my maternal clan reflects my descent from my African American relatives, and my paternal grandfather’s clan is Coyote Pass Clan.)

Át’éego sháá nitsáhákees naashá.
(I am honored to serve as the Outreach Manager here at UICSL.)

Coming into this position last year and being asked to lead a new Outreach Department for UICSL was a new experience for me. At the beginning, I was supporting the organization while learning what the department needed and how we could best serve our community. After some time and finding the right person through the interview process, we brought on a department team member. Soon, it became the two of us working side by side, building ideas together, trying different approaches, learning along the way, and continuing to grow.

That is still how we work today. We have to stay flexible and be willing to adjust when needed. Some days are focused on design, some days are focused on planning or problem solving, and a lot of the work is about making things clearer so our relatives know what resources are available and how to move forward. We also want to make sure our community sees and understands the great work happening at UICSL every day.

What has stayed the same is the purpose behind the work. We want our relatives to understand what they are seeing, know what support is available, and feel connected to the work happening around them. If something can be improved, we work on it. If there is a better way to share information, we find it. Over time, we have seen the ideas and resources we create continue to reach others, and that has shown us the importance of the work we are doing.

This experience has shown me that a small team can accomplish a lot when everyone shares the same purpose. We are proud of what we have built together, and we are excited to continue growing and finding new ways to support our community.

I also think about my own connection to UICSL. I came to the Center as a child, and now being part of the growth happening here means a lot to me. To be able to give back to a place that has been part of my life and help create opportunities for our community is something I’m grateful for. Being able to support the next generation and continue building on the work that has come before us is something I’m proud to be part of.

To our community, thank you for trusting us, supporting us, and growing with us. Everything we do starts with you and is for you.

Honey Rhonda DuVall, Outreach Manager, Diné

June at Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake

I joined the Board of the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake in 2022. Looking back over the last four years, I am grateful for the source of community that the Urban Indian Center provides. Now elected to serve as the Vice-Chair, I’m honored to return to the leadership of the Board. We seek to continue providing services for the community through health and clinical services, programs, and events.

As we enter the month of July, the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The Center itself, having just passed its 50th anniversary, is a testament to those who have walked before us. As tribal members, we know each tribe has existed, lived, and governed itself from time immemorial. To quote Cohen’s Handbook of Federal Indian Law, “Indian law and history are the opposite sides of the same coin” meaning that to truly understand the legalities, hardships, and triumphs of the modern-day Native, one must be well acquainted with the history of this nation, each tribal nation, and our own families’ history. Keeping in mind that time is relative, the Board continues to strengthen the Center’s foundational blocks and emphasize continued growth to better aid the urban Indian populations within the state of Utah.

I am grateful to be a daughter of the Navajo Nation, a daughter of the State of Utah, and a daughter of the United States of America and all the interwoven complexities, designs, and beauty that encompasses such an identity. As I have previously shared, I feel strongly to have been shaped by those before me and in their efforts to create community, culture, safety, and wellness. I am proud of the Center’s staff, teachers, and leaders who contribute to such a legacy.

Ahéhee

Aspen M. Jensen, Board of Directors, Diné

David Bernal brings more than 10 years of experience serving Utah nonprofits as a grant writer, development manager, and consultant. Before joining the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake, he owned and operated a freelance LLC that provided funding services to artists, students, small businesses, and nonprofit startups throughout Utah.

Read more about David Bernal: July Employee Spotlight

Medicine Hula

Medicine Hula gave participants a fun and meaningful way to keep moving forward with their health and wellness. Each movement was done with purpose and connected to traditional music that tells stories and shares culture. As we earned the movements, we also learned about history and meaning. The class helped strengthened muscles and improve balance, flexibility, and confidence. Everyone enjoyed trying new movements, laughing together and encouraging each other along the way. Medicine Hula shared that movement can be both medicine and a meaningful way to connect with others culture.

For more information, contact: Moriah John at (385) 267-1721.

Rebalancing Culture: Intermediate Diné Bizaad

We completed our Intermediate Diné Bizaad course by teaching participants how to create easy games they can play at home with their families. We spent time learning together, creating games, and sharing moments with one another. We also played the Navajo Stick Game, and all of the participants enjoyed it. The game brought back great memories that participants were able to share with each other.

Through these moments, participants were able to build stronger relationships by laughing together, smiling at one another, and sharing conversations. The connections that have been built throughout this program continue to grow as everyone learns and supports each other. "We have fully grown as a family," says the Rebalancing Culture Program Coordinator. "We lean on each other when moments feel heavy, and we have really begun to understand the connection we have been building for the past couple of years."

Our Advanced Diné Bizaad course will be held on July 8, 2026

For more information, contact: Honey Rhonda DuVall at (801) 214-7668 or rduvall@uicsl.org.

Bike Collective of Salt Lake Visits UICSL

The Bike Collective of Salt Lake team, along with staff from Bike Utah who set up the safety course, helped make the event a fun and safe day for the kids and families who attended. Cleon and his staff did a phenomenal job with setting up and taking everything down, and we also appreciate everyone who helped make frybread for the community.

There were 42 bikes ready for pickup, and 38 kids and their families came out to receive their bikes. It was a great day seeing how happy the kids were to have a bike of their own. We are grateful to the Bike Collective of Salt Lake for their generosity and for helping provide this opportunity for kids in our community.

Water Your Spirit Challenge

Over the next 36 days (running from July 6 through August 10), we are teaming up to build healthier hydration habits together. Water is an important part of keeping our bodies healthy, supporting energy, wellness, and overall health.

Participants can join by tracking their daily water intake on their participant sheet and coloring in each day as they complete their goal. Every Friday, participants will scan the QR code to log their progress. If a paper tracking sheet is preferred, please contact us and one will be provided.

The goal of this challenge is to increase daily water awareness, boost overall fluid intake, and reduce sugary beverage consumption. Small changes, such as choosing water before other drinks, replacing one sugary beverage each day with water, refilling at the water dispensers in the copy room or gym, and carrying a reusable water bottle, can make a big difference.

If you have any questions or need help getting started, please call Shirlinda at 801-486-4877.

Elders Corner Support Circle

The Elders Corner Support Circle on June 12th brought together 45 participants for connection, shared stories, and community. From the moment everyone came together, there was a genuine feeling of care, understanding, and trust throughout the day. The gathering was led by UICSL's Behavioral Health team, who created a welcoming space where community members felt comfortable listening, sharing, and supporting one another. Moments like these remind us how important it is to have spaces where our relatives can come together, build relationships, and know they are not alone.

We invite you to join us for our next Elders Corner gathering on July 10th, where our Clinical team will present on Brain Health. Join us for a conversation focused on understanding and caring for our minds while continuing to strengthen the connections we share as a community.

For more information, please contact Anita at (801) 214-7664.