MEET THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S LIVING COLOR AWARDS.

In partnership with Living Color Utah, our third annual Living Color Gala honors the individuals and organizations who are working toward a more equitable and inclusive future for our state. Please congratulate the 2021 Living Color honorees!

LIVING COLOR

DISTINGUISHED LEADERS

SHAUNA GRAVES ROBERTSON JUDGE AT SALT LAKE COUNTY JUSTICE COURT

I am still the only African American woman to sit on the bench at any level in the state of Utah. I am in a court of limited jurisdiction. I see all kinds of people. I love the fact that no matter why a person is appearing in front of me, I can impact them in a positive way. I want to see the landscape of this state actually show the differences we claim to support.

SIMBA MAPONGA VP OF ENGINEERING AT GOLDMAN SACHS in in/simba-maponga-48332075

Utah is truly a fantastic and vibrant state with a lot of collaboration and work going on to craft a narrative that attracts and retains top diverse talent. Personally, I'd like to see more diversity represented in top roles, running companies, and having a bigger voice to drive change.

DR. CHARLES R. ROGERS FOUNDER & PRESIDENT AT THE COLORECTAL CANCER EQUITY FOUNDATION in in/crrogersphd [twitter] crrogersphd

"More individuals have to step up to the plate to 1) transform the narrative of "what Utah looks like" and, 2) emphasize the great DEI work we are doing here. Too many individuals and governmental agencies with funding power are unacquainted with the fact that Utah has a minority share exceeding 20 percent--comparable to national averages. Moreover, those of us doing any work in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism must be more vocal about showcasing our efforts to change the landscape of Utah across various sectors."

HAINIFA JAVADI FOUNDER & CEO AT FREE WOMEN

This year, I directed a team of 26 refugee women from Afghanistan in order to fulfill a wholesale order of 10,000 cork pouches. The knowledge that this work is enabling them to become more financially independent continues to motivate me. The women I work with are refugees from Afghanistan--I know their situations and can relate to them because I have been in their shoes. Many of the women who are employed through Free Women are not able to work outside of the home. By giving women work-at-home options, it allows flexibility to earn money while also caring for their children. Diversity and inclusion means adapting our businesses to meet needs that might be different from our own.

DR. TIANA N. ROGERS FOUNDER & CEO AT MENDED HOPE in in.tnrogersphd/ [twitter] @TNRogersPhD

My team at Sorenson Impact, a social innovation think-tank at the University of Utah's School of Business, is working on establishing a fund for minority entrepreneurs in Salt Lake. I would like to see increased DEI efforts as it relates to access to capital for minority entrepreneurs. There is currently an entire group that is overlooked and underserved--e.g. those who need between $50,000 and $250,000. SBA resources primarily target and serve those who need $250,000 and up.

INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP

KIMMY PALUCH (NOT PICTURED) MANAGING PARTNER AT BETA BOOM in in/kimmy/ @kimmypaluch

Beta Boom is heavily involved in changing the landscape for greater diversity and inclusion. Beyond our investment thesis which advances these objectives, we also co-lead...