Mindful Moments, Meaningful Impact: Celebrating Early Learning in Utah

Over 100 early childhood educators, advocates, and community leaders gathered for Envision Utah’s annual Early Learning Breakfast—a celebration of shared commitment to Utah’s children and their families.

This year’s theme, “Being Present, Being Mindful,” invited attendees to pause and reflect on how we can better show up for the little ones in our lives and for ourselves. Whether through small, nurturing moments or big systems change, the message was clear: how we grow matters.

Guests participated in a calming water painting activity as they arrived, using water paper to experience mindfulness in action. With each disappearing brushstroke, attendees were reminded that presence doesn’t need to be permanent to be powerful—it just needs to be intentional.

We were honored to present the “How We Grow Matters” award to two outstanding partners whose work is making a meaningful difference in the lives of young children:

• Utah Community Action, Head Start Program
• Washington County School District

Both organizations exemplify what it means to support families through responsive, high-quality early learning experiences. We were thrilled to recognize their efforts.

A highlight of the morning was our panel discussion, featuring three incredible early learning professionals:

• Annie Fraizer, MS, Education Manager, PBS Utah
• Liesl Jacobson, Children’s Department Manager, Salt Lake City Public Library
• Cristina Barrera, Preschool Specialist, Utah State Board of Education

This breakfast is just one part of our broader Early Learning Project, which works with more than 200 partners across the state to help families build stronger, more nurturing relationships during the critical early years.

Water in the Desert: Insights from Our Water Study

Above: Image of lakeside of the Great Salt Lake on Antelope Island

As Utah faces another hot, dry summer with little rainfall in sight, the state’s water future is once again top of mind. And according to Envision Utah’s latest Water Values Study, Utahns understand that water is essential to making life in Utah so great.

Water: A Critical Concern for Utah’s Future

The study found that two-thirds of Utahns rate water as extremely important to the future of our state—putting it on par with housing costs as a leading concern. This tracks with nearly three decades of Envision Utah research, which consistently shows water ranking among Utahns’ highest priorities.

But what’s even more striking: most Utahns don’t believe we’ll have enough water to meet our needs 20 years from now.

How Utahns Think About Water Use

Utahns’ core values strongly impact how they feel about water. They understand it is critical to their quality of life, and for the future of generations to come. That said, the study revealed some misconceptions about how water is actually used in Utah:

• Many people assume that indoor water use is the biggest contributor in residential settings, when in reality, outdoor water use (like lawns and landscaping) is the primary driver.
• Many Utahns are unaware of current cash rebates or incentives available for water-wise landscaping

Waterwise Landscaping Opportunities

There’s a growing interest in water-smart landscaping, but barriers remain. Nearly half of survey participants said they’d be more likely to make changes to their landscaping if they could receive financial help—either through affordable options or upfront incentives.

This points to an opportunity: with the right support and education, more Utahns are willing to take steps toward more sustainable yards and gardens.

Want to Learn More or Take Action?

📊 Explore the full Water Values Study

📣 Use our Messaging Guide to educate others

💧 Visit the Weekly Lawn Watering Guide for water-wise landscaping

Staff Spotlight

If you’ve seen a beautifully crafted social post, a polished press release, or a messaging guide come out of Envision Utah lately, chances are Allegra Sturdevant had a hand in it. Allegra joined Envision Utah in May 2023 and is currently the Communications Coordinator. She has supported nearly every corner of Envision Utah’s work, from refining communications strategies to securing media relations.

Originally from Northern Virginia, Allegra came to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she earned her degree in Public Relations with a minor in Psychology. (Fun fact: she actually started out in civil engineering—so she’s got both the brain of a planner and the heart of a communicator.)

Outside the office, Allegra enjoys exploring Utah’s endless natural beauty, especially with a camera in hand. Whether she’s snapping the perfect shot at the Salt Flats (her favorite Utah spot), rallying behind the Utah Hockey team, or attending swing dancing, she takes full advantage of what Utah has to offer.

What she loves most about her role? “My job never feels boring because it never looks the same,” she says. “Whether it’s a new skill or a new project topic, I’m always learning.”

We’re lucky to have Allegra on our team and even luckier that she brings her sharp eye, strategic mind, and adventurous spirit to everything she does.

In the News

Since the late 90s, Envision Utah has brought Utahns together to tackle some of the biggest challenges related to growth — and you have made that happen. But whether we’re talking about air quality, water use, transportation, education, disaster resilience, or a host of other issues, there’s more work to be done. When you support Envision Utah, you’re helping to create a bright future for our state.

Thank you for your support!