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Policy & Social Justice 2004-2005

Revitalizing Downtown

The first Honors Praxis Lab convened at Ensign Peak in the fall of 2004 to explore and assess the nature of urban America, with a particular focus on Salt Lake City’s downtown. This group of 14 Honors students and two faculty advisors selected a two-block area located between 500 and 600 West and 200 and 300 South as the focus of their community-based research.

The students formed subcommittees to become experts in history, diversity, housing, and business issues. They created a brief documentary film featuring personal interviews with residents of the area. Additionally, they established relationships with key downtown agencies, including the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, Envision Utah, the Downtown Alliance, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, the RDA, and the LDS Church.

Through these partnerships, the team received expert advice and gained diverse perspectives on the challenges facing Salt Lake City, enriching their understanding of urban development and community engagement.

Instructors:

Keith Bartholomew

Ann Darling

Vicky Newman

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