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Show Page 2 The West View Well-Known Author Shaped by Life in Poplar Grove | By Melissa Sillitoe Successful fiction writer Ron Carlson began his writing career at Edison Elementary School. Maybe his father’s storytelling got him started, or perhaps it was his adventures with his school friends that begged to be told. In any case, Carlson says that Poplar Grove “formed him.” “It was the perfect place to grow up in the 1950s. It was like being in the Garden of Eden. You could see the whole city from_ there...the University of Utah, the Capitol. ..it was all yours,” he said. In his novel, The Speed of Light (HarperCollins, 2003), Carlson tells his story of growing up on the West Side. It’s the story of formative friendships and outdoor adventures. “These friends, who I loved, and I — we rode our bikes has been honored with a National off and weren’t back until 9:00 at Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, the Cohen night. That was when Jordan Junior High was by the river, and we sat on the lawn by these weeping wil- lows. The river made an oxbow and held the river bridge in its arms,” reminisced Carlson. Carlson’s childhood home was near 1100 West 800 South. His father worked as a welder and opened a successful business, Chicago Bridge and Iron, on 1700 South 500 West. Carlson, who currently teaches English at Arizona State University, is the author of eight books of fiction, including his selected stories A Kind of Flying (W.W. Norton 2003), and the story collection At the Jim Bridger (Picador paperback 2003). His short stories have appeared in dozens of anthologies. His writing tural activities, instead of focusing GLENDALE continued from page everywhere. In those days, we went on problem solving. | residents and U of U faculty members in the areas of Political Science, Communica-tion, and Social Work. This group began to research the problem of under-representation by creating six focus groups of 28 people from Glendale. The GCP intentionally brought a diverse group of people together to look at the issue from all different angles. The findings of the study would probably not surprise most Glendale residents. On the con- trary, “the study validated community members’ hunches,” said Political Science assistant profes- sor Claudio Holzner and Glendale resident Jesse Draper, the two original co-chairs of the GCP. The first finding was that it is . difficult for the community council, which defines community in terms of geography, to connect with groups that define their community by culture, language, and kin networks. It was recommended that community councils focus more heavily on community building, especially through cross-cul- The study also concluded that residents do not view the community council as being linked to other local organizations that take the bulk of residents’ time and attention, such as schools, churches and cultural groups. The study proposed that community councils build bridges to other neighborhood groups, by carrying out projects and activities in partnership with them. Another finding of this study determined that focus group mem- | bers, particularly newly arrived and non-Anglo residents, had little information about community council meetings or their function. One recommended solution was for the community council to create a community newsletter, or to utilize existing information sources, such as local school newsletters and community newspapers to inform a broader audi- ence. Before the-study was complete, chair Erin Wilson moved away and the previous Glendale Community Council leadership was voted back in. “As a board, we Prize at Ploughshares, and a National Society of Arts and Letters Literature Award. Carlson’s first elementary school story was an adventure titled “Miss Pickerel and the Toothpick Smugglers” based on the popular childhood series of the day. The author advises other budding writers that, “You’ve got to love stories. The writer wants it more than the rest of the people who might read it, and is willing to write it down.” He advises writers not to worry about figuring out the story before they tell it. “I’ve learned that you sit down to write and the writing finds the story. Have confidence! You're the inventor, ’-he said. Poplar Grove in the 1950s. Photo reprinted with permission. Polynesian community stopped Sorensen believes that the landon’t think very much of that coming to community council guage barrier is the major obstacle. study. We think it was a huge waste meetings after three months. “Even if they [ethnic minorities] of time,” said current Glendale Sorensen doesn’t know why. came to meetings, they might not Community Council Chair Randy In response to a suggestion understand what we’re talking Sorensen. that the current board partner with Sorensen feels that he and about,” he said. 3 the Tongan Coalition in organizing Sorenson said that he and Vice Chair Jay Ingleby, both longan activity like the Santa Shack Ingleby attended a meeting of a time, active Glendale residents, project, Sorensen said, “That’s local group called the Tongan have “beat themselves to death for more trouble than it’s worth, Coalition at the invitation of local the past eight years” to try to Tongan community leader Ifa because of the language barrier. It’s include everyone in the neighboreasier just to do it ourselves.” Motuliki, but because the meeting hood. One year, they translated In another west-side neighbortheir monthly agendas into six dif-. was conducted entirely in Tongan, hood, The Rose Park Community ferent languages and distributed — neither of them understood a word. Council is tackling the problems of Even though Motuliki transthem door-to-door around the under-representation and dwinlated for them afterwards, they still neighborhood, posting them. in dling participation that they are felt awkward and excluded. “Tf many public centers and businesses. | also experiencing. that’s how they feel when they UNP’s Community Scholar come to our meetings, I don’t This past Christmas, the in Residence, Luke Garrott, who blame them for not wanting to parGlendale Community Council was also involved in the Glendale ticipate,” said Sorensen. sponsored a Santa Shack just outStudy project, has enlisted political Under past chair Wilson’s side the Family Dollar Store in the science students from his leadership, Polynesians began Glendale Plaza. They hired a Neighborhood Democracy class to attending community council Santa, gave out donuts, cider, help out with Rose Park’s efforts. meetings in large numbers. “They candy canes and informational flyWith support from Garrott’s class, used to have Polynesian dance perers, meeting a lot of new families Rose Park held their first ever formances at the end of their meetin the process. Although it was a community festival on April 30, ings, and the parking lot over at the successful project that they plan to geared toward a multi-cultural Sorenson Center would be continue in the future, it didn’t audience. (See related story on the packed,” said Sorensen. seem to draw new participants. front page of this edition of the Salt Since the current board was “We've tried everything that they Lake West Journal.) elected, “members —of the recommended in that study, and none of it worked,” Sorensen said. Horizonte Mentoring Program Changes Participants Lives By Norma Hendrickson The West View informational resource for residents and During a recent mentoring They Volunteers from Utah Power and Horizonte Training Center students participate in a mentoring session. Anjeanette’ Armstrong (Utah Power), Peter Smith (Youth City, SLC), Ryan Nelson (Utah Power), Christina Luna, Shannon D. Francisco Photo by Norma Hendrickson confidently responded to questions and add their insights to a discussion on writing resumes and how to be interviewed. The discussion was punctuated with laughter and a fair share of goodnatured teasing. Along with root beer floats, the adults served up a witty combination of information, advice, live demonstrations and real life stories from the world of business. The teens are high achieving City. We welcome community involvement Advertising and appreciate story and photo contributions. We reserve the right to edit will not publish anything that is defamaPlease email Salt Lake West Journal Staff Dale Young, Brandon Rawlings, Boyd Petersen STAFF WRITERS tory or slanderous in nature. submissions to the editor and include your full name, city or community, and telephone number. You may also deliver your submissions to us on a compact, floppy or zip disc. As an insert in the Salt Lake West Journal, The West View has a circulation of around 24,500 copies delivered month- ly to every household and business on the ~ West Side. It is also available on news- Charlotte FifeJepperson Norma ' Hendrickson | Dale J. Neilson Melissa Sillitoe Edie Trimmer CONTRIBUTING WRITER Tiffany Sandberg CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Norma _ Hendrickson | Jeff Salt stands in local recreation centers, senior centers, shopping centers, libraries, and on the web at www.thewestview.org. Please contact us if you live outside the distribution area and would like to be added to our mailing list. The subscription rate is $15 per year (12 issues). See Mentor on page 3 Editor Charlotte Fife-Jepperson Layout / Design JoDee Okerlund Distribution Salt Lake West Journal Consultant / Advisor James A. Fisher Legal Support Mary C. Gordon businesses on the west side of Salt Lake all submissions for style and space, and session at Horizonte Instructional Training Center, a group of teens seemed right at home sharing an executive meeting room with seasoned business professionals. STAFF is a community based newspaper, providing a voice and Our Contact Info: editor @ thewestview.org The West View 1094 Garn Way SLC, UT 84104 Ph# 801-355-9572 http://www.thewestview.org |